xhtml/Css and SEO

[killerflow]

I had a client ask if they should change their site which is html/php/flash elements to xhtml/css/flash elements because they were told it would be a SEO boost for the site because of the structure.

I know it is a simpler structure with open and closed ends etc. but is there an advantage?

Scott
www.killerflow.com

[dazzlindonna]

I would say no. Yes, there are benefits, and I would consider them when creating a new site, but personally, I don't think the benefits are worth changing over an old site. At least not for SEO reasons. It's nice to be able to separate content from presentation, and to be able to easily change colors, etc. when using CSS. And yes, a file can be much cleaner and shorter when using CSS, which can make the load time a bit better. There are lots of little reasons why I would choose xhtml/css (though not flash) when creating a new site, but I probably would not change over an old site...unless I was planning an entire redesign for some other reason anyway. Plus, just the possibility of such massive changes causing a rankings drop gives me the shivers. I've done this to two sites so far, and have had no rankings changes (up or down), but I would still worry about problems the next time I attempted it. Anyway, that's my personal opinion.

[Marty]

Maybe, but not much.

XHTML/CSS web has better rate among size of text and size of web page code (with text).
But that isn't sufficient reason for rebuild a big web to XHTML/CSS because search engines don't overlook on it so much.

[DianeV]

I agree with Donna. I remember when someone started suggesting that converting to tableless/CSS design would improve rankings. However, until we see proper testing, such as converting an existing site to tableless CSS without changing anything else, I don't think that we can say that it will actually *improve* rankings.

[Bruno]

I have done that more then 20 times already and i'm not gone say it's becose of CSS & XHTML but each time i did it, i did see a lot better serps for all pages & domains.

I don't think it's about XHTML code or CSS, it's about keeping content in one piece, but same can be achieved with tables also.

But again, i always changing site structure from tables to pure CSS just becose i always see better serps. Why? I really don't need answer i just do it :)

[DianeV]

Bruno, did you change anything else? Or did you just convert from tables to divs?

[FreeAgent]

XHTML and CSS is without a doubt the best way to go as far as optimization goes. DIV layer manipulation is the best thing since sliced bread!

Only a fool would choose to work with Tables over DIV layers in this day and age!

Enough Said :boxing: