Optimizing PDF's

[PunkyLZ]

All,

I was wondering if anyone has suggestions on how to effectively optimize PDF files? I haven't been able to find a whole lot on this topic.

Thanks in advance!

[netbaldwin]

By optimize, are you referring to making the actual file a smaller size to load fast on websites?

If so, there is a program called "PDF Enhancer" that is supposed to work quite well. I have never attempted to use it myself.

http://www.apago.com/PDF_Enhancer

[eagent]

All,

I was wondering if anyone has suggestions on how to effectively optimize PDF files? I haven't been able to find a whole lot on this topic.

Thanks in advance!

Hi PunkyLZ,

If you're looking to make your PDF files effective Search Engine magnets,
I've recently been doing some of that myself to expand my SE results using PRWeb (I attach optimized PDF's to the Press Releases, and let the SE's crawl the PDF's from there, as well as from my public folder on my web site).

Here's some inside skinny that I used as a response to a query on another SEO site:

Hi,
I just wanted the folks at Share Results to know that I've taken their PDF document and optimized it for Google and other SE's.
What did I do?
Simple:
1) Added active, crawlable links within the body of the PDF, including:
-The Logo (goes to About Us of the ShareResults.com web site)
-The URL on the bottom (to ShareResults.com home page)
-The Info Mail link below the URL

2) Added Keywords to the document properties

3) Added a cogent Title phrase (not the absolute best one, but good, and in alignment with the ShareResults web site content and positioning).

4) Added additional info in properties to lead a viewer back to the ShareResults web site.

You'll find that this level of PDF enhancement goes a long way toward both improving SE positioning, and in making the document "smarter" in regards to the viewer's ability to use it effectively (they can just click the links to invoke the web site, specific web pages and email contacts).
We use this technique in our weekly PRWeb press releases. By adding our IdeaFisher User Guide to almost every release, and optimizing the web site AND the PDF, we achieve in excess of 500 press release views (out of 50,000+ Summary views), and lots of good, viable BUYING traffic. The PDF's have an amazing long-term effect on our promotion and sales from the SE effect.

Here's a link to the most recent IdeaFisher Press: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb201357.php

Check it out, and you can scroll to the bottom of the page to see the additional press releases we've submitted, and download the PDF's on those pages as well (we also add keyword-rich images and links in the images to add even more impact in our press releases). Look to the right of each press release to see the attached images and PDF files.

I hope that's helpful. To download the ShareResults PDF in it's NEW & IMPROVED format, http://www.ideafishing.com/dox/share...s_overview.pdf

I assure you, it's worth the extra effort to optimize your PDF files for the Search Engines. And adding links within the PDF is just thoughtful for good user interface, at a minimum.
Warmest regards,
ME

[flood6]

Good question, Punky and nice answer, eagent.

Anybody know if inbound links help a PDF in the SERPs like they do a web page?

An interesting experiment might be to link to a pdf with a single link and use a unique keyphrase in the anchor text; a phrase not found anywhere in the pdf or optimizations eagent mentioned. Then see if that pdf turns up a in the various SE's SERPs on a search for that unique keyphrase.

[wednesday]

Good question, Punky and nice answer, eagent.

Anybody know if inbound links help a PDF in the SERPs like they do a web page?

An interesting experiment might be to link to a pdf with a single link and use a unique keyphrase in the anchor text; a phrase not found anywhere in the pdf or optimizations eagent mentioned. Then see if that pdf turns up a in the various SE's SERPs on a search for that unique keyphrase.

If you make such an experiment please share with us. I've raised similar questions recently but there was no discussion at all. This could be a perfect way to gain link pop. Especialy for a tech site, that provides a lot of information. One more thing I want to ask. Does anyone has observations about 'duplicated content' treatment of .html version and .pdf version of same document?

Martin

[coder]

There is something fundamentally wrong with what you are wanting to do, and I made the same mistake about a year ago.

If the PDF gets ranked high in search engines, and people click through to the PDF then ultimately you are hurting your own site, unless there is a way to link to the site from the PDF. From my own experience people who came to the PDF from SE's would leave the site back to the SE.

Just my advice though.

[wednesday]

There is something fundamentally wrong with what you are wanting to do, and I made the same mistake about a year ago.

If the PDF gets ranked high in search engines, and people click through to the PDF then ultimately you are hurting your own site, unless there is a way to link to the site from the PDF. From my own experience people who came to the PDF from SE's would leave the site back to the SE.

Just my advice though.

If they are looking for information and got it in .pdf... what's wrong with this? I often bookmark .pdf files or download them to my desktop. Of cource you should have some inline links pointing to your site. But I'm more curious about link pop here. :)

Martin

[coder]

If they are looking for information and got it in .pdf... what's wrong with this? I often bookmark .pdf files or download them to my desktop. Of cource you should have some inline links pointing to your site. But I'm more curious about link pop here. :)

On the user end of things maybe all they want is the pdf, and for them that's fine.

As website owner however, i'd rather have them come to the site first and maybe find more information besides just the pdf. If the pdf is relevant then the site should also be relevant.

From my own experience when the user comes straight to the pdf from a SE they usually only get the pdf and leave. Even with links to the site on the pdf.

Anyways good luck

[wednesday]

As website owner however, i'd rather have them come to the site first and maybe find more information besides just the pdf.

Exactly! I don't mean to promote .pdfs to get visitors. But optimize .pdfs to increase link popularity of a website.

Btw. I like your raptors site and linked to it.
http://www.sofiazoo.com/zoology/conservation.php
Hope you don't mind.

Regards,
Martin

[coder]

Btw. I like your raptors site and linked to it.
http://www.sofiazoo.com/zoology/conservation.php
Hope you don't mind.

Thanks for the link, I try to help the center as much as possible and every little bit helps.

On your site Organisations should be Organizations
http://www.sofiazoo.com/zoology/

Don't spend too much time optimizing pdf's i've had a site before where Yahoo ranked the PDF higher then the homepage of the site. I don't know if I advertised the pdf's too much or the homepage not enough.