Using Images for Primary Navigation
Many websites use fancy looking navigation links around the website which may look good but are not Search Engine friendly. Remember that the Bots can't read the graphical images and therefore the Bots can't read or determine what the link is about and what page it will take them to unless the spider actually visits the page itself.
Its like having a door without a number on it or a description as to what is behind the door how can the Bot know where the door will take them without some text to tell them
If you are going to use graphic images for your navigation links around your site make sure they are uniform and not all different so as to create continuity of design. It is better to use textural links added to your graphics to back up your graphic navigation image links this is known as ALT text or you could simply use textural links which tells the bots what and where to go.
Once you have decided to use graphic images for your navigation then you should add a text explanation of where the link takes you and the Search Engine Bot.
Home Page Holiday Flights Travel Tips Book Hotel
The text gives the title of where the door navigation goes to
To further make it easy for the bots to know what's behind the door and what they will find on the page you can add optimized ALT text this will clearly define what is on the page, you can do this buy adding the primary keyword in the text which is called 'Link Reputation'
Holiday Flights page, Flight booking engine to book online and save money.
Use of JavaScript |
Use of CSS |
Primary Keyword Layout
Pretty Sites v Spider Friendly Sites |
Correct use of Robots.txt File |
Dead Pages & 404 Not Found Errors |
Using Images for Primary Navigation
Correct Use of Home, Sitemap & Contact Page Links |
Use of Redirection Pages
Use of Small Type Fonts |
Should I use Hidden Doorway Pages?
Should I Use HTML Frames? |
Spider Friendly URL's
This article is copyright protected ©
White Hat Web Design have created the above article to help our web readers better understand the Internet and web applications, whilst we are happy for anyone to link back to this page, we will not accept any copying of its content or publication in any medium without written permission from White Hat Web Design.
Please link back using the URL http://www.white-hat-web-design.co.uk/articles/design-tips/graphical-navigation.php or contact us
