WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

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

for

From: Hoffman, Allen
Date: Nov 19, 2009 9:25AM


Good luck.
Knowing the perception of the stakeholders in the process helps define
the gaps between perceived difficulty and an objectively evaluated level
of difficulty, or conflicting requirements, so does help develop sound
strategies for bringing the two in to alignment.


-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Evans [mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:04 AM
To: Webaim
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] MSc Research - Does making a Website Accessible
compromise Search Engine Optimisation?


Hi Allen,Thanks very much for your comments in relation to my survey. As
part of the project I am considering technical issues, but as Margit
later commented, this poll is aimed at trying to get a flavour of
current peer opinions on both activities and their compatibility.
All the best,Richard
> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:46:46 -0500
> From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] MSc Research - Does making a Website Accessible
compromise Search Engine Optimisation?
>
> I think Richard can ask his questions anyway he feels appropriate for
> HIS dissertation. :O)
>
> cheers
>
> Geof
>
> At 03:13 PM 11/17/2009, you wrote:
> >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
> > >