JavaScript and SEO « Ask Cricket

JavaScript and SEO

Posted on: 10-22-2005 Posted in: SEO Techniques Questions

Hi Cricket!

I have a program that I use to help me maintain my website and it has a portion for “Optimize pages” where it gives you advice on optimizing the pages for search engines. It’s really helpful to check on keyword density, weight, word counts and such before I publish. One of the things that pops up on an alert is that the page uses JavaScript, which it does to control the syndicated banners and the rotating Tip of the Day.

I know that search engines can’t read text that’s in a JavaScript, which is why you tell everyone to have text navigation in addition to a Java drop menu if they go that route. But does JavaScript on a page effect it’s PR? Do search engines not rank those pages as well as others, or doesn’t it matter?

T.Wells, Latrobe, PA
Mother’s Unique Designs

Hi Toni!

Google PageRank (PR) measures the quantity and quality of sites that link to a particular page. Unless websites are using JavaScript to link to your pages, the use of JavaScript will not have an impact on your PR.

It is important that you are using valid code that does not break when the search engine robots attempt to spider your pages. Used properly, JavaScript still has a place in web design. As always though, do everything in moderation. Use JavaScript only when necessary, always remembering that not all people have JavaScript enabled when browsing the internet.

I WILL DEFINITELY SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

J. Cricket Walker