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Search
Engine Optimization Importance of Clean HTML Code
A factor that many overlook, but that is just as important
as keyword research and application, search engine submission,
or link popularity, is the size, appearance, and cleanliness
of your HTML coding. The size, cleanliness, and appearance
and presentation to the search engine robots and spiders
can be the difference between ranking #1 and #12.
Size of HTML Coding and Page
Nowadays, it seems as though every web page designer likes
the use of Flash, Java Script, or in some cases - dynamic
page generation tools like ASP, PHP, of Cold fusion’s
CFM. While these tools make database integration and visual
appearance both simplified and amazing - it can also hinder
the optimization value of a page - and do so in the eye
of every search engine.
Bear in mind that there are two elements that a search engine's
spiders and robots can read and decipher. That is the actual
HTML markup code, and the ASCII text that appears on the
page itself. Regardless of which search engine is your target,
it is wise to have the ASCII text contained within your
page outweigh the HTML coding of the page.
Every search engine prefers a different amount of text on
the page, a different overall page size, and of course,
a different keyword density ratio. Google, for example,
likes small page sizes, with the size ranging.
When the search engines come to your web page, they have
a number of things that they are going to be looking for,
and a number of things that they don't want to find on the
page.
Some of the criteria that the search engine robots
look for are:
Some of the things that the search engine robots do not want
to find on your page are:
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To little text |
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Keyword Stuffing |
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Heavy Java Script |
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Large File Sizes |
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Small Text Sizes |
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Frames |
Each search engine puts a different amount of weight on
each of these criteria, but general rules apply across the
board.
When the search engine robots visit your web page,
and site for that matter, they will want to see certain
things at the top of your HTML code. This is what we mean
by the appearance of your HTML code: the things that the
search engines look for in ranking a web site should be
as close to the top as possible. This is not the rule that
applies to all search engines, as a few of them do prefer
to see text and links near the bottom of the page as well.
Validating your HTML coding is something
that not only touches upon optimization issues, but usability
and browser rendering. Using an HTML validator, like CSE
Validator Pro, will allow you to clean up your HTML code
to remove all unneeded tags, add the tags that you do need,
check your spelling, and eliminate code errors that will
result in browsers rendering your pages wrong. Having your
HTML in the correct format, with all the correct tags in
place, is something that search engines look for, and can
help your optimization efforts as well.
Click any of the links below to see more about HTML
Tag Optimization:
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