Proper HTML formatting - does it affect SE rating?

Halfdeck · 2008-09-28, 10:55 AM

Google doesn't use WC3 compliance as a ranking factor.

That said, there are cases where badly botched HTML will cause issues: e.g. META description / TITLE not properly picked up by Googlebot due to malformed code.

Best practice is to run a site through a validator at least once. No need to fix stuff like & in URLs just make sure you got no major issues (e.g. screwy HTML nesting, unclosed </a>).

boobookitty · 2008-10-02, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfdeck

Best practice is to run a site through a validator at least once. No need to fix stuff like & in URLs just make sure you got no major issues (e.g. screwy HTML nesting, unclosed </a>).

I like this one:
http://www.htmlvalidator.com/lite/

I agree that you don't have to be W3 compliant to be spidered. None of my sites are and they get spidered.

2008-09-28, 10:55 AM	#1
Halfdeck You can now put whatever you want in this space :) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Haven, CT Posts: 985	Google doesn't use WC3 compliance as a ranking factor. That said, there are cases where badly botched HTML will cause issues: e.g. META description / TITLE not properly picked up by Googlebot due to malformed code. Best practice is to run a site through a validator at least once. No need to fix stuff like & in URLs just make sure you got no major issues (e.g. screwy HTML nesting, unclosed </a>). __________________ Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.