As a copy editor with experience in search engine optimization (SEO), one topic that is often overlooked is the coverage agreement. This agreement is between a website and a search engine, outlining the parameters of search engine indexing and the content that will be included on a website.

The coverage agreement is a crucial element in SEO because it helps search engines understand what content is available on a website. Essentially, it outlines which pages and sections of the website should be indexed by search engines, and which ones should be left out of search results.

One important aspect of the coverage agreement is the use of robots.txt files. These files tell search engines which pages they are allowed to index and which pages they should avoid. This can be particularly helpful for websites with private or sensitive information that they don`t want to be publicly available.

Another important aspect of the coverage agreement is the use of canonical tags. These tags are used to tell search engines which page is the original source of content, and which pages are duplicates or variations. This helps to avoid duplicate content penalties and ensures that the correct pages are being indexed.

The coverage agreement should also include information about how the website handles redirects. Redirects are commonly used when a URL has been changed or a page has been deleted. The agreement should outline how these redirects will be handled, to ensure that search engines can find the new page and continue to index the website.

Overall, the coverage agreement is an essential element of search engine optimization. It helps to ensure that search engines understand the content on a website, and that the correct pages are being indexed. By including details about robots.txt files, canonical tags, and redirects, websites can improve their SEO and ensure that they are getting the most traffic possible.