Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
Regarding Google specifically, what are the possible consequences to having the home page replaced all at once? Can the site disappear from the SERP's? Can the PR drop? If so, how soon can it come back? Etc., etc.
No changes to the host, URL, inbound links, even the home page filename - only the actual content.
Content-wise, the graphics, text, and link titles will stay the same - only the structure was rebuilt using W3C-compliant XHTML (instead of nested tables).
The reason I'm worried, is that the vast majority of traffic to the site comes from Google PPC and organic results. We're on Page 1 for 3 out of 5 most important industry keywords, and having the site drop from the SERPs even for a few days will be disastrous.
Gradual changes are nearly-impossible, thanks to the "wonderful" techniques used to build the site - 1999-style 7-level-deep nested tables, spacer GIF's, IE hacks, etc.
The new version is built using XHTML 1.0 Transitional, with all considerations given to W3C standards and usability (ALT tags, DIV-based layout, etc.) - which should count for something with Google, right?
Any advice will be appreciated. Before the weekend is over - much appreciated! ;)
You are keeping the same:
1. Visible text
2. Image files
3. URL
4. Backlinks, both internal and external
That should take you pretty far. Although there can be no guarantees with Google, I think you'll probably do alright as long as you don't put the same keywords in all of your newly-born alt atributes ;)
The new version is built using XHTML 1.0 Transitional, with all considerations given to W3C standards and usability (ALT tags, DIV-based layout, etc.) - which should count for something with Google, right?
In my experience, these are not ranking factors. However, if you are clarifying semantically ambiguous sections of the page, that can help.
I would suggest, tell me I'm wrong, that Google couldn't really care much about the inclusuion or exclusion of tables. The same with W3C-compliant XHTML. It's the content that Google is interested in. I would also think that Google simply strips away the redundant html / xhtml and analyses principally the content and a few remaining key html elements.
A couple of thoughts though on your proposal. Your addition of alt tags could affect Google, in a good or bad way. Also, making the page W3C-compliant XHTML may well affect the sequence of the content as seen by Google. That will make a difference to Google. Keywords may be moved up or down the content and that is significant. There are also other html elements that are reputed to have an effect on Google, notably h1 tags.
Let us know how you get on when the page is published.
Content-wise, the graphics, text, and link titles will stay the same - only the structure was rebuilt using W3C-compliant XHTML (instead of nested tables).
About a year ago, a client changed over an entire site from tables to source-ordered content using CSS positioning, and I observed no change in rankings. That would be more extreme than what you're suggesting. See discussion on this thread...
H1 H2 or H3 - plus semantic mark-up and source-ordered content
[webmasterworld.com...]
Before you make the change to XHTML, btw, you might want to see this discussion. I have no personal experience with XHMTL, so I can't comment, but it's a discussion you might want to see. The consensus seems to be that you should stay with HTML 4.01. I doubt, though, that Google would care much....
Why most of us should NOT use XHTML
[webmasterworld.com...]
