SEO and Iframes

[dtracker]

Are iFrames ok for SEO or are they considered has normal frames (thing that really kills SE)?

Thx!

[jetboy_70]

The problems are similar. Google indexes iframe content as separate pages, so your parent pages with not gain the ranking benefit of anything brought in via iframe, and G will list orphan iframes in the SERPs unless you use robots exclusion to prevent it.

[LowLevel]

Google indexes iframe content as separate pages

It seems to me that Google indexes the content of the file referenced by the iframe src attribute as the same page where the iframe tag is used.

[internetheaven]

Are iFrames ok for SEO or are they considered has normal frames (thing that really kills SE)?

Google doesn't have a problem with frames, they rank just as well as normal pages if they are done right. As for iframes, I would be careful - the recent spamming techniques using iframes will most likely cause Google to put a filter in place at some point in the future or at least devalue the content of iframes like they did with alt tags.

[isitreal]

It seems to me that Google indexes the content of the file referenced by the iframe src attribute as the same page where the iframe tag is used.

No, that wouldn't make any sense at all, an iframe is functionally identical to a frame page, it's a physically separate document that is requested by the iframe tag, a different file, that file can't be part of another file, that would be like one image being part of another image, that makes no sense.

I used to use iframes extensively, google indexes files, if a search lands on the content page of the iframe, that's where the searcher lands too, the search doesn't land on some kind of composite page.

[fathom]

...it's a physically separate document that is requested by the iframe tag, a different file, that file can't be part of another file, that would be like one image being part of another image, that makes no sense.

I used to use iframes extensively, google indexes files, if a search lands on the content page of the iframe, that's where the searcher lands too, the search doesn't land on some kind of composite page.

Precisely correct.

There are valid reasons for iframe use in SEO but in general, "on-page optimization" isn't one of them.

[jetboy_70]

I assume what Fathom's hinting at (and hey, nice to have you back, where you been?!) is that in some instances you may want some of your on-page content *not* to be indexed. Maybe a disclaimer on the bottom of each page, some generic navigation, some advertising possibly. These things can dilute the focus of your page, so would make ideal candidates to be shoved into an iframe and purposely hidden from the spiders.

[fathom]

Nice addition there jetboy_70! I prefer to get people thinking than just giving "tips" and "tricks"... but yes that's one way, also good for credibility links BBB, TRUSTe, Credit Card companies, and other associations where the links can instill "site trust" to the visitor but the outbound links don't really help any page (optimization wise).

Also works in reverse for things like physical addresses (and regional queries) where the bannering on every page adds great relevancy to the frame (plus mainpage [where the link goes]) and clever use of a mod rewrite can get visitors "on-click" back into the site... rather than coming to a less desirable page (or needing a dedicated contact page) with little information on it.

As for me, quite busy of late but I do get to pop in now & again - more reading than anything.