Adding keywords to comment tags

Is this a good idea?

[Gary_Numan]

Over-the-top keyword stuffing on a site is a big no-no when it comes to SEO, but what about using <..comment..> tags in the html. It doesnt show up on the page, but would it be seen as spamming if used too often?

Gary

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Probably not because the search engines ignore it anyway.

[jatar_k]

the engines read it though, you're toeing the line

[wrockca]

I think it at one time worked but I am sure it has been addressed.

[mack]

It is a heck of a gamble to take, it is clearly not there for the users or visitor so it has to be for bots. This sort of thing can easily be picked up. If your site was every to receive a manual review it would certainly be questionable.

Mack.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Google's quality guidelines say ...

Try to use text instead of images to display important names, content, or links. The Google crawler doesn't recognize text contained in images.

[ap_Rhys]

recognize text contained in images

Surely that means 'text' (i.e. the picture of a word) in the graphic itself

[sem4u]

I wouldn't bother using them. They just act as a big red flag for search engines. Wouldn't look good under a manual review!

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Surely that means 'text' (i.e. the picture of a word) in the graphic itself

Yes, like the webmasterworld.com logo text in the top left corner of this page.

I wouldn't bother using them. They just act as a big red flag for search engines. Wouldn't look good under a manual review!

Don't bother then, but the quote I posted above is what Google actually advises us to do. They don't have a problem with it. They actually say that we should do this and in my experience it works. I think that it is a flag for the search engines but not a red one (and Google don't do manual reviews).

[sem4u]

I'm pretty sure that Google means visible text on a page. Keep using comment tags if you wish, but I doubt Google considers them in the algo.

Google does use manual reviews and does ban sites manually. This is a fact. I have seen sites get a ban for hidden text, etc.

[petra]

Comments tags are ignored by SEs

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Sorry ... just ignore me. I was having a senior moment and drifted off onto a different subject.

[Span]

Comments tags are ignored by SEs

Try putting a URL to a not existing page in a comment tag. Then keep an eye on your error log..