Scots need to mind its P's and Q's on keywords

Search Engine Land's blog on Beware English Keywords That Aren't Really English got us thinking.

Based in Edinburgh and with home grown clients, we've had plenty of experience with Scottish websites but none using the Scots language; which is just as well because it could prove a bit of a problem.

Take the Scots word for mouse – 'moose' – as an example. Imagine you were an online pet supply store with 'moose food' as one of your main products. Now the last time we checked, tiny rodents and substantially antlered deer probably have very different dietary requirements. The chances are you visitors are going to leave pronto and definitely not convert.

Running with the animal theme, sheep – 'coorie' – doesn't jump out as having an English doppelgänger but it's a whole different story if you're Japanese. Here, Coorie is a highly successful singer who performs music for anime and games. Nothing to do with sheep. Nowt. Ziltch. Just a lot of confused Japanese music fans who get a website full of sheep rather than their pop idol.

Finally if Scots animals hadn't caused enough confusion already, 'slaters' have to get in on the action. The Scots for wood louse, the word slaters shares an uncanny resemblance to the word for tradespeople who fix roofs. Thankfully the roofers themselves don't resemble slaters!

So, what conclusions can be drawn from this impromptu ramble through the Scots language? Dinnae mix yer Scots wi English if ye want yer wabsite tae perform well oan keywords, ya ken?

You catch our drift.