Have you noticed that Wikitree Profiles show up on Google Searches?

Question

Just a shout out to Wikitree.  Great job on optimizing profiles to show up on Google.  I find the quickest way to a profile now is to type a name and add Wikitree to the search.

Comments

Even without adding "wikitree" to the search, WikiTree profiles show up VERY often and at or near the top of the hit list.

I have noticed that, with great admiration for the job being done here to make that happen ... even though, when I see these links, I often find it frustrating because I'm the profile manager of the page and am desparately searching for sources of information that I can put on the page!!!

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Yeah, I hate it when I am the authority and expert on a profile only because I am the one to pull any useful information together.  I have to wade through my stuff to find other good stuff.  I suppose I need to add NOT Michael Stills to the search.

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Wikitree's SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is why I joined a few months ago.  Sure you can create your own website with your tree, but most people will never see it.  Wikitree will show up on the first page for most website searches.

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If you want to keep your own Wikitree profiles from showing up in your Google search, just type -wikitree after your search terms. This will eliminate links including the word "Wikitree."

Also, you can focus your search by including ~genealogy, which will target genealogy sites.

Finally, if you want to focus on one particular site for your search, type site:www.domainname.com (e.g. site:www.wikitree.com) after your search terms, and Google will only search that particular website.

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I have found that to be the easiest, quickest way to find the profile (or lack of one) that I am looking for.

Answer 1

That's awesome Michael!  It's definitely a goal for us to be as optimized as possible for Google searches.

Answer 2

I have and I also noticed that a large number of times I am listed as profile manager and for those reasons I have made it my personal goal to add sources to as manay profiles as I can and make them conform with the Style Guide as much as possible, starting with the profiles I manage.

Comments

I could use some help with the biography's because I seem to have a problem with writing about those I do not really know but I am also starting to at least add a basic biography to the profiles as I edit them.

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That is a start. Then, start studying examples of other profiles as to the pattern of the subjects, and some HTML. It's the littlest things that count here at WikiTree. Before you know it, your profiles will look professional.

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Dale, I would help you were to email me the url of the profile.   I don't get on here if you  post them here.  and if you are not in a big hurry.

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Lynden

I will not use HTML because it is not recommended on WikiTree profiles and would not fit the Style Guide.

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Mary I sent you a private message about one that I have not even started working on the biography for and I would never rush anyone, I have way too many profiles that I adopted that have very poor sources at best to work onright now anyway.

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I couldn't remember the moniker in the heat of the comment. I know it isn't HTML. But I use whatever it is here at WikiTree

Answer 3

I have done Google Searches and I have seen Wiki come up many times.

Comments

Hi Patrick,  Welcome to WikiTree.  Yeah, it is great to see when searching.