SEO and Dynamic Content

Optimization vs Content Management

[krg9263]

I have been reading a lot about search engine optimization and find it very interesting. The problem is that most of my development has been for 'internal use' tools, so search engine optimization has never been an issue.

However I am now in the tasked with a project and search engine optimization will be important.
My question regards dynamic content and how it will impact optimization.

If I use such tools as PHP's include statements or JSP include statements for static content such as headers and footers will that impact SEO?

If I use PHP XSLT commands or JSP XSLT custom tags for storing repetitive contact info that is reflected on multiple pages will this impact performance?

I guess I am just unsure of some design techniques because I have read that dynamic content should be kept to a minimum.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Gorilla]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], Kevin! :-)

What matters is the HTML/XHTML code and URLs seen by the client. What you do behind the scenes in the form of server side include files, XSLT and the like, does not matter.

If you are unsure as to exactly what the HTML you send to the client look like, use the "view html source" command of your browser.

Many internal web sites have complicated URL formats containing state information. You should avoid this for public web sites you want indexed and well ranked in search engines. Don't store session ID in the URL and limit yourself to no more than two variables, for instance: www.example.com/brown-widgets.php?top=white&bottom=black

[krg9263]

Thanks for the response.

So basically you are saying that my resulting HTML, from XSLT, JavaScript or whatever should follow the XHTML spec. Do you propose it adhere to the strict DTD or not?

Thanks a lot.

[jweighell]

Search engines are geared up to work with plain old HTML, so there's no need to worry about DTDs.

[TallTroll]

The issues with dynamic content largely relate to technical points that have historically made it difficult for spiders to properly read dynamic content due to URL formulation problems (session IDs, infinite loops "trapping" spiders etc)

If the content is high quality, and well presented from an SEO point of view, the SEs will still love it. Some sort of URL rewriting to make the content appear static would probably be a good idea, and I'm getting the initial impression that you already have the technical skills to implement it.