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

for

From: Hoffman, Allen
Date: Nov 17, 2009 12:45PM

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