Managing your DNS Records | Increase Website Traffic

Web Hosting SEO and the New Paradigm

Part 3: Managing your DNS Records

After an in-depth discussion of how the domain name of your web site and its IP address can impact your web site’s standing in the SEO universe, we now graduate to yet another critical controlling factor that is hardly understood by even the search engine wiz kids.

We are referring to the deep-rooted relationship between your domain’s DNS record and its position in the search results of the results pages of the search engines. You will be amazed how quickly your web site will rise to the front page of search engine results and gain more website traffic once you put your DNS house in order.

DNS Record Overview

The DNS record of your domain name is an important element of your Internet property. The abbreviation DNS stands for Domain Name System and refers to a specific online document which translates your host name into the assigned IP address. There are several entries in the DNS record which are closely connected with one another and each entry in the record performs a unique and critical function a detailed analysis of which is beyond the scope of this brief report. However, we do recommend that you develop a fairly good understanding of the DNS record and its functions by visiting the DNS page in Wikipedia. You can find it at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System

The DNS record is like a telephone directory which helps to look up the domain name associated with an IP address and visa versa. It clearly identifies the name of the individual or organization that owns the domain name, the hosting server, the date of registration and expiration, billing information and other important details to facilitate smooth and reliable access.

Updating your DNS Record

In order for the major search engines to drive traffic to your web site effectively, your DNS record must remain updated at all times. This is specially important when the major search engines like Google attempt to send localized traffic in your direction through geo-targeted search. For instance, if your DNS record does not accurately define and pin-point your geographical locations, Google may not be able to include your site in localized search results because it wouldn’t know where you are located.

We have reliable evidence to believe that spam activity associated with your IP address is data that Google is able to capture. Hence there should not be any spam or spam-related activity associated with your DNS record. There is really no benefit-of-doubt here. If your DNS record happens to be incomplete or tainted, Google assumes that you are a spam-prone, unreliable and untrustworthy site. A clean and updated DNS record is your pathway to prime placement in organic search.

Selecting a Managed DNS Service Provider

If you own and operate a heavy traffic web site and do not have the in-house resources to manage your DNS record, it is a good idea to assign this important function to a professional service provider who can manage and monitor your DNS record. Companies such as Easydns, Zoneedit,and Ultradns provide managed DNS services. Be sure to explore their service delivery models carefully prior to signing the dotted line. In our next report, we will tell you why it is important to research your IP, especially if you have acquired an existing IP, to gain maximum search engine exposure.

About the Author

Naveen Kapur is a senior SEO and SEM consultant with more than ten years of core experience in multimedia and graphic design, website optimization and Internet marketing. He helps organizations achieve their corporate objectives by building an online presence on the Internet.