I’ve recently discovered a blog called 120 Politics that I’ve added to my daily read list. They’ve begun a series of posts where a webguy examines the websites of the candidates for Governor. First up is a review of Karen Handel’s new site:
First Impression:
Your designers did a great job with the colors, the action of the images, the style and the content inside the site. But the flash landing page is a major problem for the search engines and user friendliness.
Key Problems:
1. No way to turn off the music (problem for many users and an instant way to lose the visitor)
2. Flash content on the landing page (problem for search engine spiders)
3. Site does not auto load after landing page flash runs (problem for many users who may ignore the skip intro link and leave immediately)
4. Less than sufficient reciprocal links.
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“Your designers did a great job with the colors, the action of the images, the style and the content inside the site.”
He’s joking, right? Gotta be. He’s definitely joking.
Bear in mind, the site design analysis featured in that article is provided courtesy of this guy:
http://www.web-magic.biz/
Yeah. I know.
What’s your beef against breast cancer, IAJP?
What kind of “reciprocal links” is a campaign Website supposed to have?
I’m saying A. Based upon his wretched, dated, clip art crazy personal business site, that dude has no business reviewing other sites. And B., for a statewide campaign, Handel’s site is extremely Web .075 (soft lens shots notwithstanding).
Hrmm… Georgia’s SEO Pro? I don’t think so Joe.
“Search Engine Positioning is the single most important part of your online success.”
Apparently the guy doesn’t think site design has anything to do with the equation.
Buzz, didn’t mean to bust on your thread. But that dude’s review is hilarious when you consider his own work.
From the guy’s site:
“Bringing business and customers together online since 1991″
Which, as it turns out, the last time he updated his site.
1991?
“Bringing business and customers together online since 1991″
On August 23rd, 1995, Microsoft released their Windows 95 operating system, including a Web browser called Internet Explorer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_websites_founded_before_1995
Now in Jan 1993 [when I moved back to US] I had AOL for Windows 3.1 running on a I386/33 and the same email address as I have today [1 of 5].
16 years with the same email what a luddite I’ve become.
No problem Jack, I wouldn’t have posted it if I didn’t want people to comment.
That guy seems to be less qualified than me to be talking about websites.
And I have no business reviewing websites.
I added myself to the byline of the post in question. I’m Greg Hoffman, owner of 120Politics.com. I didn’t want Randy to take all the heat.
From a search engine optimization standpoint, our review holds its own and no one can dispute that. But you can make fun of our designs all day. Our websites work. They attract the right audience and our service brings them back. That’s what is important to us.
Bill, have you looked at the vast amount of links that go to http://www.politicalvine.com? We should all be so lucky!
Every campaign out there should strive to find more links and your site should be the model they use…
I posted the link because I thought it was an interesting analysis of the site. Obviously the Handel folks are happy with it and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
As a political junkie who is particularly interested in the application of web technologies to campaigning, I’m always looking for new ideas about this stuff. I hate music on websites so I’m with them on that one, and SEO is a big deal. Flash hurts that but perhaps the Handel folks are not as concerned with that as lesser known candidates might be.
Anyway, I’ll be watching for future analyses.
“Every campaign out there should strive to find more links”
Please explain why.
“Flash hurts . . .”
Flash hurts when done poorly (see: karenhandel.com)
IAJP,
An important part of search engines ranking websites for relevancy is based on link popularity. The more links with more relevant keywords or phrases, the better chance to be found during searches.
Every candidate will rank for their own name in the search engines. But how many rank for “Republican Candidates for Georgia Governor”?
Unless the site is an absolute abomination, “SEO” is almost irrelevant to campaign websites. The search engines always rank the websites high, especially when you are a major candidate for Governor, since the campaigns are so specific and unique. There will be plenty enough links, from newspapers, blogs, etc.. going to the websites for the search engines to easily find them.
SEO is more for business websites like real estate, on-line stores, etc…, where competition for search engine rank is fierce.
Gorilla-
It’s a good point, but the search engines that will rank highest with keywords such as “GOP candidates for Gov of GA” will be general websites, listing all of the candidates.
With all due respect, akagorilla – you are correct purely from a SEO position (for those of you more-politically than web oriented “search engine optimization” I find it a bit awkward that you would make comments regarding the site’s color choices and use of flash. They seem to be out of your area of expertise, not that they aren’t valid opinions.
I don’t mean to be as brash as perhaps I come off as, but from having coded and assisted in the design of websites for many years – I can say that it seems like the reviewer websites are stuck in web 1.0 (nothing wrong with that, so is mine) and to a large degree the candidate’s websites are as well.
I’m sure a design professional would most likely give a different commentary than you or I would. But hey, I’m sure you would disagree with them on matters of proper SEO.
Gorilla,
Thanks for the kudos on PV. But, why don’t you consider a campaign website to basically be “destination website?”
Meaning, if someone is looking for info on “Karen Handel”, that site is the first site on the list.
When you have the name of the object (in this case, Karen Handel) in the domain name, I don’t believe you have to do much else. The only purpose of SEO is to help drive your site (organically) to the top of search lists.
Her’s is up there at the top on Yahoo! And, on Google, she has both a sponsored link and an organic link at the top.
I have to agree that SEO isn’t that important in regards to a campaign website as say, a blog or retail website. People who look for a Karen Handel’s site will goole Karen Handel (just continuing the example), not necessarily “2009 governor candidate”.
As for linking though, that’s going to happen more than enough with all of the state’s political bloggers writing about the various candidates. It’ll boost up the popularity a good bit as it is. So even though it’s not as necessary with campaign websites, it won’t matter. It’ll take care of itself more or less.
From the Oxendine webiste – this is rich:
“John served as a student aid to Gov. George Busbee, who was the first Governor in Georgia’s history elected to two consecutive four year terms.
John’s natural leadership skills and aptitude for campaigning soon paved the way for bigger responsibilities. He agreed to work as a campaign staff member for the successful election of Gov. Joe Frank Harris – a long-serving leader often credited with helping make Georgia a thriving economic engine.”
Shouldn’t “student aid” be “student aide” ? Maybe not. Joe Frank Harris, a Georgia Governor who employed Oxendine, was famous for spelling “peanut” as “penut”.
I don’t like Hangnail’s site one bit. When I tried going to it earlier, my computer crashed. Figures.
Here is my problem with (some) campaign sites. If you want to contact them, you have to fill out a little box of information and get signed up for their e-newsletter. I wish people would just go back to displaying a phone number and an e-mail to use.
Nindy,
Your computer crashed because you were multi-tasking between the porn sites you were gazing at.
GOPGeorge
Good point. It’s as if the campaign really doesn’t want to hear from you unless it’s Election Day.
Nindy,
Your computer crashed because it was a woman’s site and women aren’t allowed in your world.
Your computer crashed because you were multi-tasking between the porn sites you were gazing at.
I don’t look at porn. I only look at stuff that has to do with Politics, Music, and Weather.
Nindy,
What music do you like?
What music do you like?
Rock, specifically Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Eagles, Boston, and Foreigner.
now I know you’re older than 26.
But I’ll go along with you living in a trailer held together by duct tape.
Have those bands come out with any new songs in the last…20 years?
now I know you’re older than 26.
But I’ll go along with you living in a trailer held together by duct tape.
No, I’m 26. I grew up listening to that music. I also don’t live in that trailer anymore.
Have those bands come out with any new songs in the last…20 years?
LS’s last music came out in 2000 I believe. Boston’s “Corporate America” came out in 2003, and The Eagles’s “Long Road out of Eden” came out in 2007. No new Foreigner Albums as of yet.
Indy,good music taste,add some Allman Bros , Grateful Dead , cold beer and kickback!!!!!!!!!
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