Searching for a New Way to Reach Patrons: A Search Engine Optimization Pilot Project at Binghamton University Libraries

Rushton, Erin; Kelehan, Martha; Strong, Marcy A.

doi:10.1080/19322900802484248

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Onaifo and Rasmussen (2013) provides an extensive overview of SEO in libraries as well as characteristics of library websites that contributed to exposure by search engines. Arguably the most relevant work related to SEO in libraries in general, and to the present study in particular, may be Rushton et al (2008). Their pilot study optimized a handful of web pages in Binghamton University Libraries, and expounded optimization processes involved.…”

Section: Seo and Librariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search engine optimization

et al. 2016

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of, and identify core techniques of, search engine optimization (SEO) techniques applied to the web (http://lg-sl.net) and mobile (http//m.lg-sl.net) Science Land content and services at LG Sangnam Library in Korea. Design/methodology/approach – In accordance with three major SEO guidelines, ten SEO techniques were identified and applied, and their implications were extracted on three areas: improved search engine accessibility, increased relevance between site content and search engine keywords, and improved site credibility. The effects were quantitatively analyzed in terms of registered search engine keywords and influx of visits via search engines. Findings – This study shows that SEO techniques help increase the exposure of the library services and the number of visitors through search engines. Practical implications – SEO techniques have been applied to a few non-Korean information service organizations, but it is not a well-accepted practice in Korean libraries. And the dominant search engines in Korea have published their own SEO guidelines. Prior to this study, no significant endeavors have been undertaken in the context of Korean library services that have adopted SEO techniques to boost exposure of library services and increase user traffics. Originality/value – This is the first published study that has applied optimized SEO techniques to Korean web and mobile library services, in order to demonstrate the usefulness of the techniques for maximized exposure of library content.

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Section: Seo and Librariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Search engine optimization

et al. 2016

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“…Despite the significant impact of SEO on information seeking and retrieval, interest in the phenomenon has largely only occurred in the popular literature. The existing studies on SEO in this review will be grouped under those that focus on general SEO techniques and practices (Coopee, 2000; Dimitroff and Zhang, 2005a,b; Malaga, 2008; Dover, 2011), and those that look at SEO within the context of libraries (Bell, 2004; Brophy and Bawden, 2005; Rushton et al , 2008; DeRidder, 2008; Cahill and Chalut, 2009; Beel et al , 2010; and Arlitsch and O'Brien, 2012).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing libraries' content findability on the web with search engine optimization

Onaifo

Pennington

2013

Library Hi Tech

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PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine the phenomenon of search engine optimization (SEO) as a mechanism for improving libraries' digital content findability on the web.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies web analytical tools, such as Alexa.com, in the collection of data about Canadian libraries' visibility performance in the ranking of search engine results. Concepts from the Integrated IS&R Research Framework are applied to analyze SEO as an element within the Framework.FindingsThe results show that certain websites' characteristics do have an effect on how well libraries' websites are ranked by search engines. Notably, the reputation of a library's website and the number of its search engine indexed webpages increase its ranking on SERPs as well as the findability of its digital content.Originality/valueMost of the existing works on SEO have been confined to popular literature, outside of scholarly academic research in library and information science. Only few studies with a focus on libraries' application of SEO exist. No known study has applied an empirical approach to the examination of relevant libraries' website characteristics to determine their visibility performance on search engine result pages (SERPs). This study identified several website characteristics that can be optimized for higher SERP rankings. It also analyzed the impact of external links, as well as that of the number of indexed webpages by search engines on higher SERP rankings.

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“…Google). The article "Searching for a new way to reach patrons: a search engine optimization pilot project at Binghamton University Libraries" summarizes this process (Rushton et al, 2008).…”

Section: Benefit 4: User-friendly Interfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%