7 replies to this topic

[azs]

Regarding sites that use graphics for their main navigation:

I've heard that in addition to text links at the bottom - its helps to place your links in a <no script> tag. I'm guessing this is good because it's another means of implementing relevant keywords earlier in the body of the page.

Is this true?

azs

[Jill]

azs, you are misinterpretting this. Graphical links can be followed just fine and dandy by the search engines.

You don't need to do anything extra.

You must be thinking of scripted links. Javascript, dhtml menus, and the like. For those, you might want to also use the noscript tag. Don't use it for graphic links that are created with the a href, however, as that will be an incorrect use of the tag.



Jill

[compar]

For those, you might want to also use the noscript tag.  Don't use it for graphic links that are created with the a href, however, as that will be an incorrect use of the tag.

But in addition to this Jill would you not recommend that alt tags should be put on all graphics links. The alt tags should describe the link and include an appropriate keyword phrase.

[mcanerin]

One type of "graphical link" that could be scripting would be the old "image map", which has been around forever. I believe (and I could be mistaken), that an image map is difficult to a spider to follow and therefore you should use a <noscript> tag.

Ian

[Scottie]

Alt attributes are definitely important for graphics that are links. They replace the link text, giving the SE an idea of what the link is pointing to.

I would not use a noscript tag in conjuction with an image map- unless there is a corresponding script tag that it matches. Noscript is intended to replace content that users without javascript installed won't see.

[azs]

In response to what Jill wrote - I meant to specify that this was for a JavaScript - so I guess in that case the <no script> helps.

[azs]

Jill,

You wrote "Don't use it for graphic links that are created with the a href, however, as that will be an incorrect use of the tag."

My site in quesiton uses graphics fo main links with a JavaScript rollover effect. The images are referenced in the code like this...

<a href = "../services.htm" onMouseOver = "imgOn('img2')" onMouseOut = "imgOff('img2')"><img name="img2" src="../images/nav_services_off.gif" width="76" height="16" border="0"></a>

...relating to a JavaScript array in the Head tag (which I will relocate and link to).

Based on what you suggested should I not use the <no script> tag in this case?

[Jill]

You shouldn't need the noscript tag for that azs.

And yes, Bob, I would recommend using an appropriate alt attribute for a clickable image.

And many image maps actually can by spidered, Ian. Depends on the image map. Again, if they use <a href> tags, they're spiderable.

Jill