WSYWIG HTML Programs
The worst Technology Blockers of all Most programs that allow you to design a site with little or no knowledge of writing HTML, like Front Page and Dreamweaver (even the most up to date software), produce an enormous amount of code bloat and deprecated code, i.e., center and font tags that will soon no longer be supported by some browsers. The code from these programs will not validate and search engines may avoid your site depending on the errors. Check the code your program puts out with the W3C validator to see if your program puts out up-to-date code (I've never seen one that does).
Password protected web sites. Search engines can't enter such pages because they don't have the password.
Frames Search engines can't read the contents of sites built within frames. If you use frames you should also provide these same pages in non-frame versions (which increases the work load for the webmaster and cost for the client).
Image Maps Links inside image maps will result in search engines not listing your site because they get trapped inside of them. You need to provide the same links in standard HTML somewhere else on the page--possibly in a site map or in the footer.
Flash Flash technology, because it is so image intensive, slows down computers that are on dial up--and will annoy those visitors to your site. Sites with navigation generated by Flash cannot be read by search engine spiders either and thus the links will not be followed or recorded and neither can they read the contents of Flash. Some visually imparied people get physically sick watching animations and Flash presentations because of a problem with focusing their eyes. And most importantly many people are now turning off Flash in their browsers because it runs on Active-X which spreads trogans and viruses. If you're still not convinced that it shouldn't be used here is a good discussion on the Pros and Cons of using Flash.
Javascript Sites designed with links inside of Javascript also will not be listed by search engines unless these links are provided elsewhere on the page in standard hyperlink format (the menu above is designed with JavaScript, CSS and also HTML so it's viewable by all search engines).
Dynamic HTML Search engines can't list sites totally designed with DHTML (classifieds, databases, etc.) because the pages are actually not even there. The pages are assembled from different parts and not visible unless someone searches for data. Other arrangements need to be made for the search engine to list them such as the program generating static html page for part of the database.
Databases Search engines can't get information from the server, only the web page (see dynamic html above).
Multimedia Files Media files are audio and video presentations. Any important text in these files cannot be indexed by most search engines.
Forms. Search engines can't fill out forms.
Large pages An acceptable page size is 40 K. Visitors and search engine spiders won't wait for the page to load.
A Hierarchy of Directories Search engines and crawlers will usually not dig deeper than 3-4 directories or folders so keep your most important information in the upper levels or the root level of your website.
Affiliate Links Some search engines are beginning to ban sites with Affiliate links and no original content, because it provides duplicate content and they are trying to reduce spam.
Technology that Blocks Some Browsers
Java Applets. Important information in Java Applets should also be provided on the text of the page because some of the older browsers can't read it. For instance, there is a Java Applet that gives a rippling effect on a picture of swimming fish of the Jerry's Koi Pond page. We have also provided a picture of the swimming fish for those viewers who are using the older browsers. Also, if people have PopUps turned off in their browser they won't be able to view Java Applets either.
Images Important information, such as titles of articles or your major keywords, should not be put into images unless it is also included in the text because search engines can't read images. This is why, although I have the title of my site in a logo I also repeat it in the text of the page in several places. This may seem redundant or repetitive to the normal reader but we're dealing with text only search engines here--not just people.
Text-only Browsers or Text-to-voice Converters These are used by the blind. The same thing that stops these browsers will stop most search engine crawlers so it's a good idea to have all of your web sites tested for accessibility such as: WebXact and provide an alt tag on all images and also view your site in a text-only browser (you can do this by finding your site in Google, clicking on the cache and then on the option for text only).
Template Driven Hosting Companies
Most code put out by template driven hosting companies is run by software that is so old that the code is deprecated and no longer supported by newer browsers and thus will not validate and search engines will avoid your site.
If you would like your web site analyzed for keyword ranking
please check out the Website Evaluation page. If you are looking for a web designer check out the How to Find a Web Designer page first.
Lori Eldridge
www.loriswebs.com
Copyright © July 5, 2001, updated 1-20-07
All rights reserved.
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