We often see web content in PDF format. In most cases PDF content can be read by search engines. But, if the content is made up of something that was scanned and saved in a PDF format, that content is image based. And, of course you already know that image based content can NOT be read by search engines.
To ensure your PDF content is SEF (search engine friendly) make sure the content can be read by search engines. Start by saving a plain text document (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.) in a PDF format.
To get the maximum SEO value from your PDF content, link important keywords from your PDF document into relevant pages on your website containing those keywords (don’t over do it though).
In your PDF document, select File, Properties. In the Description tab type in meta data including a Title comprised of a few keyword phrases which represent the main theme of your document. Enter the subject (a short sentence) and a description using the main keywords in the document (once again, don’t over do it).
Once you’ve done this, you have optimized your PDF document and when it is placed on your website you will get search engine optimization value from your PDF content!
BTW, you need Adobe Acrobat Professional to do this, but it is well worth the price if you place PDF content on your website.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:16 am
For our home building software products, we create many of our PDFs using Microsoft Word 2007 with the pdf plug-in.