Datawords are keywords or keyphrases that are inserted into the HTML code of webpages to help search engines understand the content on a page. They provide additional context and meaning to both search engines and users reading the content.
Why are datawords used?
There are two main reasons websites use datawords:
- To improve SEO (search engine optimization)
- To provide more context for accessibility
Improving SEO
One of the primary reasons websites use datawords is to improve rankings in search engines like Google. Here are some of the specific benefits for SEO:
- Helps search bots understand the topic or themes of a page better.
- Provides keywords and keyphrases directly in the HTML that search engines value.
- Can improve clickthrough rates (CTR) in search results by providing more context.
- Helps pages get featured in rich results like knowledge graphs.
By using relevant, targeted datawords, sites can improve their visibility and rankings for important keyword terms.
Enhancing Accessibility
Datawords also help make web content more accessible to different users:
- Screen reader software for the visually impaired can process datawords for better context.
- Search engines can serve up more informative snippets with datawords.
- Users quickly glancing at search results get more info from datawords.
So they provide enhanced accessibility and utility for a range of users and use cases.
What are some common datawords?
There are many different types of datawords websites may use. Here are some of the most common ones:
Meta Descriptions
The meta description tag provides a 1-2 sentence summary of a page:
<meta name="description" content="A short description of the page content">
Meta Keywords
The meta keywords tag lists important keywords for a page:
<meta name="keywords" content="keywords, keyphrases, separated, by, commas">
Page Title
The HTML page title contains important keywords and branding:
<title>Page Title Goes Here</title>
Alt Text
Alt text provides descriptive text for images on a page:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="A description of the image">
Schema Markup
Schema markup provides info like company name, address, ratings, etc:
<div itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/LocalBusiness"> <span itemprop="name">Business Name</span> <div itemprop="address" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/PostalAddress"> <span itemprop="streetAddress">123 Main St</span> <span itemprop="addressLocality">City</span> </div> <div itemprop="aggregateRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/AggregateRating"> <span itemprop="ratingValue">4.5</span> </div> </div>
There are many types of schema that sites can leverage for rich results.
Best practices for using datawords
When adding datawords to your site, keep these best practices in mind:
- Relevance – Only use keywords and data relevant to each specific page.
- Quality over quantity – Focus on useful, informative phrases vs keyword stuffing.
- Consistency – Datawords should match the actual content on the page.
- Accuracy – All structured data must be factually accurate.
- Monitor impact – Track changes in organic traffic and rankings over time.
Tools to implement datawords
There are a variety of tools available to help add and manage datawords on your website:
Content Management Systems
CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal allow you to directly input meta descriptions, page titles, alt text, etc on pages.
SEO Plugins
SEO plugins like Yoast SEO for WordPress help optimize datawords across your site.
Structured Data Tools
Tools like Schema Creator help generate structured data markup for schema types like local business, events, products, etc.
XML Sitemaps
Sitemaps serve as an index of all the pages on your site and help search engines crawl your content.
Google Search Console
Search Console provides insights on how Google is indexing and rating your pages.
Google Tag Manager
Makes it easy to deploy tracking and marketing tags site-wide.
Example datawords in use on popular websites
Looking at examples from real websites can help illustrate the various datawords in action.
New York Times
The New York Times uses relevant meta descriptions:
They also utilize schema markup for articles:
Amazon
Amazon product pages contain extensive schema markup providing key product info:
Wikipedia
Wikipedia includes structured data for main article content:
Should datawords be used on every page?
Generally speaking, relevant datawords should be added to every page on a website. Here are some guidelines on what to include on all pages versus specific pages only:
Datawords | All Pages | Specific Pages |
---|---|---|
Page Title | Yes | N/A |
Meta Description | Yes | N/A |
Alt Text | Yes, for all images | N/A |
Schema Markup | Site-wide schema like business info | Page-specific schema like events, products, etc. |
Meta Keywords | Optional | Category, product, or service pages |
Key Takeaways
- Meta descriptions, titles, alt text should be on every page
- Schema can be both site-wide and page-specific as needed
- Meta keywords only help on key pages targeting terms
Creating a datawords strategy
Follow these steps to develop an effective datawords strategy:
1. Identify Target Keywords and Phrases
Run keyword research to find relevant terms you want to rank for. This should inform your datawords choices.
2. Take Inventory of Existing Pages
Audit your current site content and structure. Make note of which pages need improved datawords.
3. Create a Priority List
Focus first on important pages like home, product categories, service pages, etc. Outline other pages to tackle next.
4. Optimize High Priority Pages
Enhance datawords on crucial pages identified. Include keywords in titles, meta descriptions, image alt text, schema, etc.
5. Roll Out to Remaining Pages
Once top pages are complete, implement datawords improvements on lower priority content.
6. Monitor and Refine
Use Search Console and analytics to see which pages get traction. Refine datawords to increase performance.
Datawords examples
Here are some examples of effective datawords usage on a website.
Homepage
<title>ACME Website Design Company - Web Design Services</title> <meta name="description" content="ACME provides custom web design services for small businesses and startups. Our skilled web designers can create modern, mobile-friendly websites.">
Web Design Services Page
<title>Web Design Packages and Pricing - ACME Website Design</title> <meta name="description" content="ACME offers affordable website design packages for small business. Browse our web design portfolio and pricing plans to find the right custom website design."> <meta name="keywords" content="web design packages, web design pricing, small business web design">
About Us Page
<title>About Our Web Design Agency - ACME Website Design</title> <meta name="description" content="Learn about ACME, a premier web design company helping startups and small businesses build better online presences through custom website design services.">
Contact Page
<div itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/LocalBusiness"> <h1 itemprop="name">ACME Website Design</h1> <div itemprop="address" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/PostalAddress"> <span itemprop="streetAddress">123 Main St</span> <span itemprop="addressLocality">Springfield</span> <span itemprop="addressRegion">CA</span> <span itemprop="postalCode">12345</span> </div> <span itemprop="telephone">555-123-4567</span> </div>
Conclusion
Implementing effective datawords through meta tags, titles, alt text, and schema markup provides a range of benefits. It helps improve SEO rankings, enhances accessibility, and gives more context to search engines and users. Following best practices and optimizing datawords across website pages can help drive more relevant organic traffic.