Code at top of page (HTML view)

LiamMcArthur · 01-12-2011, 09:08 AM

Is it proven that having more important parts of the page (i.e. the h1 tag) is more beneficial (seo-wise) than having 100s of lines down? - out of practice I've always tried to get the h1 tags and the starting content within the first 100 lines of the source code, now that our skills are developing in website design we struggle to do this as a lot of javascript and other code will be using up the first 200-300 lines of code.
I can't see how it is that beneficial since the page load isn't that different unless you're dealing with 10s of thousands of lines of code.

I'd like to hear your oppinions!

paulgl · 01-12-2011, 09:24 AM

You are confusing the top of the website with the top of the code.
They are not the same.

Content is content. Javascript, flash, etc. are lines of code, not lines of
content.

There is that <body> that really defines when content begins. Even then
you may have lines of code that are not content.

Viewing your website normally will show you what "content" is on top.
Sites that use mysql can have a ton of lines of code above the body tag.
Lots of things need to be defined, updated, accessed, etc.

Viewing your site normally, again, is generally the true way a search
engine will view it. They don't index your site on mysql, javascript, php, asp,
etc.

Using this thread as an example. View the source code. Tons of lines are
used for css.

html is not content.

Paul

LiamMcArthur · 01-12-2011, 09:58 AM

Yes but what I mean is this:

If I wanted to I could have the navigation (at the very top of the page) display at the bottom of my source code by writing the HTML at the bottom of the project code but using CSS to style it at the top - so, should I try to get my content (where my actual paragraphs, headings etc start) at the top of the source code (by applying CSS styling to display it where I want it to be, even though the HTML thinks my 'content' is at the very top of the source code.

yukon · 01-12-2011, 10:27 AM

OP, If I understand you correct.

Wikipedia does this on all their pages.

The left sidebar displays at the very bottom of the page (like a right sidebar would) in the Google Cache.

Do a page search for the keyword Main page on both pages below you'll see what I'm talking about.

1) Regular wikipedia page (left sidebar at top left of page)

2) Google Cache (left sidebar at bottom of page)

01-12-2011, 09:08 AM	#1
LiamMcArthur Marketing Executive Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Scunthorpe, United Kingdom Posts: 93 Thanks: 14 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Social Networking	Code at top of page (HTML view) Is it proven that having more important parts of the page (i.e. the h1 tag) is more beneficial (seo-wise) than having 100s of lines down? - out of practice I've always tried to get the h1 tags and the starting content within the first 100 lines of the source code, now that our skills are developing in website design we struggle to do this as a lot of javascript and other code will be using up the first 200-300 lines of code. I can't see how it is that beneficial since the page load isn't that different unless you're dealing with 10s of thousands of lines of code. I'd like to hear your oppinions!
	Liam McArthur E-Marketing Executive MotorCommerce Ltd

01-12-2011, 09:24 AM	#2
paulgl Plundering the Web War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: , , . Posts: 4,849 Thanks: 804 Thanked 1,199 Times in 886 Posts	Re: Code at top of page (HTML view) You are confusing the top of the website with the top of the code. They are not the same. Content is content. Javascript, flash, etc. are lines of code, not lines of content. There is that <body> that really defines when content begins. Even then you may have lines of code that are not content. Viewing your website normally will show you what "content" is on top. Sites that use mysql can have a ton of lines of code above the body tag. Lots of things need to be defined, updated, accessed, etc. Viewing your site normally, again, is generally the true way a search engine will view it. They don't index your site on mysql, javascript, php, asp, etc. Using this thread as an example. View the source code. Tons of lines are used for css. html is not content. Paul
	How to Make Money off Facebook: Login to your account. Deactivate your account. Get your butt to work.

01-12-2011, 09:58 AM	#3
LiamMcArthur Marketing Executive Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Scunthorpe, United Kingdom Posts: 93 Thanks: 14 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Social Networking	Re: Code at top of page (HTML view) Yes but what I mean is this: If I wanted to I could have the navigation (at the very top of the page) display at the bottom of my source code by writing the HTML at the bottom of the project code but using CSS to style it at the top - so, should I try to get my content (where my actual paragraphs, headings etc start) at the top of the source code (by applying CSS styling to display it where I want it to be, even though the HTML thinks my 'content' is at the very top of the source code.
	Liam McArthur E-Marketing Executive MotorCommerce Ltd

01-12-2011, 10:27 AM	#4
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: Code at top of page (HTML view) OP, If I understand you correct. Wikipedia does this on all their pages. The left sidebar displays at the very bottom of the page (like a right sidebar would) in the Google Cache. Do a page search for the keyword Main page on both pages below you'll see what I'm talking about. 1) Regular wikipedia page (left sidebar at top left of page) 2) Google Cache (left sidebar at bottom of page)
	- SEO Strategist -