What's the definitive on image maps - good or bad for SEO?

[engine]

What's the definitive on image maps and SEO? Assuming there are no other HTML links (for example, at the bottom of the page).

In here, [webmasterworld.com] Buckworks says Search engines don't like 'em.

In here, [webmasterworld.com] Fathom says that it's rubbish.

According to the information I have, the mainstream search engines will have no problem with image maps.

So, anyone with firm evidence either way?

[fathom]

I stand by my word...

The only major consideration is visitor usability... or the image load-time if a huge image is used. :)

As far as Buckworks suggestion -- Google indexes images & Google indexes links -- don't see anything different with a image map.

[HitProf]

I'm with fanthom. Don't forget to use alt and title tags properly.

<area href="keyword.htm" coords="123,45,678,90" shape="rect" alt="keyword" title="keyword">

[edited by: HitProf at 1:45 pm (utc) on Feb. 24, 2003]

[fathom]

Actually HitProf the a href="" doesn't use alt="" as alt="" is for image replace text.

<img height="160" width="376" src="Bot.jpg" border="0" usemap="#Bot2eec3" alt="Image text">

<map name="Bot2eec3">

<area href="intro12.html" coords="113, 108, 158, 157" shape="rect" target="_top" title="link anchor text"></a></map>

Oh it's fathom not fantom but thanks just the same

[HitProf]

Hi fanthom,

I hope I have your name right now, corrected it in the other post as well.

Actually HitProf the a href="" doesn't use alt=""

That's correct but 'area href' is slightly different from 'a href'.

According to W3C alt even is a <b>required</b> attribute!

[w3schools.com...]

Most browsers don't display the alt tag, but even when it doesn't help, it doesn't hurt either. I think we agree on the title tag.

[fathom]

Thanks HitProf - Had assumed that alt="for the img src" was all that was required since the map was an overlay of the image.

The alt attribute must be specified for the IMG and AREA elements. It is optional for the INPUT and APPLET elements.

But now see that Alt="" must be used to validate area href.

Excellent point! Thanks again :)

hmmm... still got that handle wrong though ;)

[andreasfriedrich]

I´m with fantom fathom and hOtprIf HitProf on this one ;). Client side image maps are easily parsed by spiders. Server sider client maps are not.

Andreas

[HitProf]

LOL

Never noticed I was dyslectic before!

And no owner edit tag to pretend I never was :(