SEO question
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- ukit
Is there a good way to supplement Flash and/ or images with hidden live text (by setting display to none for instance) for SEO purposes? Or will search engines pick up on this?
- uan0
images work with alt, i think
- maximillion_0
if you use swfObject to replce a div with your swf you can put html content in the div that will be picked up by SEs. You dont need to set display:none as swfObject replaces with swf so the user doesnt see the html but it is rad by the bot. the SEs understand display:none;
- maximillion_0
you can use display:none as well as alt text to describe the content of an image as long as the text in alt or hidden is a true description of the image - wear and think with your white hat.
- Gordy220
With images you can use the image replacement with css; make the element a block (if it needs to be) add the image as a background-image and set the text indent to, say, 5000px.
Or use the alt, title and longdesc (?) attributes of img
- uan0
thank you max&Gord. I learned a lot!
- ukit0
You know, I am hearing different stuff about whether these techniques work or not.
Apparently the bottom line is that Google won't say for sure one way or the other.
- ukit0
To clarify, they will be picked up by bots, but no one is sure whether search engines might ban your site if you have hidden text.
- it's not hidden text, it's a non flash version.Jnr_Madison
- blaw0
@ukit: Surely the swfobject version would work. Many sites fill the div to be replaced with information important to the non-flash visitor, so SEs can assume it's legit.
- ukit0
^True, that is probably OK. I was thinking of having H1s and H2s as images with hidden text but it's probably better to err on the safe side (live text).
- maximillion_0
ive done this on flash sites and they arent penalised or banned. like i said is its a true represnetation of the image/swf content i dont think you will see a negative.
stuff it full of keywords and it will be a different story
- ukit0
Good to know, maximillion. Thanks for your help!
- maximillion_0
the "official" unofficial google seo guy - http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ty…
if you dont already know
- tparsons0
Yes the search engines will knock you for hidden text. They have ways to find it. I've personally seen sites go from the top to complete exclusion from the search engines due to using hidden text.
For your flash files when you export you can include the text that's in the file. Then you can also add to the text within the html.
- imavery0
Flash is starting to finally be se-friendly. However, you're text needs to be within the main timeline. Not great, but at least it will show up.
- ukit0
OK, it sounds like I am in the clear using mm's SWF object technique and replacing images w live text where needed.
I have an SEO guy I am working with too, just wanted a second opinion since everyone will tell you something different in this practice.