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Re: MSc Research - Does making a Website Accessible compromise Search Engine Optimisation?

for

From: Margit Link-Rodrigue
Date: Nov 17, 2009 1:15PM

I think the opinion poll is not intended to answer a question (i.e., whether
accessibility compromises search engine ranking), but it is meant to provide
insight into how different people approach this topic.

If your opinion is that accessible web content increases search optimization
then that's one of many possible responses to the poll. Others would
probably argue from the opposite end and point out that paid SEO services
often try to trick search engines by abusing the title attribute and hiding
text on a page and so on. Taking these misleading elements out of a page
or making them work as intended (e.g. title attributes that focus on true
semantic value and not their techniqual potential to sneak in keywords)
would certainly increase accessiblity, but potentially negatively affect SE
ranking. The author of the opinion poll simply wants to get a feel for these
different points of view, thus the name opinion poll.

On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 1:41 PM, Hoffman, Allen < <EMAIL REMOVED> >wrote:

> I'd like to know how an opinion poll for this topic would possibly be
> useful as knowledge to answer this technical question. If you examine
> how search optimization functions technically, then explore the usual
> variations on correctly coded Web content for accessibility, you can
> determine if the requirements have technical conflicts. Just going by
> opinions and experiences is certainly not a real answer to this
> provocative question. My opinion is that making Web content accessible
> increases search optimization since text and semantic relationships are
> programmatically determinable from accessible, structured content, and
> may not be from unstructured, not intentionally coded content. In fact,
> by intentionally encoding semantic meanings and text attributes in to
> content, the overall information content generally rises, increasing
> search systems ability to correctly find and classify content, exactly
> the opposite to your question.
>
>
> A more interesting question is if there are technical conflicts between
> search optimization and accessibility requirements, what are they, and
> how can they more effectively be reconciled, or how best can a Web
> content producer encode for best results for both sets of requirements.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Evans [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 5:09 AM
> To: Webaim
> Subject: [WebAIM] MSc Research - Does making a Website Accessible
> compromise Search Engine Optimisation?
>
>
> Dear Webaim List Member,
>
> I am currently completing a Research Dissertation into Web Accessibility
> and Search Engine Optimisation for an MSc Degree in E-commerce at
> Swansea Metropolitan University - University of Wales.
>
>
>
> The basis of the research is that it is vital to make websites
> accessible to as wide a range of users as possible, but do
> "accessibility" design actions conflict with those actions taken to
> optimise websites so that they reach the top of search engine ranking
> pages (SERPS)?
>
> I have already written directly to a number of you and attached an MS
> Word questionnaire - unfortunately, this presented some accessibility
> issues.
>
> Therefore, I have now placed the questionnaire on SurveyMonkey and have
> hopefully overcome these issues.
>
> I would be grateful if anyone who has not already received/ replied to
> my survey could provide input to the project by completing the online
> questionnaire which can be accessed at the following address:
>
> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=S5SSS22U01WZbOj7Lm3mxw_3d_3d
>
> The questionnaire is designed specifically to allow me to reach
> objective conclusions on the above question and I trust that you will
> feel able to assist me with this important research.
>
>
>
> I would like to thank you in anticipation for your contribution and I
> would be grateful to receive your completed questionnaire on
> SurveyMonkey by Friday 20 November.
>
> With Best Regards,
> Richard Evans
>