keywords hidden in form tags!

[flashmastermak]

While searching and researching many different but related search terms on google, I noticed that one site kept making the top ten despite having no content . However when I checked their code I found the relevant search terms hidden within "HIDDEN FORM" tags (see below) Presumably this is Spam but can anyone explain the purpose of the hidden google link and the hidden iso.

Thanks Mak

<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="rtn" VALUE="/fashion_designers/dior/default.asp">

<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="ref" VALUE="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en">

<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="lr" VALUE="">

<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="ie" VALUE="ISO-8859-1">

<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="q" VALUE="john Galliano history">

<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="btnG" VALUE="Google Search">

[WebGuerrilla]

It isn't spam. It looks like the site is dynamically loading the referral information into the form. That way if you submit the form, they can track the engine and keyword that produced the converasion.

It's actually a very clever approach to tracking conversion.

[cminblues]

Please, admin or flashfastermak, delete quickly the above tags from post, I know Google will think this is spam :)

<added>I was joking.. Googlebot don't send HTTP_REFERER</added>

[wasmith]

Keywords within form tags can provide a clue to content hidden from search engines. Most of these forms provide _pages_ of information on any topic which can be selected.

Its only spam if they don't provide information. Although i don't think it matters too much with the current algos. But it adds a dimension for future improvements in SE algos.

> Googlebot don't send HTTP_REFERER
They do if they directly link to you. I wish i could show an example.

[WebGuerrilla]

The form doesn't contain keywords in it. The referral info your browser sent after you clicked on the link in Google was loaded into the form.

What ever search you used to find the page is what ends up in the hiiden form fields.

[cminblues]

wasmith wrote:

> Googlebot don't send HTTP_REFERER
They do if they directly link to you. I wish i could show an example.

Wasmith, I've sticky you the request if you don't want the example to go public.. :)

Anyway, I've never seen a Googlebot HTTP_REFERER.
Wonder if I were wrong all this time, but nothing is 100% sure on the other hand he..

cminblues

[x_m]

Googlebot of course doesn't send HTTP_REFERER but Google itself sure does like any other web server if your browser supports it - now we are talking about google not googlebot ;)
XM