Search Engine Optimization Quickie: Text v Graphics

Posted on May 3, 2006
Filed Under SE Optimization

Caught in the hell of being between a graphic designer and the site owner?

The creative deity is one who wants to see the web site and print creative have the same look.

I guess I can’t find fault with that.

Most of the times, to get a site to look like print you have to resort to using graphics.
Sites loaded with graphics have some pretty adverse effects.

One is load time. If the graphics used on a site are heavy (large in size) this will slow the rate the page loads in a browser. Not an issue for those with broadband access, but a nightmare for those with limited connectivity.

Another ill effect of going heavy on graphics is poor search engine results. Search engines thrive on text. Using graphics for the sole purpose of formatting text to look like a graphic design is a poor choice. I imagine that you have keyword rich text; it would be a shame not to get indexed by the search engines.

So how do we get around this? If you ABSOLUTLY MUST use graphics to match a design, create a text page to compliment it. Be sure to include a link to the “brochure” style page. Submit the text page to the search engines.

One more thing about text. The name of the page can be useful too. I’ve seen lots of pages with names like:
page1.html, 1203.html, page%20two.html. Enough already! Let’s move towards descriptive page names like:
home-theater-speakers.html and performance-and-design.html

About the author: Eric started Affiliate Scout to help with issues of affiliate marketing and Article Loft to help webmasters obtain fresh content. Copyright © 2006 Eric Terry. This article may be freely distributed provided this resource box stays attached.