The provided materials detail several steps for improving the visibility of websites built with Adobe Muse. These steps encompass on-page optimization, technical considerations, and schema markup implementation. The data emphasizes the importance of consistent URLs, metadata, sitemap generation, and schema verification for successful indexing and potential ranking improvements.
Basic On-Page SEO Elements
According to the source materials, fundamental on-page SEO involves optimizing key elements on each page of a Muse website. This includes crafting concise and relevant page titles—under 60 characters—and meta descriptions—under 160 characters. The data suggests that descriptions should clearly outline the page’s content. Additionally, optimizing pages for social media previews is recommended. The source materials also highlight the importance of utilizing appropriate heading styles (H1, H2, etc.) by mapping paragraph styles to corresponding HTML heading tags. This allows search engines to correctly identify and interpret the structure of the content.
URL Consistency and Redirection
Maintaining a consistent URL structure is crucial. The materials specify that if a site uses HTTPS, that protocol should be consistently used across all references to the URL. The same principle applies to the use of “www” or the absence thereof. The preferred URL should be consistently used when sharing the site, adding it to business listings, or including it in social media profiles. Furthermore, all other versions of the URL should redirect to the preferred version using code within the .htaccess file.
Google Webmaster Tools and Sitemap Submission
Adding a site to Google Webmaster (now Google Search Console) is identified as a critical step. Verification can be achieved through existing Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager installations, or via an HTML tag option if using Master Page (Premium) in Muse. The materials note that Muse automatically generates a sitemap, but this sitemap includes images as unique pages and lacks priority markup. To address this, generating a sitemap with XML-Sitemaps is recommended. The lack of priority markup in the default sitemap is stated to make it more difficult for search engines to understand the website’s structure.
Schema Markup and Local SEO
The source materials specifically address the use of schema markup for local SEO. Utilizing the local SEO widgets available in Muse is recommended for providing Google’s knowledge graph with business information. Guidelines for schema implementation include using only one widget per page (unless the business has multiple locations), placing the widget on the homepage or master page, and verifying the markup using Google’s Schema checker. The materials caution that incorrect or excessive schema markup can lead to a loss of trust from search engines and eventual disregard of the markup. Verification is essential, and errors should be removed immediately. The source materials also suggest tying the logo, business name, and social media profiles together using Master Page (Premium).
Image Optimization
When incorporating images into a Muse website, assigning both a title and a brief description is important. The image title should be a concise and accurate description, visible upon hovering over the image. The materials address a workaround for adding alt text to images used as buttons, noting that right-clicking to add alt text may not function correctly in such cases.
Font Considerations
The materials differentiate between web fonts and system fonts within Adobe Muse. Web fonts are readily readable by search engines, while system fonts are rasterized into images, preventing indexing and potentially increasing website load times. The use of text images is generally discouraged due to SEO and accessibility limitations, though there may be occasional applications for elaborate buttons.
Addressing Technical Issues
One technical issue identified is the automatic inclusion of images as unique pages in the default Muse sitemap. This is considered suboptimal and is addressed by recommending the use of XML-Sitemaps for sitemap generation. The materials also mention a potential issue with rollover states on images used as buttons, specifically regarding the inability to add alt text.
Metadata Implementation
The source materials explain that Muse allows designers to input metadata unique to each page, including the webpage title, description, and keywords. The description should be brief (150-160 characters) and use relevant keywords, while the keywords field, though less essential, can still include relevant terms. The materials caution against keyword stuffing in either field. A question posed within the source data asks if metadata can be used for all pages, but the source does not provide an answer.
Conclusion
The provided materials outline a series of steps for optimizing Adobe Muse websites for search engines. These steps center around on-page elements like metadata and heading structure, technical considerations such as URL consistency and sitemap generation, and the implementation of schema markup for local SEO. Verification of schema markup and adherence to guidelines are emphasized to maintain trust with search engines. While the materials offer specific recommendations, they also highlight potential technical challenges and the need for ongoing monitoring and adjustment.