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Any favoring by Google of paragraphs over bullet points (or vice versa) is likely to be so minor it's not worth worrying about.
What's your real worry?
I would not worry about it to much.
From a semantic point of view, the sentences could be better (if Google is using semantic analysis).
To clarify:
If you do SA you need lots of words in structured sentences. By using bullets you will probably use less sentences (that was my assumption).
> I started the topic to get a feel for what most readers here think about this issue? I guess my real questions is does Google use semantic analysis and if so to what extent
Since I don't believe Google is really applying SA (yet) I would go for the ul bullets.
If using lists is semantic markup, then I fail to understand why semantic analyis would not see that list as being a list, and analyse it appropriately.
Why wouldn't semantic analysis see the list as being a list? The type of tags you use determine exactly what kind of list it is; and the content within the list should match what type of list you defined.
I agree with Mikemcs that using lists properly makes it semantic markup. Not only does it bring structure of content for the search engine, it also makes the page easier to scan for the reader. If you want to replace the black circle with an image of your own, just use the proper markup for it.
I believe that semantics is very much in use by Google in determining what a page and site is about. Nearly a year ago they purchased a company that took the idea of semantics to the next level. I don't think it would take them over a year to impliment the important and powerful technology they acquired :)
Semantics isn't just about how many different ways you can use a keyword in your content. It's also about the form and structure of the code that ultimately organizes the content that tells the SE what your site is about.
For more information on using list properly and information on manipulating the way they look, please see
[w3.org...]
Variety is good for users too, which brings us back to the old "write your content primarily for users and not for Google" line.
Semantic analysis is not semantic markup. Remember, keyword tags are also semantic markup. They are dead.
I was simply alluding to the point that semantic algos need lots of natural language text to work proper (with sentences of decent length). Lists often are the opposite (representing just sentence parts).
This is said a lot here and its a nice idea but reality is different. Google wants to find relevant sites with natural content, but it nearly always serves up pages which have been seo'd primarily with google in mind, not the user.
If you want more traffic, you have to think google first, user second. The trick is satisfying both, so once you have the traffic, you capitalise on it.
li used to be a good way of flagging up keywords for google, not so sure it works anymore. Probably better to use it very sparingly.
"does Google favor true sentences and paragraphs over bullets?"
I would go for good paragraphs with a nice theme running through them, reinforcing the keyword with stemming. Bullets may be now recognised as an old trick and ignored. With some good sentances you will pick up all those odd search phrases around your theme, which often will pick up more traffic than focusing too heavily on a keyword.
But I am more concerned about how Google treats it
Understandable - but in the end it's the customer who has the wallet, not the search engine (though yes, good SE performance will help bring the customers and the wallets to you).
Google wants to find relevant sites with natural content, but it nearly always serves up pages which have been seo'd primarily with google in mind, not the user.
I've found that what works for goose is good for the google. When I've made a highly user-friendly page, that has a tightly defined focus and keeps on track and keeps on track and keeps on track, it performs well. The user likes it, uses it, and more users come in. Win-win.
For copy, I've always favored varying-length paragraphs, bold subheaders (eyestoppers) and bullets in a ul when relevant.
Whatever helps your user understand the product/ idea/ whatever, and what helps them convert, is the main thing. Have you experimented with different copy layouts? Evaluate the performance of a page that is paragraphed content, one that's bulleted, and one that's a mix.
I do know from what I read here, we are in another state of flux. I also read from many here in this group that would argue that pr has anywhere from a lot to no influence in your position or even its usefulness at all. So I am not sure what to make of this. I do get good traffic from these catalog pages and they do rank 1 - 5 for their keywords so its more of a understanding then a real problem.
li used to be a good way of flagging up keywords for google, not so sure it works anymore. Probably better to use it very sparingly.
Worth bearing in mind though that <li> is how DMOZ lays out its listings - therefore it's hard to see it frowned upon.
-kpaul
bullets help readers/visitors scan more easily. therefore, use bullets
You have to get them to the site first.
