Comments on: Telegraph calls No10 site 'a technical mess'

By: cyberdoyle

cyberdoyle — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:48:41 +0000

heck, that's well smart! didn't know you could do that...
Reassuring to know that good people are working on it, should have known better than to believe a newspaper article. doh.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:31:05 +0000

I've been in touch with one of my No10 sources - always wanted to say that - and in fact, the meta keywords quoted by the Telegraph weren't quite as random as they might have seemed.

They are derived automatically from the tags used on the site's latest posts: which, in this case, happened to be petition responses. And if you look down the page, you'll see - yes, responses to people with specific concerns about tattoo and piercing equipment.

You know what? That's actually a pretty smart way to manage your meta keyword tags. It ensures they stay current, without taking up any specific extra effort. Good on them.

There are some very good people who are, or have been, working on the No10 site. Names you'll probably know and respect if you read this blog. To reassure cyberdoyle, yes, they do know their stuff.

By: cyberdoyle

cyberdoyle — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:42:41 +0000

I am not an expert. But I knew google doesn't bother with keywords. I do a few amateur sites and blogs, as a volunteer for a community. Presumably the person who does the No10 site gets paid? If so, that person should know a lot more than I do, or maybe the tattoos were put in as a joke? there are some wits about.

I agree with previous comment, no such thing as a SEO expert, the real experts are just out there doing it. You only become an 'expert' or a consultant if you can't earn your living using/doing your chosen subject.

By: Liam King

Liam King — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:52:40 +0000

Good on you Simon! I must admit I was waiting for your response after reading the Telegraph article. I was reading it thinking: 'those who live in glass houses...'

Sure the No.10 site isn't technically perfect, but I don't think I've ever seen one that is. It's certainly better than most. There are so many positive angles to the Downing Street site story. They could have focussed on the adoption of open source and cost effective techs or the genuine use of social media. But why try and be positive and constructive when they can have a quick rant.

By the way: avid reader of the blog. Great stuff.

Liam

By: Dave Briggs

Dave Briggs — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:17:30 +0000

Anyone claiming to be an expert in SEO should be boiled.