Inktomi Optimization. A guide to optimizing for Inktomi. Part II.

Inktomi Optimization. A guide to optimizing for Inktomi. Part II.

Inktomi SEO Basics< Search Engine Optimization for Inktomi. Inktomi Isn't Google The Google ranking algorithm is extremely simple - it all revolves around anchor text. In Google's SERP's, it's common to see a page ranked for an extremely competitive keyword on the sole basis of anchor text of inbound links.

Inktomi, on the other hand, prefers to place weight on the on-page elements commonly referred to as SEO copywriting; particularly the page titles and the keyword density of the body copy.

It should be stressed that even though the Google ranking algorithm and the Inktomi ranking algorithm are as different as day is from night, it is still possible to achieve top rankings on both engines for the same page.

The Descriptive URL One element which ranks prominently in the Inktomi algorithm is the keywords in the URL.

Let's compare a few searches Inktomi to Google.

Google search Computers:

http://www.apple.com

http://www.dell.com

http://www.gateway.com

http://reviews.cnet.com/reviews/0-9870989.html

http://dmoz.org/Computers/

http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet

http://www.attworldnet.com/g/c/te.html

http://www.computers.com

http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/ciltop.htm

http://www.aip.org/cip/

Inktomi search Computers:

http://dmoz.org/Computers/

http://www.dell.com

http://www.computers.com

http://www.apple.com

http://www.gateway.com

http://www.yahoo.com/Computers

http://www.howstuffworks.com/category.htm?cat=Comp

http://computers.yahoo.com

http://www.compaq.com

http://www.computer.org/tc

Or take a peek at Inktomi's top ten for search term Contractor:

http://www.contractormag.com

http://www.cslb.ca.gov

http://www.contractors-license.org

http://www.las-vegas-contractor.info

http://www.contractoruk.co.uk

http://www.contractor.com

http://www2.cslb.ca.gov/CSLB_LIBRARY/license+request.asp

http://www.lni.wa.gov/contractors/contractor.asp

http://www.just-contractors.com

http://www.cehandbook.com

The most revealing listing in this SERP is the inclusion of www.las-vegas-contractor.info at the #4 spot for this search term. The page has no quality inbound links, and a PageRank of 0 (zero). This goes to the core of the Inktomi algorithm.

Link popularity is Google's fetish, not Inktomi's. You do not need link popularity to rank in the top of Inktomi's SERP's.

Meta Description Inktomi does rank pages solely on the basis of words found in the meta description tag. Body Copy The bulk of the weight appears to be placed on body copy. H1 tags do not appear to be specifically weighted over other body copy. As far as keyword density goes, the sky's the limit. In other words, the higher the density, the better.

Page Titles A couple years ago, I submitted a page to Inktomi. Inktomi at first liked the page - www.Just-Contractors.com - and placed it in the top ten for contractors. Then we added a few words to the title element. Inktomi dropped the page entirely.

Having paid for submission, and being pig-headed, I wrote several emails to Inktomi. After being referred to PositionTech several times, I was finally able to get in touch with an Inktomi representative who looked into the situation. His reply?

"Your page was dropped for keyword abusive page titles."

Keep this in mind, and keep your page titles short.

Summary Inktomi likes body copy, page titles, and descriptive URL's.