[BNM] SEO & display:none and getting banned on Google

[Richard Maynard]

I think this was covered recently in the list.  I don't think Google parses
CSS info yet, but it does break the Google guidlines.

Quote:

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35769#design%2
2


"
Quality guidelines - specific guidelines

    * Avoid hidden text or hidden links.
    * Don't employ cloaking or sneaky redirects.
    * Don't send automated queries to Google.
    * Don't load pages with irrelevant words.
    * Don't create multiple pages, subdomains, or domains with substantially
duplicate content.
    * Don't create pages that install viruses, trojans, or other badware.
    * Avoid "doorway" pages created just for search engines, or other
"cookie cutter" approaches such as affiliate programs with little or no
original content.
    * If your site participates in an affiliate program, make sure that your
site adds value. Provide unique and relevant content that gives users a
reason to visit your site first.

If a site doesn't meet our quality guidelines, it may be blocked from the
index. If you determine that your site doesn't meet these guidelines, you
can modify your site so that it does and request reinclusion.

"

I don't think you'll get caught (yet) unless you get reported - are any of
your competitors on this list?!

Doing basic SEO work myself, I would say using display: none is a bit
naughty, a copout even... it's not really ethical SEO.  Your site should be
built from the ground up with SEO in mind, and use appropriate semantic HTML
wherever appropriate - not slapped on as a (hidden) afterthought.

Regards,

Richard.

www.wessexnetworks.com


If you Google this you'll find lots of contrasting opinions.  If google did
start parsing CSS info, you could well run into problems. 

-----Original Message-----
From: delarge [mailto:delargerock at gmail.com] 
Sent: 02 October 2006 11:27
To: Brighton New Media
Subject: [BNM] SEO & display:none and getting banned on Google

Hey SEO peeps out there

A company who recently lauched a site for us have slapped something like
this up top:

<div id="seo">

<h1>Descriptive header</h1>
<h1>Descriptive header</h1>
<h1>Descriptive header</h1>
<h1>Descriptive header</h1>
<h1>Descriptive header</h1>

</div>

and lo & behold, the CSS file says:
#seo {display:none}

(seo? I think not)

Now am I correct in thinking that this might/will get us blacklisted by
Google?
Or would it have to take someone reporting us for that to happen?


--
Paul Burgess

http://delarge.co.uk
http://streetstickers.co.uk
http://iampaulburgess.co.uk
-- 

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