1.
Which of the following is the least important area in which to include your keyword(s)?
Correct Answer
B. Meta Keywords
Explanation
The correct answer is Meta Keywords. Meta Keywords are a type of meta tag that was once used to help search engines understand the content of a webpage. However, they have been abused by spammers in the past and are no longer considered a reliable ranking factor by most search engines. Therefore, including keywords in the meta keywords tag is not as important as including them in other areas such as the meta description, meta title, internal anchor links, and body text.
2.
Which of the following would be the best choice of URL structure (for both search engines and humans)?
Correct Answer
A. Www.wildlifeonline.com/animals/crocodile
Explanation
The best choice of URL structure would be www.wildlifeonline.com/animals/crocodile because it is descriptive and provides clear information about the content of the page. It includes relevant keywords that are likely to be searched by both search engines and humans, making it more likely to rank higher in search results. Additionally, the structure follows a logical hierarchy, starting with the main category "animals" and narrowing down to the specific topic "crocodile". This makes it easier for users to navigate the website and understand the organization of the content.
3.
When linking to external websites, a good strategy to move up in the rankings is to use the keywords you're attempting to rank for on that page as the anchor text of the external-pointing links. For example, if you were attempting to rank a page for the phrase "hulk smash" you would want to use that phrase, "hulk smash" as the anchor text of a link pointing to a web page on another domain.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Using keywords as anchor text for external links is not a good strategy to move up in rankings. While it is important to use relevant keywords in anchor text, over-optimizing by using the exact same keyword repeatedly can be seen as spammy by search engines. It is better to have a diverse range of anchor text that includes variations of the keyword and related phrases. This helps search engines understand the context and relevance of the linked page.
4.
Which of the following is the best way to maximize the frequency with which your site/page is crawled by the search engines?
Correct Answer
D. Frequently add new content
Explanation
Frequently adding new content to your site/page is the best way to maximize the frequency with which it is crawled by search engines. Search engines prioritize crawling sites/pages that have fresh and updated content, as it indicates that the site is active and relevant. By regularly adding new content, you increase the chances of search engines crawling your site more frequently, which can lead to better visibility and higher rankings in search results.
5.
Which of the following is a legitimate technique to improve rankings & traffic from search engines?
Correct Answer
B. Re-writing title tags on your pages to reflect high search volume, relevant keywords
Explanation
Re-writing title tags on your pages to reflect high search volume, relevant keywords is a legitimate technique to improve rankings and traffic from search engines. Title tags are an important factor in search engine optimization (SEO) as they provide a concise description of the content on a webpage. By incorporating high search volume and relevant keywords into the title tags, it increases the chances of the webpage appearing in search engine results for those specific keywords. This can lead to higher rankings and increased traffic from users searching for those keywords.
6.
Who is Matt Cutts, and what is he mostly known for?
Correct Answer
D. Google Engineer
Explanation
Matt Cutts is mostly known for being a Google Engineer. He worked at Google for many years and played a significant role in the development of the search engine. He is particularly recognized for his work on search engine optimization (SEO) and for his blog, where he provided insights and advice on various topics related to Google and SEO. While he may have other accomplishments or roles, his association with Google as an engineer is what he is primarily known for.
7.
How can Meta Description tags help with the practice of search engine optimization?
Correct Answer
D. They serve as the copy that will entice searchers to click on your listing
Explanation
Meta Description tags can help with the practice of search engine optimization by serving as the copy that will entice searchers to click on your listing. When search engines display search results, the meta description appears as a brief summary of the webpage. A well-crafted meta description can attract users' attention and persuade them to click on your link, increasing the click-through rate. While meta descriptions may not directly impact search engine rankings, they play a crucial role in driving organic traffic to your website.
8.
Which of the following sources is considered to be the best for acquiring competitive link data?
Correct Answer
D. Yahoo!
Explanation
Yahoo! is considered to be the best source for acquiring competitive link data because it provides a comprehensive and accurate analysis of backlinks. Yahoo! Site Explorer offers a wide range of data, including anchor text, link quality, and the number of links pointing to a website. This information is crucial for understanding a website's link profile and gaining insights into its SEO performance. Additionally, Yahoo! Site Explorer allows users to export data, making it convenient for further analysis and reporting.
9.
What is the generally accepted difference between SEO and SEM?
Correct Answer
D. SEO focuses on organic/natural search rankings, SEM encompasses all aspects of search marketing
Explanation
SEO and SEM are both terms related to search engine marketing, but they have different meanings. SEO specifically refers to the practice of optimizing a website to improve its organic or natural search rankings on search engine results pages. On the other hand, SEM encompasses all aspects of search marketing, including SEO but also includes paid search advertising (PPC) and other strategies to increase visibility and drive traffic to a website. Therefore, the correct answer is that SEO focuses on organic/natural search rankings, while SEM covers all aspects of search marketing.
10.
Which of these is NOT generally considered to be a highly important factor for ranking for a particular search term?
Correct Answer
A. HTML Validation (according to W3C standards) of a page
Explanation
The HTML Validation (according to W3C standards) of a page is not generally considered to be a highly important factor for ranking for a particular search term. While it is important to have valid HTML, search engines primarily focus on factors such as the quality and quantity of external links, keyword usage in the title tag, temporal relevance, and link popularity within the domain. HTML validation is more important for ensuring proper website functionality and accessibility rather than directly impacting search engine rankings.
11.
Which of the following is NOT a "best practice" for creating high-quality title tags?
Correct Answer
B. Include an exhaustive list of keywords
Explanation
Including an exhaustive list of keywords is not a "best practice" for creating high-quality title tags. While it is important to include relevant keywords in the title tag, it is not necessary or recommended to include every possible keyword. Instead, it is more effective to focus on creating a concise and compelling title that accurately represents the content of the page and encourages users to click on the listing.
12.
Which of the following character limits is the best choice to use when limiting the length of title tags (assuming you want those tags to fully display in the search results at the major engines)?
Correct Answer
E. 65
Explanation
The best choice for limiting the length of title tags is 65 characters. This is because search engines typically display title tags up to a maximum of 70 characters, and it is recommended to keep them within this limit to ensure that they are fully displayed in search results. A title tag that is too long may get cut off, leading to incomplete or unclear information being displayed to users. Therefore, 65 characters is the best choice to ensure that the title tag is fully visible in search results.
13.
Why are absolute (http://www.mysite.com/my-category)URLs better than relative ("/my-category") URLs for on-page internal linking?
Correct Answer
D. When scraped and copied on other domains, they provide a link back to the website
Explanation
Absolute URLs are better than relative URLs for on-page internal linking because when scraped and copied on other domains, they provide a link back to the website. This means that even if the content is copied and used on other websites, the original website will still receive a backlink, which can help improve search engine rankings and increase visibility.
14.
Spammy sites or blogs begin linking to your site. What effect is this likely to have on your search engine rankings?
Correct Answer
C. A very slight positive effect is most likely, as search engines are not perfectly able to discount the link value of all spammy sites
Explanation
When spammy sites or blogs begin linking to your site, it is likely to have a very slight positive effect on your search engine rankings. This is because search engines are not able to perfectly discount the link value of all spammy sites. While search engines do discount the link value from spammy sites, there may still be some small positive impact on rankings. However, it is important to note that search engines do not penalize sites for receiving these links.
15.
Is it generally considered acceptable to have the same content resolve on both www and non-www URLs of a website?
Correct Answer
A. No, this may cause negative indexing/ranking issues
Explanation
Having the same content resolve on both www and non-www URLs of a website is generally not considered acceptable because it may cause negative indexing and ranking issues. Search engines recognize these URLs as separate entities, and if the same content is present on both, it can lead to duplicate content issues. This can result in search engines penalizing the website by lowering its ranking or not indexing it properly. It is recommended to choose one preferred version (either www or non-www) and redirect the other version to it to avoid any negative consequences.