Did you know that search engine optimization extends to PDF files? Though this is a little known fact, it can be done.

PDF files are searched or ‘crawled’ similarly to web pages. Users can add Meta tags, such as title, keywords, and a description, opening the file in either Adobe Editor or Pagemaker and going to File –> Properties when it’s being created.

Proof of the benefits of optimizing a PDF is evident with Marion and our Brand Building Process Chart PDF. The all-text PDF ranks first when a user searches ‘brand building process’ on Google. The first place ranking was achieved by adding keywords to the file’s properties and integrating the right keywords into the content of the file.

Here are some more tips to help you optimize your PDF:

1. Create the PDF correctly! Don’t create PDFs using images. The spiders cannot read the text from image files. The PDF should only be created with a text-based program to make the file text-based and can be crawled.
2. When publishing a PDF, link it from some page that gets crawled regularly. You need to lead the crawler along so it finds the new content as quickly as possible. Don’t just post the PDF and then cross your fingers that it gets crawled.
3. Make the file name search engine friendly. Like all other files on your site, naming is important! It’s always a good idea to use a keyword when naming the file, such as keyword1-keyword2.pdf.

For more information on SEO for PDF files or how Marion can help you with search engine optimization, contact us at 713-623-6444 or info2@marion.com