Looking through websites is a daily thing now—we use it for practically everything at this point. So, you can imagine how seeing server errors, like HTTP 503 Service Unavailable popping up on your screen, can be pretty frustrating. 

For most, seeing this message means we’ll just bounce and head over to the next-best website that can give us what we’re looking for.

But if you’re like me and managing a website of your own, then this error is something you’d want to avoid completely. 

What is the HTTP 503 Service Unavailable Error?

A Service Unavailable Error is an HTTP status code that your browser shows when it tries to visit a website but the server hosting is unable to process the request at that time. 

In layman’s terms, it means your server is overloaded or down for maintenance. That makes it unable to provide the content and resources any user is requesting at that moment. 

Webmaster’s Note: This post is part of our advanced guide to Technical SEO, where I cover everything you need to know about crawlability, indexing, and page speed optimization, as well as helpful tips on how to troubleshoot common website errors. I also cover other 5xx errors, including 500 Internal Server errors, 501 Not Implemented errors, and 502 Bad Gateway errors, in other posts.

Like other 5xx errors, websites can show a 503 error in many different ways. 

Variations of the 503 Service Unavailable Error

• 503 Service Unavailable
• 503 Service Temporarily Unavailable
• HTTP Server Error 503
• HTTP Error 503
• Error 503 Service Unavailable

503 vs. 404 vs. 500 Errors

How is this different from other errors, like a 404 “Not Found” or 500 Internal Server Error?

Well, 404s only happen when the requested web page can’t be found on the server, usually because it’s been deleted or the URL has been changed. It’s like looking for a book on a library shelf only to realize it’s not in its proper place—or thrown out entirely. If you’re seeing them on your website, check out my other guide on how to find 404 pages and fix them. 

The 503 Service Unavailable error, on the other hand, is related to the server’s current capacity. When it pops up, it’s a clear sign that the server just can’t accommodate your request due to the server being temporarily overloaded or undergoing maintenance. It’s similar to a business displaying a virtual “back in a moment” sign. 

But isn’t that pretty similar to a 500 error? Not really. 500 errors happen when your server is dealing with an issue that prevents it from handling the request, while a 503 error happens when the server is still functioning properly and can process the request—but just can’t at the moment.

How to Fix the 503 Service Unavailable Error

Since the error message doesn’t indicate what, exactly, is causing the 503 error, you will need to troubleshoot it methodically to fix it.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Reboot your server
2. Check for server maintenance
3. Temporarily stop running processes
4. Temporarily disable your plugins and website theme
5. Temporarily disable your CD
6. Check your DNS.
7. Increase your server’s resources. 

Reboot your Server

One of the simplest solutions to a 503 error is to restart your web server. If your application is spread over multiple servers, you will have to restart all of them properly to bring the system back online as normal.

Check for Server or Web Maintenance

Either your server or application can be configured to automatically undergo maintenance. This is common if you’re using content management systems, like WordPress, which can be set to automatically download and install updates to their base software, without any action on your end. 

When this happens, your website can return 503 Service Unavailable Error during this period. 

If you have administrator access to your application or server, check its settings for automatic maintenance scheduling. You can disable this if you want to manually handle the updating process and avoid unexpected maintenance. 

Temporarily Stop Running Processes

Your server might be exceeding the maximum process limit, which is what happens when it’s running too many processes simultaneously, and overloading itself. When it does, it can stop working—resulting in a 503 error. 

To get your website back online, you will need to temporarily stop running processes. 

Keep in mind this fix won’t solve the error itself, it’ll just allow your website to go back online. You will need to investigate further into what plugins you have installed in your application that are causing many processes to run simultaneously.

Temporarily Disable your Plugins and Website Theme

Poorly-coded themes and conflicting plugins can up resources, create bottlenecks, and prevent your application from loading properly.

If the previous fixes didn’t work, you will have to take a closer look at what you have installed on your application.

If you started seeing 503s after installing a new plugin, then it’s a likely culprit. Otherwise, you will need to disable all of them, and enable them one by one to test which one is causing problems. 

For theme errors, you will need to set your website back to whichever default themes your CMS offers. In the meantime, you should get your theme fixed by your web designer and web developer team. 

Temporarily Disable your Content Delivery Network (CDN)

CDNs can also cause 503 errors. If you think this might be the case for your website, you should temporarily disable your CDN. Every CDN should have a feature or setting where you can pause its services.

Wait a while before turning it back on, and check if your website is working after the reboot. 

Check your DNS

The 503 error could be a DNS-related issue. This covers unresolved IP addresses, unresponsive DNS servers, and corrupted DNS caches. If your DNS is set up properly, and there’s no problem with your DNS server, then the best way to solve this is to flush your DNS.

How this is done depends on your operating system.

Microsoft Windows

Open the command prompt and input:

ipconfig /flushdns

This will clear out the DNS files and restart the resolver cache, You should see a confirmation message once this is done.

macOS

Press F4 to open your Terminal. Run the command:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Google Chrome

Open the browser, and enter this URL into the address bar:

chrome://net-internals/#dns

You will see an internal setting page. Select “Clear host cache.”

Increase your Server’s Resources

If after all this troubleshooting you’re still seeing that 503 Service Unavailable error message, then there’s a good chance that it might be caused by a lack of server resources. 

This is especially common if you’re using a cheap hosting service, as they tend to throttle resources. 

To fix this, you will need to either migrate to a new service provider or upgrade your hosting plan. However, before you decide on either one, you should contact your provider’s support service and inform them of the 503 Service Unavailable errors, and what you’ve currently done to try and solve it.

The support team might be able to help you work out the cause by investigating on their end, and advise you on what the next best step might be for your website. 

What Causes of the 503 Errors?

It helps to know what the most common causes of this error are, so you can work through the list and diagnose the source of the problem. 

Here are some typical 503 error causes.

1. Traffic overload.
2. Server maintenance.
3. Server overload.
4. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
5. Backend system failure.
6. DNS issues.

Traffic Overload

A sudden, massive increase in website traffic is one of the main causes of the error. The surge in visitors is something to be happy about—especially if it’s the cause of your SEO efforts—but if your server doesn’t have the resources or bandwidth to handle them, then it’s going to conk out.

It also becomes a problem if there’s a high volume of requests, such as if your website is running a sale or promo on your products, and a ton of people are trying to check out. 

Server Maintenance

If you’re working with a web hosting service, then they may have briefly taken down the server for maintenance. 

While it can be inconvenient for your website, it’s temporary—and it’s a crucial step in ensuring any website on its servers is safe and running smoothly. 

Make sure to communicate with your service provider, so you know when they have scheduled maintenance. I also recommend displaying a maintenance page with a specific period and alternate contact details to let any visitors know that your website is only down temporarily.

Server Overload

Your server needs enough resources to deal with even light traffic. But, resources can be strained from setup errors, such as inadequate memory, CPU processing power limitations, or network congestion. 

These problems may be avoided and server performance can be enhanced by carefully optimizing server settings, load balancers, and caching systems.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

DDoS attacks are a serious risk to the availability of websites. When these happen, a network of infected devices overwhelms the server of a website with a huge amount of fictitious requests, limiting its ability to serve actual users. 

In response, the server will send a 503 Service Unavailable error as a protective measure. This prevents access to the website throughout the assault. 

Backend System Failures

Websites process and provide content to users through a variety of backend systems, databases, and APIs. Any cog in this machine failing will result in the server being unable to process requests. 

DNS Issues

It can also be caused by Domain Name System (DNS) problems, such as incorrect configuration, server outages, or propagation delays, which prevent the server from finding the requested URL. 

How to Avoid HTTP 503 Service Unavailable

The good news for you is that there are several things you can do to prevent this kind of server-side error from happening to your website, such as:

Scalable Hosting Solutions

Pick a web development and hosting company that provides cloud hosting or other scalable alternatives. They can also dynamically modify server resources depending on changes in traffic thanks to scalable hosting. This guarantees that your website can manage unexpected traffic surges without running the danger of service interruption.

Use a CDN

CDNs are used to spread the content of your website over several servers in various regions. CDNs will cache and provide content from the closest server to the user. When used right, it helps drastically improve site speed, and lessen the burden on your server. 

Monitor Server Resources

Keep an eye on how often the server’s resources, such as its CPU, RAM, and bandwidth, are being used. Real-time monitoring makes it possible to spot potential resource constraints and take preventative measures before they result in service outages.

Optimize Backend Systems

Make sure that the databases, APIs, and backend systems of your website are all performance optimized. Use effective coding techniques, utilize caching tools, and improve database query performance to lessen server load and avoid errors.

Load Testing

You can test if your servers can handle higher traffic through load testing. Doing this can show your server’s capacity, and help you spot performance hiccups. I recommend doing this to take care of any problems before they get out of hand.

Implement DDoS Protection

To identify and stop DDoS assaults, use a reliable DDoS prevention service. DDoS defense systems protect your server from malicious traffic, keeping the service accessible to authorized users.

Monitor DNS Health

Examine your DNS setups often for errors. Make sure your DNS settings are accurate and take immediate action to resolve any DNS-related problems that might result in service interruption.

Custom Error Pages

Make custom error pages for your users to see, in case a 503 error happens on your website. You should add a short message about the temporary disruption, projected downtime, and other ways to contact your company in the meantime. 

Doing this can help potential customers reach your business even if your website is temporarily down.  

How 503 Service Unavailable Errors Affect Your Website’s SEO

Server-side errors, especially 503s, can have a significant impact on your SEO. 

• Crawling and Indexing Issues – If a crawl bot sees 503 errors on your website, then it understands that your server is momentarily unavailable. In response, it will stop crawling your website for a time, which in turn means your website might have problems with indexing. 
• Decline in Rankings – If Google sees that your website is dealing with 503 errors more than just occasionally, it takes that as an indication of untrustworthy content and a subpar user experience. Remember that user experience is a ranking factor, so it makes sense that this kind of issue can push Google to bump you lower in the rankings.
• Dropped Pages from Index – Google’s crawl bots may ultimately decide to de-index your pages if they’re seeing the same 503 errors again and again on your website. Getting those same pages back on Google’s search results will take some time, leaving your old positions open for the taking by your competitors.
• Loss of User Trust – Imagine you’re one of your users. What do you think will happen if they find your website routinely returns Server Unavailable errors? Odds are, they’ll remember this experience and start avoiding your website. 503 errors risk your website losing its users’ confidence. If users leave your pages and decide to not come back, your user engagement metrics will suffer, and so will your rankings.
• Impact on Crawl Budget – Each website has a crawl budget that search engines use to decide how frequently and thoroughly they will explore its pages. Your crawl budget is reduced when search bots encounter errors because fewer resources are available to explore other crucial pages. The indexing and discovery of fresh content on your website may suffer as a result.
• Backlink Loss – Your linkbuilding efforts might suffer too. Other webmasters might notice that their links back to your website are leading to a 503 error, which can lead to them removing your link on their content, or another link builder stealing that link from you. If you end up losing a ton of backlinks due to frequent 503 errors, then that will have a huge negative impact on your website’s authority and search rankings, and ultimately your SEO.

Key Takeaway

503 server errors should only pop up when your website is in maintenance mode, but if you’re unlucky, it can happen at any time—you might be staring at that error message on your screen right now.

If you are, you need to roll up your sleeves and do some troubleshooting. Keep this guide in mind to get at the root cause of your 503 errors, and get your website back up again before it starts impacting your user experience (and SEO).

The post How To Fix HTTP 503 Service Unavailable Error appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

You visit your website, and wait for it to load…but you see nothing but a message: 502 Bad Gateway.

If you’re seeing this, you might be wondering what it means–and what you should do to get your website to load properly. 

Lucky for you, this post explains what a 502 Bad Gateway error is, what causes it, and what you need to do to fix it.

What is a 502 Bad Gateway Error?

A 502 Bad Gateway error is your web browser telling you: “Hey, I tried to fulfill your request, but the server I contacted to get the information sent back something I didn’t understand.”

Whenever you load your website (or any website, really), you connect with the server that the website is hosted on to fetch all of the bits you need to load the page. 

When something in this process doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to, then you’re greeted with an error message. If that message says “502 Bad Gateway,” then the error is a server-side error that’s potentially caused by things like server overload or an invalid response from an upstream server – but more on that later. 

Webmaster’s Note: This post is part of our advanced guide to Technical SEO, where I cover everything you need to know about crawlability, indexing, and page speed optimization, as well as helpful tips on how to troubleshoot common website errors. I also cover other 5xx errors, like 500 Internal Server errors and 501 Not Implemented errors, in other posts.

Like other 5xx errors, websites can show this error message in different ways. 

Variations of the 501 Not Implemented Error

• 502 Bad Gateway
• 502 Service Temporarily Overloaded
• Error 502
• Temporary Error (502)
• 502 Proxy Error
• 502 Server Error: The server encountered a temporary error and could not complete your request
• HTTP 502
• Bad Gateway: The proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server
• HTTP Error 502: Bad Gateway

How To Fix the 502 Bad Gateway Error

Several issues can return a 502 Bad Gateway error, so fixing it will take some time, patience, and a systematic approach. Here are the key things to do if you’re dealing with a 502 error on your website:

1. Refresh your browser.
2. Review server logs.
3. Check server load.
4. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
5. Check your plugins and themes.
6. Check your firewall.
7. Check your CDN.
8. Check your DNS.
9. Verify application code.
10. Contact your hosting provider.

Refresh Your Browser

The simplest initial step to resolve a 502 error is to refresh your browser. The issue may be temporary and reloading the webpage will quickly solve the problem.

Review Server Logs

Server logs hold valuable information and can shed light on what’s causing the issue. Look for any error messages or notifications that coincide with the 502 error.

Check Server Load

If your server is under high load, it might not be able to handle HTTP requests properly. Consider using server monitoring tools to regularly check server health, including CPU and memory usage.

Clear Your Browser’s Cache and Cookies

Sometimes old data from your browser’s cache or cookies can trigger a 502 error. Clearing your browser’s cache and cookies might resolve the issue.

Check Your Plugins and Themes

If you’re using platforms like WordPress, a faulty plugin or theme could be the culprit. Deactivate them one by one to check if any of them is causing the problem.

Check Your Firewall

Your firewall is important–it’s what protects your website from malicious visitors or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. But, if it’s not properly set-up, or too restrictive, then your firewall settings might be interfering with the HTTP request that your server is trying to perform. Make sure your firewall is correctly configured to allow these requests.

Check Your CDN

If you’re using a Content Delivery Network (CDN) it might be the source of the error. Disable it temporarily to check if it resolves the problem. Here’s a guide I recommend following to check if your CDN is working as it should.

Check your DNS

502 errors can happen if you’ve recently changed your host server, or moved your website to a different IP address. Doing this will make changes to your website’s Domain Name System (DNS) server, which can take a few hours to take full effect. While this is taking effect (which can last up to a few hours), any users visiting your website can encounter a 502 Bad Gateway Error.

Verify Application Code

A bug or issue within your application code can result in a 502 error. You’ll need to comb through your website’s code to find bugs in your application. Or, you can copy your code into a development machine. This tool can simulate the situation that the error popped up, and show you the exact moment when things went wrong. 

Contact Your Hosting Provider

If you’ve tried the above steps and are still encountering the error, it’s time to contact your service provider. There may be issues with the server that they will have to fix on their side. Or, if it’s a problem affecting just your website, they might be able to walk you through the appropriate solution.

What Causes 502 Errors?

A 502 Bad Gateway error commonly arises from communication issues between servers. It’s often challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of this error without a deep dive. However, here are some of the most common reasons 502 errors happen:

1. Server overload.
2. Network issues.
3. Issues with browser cache and cookies.
4. Restrictive firewall and security settings.
5. Faulty programming.
6. Server miscommunication.

Server Overload

This can occur due to a spike in traffic, server maintenance, or hosting issues, causing a server to respond with a 502 error.

Network Issues

Problems with the network, including unstable internet connections or DNS issues, can interfere with the proper communication between servers.

Browser Caches and Cookies

Sometimes, your browser may struggle with corrupt caches and cookies, causing this error.

Firewall and Security Settings

Overly restrictive firewall or security settings can prevent servers from communicating effectively, leading to a 502 gateway error.

Faulty Programming

An error in server-side scripting or a programming mistake can also trigger a 502 Bad Gateway Error.

Server Miscommunications

Incorrectly configured or incompatible servers may have trouble understanding each other’s responses, resulting in a 502 error.

Understanding these causes is the first step toward fixing and preventing future 502 Bad Gateway errors. This knowledge, as executed accurately, can significantly increase your website’s performance and overall user experience.

How 502 Bad Gateway Errors Affect Your SEO

Remember that your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) doesn’t just depend on your content or off-page efforts, but also on things like user experience. So it’s not enough that you churn out content every week, or build up tons of link juice from high-authority websites, you also have to make it a point to maintain an easy-to-use, fully-functioning website. It’s why I even offer web development services for my clients.

Any problem happening on your website that disrupts your users’ experience—such as a 502 error—can impact your website’s ranking. Here’s how:

• Crawl Errors–When search engines crawl your website for indexing purposes, they face the same 502 errors that any user would. Consequently, the search engine can’t access the content it’s supposed to index, rendering that page invisible in search engine results. Continued crawl errors can cause your site to drop in search result rankings over time.
  Note: You can use SEO tools or Google Search Console to see if you’re experiencing 502 errors. In Google Search Console, you need to check the Pages section under indexing, and you’ll see any 5xx errors listed in the report.
• Increased Bounce Rate–A 502 error affects user experience negatively. When visitors encounter this error they often leave your site immediately – or ‘bounce’. Search engines measure this ‘bounce rate’, and high bounce rates can lead to decreases in your site’s rankings, as it signals to search engines that your site may not be high quality or relevant to the user’s search query.
  Note: Universal Analytics used to report Bounce Rate, but on Google Analytics 4 (GA4) you’ll only see Engagement Time and Engaged Sessions per User. To find Bounce Rate on GA4, you need to search for it on the search bar on top, like this.
• Site Speed Impact–Frequent 502 errors could indicate an overloaded server, which may affect your website’s loading speed. Search engines consider site speed in their ranking algorithm, with slower sites potentially appearing lower in the search results.

Fixing any 502 Bad Gateway errors when you find them is crucial to keeping your rankings and offering your users an optimal browsing experience.

Key Takeaway

Navigating the often complex world of website management for SEO includes understanding server-side errors such as the 502 Bad Gateway. This error, while seemingly just a minor technical mistake, can still disrupt your website’s functionality, your audience’s user experience, and, ultimately, your website’s rankings.

For SEO professionals, knowing how to handle these server errors is not a choice but a necessity. Keep this guide in mind the next time you see that error message of “502: Bad Gateway Error” to effectively solve this problem on your website.

The post How To Fix 502 Bad Gateway Error appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

Though uncommon, seeing an HTTP 501 Not Implemented error status code can be an alarming experience for those who see it—especially when it’s on your website. 

It’s unfamiliar, and entirely server-based, which means that fixing it requires some dabbling in the technical side of running a website. That’s something that not all SEOs or webmasters are experts at. 

But don’t panic just yet, because there are four easy methods you can try to fix your 501 errors, and I will go through each one here (plus some other useful information you’ll need moving forward).

What is the HTTP 501 Not Implemented Error?

Whenever you visit a website, your browser sends a request to that website’s server. If everything works as it should, then the website receives the requested data—which includes text, images, files, and whatever else should be on that page.

However, when something goes wrong with that request, your screen can show a “501 Not Implemented” error.

When this happens, In technical speak, it means that the server does not support the requested feature. In layman’s terms, it means something has gone wrong with the hosting server, which is legitimately unable to perform that “get” action and retrieve the data you’re asking for, for one reason or another.

The data you’re requesting is still there. It’s just being walled off from you and the hosting server itself might be offline or unavailable as a result.

Now, this might show up differently based on the web browser, web server, and operating system you use. 

Variations of the 501 Not Implemented Error

• Error 501
• HTTP 501
• 501 Not Implemented
• HTTP Error 501 Not Implemented

501 vs. 405 Error

These two errors both result in the data you’re requesting not being delivered to your browser. However, the difference is that a 405 Not Allowed error is a server administrator issue, while a 501 Not Implemented error is a hosting server issue.

Think of it this way: a 405 means “I am not allowing you to get what you’re asking for,” while a 501 means “I know what you want, but I am unable to get what you’re asking for.”

So a 405 means nothing is technically wrong with the website—your request is just being blocked on purpose. If you’re seeing that, try contacting the server administrators.

Webmaster’s Note: This is part of our more comprehensive guide to Technical SEO, where I cover everything you need to know about crawlability, indexing, and page speed optimization, as well as helpful tips on how to troubleshoot common website errors. I also cover other 5xx errors, like 500 Internal Server errors, in other posts.

How to fix the HTTP 501 Not Implemented Error

There are four ways to address a 501 error on a website:

1. Reload the page.
2. Clear your browser cache.
3. Disable proxy settings.
4. Scan your computer for viruses.
5. Contact the server host.

The first three are things you can do on your side to resolve the 501 error, which I suggest you do first. Here’s how:

Reload the page

The easiest thing you can do is just wait a minute and then reload the page (F5 or Ctrl + F5 for Windows, Command + R for Mac). The server might be able to resolve its issue while you’re waiting, and once you reload you’ll get the data you’re requesting. This is common if the website is experiencing a server overload or traffic surge.

While you’re waiting, try using a different browser to open the page to rule that out as an issue. 

Another thing to do while you’re waiting is copy-pasting the domain URL into this website: https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/, which will tell you if the problem you’re facing is just on your site, or a thing for everyone else. 

Clear your browser cache

If refreshing the page doesn’t work, it’s time to move on to the next step: clearing your browser cache. 

The shortcut that works for most browsers (such as Google Chrome and Edge) is hitting Ctrl + Shift + Delete while you’re on your browser. This will quickly clear your cache. If that doesn’t work, you can find the option under your browser settings, or check out the specific instructions on how to clear your cache in the various browsers.

Disable proxy settings

If the previous two steps aren’t solving anything, it’s time to check your proxy settings if you’re using a proxy service.

The exact steps to disable your proxy settings depend on your operating system, but you can usually find this under the Network & Internet section of your system settings. Once you’re there, you can either turn off the “automatically detect settings” option under the automatic proxy setup or disable a proxy server option under the manual proxy setup. 

Scan your computer for viruses

As I mentioned, sometimes this error pops up when you’re dealing with a virus or malware. It’s a good idea to have your computer scanned for those—and make sure that your antivirus program is updated while you’re at it. 

Contact the server host

If all else fails, then it’s time to reach out to the server host. 

501 errors, though they can sometimes be solved on your own, are almost always an issue with your host server. 

So, if the last three steps haven’t resolved the problem, you need to contact them ASAP. If you can’t then check your host’s status page.

How to Fix the HTTP 501 Not Implemented Error If You Manage the Server

Fixing this issue when you’re the server host is a whole different process. First, I recommend consulting the documentation for your server and applications. I also highly recommend working closely with your IT department at this time. 

Here are some ways you can fix an HTTP 501 Not Implemented Error if you manage your server:

1. Check if your server supports the requested feature.
2. Upgrade your server.
3. Configure (or reconfigure) your server.
4. Look for any missing modules or applications.
5. Check the client request.

Check if your server supports the requested feature

The first thing to check is if your server actually supports the feature or functionality that the user is requesting. If your server does not support it, you will have to use an alternative method to meet that request (one that is supported by your server). 

Upgrade your server

Your server stack might be outdated. If this is the case, then this is what is causing your server to not be able to support the requests of the user. To fix this, you can upgrade or update your stack to newer versions, to support the requested feature or functionality.

If that doesn’t work, then try updating the web application your website runs on—such as WordPress. These applications have frequent updates so it’s best if you keep up with that.

If you can still access your web application’s dashboard, then try running the update.

Note: Make sure any plugins you have installed on your web application are compatible with the update you’re about to install. 

Configure (or reconfigure) your server

Make sure that your server is configured to handle the requested feature or functionality. You will have to take a look at your server settings, software, and plugins, and see where you need to adjust, reinstall or update, or make other configuration changes.

Look for any missing modules or applications

Another thing to check (if the previous steps haven’t fixed the problem) is if there are any missing modules for your web server. Make sure that you have the ones that you need installed.

Check the client request

If nothing else works, then you have to check if the client is making the request correctly and is using a method that is supported by your server. At times, the 501 error can be caused by the client using an unsupported protocol.

If this is the case, then use an alternative protocol that is supported by your server.

What Causes the HTTP 501 Not Implemented Error?

Some of the most common issues your host might be dealing with for a 501 error to happen include:

1. Viruses and malicious files
2. An outdated server stack or software
3. Server error
4. An overloaded server
5. Billing issues

Viruses and malicious files

The server’s inability to get and send the data your browser is requesting might be because of a virus or malicious file in the website’s system. 

This is something you need to check if you’re experiencing persistent or repetitive 501 errors on your website. Run a complete malware scan to find any security issues in the system that could cause a communication failure.

If you’re using WordPress, I also have a guide on how to scan your WordPress site for better security and to prevent any malicious files.

An outdated server stack or software

Server stacks, which are a combination of software programs that make up your web server, are something that your host needs to keep updated for the hosted websites to run smoothly.

It’s uncommon, but the server stack your provider is using can get outdated. You can contact your host to make sure that isn’t the case—but if it is, calling their attention to it can get them to update their server stack. 

Server error

Often, a 501 can be a sign that your server is unable to accommodate the requested feature or functionality—which means it’s unable to appropriately respond to the end-user browser request.  This means that whoever is managing your server needs to take another look at the server stack and how it’s configured (which might be done in-house, or by your provider). 

An overloaded server

If a website gets more traffic than usual or anticipated, chances are the host server is not equipped to handle that surge of visitors. As a result, their requests might not get fulfilled by your host server, resulting in a 501 Not Implemented error. 

If this happens often, consider scaling up your server plan to accommodate your growing audience.

Billing issues

If you’re behind on your server hosting payments, then it’s possible your provider has decided to default your site to 501 status while your payment is pending. This can be their last resort before removing the account altogether. So make sure you’re on top of your service payments.

How HTTP 501 Error Impacts SEO

Even if the error is server-side (and likely out of your control, if you’re working with a hosting service), keep in mind that longstanding or repetitive 501 errors on your website is something you can’t ignore. 

Here’s the thing: any error that doesn’t allow your audience to see your website properly will affect your business. This includes your SEO and its effectiveness. 501s in particular  can have a major effect on your SEO. 

Now, Google has a little grace when dealing with server errors. If it sees a 501 error, the page is marked for revisitation. Usually, when it comes back to check, the error is already fixed. If, however, the error lasts for an extended period of time (like a day or two), then Google might mark your website as inaccessible, which might lead to it de-indexing any of your affected pages. 

De-indexing is a huge problem—you lose your rankings for any pages removed from the search results, which you’re not guaranteed to get back even if you restore the pages. 

To make matters worse, if Google encounters plenty of 501 errors on your website, it will reduce the frequency at which its bots crawl your site. That means slower indexing and ranking updates. 

So, knowing how to fix 501 Not Implemented errors—and how to avoid the issue in the first place—is a must for SEOs and webmasters. 

How to Prevent 501 Errors from Hurting Your SEO

Monitor your site regularly for errors. You can find server errors Google Search Console’s indexing reports:

Or, you can scan your website using third-party SEO auditing tools, like Screamingfrog (A tool my team and I use personally). 

If these scans show any 501 errors, you can work to fix them by following the steps outlined in the previous sections.

Key Takeaway

Seeing a 501 Not Implemented error means that your server is unable to process your browser’s requests, preventing pages from being loaded properly. 

This can be solved with a few easy fixes on your end, such as refreshing the page or clearing your cache—and if that doesn’t work, then you’ll have to work with your hosting provider to resolve these errors. This is a must as 501 Not Implemented errors on your website can ultimately impact your SEO, especially if it affects your website for more than a few hours.

The post How to Fix a HTTP 501 Not Implemented Error appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

No one likes opening a webpage and seeing a 500 internal server error message—especially when it’s on your own website.

The problem with seeing this is the mystery behind it: a 500 internal server error is a very general HTTP status code with no definitive clues as to what is causing it. 

If you’re seeing one now and are stumped, don’t worry. We can help you find what’s wrong, and what you need to do to fix it.

What is a Website Status Code?

Also known as a HTTP status code, these are a series of numbers that equates to a certain status of a webpage that you are currently viewing.

Whenever you visit a website, your browser sends a request to its server. The server then processes it, and sends back the resources needed to load whichever page you’re requesting. Attached to that is an HTTP header as well as a status code. 

If everything can load fine, that status code is a 200. If there’s something wrong, it could be a 500 status code.

Webmaster’s Note: This is part of our more comprehensive guide to Technical SEO, where I cover everything you need to know about crawlability, indexing, and page speed optimization, as well as helpful tips on how to troubleshoot common website errors. 

What are 500 Internal Server Errors?

The 500 Internal Server Error, also known as HTTP Error 500, is a server response that indicates an unexpected problem preventing the server from fulfilling the user’s request. 

In simpler words, it’s a general message from your server saying “There’s a problem, but I’m not sure what.” 

So if you’re seeing one now, then it is important to understand that the issue is not due to the user’s browser, internet connection, or device. Instead, the problem lies with the server that hosts the website. This server-side error can manifest in various messages, as different websites may display their own variations of the 500 error.

Here are some of the different variations of the 500 Internal Server Error:

• 500 Internal Server Error
• Internal Server Error 500
• HTTP Error 500
• HTTP Status 500 – Internal Server Error
• Error 500 Internal Server Error
• 500 Error
• Temporary Error (500)
• 500 – Server Error
• The website cannot display the page – HTTP 500.

Causes of 500 Internal Server Errors

The generic 500 server error can be challenging to pinpoint, because it is a general error—it does not point to any specific cause from the get-go. This means you have to dig into your website to find the cause. 

But the good news is there are some likely culprits you can look at first:

• Browser Cache: Clearing your browser cache can help resolve the issue by ensuring that you are accessing the most up-to-date version of the website.
• Database Issues: Incorrect login credentials or a corrupt database can trigger a 500 error. Double-check that the credentials are correct and consider repairing or optimizing the database.
• Corrupted Files: If the core files of a WordPress website become corrupted, it can lead to a 500 error. Restoring or updating these files can help resolve the issue.
• Server and Disk Space: Issues within the server, such as running out of disk space or PHP memory limit exhaustion, can result in a 500 error. Contact your hosting provider to address these server-related issues.
• File Permissions and .htaccess: Incorrect file or folder permissions, as well as a corrupt or broken .htaccess file, can cause a 500 error. Double-check these settings and make necessary adjustments.
• Third-Party Plugins and Themes: Compatibility issues or errors within third-party plugins or themes can trigger a 500 error. Disable or remove these elements one by one to identify the problematic ones.
• Malware infections: Malicious software can compromise your website’s functionality and trigger internal server errors. For example, if a hacker injects a piece of malicious code into your website’s files, it can disrupt the server’s operation and result in a 500 error.
• Broken script injections: Hackers can inject malicious scripts into your website’s code, which may cause conflicts and result in internal server errors.
  

By understanding these potential causes, you can take the necessary steps to address them and resolve the 500 internal server errors. 

Troubleshooting 500 Internal Server Errors

To resolve 500 internal server errors and get your website back online, you could follow these detailed troubleshooting steps:

Clear Your Browser Cache 

Before diving into complex troubleshooting steps, clearing your browser cache is a good starting point. By clearing the cache, you ensure that any previously stored data or cached versions of the website are removed, allowing for a fresh attempt at accessing the site.

This can be especially helpful if the error was caused by a previous version of the website being cached locally on your device.

• Example: Let’s say you are using Google Chrome. To clear your browser cache, you would click on the three dots icon at the top right of the browser window, go to “More tools,” select “Clear browsing data,” choose a time range or “All time” option, and finally, click “Clear data” to remove the cached files.

Reload the Page 

After encountering a 500 error, it is worth waiting a minute and then attempting to reload the page. 

The error can be temporary if it occurs due to server overload or maintenance. By reloading the page, you give the server a chance to resolve the issue and send a proper response.

• Example: You visit a news website and encounter a 500 internal server error while trying to access an article. Instead of immediately assuming a problem with your device, you wait for a moment and then press F5 or Ctrl + F5 to refresh the page. If the server overload was the cause, the website would likely be accessible again after the reload.

Check for Recently Installed or Updated Software 

If the 500 error persists, it is important to investigate whether any recently installed or updated software on your website may be causing conflicts. 

This could include plugins, themes, or any other website components that have undergone changes.

• Example: You recently updated the content management system (CMS) of your WordPress website, and shortly after, you start experiencing 500 Errors. To troubleshoot the issue, you can compare the date of the CMS update with the start of the errors. If they align, it may indicate that the update caused compatibility issues or conflicts with other plugins or themes.

Check for Server-side Errors

Review your server’s error logs to identify any specific error messages or patterns. These logs can provide valuable insights into the underlying issues causing Error 500.

• Example: A server error log indicating database connection failures may indicate a misconfiguration in your website’s database settings, leading to 500 internal server errors.

Review Error Logs

Look for recurring errors or warnings that may indicate underlying issues. Correlate timestamps with user-reported errors if applicable to pinpoint specific areas of concern.

• Example: If users consistently report a 500 error when submitting a contact form, reviewing error logs during those instances may reveal issues with the form submission script.

Identify and Fix .htaccess File Issues

Open the .htaccess file using a text editor and check for syntax errors or conflicting directives. Rectify any mistakes or consider renaming the file to regenerate it.

• Example: A website experiencing Error 500 after adding rewrite rules to the .htaccess file may have introduced syntax errors that disrupt the server’s operation.

Address Script Injection Problems

Inspect your website’s files and code for any suspicious or unrecognized scripts. Remove any injected code and ensure that your website’s security measures are robust.

• Example: If your website allows user-generated content and you notice unexpected scripts in certain posts or comments, it is possible that malicious users have injected their own code.

500 Error VS. Other 5xx Response Codes

If you’re seeing an error screen and none of these solutions worked, then you might be dealing with a different kind of 5xx error. 

To have a better understanding of the differences between generic 500 errors and other internal server errors, it’s essential to know the most common 5xx response codes:

• 500 Error: This code indicates that the server encountered an unexpected problem that prevents it from fulfilling the request. It’s an unidentified issue without providing additional details.
• 501 Error: A “not implemented” HTTP status code, it shows that the server is unable to execute the request. This may happen due to an inability to identify the request’s objective or insufficient power to fulfill it.
• 502 Error: Known as a “bad gateway,” this response happens when an invalid response is detected by the server acting as a proxy or gateway. This means that the server received an invalid response from an upstream server, potentially indicating a problem with your server if you are using a web application firewall.
• 503 Error: Happens when a service is unavailable, which can be triggered by server overload, maintenance, or even a malware attack. The server is unable to handle additional tasks at that moment.
• 504 Error: A “gateway timeout” indicates that the server, operating as a proxy or gateway, was unable to identify the request within the specified time limit.
• 505 Error: This error happens when the server cannot recognize the HTTP protocol used in the request.
• 511 Error: An error for network authentication. This means that the server requires user authentication to access the requested resource.

How 500 Error Codes Can Impact Your SEO

Encountering frequent 500 internal server errors can have several negative implications for your website’s SEO:

• User Experience and Rankings – Internal server errors can significantly impact user experience, leading to a low engagement rate as visitors encounter a non-functioning website. User experience is a critical signal for search engines, as they aim to provide the most relevant and satisfying results to users. High bounce rates and decreased engagement can signal to search engines that the website may not be meeting users’ needs, potentially impacting its SEO rankings.
• Crawling and Indexing – Search engine crawlers could also encounter Error 500 as they attempt to access and index website content. If search engines repeatedly encounter these server errors during crawling, they may interpret it as a sign of poor website maintenance or technical issues. This can result in difficulty for search engines in indexing and ranking the site effectively. It also means that fresh content updates or changes may not be properly discovered or reflected in search results.
• Domain Authority and Reputation – A website that frequently experiences internal server errors can have a negative impact on its authority and reputation, both in the eyes of search engines and users. 

If a site consistently delivers a poor user experience due to server errors, users may lose trust and credibility in the website. Search engines prioritize user satisfaction and may accordingly adjust rankings for websites that consistently provide a subpar experience. That’s why I consider engaging in ongoing technical SEO a must for any webmaster or SEO professional.

How to Prevent 500 Internal Server Errors

To minimize the risk of future 500 Internal Server Errors, implement these preventive measures:

Regularly Update and Maintain your Website

Keep your content management system (CMS), plugins, and themes up to date to prevent conflicts or vulnerabilities.

Remove any unused or outdated plugins or themes that may create conflicts or security vulnerabilities.

• Example: An e-commerce website should regularly update its CMS, such as WordPress, along with the associated plugins, to ensure that security vulnerabilities are patched and compatibility issues are avoided.

Implement Reliable Security Measures:

Install a reputable security plugin to protect your website from potential attacks and malware infections. Use strong, unique passwords for administrative access and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.

If you’re using WordPress, here’s how to scan your WordPress site for better security and to prevent any malicious code.

• Example: Utilize a security plugin that can actively scan your website for vulnerabilities, block suspicious IP addresses, and provide real-time alerts for potential threats.

Backup your Website Regularly:

Establish a regular backup routine to ensure that you have a clean copy of your website to restore in case of issues or errors.

Store backups in secure off-site locations or use a reliable backup service.

• Example: Use backup plugins or backup your website manually by downloading both your website files and database, then store the backups on a secure cloud storage platform or external hard drive.

Key Takeaway

Encountering a 500 internal server error can be a frustrating experience, but by understanding its causes and following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you can effectively resolve these issues and minimize their impact on your website and SEO. 

Prioritize regular maintenance, implement reliable security measures, and establish a backup routine to lessen the chances of having to deal with 500 Internal Server Errors.

The post How to Fix a 500 Internal Server Error on Your Site appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

SEO Meta Tags are lines of text found in a website’s source code. These pieces of text describe what a page is about to both Google and searchers. While it cannot be found on the page itself, it does its job very well behind the scenes. If executed right, these little pieces of text can help improve your rankings as well as your site’s Click-Through Rate (CTR).

In this article, I am going to teach you about the types of meta tags, what they do, and how you can optimize them to your advantage.

Let’s get started!

What Are Meta Tags?

The 3 types of meta tags that you should know about are the Meta Title Tag, Meta Description, and Meta Robots Tag. Each one has an important part when it comes to the optimization of a website.

Meta Title Tags

The meta title tag is one of the ranking factors that is publicly known and verified by Google. SEO specialists will usually optimize this page as part of their on-page SEO efforts. Why? It is one of the factors that Google looks at when it tries to understand your content and if it fits your chosen keyword’s search intent.

Meta title tags can also be found on the search engine listings and it is one of the first things that searchers will see when they type in their queries. Take a look at an example below that I took from one of my company SEO Hacker’s landing pages for the keyword “SEO Company Philippines”.

Meta Description

Meta descriptions are not considered as a direct ranking factor, but they can indirectly affect your rankings through your site’s Click-Through Rate (CTR). Think of it as a summary of what your page is about. The more enticing it is, the better your CTR will improve, and the more you will rise through the rankings.

Take a look at the meta description of our SEO Hacker LP below. It’s short, straight to the point, and inviting.

Meta Robots Tag

Unlike the meta title tags and meta descriptions that have to do with the explanation of a page’s content, the meta robots tag has to do with Google’s bots. The meta robots tag tells the bots which pages you want to be indexed and followed (index, follow) as well as which ones you don’t (noindex, nofollow).

For those new to SEO, crawling is when a search engine’s bots scour through URLs to find links to other pages. On the other hand, indexing is when bots store the content they find from crawling. Once a page has been indexed, it can now appear on the SERPs.

To be able to conserve a website’s crawl budget, some web owners may choose to tag certain pages noindex and nofollow. These are usually pages that they are not interested in ranking such as log-in pages.

To be able to see the status of a page, you can either go to its source code or make use of tools such as Robots Exclusion Checker.

If you want to learn more about the definition of meta robots tag, read our article entitled “What Meta Robots Tag Are For”.

Now that you know more about SEO meta tags and what they’re for, it’s time to learn how to make and optimize them for your website’s benefit.

How Can You Create Good Meta Tags?

When it comes to creating optimized meta tags, there are two things you need to remember: placement and relevancy. First, make sure that all of your pages have meta tags properly placed in the head of the HTML coding. Second, make sure that the copies you use are written in a way that can encourage people to click on the page.

How can you do just that? Read on!

How To Make Meta Robots Tags

As mentioned, you will need to hardcode your meta tags in the head of your HTML code. If you want a page to be tagged as noindex and nofollow, it should look something like this:

<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex, nofollow”>

If you want the opposite, it should look something like this:

<meta name=”robots” content=”index, follow”>

How To Make SEO-Friendly Title Tags

When it comes to title tags and meta descriptions, you can choose to hardcode it or use tools such as Yoast SEO. If you want to hardcode it yourself, it should look something like this:

<title>SEO Company Philippines</title>

Since title tags are a ranking factor, one of the most important things you have to integrate into it is your page’s keyword. A good practice is to not water down your keyword by adding too many additional phrases. Make sure your title tag starts with the keyword as well.

Try not to make your title tag too long and stick to a maximum of 50 to 60 characters. The example above has a total of 23 characters.

How To Make SEO-Friendly Meta Descriptions

Next up, let’s talk about how to make meta descriptions. If you want to hardcode your meta description, here’s how it should look:

<meta name=”description” content=”SEO Hacker is a premier SEO Company in the Philippines. Our mission is simple, rank your website on the 1st page of Google. ” />

First of all, you will want to keep it to a maximum of 155-160 characters to stop it from being cut on the SERPs. The example above has 127 characters in total.

Make sure that you tell the searcher what the page is about and how it can help them. In terms of the technical aspect, make sure you have one mention of your keyword in your copy. Lastly, always end them with a Call To Action (CTA). This could be the thing that finally convinces the searcher to click on your page over those of your competitors.

If you want to learn more about how to make SEO-friendly meta descriptions, read our guide called “5 Steps to Create the Perfect Meta Description”.

Key Takeaway

Now you know everything you need to know about SEO meta tags, what they are, and how you can optimize them for your website. Keep these tips in mind as you plan your on-page SEO tasks.

These will help Google understand what your page is about as well as how it can help searchers. At the same time, it can entice searchers to click on your page instead of your competitors on the SERPs.

Do you have any other tips when it comes to making SEO-friendly meta tags? Send me a comment down below!

The post SEO Meta Tags: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

A top-level domain or much better known as TLD is usually the last part of a website’s address. For most websites, their TLD would be .com, .net, or .org – the most common ones. But when we use ccTLDs or country code top-level domains, it changes to .com.ph, or just .ph, .kr, .au, etc. You have a variety of choices as a webmaster for your website’s TLD. Unlike the second level domain where 

Your second-level domain or SLD – the domain name or phrase before the TLD – is the easy part since you can use your brand name for it. But deciding between the hundreds of TLDs you can use can be time-consuming. So, how do you choose the perfect TLD for your website?

How to Choose Your Top Level Domain

Your domain name is your brand’s digital and search representative which makes sense that you put in as much importance in it as your other facets since it will be one of your driving forces for marketing and reaching out to a wider audience. Yes, most brands opt to choose their own brand name as their second-level domain with the generic .com as the TLD, however, this isn’t always as easy as it sounds since choosing domain names do have some obstacles if you’re unlucky.

There are instances where the generic .com TLD for your brand isn’t available. So, this allows you to find chances to use a better TLD than the generic .com, however, this also contains a risk where you choose the wrong TLD – this could not be reversed and you have to buy and develop a new domain. 

So, how exactly do we choose the top-level domain?

• Consider Your Brand

Always remember that if you want to be successful in the digital landscape, your website is one of the most important facets you need. This means that your domain name (including your TLD) is, in one way or another, affects how your audience perceives your brand. 

As I’ve mentioned, .com is a generic and commonly used TLD; you can use this to your advantage. Make use of unique TLDs that can attract your audience and potential visitor’s attention. Of course, you need to consider your brand identity. You can’t use an unrelated TLD for your domain name. Let’s say for example, your preferred domain name (and business name) is southsideveterinarian, you can’t use a random TLD like .soccer since it’s unrelated and it doesn’t mean anything for your business. This does not only result in a bad domain name, but it also affects how your audience and visitors perceive your brand/website. But if you use a related TLD like .pet or .clinic is both unique, attention-grabbing, and improves your audience’s perception of your brand. 

Lastly, your TLD also affects how trustworthy your website is to your audience and visitors. There are TLDs that can be perceived as unsafe or not trustworthy so it’s important to be wary of this.

• Consider Your Target Market

As an SEO services agency, we take into account our client’s target market is important, especially if we’re developing their website. A TLD is important for your target market, more specifically, a ccTLD. This is important for your target market (and SEO) is because your ccTLD serves as a signal to Google and other search engines that you’re trying to rank higher in the search engine’s country-specific version. So, for most of our clients in the Philippines, their ccTLDs are either .com.ph or just .ph for their website to signal the search engine that we want the client website to rank in Google.com.ph.

Of course, there are disadvantages here. Having a ccTLD drives an obstacle in ranking for the international or global search market. But if you or your client is absolutely sure that they just want to target a specific location, then ccTLDs are not a problem.

• Consider Your SEO

There are two things you have to remember when considering your SEO when choosing a TLD for your domain name:

• ccTLDs will work best if you or your client is clear on your target market. ccTLDs are not effective in the international search market but are extremely effective for hyper-focused local search market efforts.
• Generic TLDs like .com and .net are more effective for the international and broader market. However, this does not mean that generic TLDs are more effective in ranking in ALL search engines. Ranking is dependent on the efforts done, quality of the website and its content, and its authority in its industry. 

Key Takeaway

Your domain’s TLD isn’t something that you can just decide on without proper consideration. It affects multiple factors inside your website and it can also spell your website’s success or failure in the future. So, does your domain’s TLD matter THAT much in the whole scheme of digital marketing? Yes. The most obvious reason is without the TLD, you won’t have a website to work on. Another reason is when you properly choose a TLD, it can help in your SEO efforts, albeit only by a little bit. What do you think about choosing the perfect TLD? Let me know in the comments below!

The post How to Choose the Perfect Top Level Domain appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

If you own an e-commerce website or doing SEO for one, let me tell you, it will give you a lot of headaches. Doing SEO for e-commerce websites takes a lot of time and effort because of the size of these websites. E-commerce SEO puts a heavy emphasis on technical and on-page SEO. If your website has hundreds or thousands of pages, the first thing that you have to remember is that each page presents an opportunity for SEO optimization.

If you’re reading this article, you are either planning on creating an e-commerce website or you are in the process of optimizing your current website but don’t know where to start. In this post, I’ll try to simplify the process of doing SEO for e-commerce websites.

Website Structure

Having an e-commerce website can be messy. I have seen a lot of businesses where they just keep on uploading new products until they realized that their website structure is so unorganized that it is almost impossible to untangle it. If you’re just planning on creating a new website, lucky for you. But if you’re already lost on your website’s structure, it could still be saved, but it will require you a lot of time.

Website structure for e-commerce websites uses the same principle for other websites. Your most important pages should be accessible in just 1 or 2 clicks. It should reflect in your website’s main navigation bar. 

In this case, aside from your landing pages, your product categories should be accessible with just one click from your homepage and your sub-categories and product pages should be easily accessible after that. This helps search engine crawlers understand the hierarchy of your website’s pages and it also makes it easier for users to navigate around your website.

Here’s a good illustration of how your e-commerce website should be:

Keeping a website structure like this also ensures that link juice is spread throughout your website. Most backlinks of e-commerce websites are pointed to the homepage. So you have to make sure that the homepage is linked to the important pages and so on. 

Keep in mind that the deeper your website gets, the authority of links gets diluted for pages toward the end of your website structure. Pages that are more than 3 clicks away from your homepage will receive less authority from pages 1 or 2 clicks away. 

Build your Keyword List

A good keyword strategy for e-commerce SEO is to divide your keywords list into three: Informational keywords, Transactional keywords, and Commercial keywords.

Informational keywords are what users use to look for news, facts, tips, and other information. Commercial keywords are queries where users are browsing their purchasing options but there is no intent to buy yet. While transactional keywords are used by users with the intention of purchasing. You could read more about keyword intent in this other post.

So how would you know which is which?

You could use the search results to give you clues on how Google understands the intent of a keyword.

Usually, informational keywords are long-tail keywords that ask questions like “how” or “what” and it will serve you articles or blog posts.

Commercial keywords are those that include terms such as “affordable” or “best”. This means that users are looking for a list where they could do some research first before they consider to purchase.

And last, transactional keywords include general product categories and product names. Users are already ready to purchase and Google will return product pages or product category pages in the search results.

The reason why you should diversify your list of keywords is that each type of keyword presents different opportunities. Having an e-commerce website means thousands of pages to optimize for keywords and each opportunity should not be wasted. We’ll talk about it more in the next sections.

Optimize Product Meta Tags

For e-commerce SEO, there are limited places you can put keywords on in your product pages and your main opportunity here is the page title. Your page title should include the keyword you are targetting for a specific product or category.

Yes, you read that right. Each page should have its own target keyword. Remember what I said in the intro about each page presents an opportunity for SEO? This is it right here.

To give you an idea, here’s an example. For a website that is selling vitamins and supplements, rather than just using Vitamins and Supplements for sale in the title tag, I placed keywords in each of the product category pages.

This gives the website more opportunities in the search results.

It is also important that you optimize meta descriptions for click-through rates. Without setting your own meta description, Google will randomly pull up texts on your product pages and it wouldn’t look good in the search results.  

Write Compelling Content

Even if the main focus of an e-commerce website is to sell products, content is still vital and you still need it to boost your rankings. 

Writing blog posts that target informational or commercial keywords will bring in traffic to your websites and you could use a call to action to drive people to purchase from your website. 

You could also use internal linking to bring users from blog posts to product pages and keep them on your website to get a higher chance of converting them.

Have Important Pages in the XML Sitemap

It goes without saying that your XML sitemap file should include all the important pages of your website. An XML sitemap helps Google identify which are the pages it should give priority when crawling.

One common mistake I see people make is that they don’t put their single product pages in their sitemap. You should always have your main product category pages and single product pages in your XML sitemap. You could leave subcategories behind. Always remember that for e-commerce websites, each page brings more opportunities so you should definitely let Google crawl them more frequently and with priority.

You could create a separate sitemap for products and content so you could better organize your links. You could then submit both sitemaps in Google Search Console to make sure both of them get crawled.

Use rel=canonical for Duplicate pages

Having many product categories or sub-categories can cause duplicate pages for your products which can hurt your SEO.

If a product is labeled in two or more sub-categories, some content management systems will create one page for each sub-category it is in and produce multiple URLs with the same content inside. You have to choose one page as the main/original content and use rel=canonical on the other pages.

Make your Shop Mobile-Friendly

E-commerce website owners would always want their shop to be virtually appealing to drive in more people, but virtually appealing does not mean efficiency.

When creating an e-commerce website, you should not compromise speed for the design, especially for mobile. A huge chunk of e-commerce sales is made from mobile and having a website that does not adjust well on mobile is a lost opportunity.

Apply Schema Markup

Having a proper schema markup for all of your product pages allows Google to display your product and its details in rich results. Using the product schema markup can make your products visually appealing in the search results and Google images to attract more people to go to your website.

If you accept reviews on your website, you could also apply the AggregateRating schema inside your Product schema so Google could show star ratings in the search results.

To get the proper schema markup accepted by Google, you can view this guide on how to apply product schema. You could also use plugins to automate your schema application. After the application, you’ll be able to see your valid product pages or errors in your schema markup in the “Product Report” on Google Search Console.

Optimize Images

E-commerce websites contain a ton of images, sometimes multiple images per product. Unoptimized images can heavily affect your website’s loading speed.

When uploading images, always try to compress your images to reduce its file size without decreasing its quality. You could also use tools to automate this process for you for images that are already uploaded by using tools or plugins so you won’t have to re-upload each image again. There are a lot of plugins out there but I regularly use EWWW Image Optimizer for our websites since we mainly use WordPress.

Another thing you should optimize is alternative texts for images or alt text. This is a good opportunity for image SEO. You could place keywords on your product images to help them appear in Google images.

Bonus: Submit your Products on Google Merchant Center

Google Merchant Center is a platform created by Google that allows business owners to upload their product details and allows it to be seen by users across Google’s other platforms such as Google search, Shopping Ads, and Shopping Actions.

It is really easy to upload your products and its an easy way of selling your products globally. You should definitely check Google Merchant Center out.

The post How to do SEO for E-commerce Websites appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

Videos are rapidly changing the way people search. The thing is, it’s not just about YouTube anymore. Google recently added a new report in Search Console for Video content that allows webmasters to see how their own videos perform on search results and errors in their structured data markup.

Currently, there are three ways videos appear on Google; on the main search results, in the Videos tab, and on Google discover.

Video Performance Report

In Google Search Console, you could see how your videos perform by going to the Performance Report and clicking Search Appearance. If you want to go into more detail, you could also check the keywords your Videos appeared for and the specific pages that appeared. This data is really useful as you would know the exact keywords to optimize your video content.

Video Enhancements

Structured data is not a ranking factor but it can enhance video your videos in the search results to make them more appealing for searchers. If you have video content on your website that is marked up with the Video structured data, you will start to see errors, warnings, and pages with valid structured data.

When this feature rolled out, Google sent out thousands of emails to webmasters informing them of errors in their Videos markup. We also received an email regarding this error.

When I checked the errors on Search Console, it was a little bit confusing because the pages that have errors in them contained links toward YouTube videos that I linked to. I don’t own any of those videos and it’s impossible for me to give these YouTube videos a proper structured data markup. Since the feature is new, I think this is one thing Google overlooked.

How Google Crawls Video Content

Now that we have this report integrated into Google Search Console, it adds more reasons for webmasters to properly markup their video content. In the Search Console Guidelines, Google mentions 3 ways they extract video content from websites:

• Google can crawl the video if it is in a supported video encoding. Google can pull up the thumbnail and a preview. Google can also extract some limited meaning from the audio and video file.
• Google can extract data through the webpage’s text and meta tags the video is in.
• If present, Google uses the VideoObject structured data markup of the page or a video sitemap.

Also, Google requires two things for videos to appear in the search results:

• A thumbnail image
• Direct link to the video file

Google highly recommends the use of structured data. They mentioned that structured data is best for pages that they already know about and are being indexed. The best way to go about it is to have a video sitemap file, submit it in Search Console, and markup your pages.

Sample Video Structured Data Markup

If you want to markup your video content, here’s the code for a standard Video Rich Results:

<script type=”application/ld+json”>
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “VideoObject”,
“name”: “Title of Video Here”,
“description”: “Full description of Video Here”,
“thumbnailUrl”: [
“https://linktothumbnailimage1.jpg”,
“https://linktothumbnailimage2.jpg”,
“https://linktothumbnailimage3.jpg”
],
“uploadDate”: “2019-10-10T08:00:00+08:00”,
“duration”: “PT10M30S”,
“contentUrl”: “https://videofilelink.mp4”,
“embedUrl”: “https://seo-hacker.com”,
“interactionCount”: “700”
}
</script>

You could further optimize this structured data markup by adding Video Carousel markup if you have a page with a full gallery of videos or by adding Video Segments markup so users can see a preview of your video in the search results. If you want a full list of video rich snippets, check out Google’s Video Markup Guide here.

Key Takeaway

Videos are changing the way webmasters create content. It helps users engaged and increase dwell time. Currently, video snippets are dominated by YouTube videos and I’m interested to see if this update to video content will help webmasters who are publishing videos on their own website get their videos in the search results and draw more clicks. Hopefully, this update encourages more webmasters to use their own platforms when uploading videos that they create and we see a more diversified video search results.    

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How do I use Robots.txt and the noindex meta tag?

Quick Answer: To create a Robots.txt file, you can use any text editor (such as Notepad). Make sure to save the file with UTF-8 encoding during the save file dialog. This file must also be named “robots.txt,” and your site can only have one such file. This file must also be located at the root of the website host you’re applying it to. To use a noindex tag for pages that you do not want to be included in search results, add “<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>” to the <head> section. Or, you can add the noindex tag using a X-Robots-Tag in the HTTP header: “X-Robots-Tag: noindex”.

Overview

The Robots.txt file and Noindex meta tag are important for doing on-page SEO. This gives you the power to tell Google which pages they should crawl and which pages they should index – display in the search results.

Knowing how to use these two and when to use them is important for all SEOs since this involves a direct relationship between the websites we’re handling and the search engine crawlers. Being able to direct the search engine crawlers on where they should go and which pages they should include in the database is a massive advantage for us, and we can use that to make sure that only our website’s important pages are the ones that Google and other search engines crawl and index. But before we delve into the details of how and when to use these two, we must first know what they are and their specific functions.

What is a Robots.txt file?

The Robots Exclusion Protocol, or more commonly known as Robots.txt is a file that directs web crawlers and robots such as Googlebot and Bingbot to which pages of your websites should not be crawled.

What is the use of a Robots.txt file?

The robots.txt file is only a crawling directive and it cannot control how fast a bot should crawl your website and other bot behaviors. This is just a set of instructions for bots on what parts of your website should not be accessed.

You should also take note that while some bots respect robots.txt file, some can ignore it. Some robots can exploit files on your website or even harvest information so to completely block malware robots, you should increase your site security or protect private pages by putting a password. If you have other questions about the robots.txt, check out some frequently asked questions on robots here.

How to Create a Robots.txt File?

By default, a robots.txt file would look like this:

You could create your own robots.txt file in any program that is in .txt file type. You could block different URLs such as your website’s blog/categories or /author pages. Blocking pages like this would help bots prioritize important pages on your website more. The robots.txt file is a great way of managing your crawl budget.

Robots crawling directives

Proper usage of wildcards

In the robots.txt, a wildcard, represented as the (*) symbol, can be used as a symbol for any sequence of characters.

A directive for all types of crawl bots:

User-agent:*

The wildcard could also be used to disallow all URLs under the parent page except for the parent page.

User-agent:*

Disallow: /authors/*

Disallow: /categories/*

This means all page URLs under the main author page and categories page are blocked except for them.

A good example of a robots.txt file would look like this

User-agent:*

Disallow: /testing-page/

Disallow: /account/

Disallow: /checkout/

Disallow: /cart/

Disallow: /products/page/*

Disallow: /wp/wp-admin/

Allow: /wp/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php

Sitemap: yourdomainhere.com/sitemap.xml

After editing your robots.txt file, you should upload in the top-level directory of your website’s code so when a bot enters your website for crawling, it would see the robots.txt file first.

What is Noindex?

Noindex is a meta robots tag that tells search engines not to include a page in the search results.

How to Implement Noindex Meta Tag?

There are three ways to put a noindex tag on pages you don’t want search engines to index:

Meta Robots Tag

In the <head> section of the page, place the following code:

<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>

The code may vary depending on your decision. The code mentioned tells all types of crawl bots from indexing a page. Alternatively, if you only want to noindex a page from a specific crawl bot, you could place the name of that bot in the meta name.

To prevent Googlebot from indexing a page:

<meta name=”googlebot” content=”noindex”>

To prevent Bingbot from indexing a page:

<meta name=”bingbot” content=”noindex”>

You can also instruct bots to follow or don’t follow links that are found on the page you noindexed.

To follow links in the page:

<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex,follow”>

To tell bots to not crawl the links in the page:

<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex,nofollow”>

X-Robots-Tag

The x-robots-tag allows you to control the indexing of a page in the HTTP response header of the page. The x-robots-tag is similar to the meta robots tag but it also allows you to tell search engines not to show specific file types in the search results such as images and other media files.

To do this, you need to have access to your website’s .php, .htaccess, or server access file. Directives in the meta robots tag are also applicable to the x-robots-tag. Here’s a great article about the X-Robots-Tag in HTTP headers.

Through YoastSEO

If you’re using YoastSEO in WordPress, there is no need for you to manually place these codes. Just go to the page or post you want to noindex, scroll down to the YoastSEO interface, go to the settings of the post by clicking the gear icon and then select “No” under “Allow Search Engines to Show this Post in Search Results?”

You could also put a noindex tag sitewide for pages such as categories, tags, and author pages so you don’t have to go to every individual page on your website. To put a noindex tag, go to the Yoast plugin itself and then go to Search Appearance. Selecting ‘no’ under ‘Show Categories in Search Results’ would place a noindex tag on all category pages.

Best Practices

Many people are still confused by these two. It is critical as an SEO to know what the difference is in between. This is crucial in making sure that the pages that you want the users to see in the search results are the only pages that appear and the pages you want bots to crawl are the only pages that get crawled.

• If you want a page that already has been indexed, for example, by Google, be removed in the search results, make sure that page is not disallowed in the robots.txt file before you add the noindex tag because the Google bot won’t be able to see the tag in the page. Blocking a page without the noindex tag first would still make a page appear in the search results but it would look like this:

• Adding a sitemap directive to the robots.txt file is technically not required, but it is generally good practice.
• After updating your robots.txt file, it is a good idea to check if your important pages are blocked from crawling using the Robots.txt Tester in the Google Search Console.
• Use the URL inspection tool in Google Search Console to see the indexing status of the page.
• You can also check for unimportant pages being indexed by Google using the coverage report in Google Search Console. Another alternative would be using the ‘site:’ search command in Google to show you all pages that are being shown in the search results.

Adding Noindex in Robots.txt

There has been a lot of confusion in the SEO community recently about using noindex in the robots.txt but it has been said over and over by Google that they don’t support this but still a lot of people insist that it is still working.

In a Twitter thread, Gary Illyes said:

“Technically, robots.txt is for crawling. The meta tags are for indexing. During indexing, they’d be applied at the same stage so there’s no good reason to have both of them.”

It is best to avoid doing this. While it could be agreed that it is efficient since you don’t have to put a ‘noindex’ tag in individual pages rather just type them in the robots.txt file, it’s better that you treat these two things separately.

Blocked Paged can Still be Indexed if Linked to

In an article by Search Engine Journal, they quoted John Mueller in a Google Hangouts Session. Here’s his statement:

“One thing to maybe keep in mind here is that if these pages are blocked by robots.txt, then it could theoretically happen that someone randomly links to one of these pages and if they do that, it could happen that we index this URL without any content because it’s blocked by robots.txt. So we wouldn’t know that you want to have these pages actually indexed.”

This statement is huge since it gives us a better understanding of how crawl bots and the robots.txt work. This means that pages you blocked through robots.txt is not safe from indexing as long as someone linked to it.

To make sure a page without useful content won’t appear in the search results accidentally, John Mueller suggests that its still better to have a noindex meta tag in those page even after you blocked them from crawl bots with robots.txt

For John Mueller’s full thoughts on this, check out this Google Webmaster Central office-hours hangout back in 2018

Key Takeaway

There are many SEO hacks out there but you have to pick the ones that will give you optimal benefits in the long run. Using your robots.txt file to your advantage will do more than just increase your SEO visibility, it will also improve user experience as well. Robots.txt will stay significant so you have to be on guard for updates which will affect it.

Robots.txt should never be neglected, especially if you want to appear at your best in the SERPs. Brush up on these best practices whether you are a beginner in SEO or you have already optimized many sites. Once you do, you’re going to see how it will help you be cut off from the rest.

With that, comment down below how you use the meta robot tags. How is it working for you so far?

The post The Complete Guide to Robots.txt and Noindex Meta Tag appeared first on SEO Services Agency in Manila, Philippines.

What is the easiest way to add an aggregate rating schema?

Quick Answer: Adding an aggregate rating schema markup enables Google to feature your review ratings. There are three ways to add this to your site: microdata, RDFa, and JSON-LD, with the last being the simplest and Google-recommended option for you (and can be done so manually). When adding this schema type, make sure to add a reviews page on your site, utilize a 5-point scale, and mark up all your pages gradually. And remember: don’t place your ratings on your homepage.

Overview

In this digital age, with businesses flocking to the convenience of the internet, competition for the customers’ attention is high. In order to win in the online business world, you will have to get the attention of the customers first. One way of getting it is the implementation of aggregate rating.

What is Aggregate Rating?

Have you noticed that when searching the internet, you encountered some search results with star ratings? And admit it, even though those results are not at the top of the SERPs or Search Engine Results Page, those sites caught your attention first. This is called Review Snippet. It is a type of Google Rich Result that combines user ratings in a webpage then features the average rating in the search results.

This is made possible by the Aggregate Rating schema markup. This enables Google to feature your review ratings and attract customers with it.

There are three forms of markup that you can utilize to enable Aggregate Ratings on your site.

Microdata

Microdata is one of the forms of structured data markup that is nested within the HTML content. It is usually nested in the page body and can also be used in the head. It uses HTML tag attributes to label the properties that you want to turn as structured data.

RDFa

RDFa or Resource Description Framework in Attributes is an HTML5 extension similar to Microdata. However, it is utilizing a different set of codes compared to Microdata when it comes to describing your content to search engines. RDFa is commonly used in both the head and body sections of the HTML page.

JSON-LD

JSON-LD or JavaScript Object Notation-Linked Data is a JavaScript notation embedded in a <script> tag in the page head or body. This is considered to be the simplest to implement by inserting the markup in the HTML without wrapping it within the HTML elements.

In this article, we will be applying aggregate ratings using JSON. Not only that it is easier to implement compared to Microdata and RDFa, but it is also what Google recommends to use for structured data whenever possible.

What you need to do before adding the aggregate ratings:

Before you start adding your codes to enable your aggregate rating, remember these essential requirements.

• Have a reviews page. Not only this serves as a reference for your aggregate ratings, it will also show that you didn’t make up your ratings.
• Never place your ratings on your homepage. According to Google guidelines, implementation of reviews should refer precisely to a specific product or service and not a category or a list of items. Therefore,
• By default, Google assumes your site uses a 5-point scale. Where 5 is the best and 0 is the worst but you can also use other scales. However, remember not to go overboard with your ratings.
• Mind your review count and avoid faking your review count. Another one of Google guidelines stated refrain from marking up misleading and irrelevant content.
• Slow down from marking up all your pages at once with review stars, it is best to do it gradually.
• Doesn’t mean that you applied the code means you will see your star ratings to appear. You need to have authority and page for that.

How to add it:

There are many ways you can add aggregate rating schema on your page. Coding it manually is one of them. Here’s how you can apply an aggregate rating schema using coding.

Choose from the Valid Structured Data Types

The Aggregate Rating markup is only valid for a few types of content on Google which are:

• Book
• Course
• Event
• How-to
• LocalBusiness
• Movie
• Product
• Recipe
• Software App

Additionally, Google also approves reviews for the following schema.org types and subtypes:

• CreativeWorkSeason
• CreativeWork Series
• Episode
• Game
• MediaObject
• MusicPlaylist
• MusicRecording
• Organization

Identify the details

If you are adding Aggregate Ratings for a product, you have to list the details to be marked up. For example, if you have a product, you will be marking up the name of your product, it’s description, availability, etc. Moreover, you have to know the status of the ratings that the product have.

There are some properties in aggregateRating that require some information to work. This is why identifying the details that you wanted to mark up is important.

Assign details according to schema.org

If you are adding an Aggregate Rating in your product in JSON format, here is a sample of a basic and working code that you can use. Just replace the name of your product and the appropriate values in the parenthesis.

Note: the aggregateRating array can be placed anywhere and can still work. However, to make it easier for you, it is best to place it after the details.

Integrating your code

Using JSON markup is easier. As long as it is within the <script>, it will not affect your HTML codes and just adds the markup. If your markup has an error, it will not affect your page in any way, however, the star rating that you placed will not be featured. You can put your markup code either within the <head> or the <body> of your HTML code. However, it is preferable that you put in within the <head>.

Checking your code

There are plenty of tools online that you can use in order to check the status of your markup. One of the most useful and reliable tools is Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool. You can test and check your codes there as well as preview some of the snippets that will be shown in the SERPs.

Using the above code, if it works, you’ll be able to see this result in the tool.

It was announced by Google that moving forward, all structured data validations should be done on the Rich Results Test Tool because it validates structured data markups based on the available Rich Results in Google. It can also show you how your website would look like in the search results. The Structured Data Testing tool is still available as of writing but it was announced that Google will discontinue support of the tool soon.

Bear in mind that there is no guarantee you will be able to see your star rating appear in the search results. Google will decide whether to feature it in the SERPs or not. Knowing the guidelines is very important if you want to increase your chances that Google will feature your markup.

Check Google Search Console

Once you’ve started applying Aggregate Rating around your website, you should start seeing a new category under Enhancements in your Google Search Console dashboard “Review Snippets”. This is where you’ll see the total number of pages indexed by Google on your website that has the Aggregate Rating structured data markup. Google will inform you if there are errors in your code here or if there are pages that are being indexed but need minor fixing.

Implement review stars accordingly

Despite being in the technological era, people still value other people’s opinions regarding a specific product or service. In the digital world, it is represented by reviews.

By having your very own star rating when your site shows in the SERPs, you are showcasing your credibility and worth to the searchers. And as mentioned before, star ratings are great with catching attention. Utilizing review stars for your services or products will increase your click-through-rate.

So are you ready to reach for the stars?

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