SEO Tycoon

**FenceGuy** · 03-20-2010, 12:49 AM

I have read many, many articles on whether or not SEO is affected when a site has code errors.

Designers typically say it matters, SEO's typically say it doesn't (reputable SEO's not wannabes, sites like SEObook.com and SEOmoz).

So which is it, and why do you think so?

PS: Google doesn't even validate.....

**VirtuosiMedia** · 03-20-2010, 12:04 PM

Watch this video from Google's Matt Cutts, toward the end. It should answer your question fully. But in short, no, validation doesn't help directly for SEO purposes.

**janecooke** · 03-20-2010, 12:21 PM

Its good to be w3c validated in general. But for SEO in some ways it helps and in some ways it does not matter.

Example. Not using alt tags will mean your site is not validated and it also means that your SEO is affected. On the other hand some validation criteria may not matter in SEO at all.

Also in the above example if the alt text existed but was just 'image 1' instead of 'blue widget' then it would be validated but incomplete from an SEO perspective for target keyword 'blue widget'.

It means that both if used correctly are complementary to each other. Being w3c compliant does not mean your SEO is done and vice versa.

**chrishirst** · 03-20-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

But for SEO in some ways it helps and in some ways it does not matter.

Nope. Validation does NOT matter in the slightest.
You could have a page that had hundreds of validation errors and warnings and still it would be crawled and show in the results for searches

and only ONE search engine makes use of the alt attribute and then only when the image is linked.

**Sierra Charlie** · 05:55 AM

Validation play 'next to nothing' part in SEO yes. But it helps if you at least run the code through the validator. Some errors take seconds to correct. Another thing is you don't want your clients to do it for you. Believe me, no explanation works because some clients take this validator stuff pretty seriously.

**FenceGuy** · 03-23-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sierra Charlie

Validation play 'next to nothing' part in SEO yes. But it helps if you at least run the code through the validator. Some errors take seconds to correct. Another thing is you don't want your clients to do it for you. Believe me, no explanation works because some clients take this validator stuff pretty seriously.

Fortunately for me, my clients are me....

**chrishirst** · 03-23-2010, 12:33 PM

I've never had a client that even KNEW about "validation" never mind cared about it.

**babalahost** · 03-24-2010, 01:21 AM

search engine's bot will not care about W3C Validation.

it's no use.

**jasontn** · 06-03-2010, 02:07 AM

Many blogs don't validate Wether that hurts the rankings is unclear. However, it's difficult for people to manipulate the code on some blogs. Therefore, it's difficult to fix the problem.

**akki45** · 06-03-2010, 02:23 AM

No validation does not have any effect on SEO. It'll never influence your search engine rankings etc.

**lynxus** · 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seofleet

Quoted spam removed

If this is your idea of how to do SEO , Id keep away

**datatech** · 08-28-2010, 07:13 AM

I think for SEO point of view it doesn't matter a lot but user point of view it is important to check w3c validation because no users love to get back to your site if it has broken links and ugly structure..

**stevejonathan10** · 08-29-2010, 06:35 AM

It does matter when it comes to extensive results..

**dekiweb** · 08-30-2010, 08:55 AM

If you are validate this is a good point, if not try to understand the problem, in same case can affect seo

**springboadrseo** · 01-06-2011, 12:03 PM

W3C has virtually no impact on search visibility. Syntax errors serious enough to prevent robots from spidering a page would be fairly obvious the the rendered page.

W3C has other recommendations that are helpful to indexing, such as Web standards and accessibility guidelines. I wrote a post on this topic that sparked a lot of discussion on Sphinn, Twitter and searchenginejournal.com.

According to Matt Cutts, Google doesn't validate their main page for the simple reason that they want the widest number of user devices to be able to access the page. If that isn't irony, I don't know what is.

**nsdoi** · 01-07-2011, 06:20 AM

Hello.............

Definitely W3C validation effect SEO process because google always follow the W3C validation.......

**serandfae** · 01-07-2011, 07:53 AM

No, validation doesn't affect SEO. Your CONTENT is the main thing that does, first and foremost. Relevancy is king, and if you don't have that, nothing else will help you.

Validation should be seen as a tool only, to help you make sure you are displaying said content in a usable way. Because let's face it, SEO helps bring visitors, usability and relevancy to what those visitors are looking for is what keeps them or turns them away. Who cares if you have a half million visitors and about five of 'em buy something, while the remainder shrug and click something else?

tim

**which_08** · 05-26-2011, 04:55 PM

The question was does it or doesnt it effect SEO , and i am guessing if your like me you still have no idea... What i make of this forum is that many are saying it doesnt and one or two say it does. So would i be right in assuming its IT DOESNT? but i guess i am making that judgement on opinion.

I have just completly validated one of my sites and I am doing nothing but waiting for the results i guess this is the only way to really tell.

Btw - I am new here nice forum ! Darren.

**which_08** · 05-26-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

I've never had a client that even KNEW about "validation" never mind cared about it.

I completly understand why this issue was raised, your absolutly right that clients dont often know its their friends that do and they are annoying. or maybe even a rival company.

Imagine a computer iliterate client getting call from a friend or rival saying hey do you realise your website is FULL OF ERRORS , they are going to be straight on the phone to you ! Why is my site so bad..... bla bla bla then you have to explain and no matter how hard you try there is no way of explaining how such an authoritive regulation such as W3C is being ignored.

So my advice is just keep the code tidy and keep green.

**chrishirst** · 05-27-2011, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by which_08

Imagine a computer iliterate client getting call from a friend or rival saying hey do you realise your website is FULL OF ERRORS , they are going to be straight on the phone to you ! Why is my site so bad..... bla bla bla then you have to explain and no matter how hard you try there is no way of explaining how such an authoritive regulation such as W3C is being ignored.

But what has that got to do with "SEO" ?

AND you could have perfectly "validated" HTML and CSS and the site still "look bad" and not operate as intended OR you could have code that functions perfectly in all browsers that fails validation because of using browser specific attributes or CSS properties.

Using -moz-, -o-, -webkit- or -ms- CSS property prefixs will fail validation, does THAT mean you are a "bad developer" and "ignoring" an authoritive body?