factoring in SEO with Freeway?

Freeway
1

Freeway is killing me here and I am worried about making the website I am planning with Freeway. Please allow me to explain what I am talking about and maybe you’ll say, yeah, you need another program, or there can be a way to over ride things as they are now.

When you boil it all down, when it comes to websites, there are two important things. How it looks, works and performs is one, the other being how well that website is found by the searches. If this website is important, then the second thing is the most important thing there ever can and will be to a website. That is called SEO.

In order to compete on the same level as all the rest that are concerned with SEO and creating as many possibilities SEO wise as possible one must be able to have control. Some of this has to be built DIRECTLY into the website in order to compete with the other SEO wizards out there.

URL strings are hugely and I can not stress how important to SEO! There are at least 1001 different things you can do for a website SEO wise, but there are some very key things that must be done in this day and age, IF you want to compete with your competition that is already using all the tricks. A web builder can not be allowed to prevent the end user from creating exactly the URL strings, folders and files exactly as needed.

Start doing some Google searches. Please notice that what you were searching for keyword wise is highlighted and bold in the hits listed. Look at how deep Google will found keywords in a URL string, if there are those keywords.

Now to give you a better example, start searching for specific press releases. Or a specific news article. You can many times find the exact name of the article/release in the URL string. You will many times see these html pages nested down several folders. All of those folders names LOADED with SEO.

It does not seem to have a limit! Unlike your title to a webpage where Google will only read the first 65 characters of the title, Google WILL read as long an URL string that you can create!!!

The trick is this:

Between every word you have a “-” instead of a space or a “_”. Now Google will see each word in a URL string of over 1000 characters!!! Those characters being the names of the folders and the pages.

If you can not do this with your web editing program, you’ve already lost the SEO game!

Each and every time I try to create the long name to a page or to a folder, the damned program stops me from doing it!!! That’s dead wrong. Do not stop me from creating exacting the page names and the several folders and their names that those pages are put in.

Is Freeway a professional program? Or just for good looks? I am really, really worried about this.

I have been creating super long URL strings for years now with amazing results and I never had any kind of a problem doing this with GoLive.

Hopefully there is an answer to create 1000 + character URL strings with Freeway!

Please help or explain,

Robert

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2

I’ve been following your threads around Robert and have been seeing the responses you’ve been getting and I think the bigger picture here is that you came to Freeway for a reason and your project requires specific things to be done in a particular way. Remember that Freeway, both Express and Pro, are meant for people who aren’t programmers or coders or for people who just want to create a website either for their business or for themselves. I’d also like to take note that SEO also takes into account the order of the information, the way you build your page, and that’s a designer’s responsibility and not a Freeway issue. Freeway can also do the complicated things, but if you’re not satisfied with what you’re using then why keep working with it?

I saw a few threads ago that you were using GoLive and with Freeway you really have to change your workflow. It’s a system based on those users who are more familiar with DTP (desktop publishing) and it’s not a hardcore web program. Although the software is super easy to use and it does a lot of today’s gimmicky things rather easily, it comes down to being able to fulfill the needs of your project.

I know in my experience that I’ve had to use all kinds of web programs and in my freelance work sometimes I use Freeway and sometimes I use Dreamweaver. It can’t all be right. I’m sorry you’re frustrated, but if it isn’t meant to be it isn’t meant to be.

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3

But I think it would be easy for the programers to allow for both the naming of the url/page, as well as where is put them so that SEO can be a factor. Why have Freeway be known as a program to avoid if SEO is important?

Another problem that I have found with it is it also cuts off the “alt text”. “alt text” is very important to the web world because it talks to blind people and other handicapped people, as well as the search engines. It is hugely important and this is an unlimited “slot” for text on the web. You can put paragraphs into this slot! Freeway represents the very first time this century that I have seen a limitation put on this. That is CRAZY!!! And poor programming.

I am not a coder either, but rather a severely dyslexic person that depends on WYSIWYG for the most part.

Dan, what on Earth do you mean by Freeway is not a program to use for business sites? Are you actually saying that Freeway is not the sort of program to use if SEO truly matters?

Yes, I am certainly getting the “visuals” to work better with Freeway than with GoLive, but isn’t that secondary? The site won’t matter if it can not get past the competition, or be found on the net.

Why am I trying so hard to make Freeway work for me? Because 1) I just spent $170.00 to upgrade it 2) I have very well know friends in the Mac world that convinced me this was the program to start using. Like the person from MacObserver who gave Freeway 5 out of 5. Now I have him looking into this very situation. I would hate for MacObserver to put out a warning to the SEO people about Freeway being an SEO killer. My other friend sometimes writes for MacWorld. They are watching this situation.

If you can not make a website for business with Freeway, nor one that will be found as easily than with any other web program, then isn’t it all pointless?

And if so, then isn’t it time to make a Professional version of Freeway?

Robert

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4

Dan, you said:
“I’d also like to take note that SEO also takes into account the order of the information, the way you build your page, and that’s a designer’s responsibility and not a Freeway issue.”

That is crazy talk. If the designer is unable to do exactly what they need to do in the file structure and naming of the html because of the hinderance committed by the software, then isn’t no ones fault but Freeway’s and the programmers that forgot some key elements to being on the net in the first place? They GOT to fix this!

Seriously, what makes Freeway 5 Pro a professional application? If it is not for professionals as you just said Dan, then isn’t this just an application for aspiring artists and then once those artists get good and need to promote their wares, have to find yet another professional web building app?

This is all crazy talk!

This needs to be fixed or the serious people are going to have to avoid this application.

I am really beginning to think this program has been vastly overrated!

Robert

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5

I did a bit of digging around on the maximum number of HTML characters can be used within the name of a Freeway published HTML document and the total is 26.

If you’re looking for longer URL titles then why not use a CMS as an alternative which would help with your situation. There are paid action packs for WebYep, Expression Engine, and MiniCMS.

You seem very emotionally charged in all your topic’s and I’d encourage you that instead of making demands to fix a particular item that you try and find an alternative to your issue when the current configuration doesn’t suit your needs.

Also, my SEO information is correct. Please don’t distract others from accurate information.

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6

SEO is an emotive issue and a very important issue. As a copywriter
who designs web sites as a strong second string, I am very careful in
how I write and place content, including the wording of page titles
and use of folders for grouping specific content. I am no SEO expert,
though, nor a coder, so rely on the clean output of Freeway Pro to get
me through the day.

No doubt there are more things I could do to please the SE Gods, but
for the mainly business to business sites I work on I have noted that
most of my sites end up on the first page of Google, et al, for the
most relevant keywords, albeit not always at the top, but often in the
first 5. So, to me, you can’t downgrade Freeway on SE friendliness
overall.

That said, no one application is perfect and it is important to know
the limitations and workarounds to get the most out of them. Maybe
it’s wrong to blame the tool and more consideration should be given to
find what is most comfortable in your own hands and the way you want
work.

Freeway works well for many, but it not the panacea for all, even
though it is very right for me. However, when you persevere through
the learning curve of it’s adifferent discipline, you might find it
surprisingly better than your first encounter.

However, I also agree that longer alt tags would be useful! :slight_smile:

Colin

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7

Longer alt tags are basically a web standard and certainly not a luxury as the programmers of Freeway seem to think. Imagine how the blind feel about your statement.

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8

On 8 Mar 2009, at 10:47, Rgator wrote:

Longer alt tags are basically a web standard and certainly not a
luxury as the programmers of Freeway seem to think. Imagine how the
blind feel about your statement.

I’m not sure who you’re talking to here as you haven’t quoted
anything. The Freeway list has been going for a very long time, and
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen people advising other people
that it’s a sin to leave your Alt tags blank, because of people with
disabilities. We are aware, thank you.
Please, Robert, read the manual, get to know the application a bit
more before you go blurting stuff out like this. It helps nobody,
least of all you. Try asking questions here, rather than making
statements.

best wishes,

Paul Bradforth

http://www.paulbradforth.com

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9

Robert is referring to the truncating of alt tags, here. Like news
captions for pictures sent with press releases, the verbal description
of an image should enable a disabled person to “see” the full picture.
This can take a sentence or two in some cases.

Colin

On 8 Mar 2009, at 11:40, Paul Bradforth wrote:

On 8 Mar 2009, at 10:47, Rgator wrote:

Longer alt tags are basically a web standard and certainly not a
luxury as the programmers of Freeway seem to think. Imagine how the
blind feel about your statement.

I’m not sure who you’re talking to here as you haven’t quoted
anything. The Freeway list has been going for a very long time, and
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen people advising other people
that it’s a sin to leave your Alt tags blank, because of people with
disabilities. We are aware, thank you.
Please, Robert, read the manual, get to know the application a bit
more before you go blurting stuff out like this. It helps nobody,
least of all you. Try asking questions here, rather than making
statements.

best wishes,

Paul Bradforth

http://www.paulbradforth.com

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10

I agree with Rgator, many times I have been hindered with the length of a file name, and had to very much comprise with the maximum Freeway Pro allows.

There are times when I need a page like (poor example) but:

how-to-get-found-in-the-search-engines.php

If you have long technical or scientific words Freeway hinders you.

On 8 Mar 2009, 4:31 am, Rgator wrote:

Between every word you have a “-” instead of a space or a “_”. Now Google will see each word in a URL string of over 1000 characters!!! Those characters being the names of the folders and the pages.

If you can not do this with your web editing program, you’ve already lost the SEO game!

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11

Hi Robert and David,

I have added your names to a feature enhancement request that we
already have logged. If you want to request new features or
enhancements in the future then please feel free to contact us in
Support on support(a)softpress.com with them.

Many thanks for the feedback,

Joe

On 8 Mar 2009, at 13:02, David Owen wrote:

I agree with Rgator, many times I have been hindered with the
length of a file name, and had to very much comprise with the
maximum Freeway Pro allows.

There are times when I need a page like (poor example) but:

how-to-get-found-in-the-search-engines.php

If you have long technical or scientific words Freeway hinders you.

On 8 Mar 2009, 4:31 am, Rgator wrote:

Between every word you have a “-” instead of a space or a “_”. Now
Google will see each word in a URL string of over 1000
characters!!! Those characters being the names of the folders and
the pages.

If you can not do this with your web editing program, you’ve
already lost the SEO game!

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12

Thanks Joe,

I plan to make a list for you all soon. But truly, I (we) need for room for our file names. Every time I try to properly name a page, an image, an alt text slot, I am stop WELL short of what is practical for my needs.

Honestly, stopping the alt text at 26 characters should be considered a criminal act against the handicapped. I can not properly describe any decent image with only 26 characters and should not be forced to do so.

This example is considered = unfriendly software and it is the opposite of WYSIWYG, because I see me typing in a sentence and then I see your software taking it away! That is the opposite of WYSIWYG. My files names should never be over-ridden with by a software program.

Thanks,

Robert

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13

stopping the alt text at 26 characters should be considered a
criminal act against the handicapped.

You’ve said this before and it has been heard. So could you please
stop talking like this? If you really feel that that is so
absolutely true, go talk through a lawyer. If you’re using this as a
cudgel to get things the way you want, please… this is not helping.

Can I say just one more thing? Have you actually TRIED putting in a
long string of text into the alt text field and looking at the
published result? YES, it is a short LOOKING text field, and YES it
doesn’t look like you can scroll. But I just tested it by typing and
typing and typing… guess what? I have to navigate through the text
with the arrow keys (boring) but it ALL gets published. For example,
taken straight from the published source of an img tag:

alt=“angles is a short name but I am going to try and put far more
text into the alt text slot to see what I can get out of this little
text field.”

142 characters with no limit in sight. I suspected this was the case
as I was sure I had used far more than 26 characters in alt text
before. I was right. Go try it, and use the arrow keys to move about
in the text.

it is the opposite of WYSIWYG, because I see me typing in a sentence
and then I see your software taking it away!

Sorry, with the WYSIWYG chorus that keeps coming 'round I just have
to ask… do you get what you see?

:slight_smile:

k

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14

On Mar 9, 2009, at 2:06 PM, Keith Martin wrote:

142 characters with no limit in sight. I suspected this was the case
as I was sure I had used far more than 26 characters in alt text
before.

So have I! The only trouble I’ve had is making much sense of this
entire thread.

Richard

Richard Houston
Architectural Art
http://www.richardhoustonart.com

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15

Sounds like the arrow “feature” is defeating the purpose of the alt text and the programming needs to be fixed.

You all do not seem to be realizing that some of us building websites are in for a battle once the site is on the web and the ones with the best SEO win the battle. Not the best eye candy!!! Freeway immediately puts you behind your competition in this manner and as of this point in time, there is no way that you can have an equal edge with Freeway. In order for it to ever become a professional web tool, these things need to be fixed.

Yeah, the eye candy it produces is killer, but that is all useless without the most important factor of any website being there, SEO.

Just as I have read over the last couple years on Freeway, I have to now agree, Freeway is the SEO killer of all the applications for web editing. It is doubtful that there is more restrictive and less user friendly web editor SEO wise on the Mac market today.

After going through what I had to go through this last weekend and computing it out to what it will take to produce the website and SEO that I want, Freeway is going to cause somewhere between 50 to 75 EXTRA hours of SEO work that I would never have to do in GL 9 and that is a terrible fact to live with. It is amazingly bad how much extra work Freeway causes the user to go through on this subject.

Eye candy = professional

SEO layout = poor as all get out

That makes for a 2.5 out of 5 software product. I do not understand how Freeway got the high ratings it did. Honestly.

Robert

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16

To be honest if I was having the problems you seem to be having I would come to the conclusion that I had to move on, maybe GL9 is where you should be.

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17

Sometime around 9/3/09 (at 17:54 -0400) Rgator said:

Sounds like the arrow “feature” is defeating the purpose of the alt
text and the programming needs to be fixed.

Bwah?

Yes, the text field is small and navigating with the arrow keys far
from great. However, I have shown that you DO get exactly - as in
PRECISELY - what you claimed you didn’t get. You said alt text
couldn’t go past 26 characters, I showed that you can put as much as
you like in there. Was this a real complaint or are you really only
interested in bad-mouthing the tool?

It is doubtful that there is more restrictive and less user friendly
web editor SEO wise on the Mac market today.

“Panorama photographer” - #1 spot (and #2) out of 2.22 million, with
fairly little effort. Not so shabby. Smile, life is not as
black-and-white as you believe.

k

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18

I don’t know about the rest of you but I am ready to hear a great big
apology from Rgator about now.
So where is it?
Come on don’t be shy now.

Dave

On Mar 9, 2009, at 3:38 PM, Keith Martin wrote:

Sometime around 9/3/09 (at 17:54 -0400) Rgator said:

Sounds like the arrow “feature” is defeating the purpose of the alt
text and the programming needs to be fixed.

Bwah?

Yes, the text field is small and navigating with the arrow keys far
from great. However, I have shown that you DO get exactly - as in
PRECISELY - what you claimed you didn’t get. You said alt text
couldn’t go past 26 characters, I showed that you can put as much as
you like in there. Was this a real complaint or are you really only
interested in bad-mouthing the tool?

It is doubtful that there is more restrictive and less user
friendly web editor SEO wise on the Mac market today.

“Panorama photographer” - #1 spot (and #2) out of 2.22 million, with
fairly little effort. Not so shabby. Smile, life is not as black-and-
white as you believe.

k

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19

Don’t be so hard on Rgator. He’s just trying - sometimes very trying -
and, methinks, trying to hard too find the Holy Grail.

Colin

On 9 Mar 2009, at 22:43, studiodave wrote:

I don’t know about the rest of you but I am ready to hear a great
big apology from Rgator about now.
So where is it?
Come on don’t be shy now.

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20

Sometime around 9/3/09 (at 22:38 +0000) Keith Martin said:

I showed that you can put as much as you like in there.

However Robert is correct that the file and folder name length is
comparatively short. For people not trying to stuff keywords into
names this is rarely an issue, but it does limit that particular
thing.

BTW, Robert, you can extend the length slightly by going to the
Preferences window, clicking the Output tab, and changing the Max
Filename Length to 31 - the longest that it currently allows.

I’m not convinced that this is quite as crucial as it has been
billed, but I agree that it is certainly more than a minor point -
and I too would like to see the limit raised a long way. (And
Microsoft IIS be damned!)

k

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