Is Google able to index information within accordions?
Designing a website invariably calls for a harmonious blend of visual appeal and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) effectiveness. One such design element that epitomizes this balance are features like tabs, sliders, “read more” buttons, and accordions, all of which help limit the amount of immediately visible text, thereby offering a more streamlined look. Nevertheless, a question that often emerges is whether Google’s web crawlers are equipped to decipher text concealed on page load and if this concealed text gets indexed.
What exactly are accordions?
Design components like accordions essentially function to obscure text when a page is loaded, revealing it only upon user interaction. Take for instance when shopping on an e-commerce platform, you typically see a limited array of products displayed on a single page, appended with a ‘View More Products’ button. Once you click this button, additional products previously concealed spring to the foreground. Accordions play a crucial role in preventing web pages from becoming excessively long, which can be cumbersome and slow down page load times.
Does Google have the ability to crawl accordions?
Google has insinuated that content obscured from immediate view will be crawled and indexed in a similar manner to content that’s fully visible. That being said, SEO experts have conjectured that such concealed content is potentially given less precedence in the ranking algorithm. So, while Google can potentially crawl accordion content, it might not rank as well as content that is readily visible.
Do accordions impact SEO?
Google has made it abundantly clear that its guidelines prioritise superior user experience on the search engine. From this perspective, it’s understandable why Google might be averse to concealing sections of a webpage. If a user searches for a specific term on Google, finds a matching result, and fails to immediately locate the relevant information on the clicked page because it’s hidden, they’re likely to revert to the search results. This kind of experience isn’t viewed favorably by Google, and hence the content that is not immediately visible might not be accorded as much importance.
Google hasn’t yet issued any formal documentation outlining how content hidden by CSS or JavaScript is treated. Nonetheless, numerous SEO professionals have conducted studies that back up the notion of hidden content being accorded lesser weight compared to visible content.
Shai Aharony conducted a study in 2017 which highlighted Google’s apparent preference for visible text. Aharony procured 20 new domains and segmented them into four testing groups based on the display method of the keyword-optimised content on the homepage: fully visible on load, hidden by CSS, hidden by JavaScript, or concealed in a text area. In all cases, the keyword appeared thrice in the content but was only within the immediate user view in one scenario. After tracking the test sites’ ranking positions for six months, the results were compiled by averaging the rankings across the sites, producing a singular set of results for each test case.
The findings revealed that the test cases with text obscured by CSS and JavaScript ranked notably lower than their counterparts. Interestingly, when the text was hidden in an HTML <textarea> tag, Google treated the content as fully visible, causing the test case involving text hidden in a Textarea tag to rank similarly to the fully visible test case.
Subsequent studies, tests, and case studies have corroborated these findings. In March 2022, SEO consultant Dan Shure reported metrics for a page he had optimized by making content hidden in an accordion dropdown immediately visible on the page. As explained in his tweet, this tweak resulted in a marked improvement in the page’s ranking position and consequent search traffic.
Has the advent of mobile first indexing changed
In light of an increasing number of users shifting to mobile and tablet devices, web pages are evolving in design to improve the user experience on these smaller screens, often by employing techniques such as hiding text in tabs or accordions.
Google’s implementation of mobile-first indexing obliges it to consider these design shifts when assessing content that is not immediately visible. Google representatives Gary Illyes and John Mueller have both confirmed that content initially hidden on a webpage view will be treated just like visible content.
Following the initiation of mobile-first indexing, Shai Aharony revisited his earlier study on hidden content to ascertain if the shift in indexing had influenced the results. His analysis over the weeks subsequent to the change showed a notable decrease in the ranking gap between visible and hidden content test cases. This outcome aligns with the statements made by Illyes and Mueller that Google no longer shows preference for content that is initially visible. However, for more definitive results, the study would need to be started anew and observed over a longer time frame.
With Google’s shift to mobile-first indexing, it seems that SEO experts need not overly worry about content being hidden in accordions. Nonetheless, content that is immediately visible may still perform better. Therefore, accordions should be used judiciously, and only when they genuinely contribute to user experience. Google’s current approach seems to offer the leeway to strike a balance between a website that is user-friendly on both desktop and mobile, visually engaging, and optimally tailored for SEO.
If you’re intrigued about how to optimize your website while maintaining a sleek and visually appealing design, feel free to reach out to the SEO specialists at Top Space. We’re eager to engage with you.
Enhancing your online visibility can be a tough task, made even more challenging by the need to select the right SEO agency for your needs. All SEO agencies make enticing promises about improving your site’s rankings and driving more traffic, but how can you ascertain that you’re selecting the best one, one that can truly deliver on these promises?
Although there are no professional accreditations or formal qualifications for SEO, there are measures you can take to ensure you’re choosing a top-tier SEO agency.
Google offers some insightful advice on how to identify the most suitable agency for your business, which you can learn more about it here.
Choosing the ideal SEO agency for your needs is akin to finding the right jigsaw piece that perfectly fits into your business puzzle. Here are some insights to assist you in making an informed choice.
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In conclusion, the quest for the ideal SEO agency involves considering numerous factors and conducting thorough research. The ultimate goal is to find an agency that understands your needs, communicates clearly, and aligns their strategies with your business goals.
In the world of digital marketing, where SEO becomes a key player, hiring an expert team can propel your business to new heights. When weighing the strengths and weaknesses of prospective SEO agencies, consider the following aspects:
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- Industry Recognition: Look for any accolades or awards the agency has received. This recognition from industry peers can be an excellent indicator of the agency’s skills and reliability.
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In summary, selecting the right SEO agency is a crucial decision that can significantly impact your online presence and overall business growth. By conducting in-depth research and keeping these factors in mind, you can find an agency that not only meets your business’s needs but also establishes a foundation for a long-term, successful partnership. To further assist you in this process, Google offers a wealth of advice on choosing the ideal SEO agency for your business, which you can find here.
- Long-Term SEO Planning: The right agency understands that SEO isn’t a sprint but a marathon. They should emphasize the importance of long-term strategies and ongoing optimization to keep up with the ever-changing search engine algorithms.
- Focus on Conversion: While increasing organic traffic is a critical part of SEO, a great SEO agency will also focus on what happens after users land on your site. The ultimate goal should be to convert visitors into customers. Hence, the agency should have a good understanding of user experience and conversion rate optimization.
- Knowledge of Local SEO: If your business serves a local market, the agency should be skilled in local SEO strategies. This involves optimizing your site for local search results and managing your online reputation, including local listings and reviews.
- Technical Expertise: A good SEO agency should possess strong technical SEO skills. This includes optimizing your site’s structure, improving page speed, ensuring mobile-friendliness, and implementing structured data markup.
- Content Strategy: Content is the backbone of SEO. Look for an agency that can help you create high-quality, SEO-friendly content that’s not just designed to rank well but also to provide value to your audience.
- Transparency and Accountability: The agency should be able to provide you with clear, detailed reports that show the impact of their efforts on your SEO performance. They should also be accountable for the strategies they implement and the results they achieve.
- Future-Proof Strategies: The SEO landscape is dynamic, with search engine algorithms and ranking factors continually evolving. The right SEO agency will use tactics that are not only effective now but also likely to remain relevant in the future.
In summary, investing time in finding the right SEO agency can be immensely beneficial. It can help you improve your online visibility, attract more qualified traffic, and ultimately, grow your business. Google offers insightful advice on this matter. For more guidance, follow this link to explore Google’s recommendations on choosing the right SEO agency.