Search Engines and Style Sheets

RawAlex · 2003-08-27, 08:44 PM

Okay, I have been looking at using style sheets more to develop certain sites, and in some cases, to use CSS to replace table and other layout items.

How do the SEs handle this?

Is it better to have the CSS loaded seperately or as an intregal part of the page coding?

Any major negatives to style sheets?

Alex

Bill · 2003-08-28, 06:53 PM

So far Alex I haven't heard anything that seems like a warning not to use complex style sheets. In the discussions I've heard, you have the people who emphasize the idea that spiders prefer simpler pages over complex pages (and who are arguing that complex stylesheets _might_ put off the spiders), and an equal group of people who use style sheets who are saying they see no sign of any negative impact, so why not use them.

You know that some people are using stylesheets to push large sections of keyword stuffed text off of the visible page. I've heard it said that google is aware of this and is thinking/has experimented with looking at stylesheets to detect this, under the "what the spider sees the surfer should see" premise. But google has been doing such a lousy job of dealing with spam in general, I highly doubt they are going to do anything about this kind of stylesheet trick anytime soon.

DangerDave · 2003-08-28, 07:57 PM

Alex,

Personal/Anecdotal Experience

- CSS make little difference
- Large and complex CSS are better to be external
- Internal CSS increase the amount of code in our page and may "push" your "content" down the page out of the spiders reach.(dependent on spider of course)
- I believe Google is aware of spam-CSS tricks.. - but wether they are dealing with it(as Bill said) is another question.

No conclusive warnings or negatives

I will try to find a more specific answer

DD

Cleo · 2003-08-28, 08:48 PM

I don't see it messing with the SEs, but I really have no idea. I more worry about using complex CSS and compatibility across browsers and OSs. If your page displays a mess because the browsers is having problems with the CSS then you are going to get sales.

Nige · 2003-08-29, 03:23 AM

I started using CSS a couple of months ago, I don't think it has effected my rankings in anyway.

I use anybrowsers siteviewer to check my sites.
http://www.anybrowser.com/siteviewer.html

2003-08-27, 08:44 PM	#1
RawAlex Took the hint. Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,597	Search Engines and Style Sheets Okay, I have been looking at using style sheets more to develop certain sites, and in some cases, to use CSS to replace table and other layout items. How do the SEs handle this? Is it better to have the CSS loaded seperately or as an intregal part of the page coding? Any major negatives to style sheets? Alex

2003-08-28, 07:57 PM	#3
DangerDave Bonged Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: BrisVegas, AUSTRALIA Posts: 4,882	Alex, Personal/Anecdotal Experience - CSS make little difference - Large and complex CSS are better to be external - Internal CSS increase the amount of code in our page and may "push" your "content" down the page out of the spiders reach.(dependent on spider of course) - I believe Google is aware of spam-CSS tricks.. - but wether they are dealing with it(as Bill said) is another question. No conclusive warnings or negatives I will try to find a more specific answer DD __________________ Old Dollars >>>> Now with over 90 Hosted Free Sites <<<< DangerDave.com.au - Adult Links to Free Porn

2003-08-28, 08:48 PM	#4
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	I don't see it messing with the SEs, but I really have no idea. I more worry about using complex CSS and compatibility across browsers and OSs. If your page displays a mess because the browsers is having problems with the CSS then you are going to get sales. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2003-08-28, 06:53 PM	#2
Bill Selling porn allows me to stay in a constant state of Bliss - ain't that a trip! Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,914	So far Alex I haven't heard anything that seems like a warning not to use complex style sheets. In the discussions I've heard, you have the people who emphasize the idea that spiders prefer simpler pages over complex pages (and who are arguing that complex stylesheets _might_ put off the spiders), and an equal group of people who use style sheets who are saying they see no sign of any negative impact, so why not use them. You know that some people are using stylesheets to push large sections of keyword stuffed text off of the visible page. I've heard it said that google is aware of this and is thinking/has experimented with looking at stylesheets to detect this, under the "what the spider sees the surfer should see" premise. But google has been doing such a lousy job of dealing with spam in general, I highly doubt they are going to do anything about this kind of stylesheet trick anytime soon.

2003-08-29, 03:23 AM	#5
Nige Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand! Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 94	I started using CSS a couple of months ago, I don't think it has effected my rankings in anyway. I use anybrowsers siteviewer to check my sites. http://www.anybrowser.com/siteviewer.html