Site with a big "head"...

DavidO · 02-03-2011, 05:12 AM

Is it possible to have too much in the <head> section?

My sales page has all the usual meta tags plus Google Optimizer code (split-testing), Google Analytics, jquery for a slideshow, media player code and dropdown menu code. Now I want to add a greybox feature to highlight content.

Is there a point where all this can be detrimental to SEO?

I've got all my style and js files in external folders so I don't think I can minimize it any more, other than eliminating some of the special features.

I've goggled this and found webmasters advising against excessive coding. But a lot of stuff on the web is already out of date and download speeds have increased a lot. My site loads quickly, even with all the gizmos.

paulgl · 02-03-2011, 06:15 AM

It's not the coding, it's what the coding does.
If the coding calls scripts, preloads certain images, etc., it may slow
the site's total load time. If that really slows it down, it may affect it.

meta, css, defining javascripts, php variables, etc., is not executed code on loading.

Some of what you have is executed on loading, some is not. Some does not need
to be "executed," just browser display or definitions.

I could have a short (in code) javascript that took a minute to execute. I could have 1,000
lines of other stuff that happened in a millisecond.

Servers are pretty fast today. Take a look at the code of sites like yahoo.

Paul

Rich Lowe · 02-04-2011, 04:22 AM

Hi David ,

It isn't a problem - but for speed you need to use external standard javasript libraries such as jquery which means do not use local copy of jquery but version hosted on Google for instance:

https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/lib.../jquery.min.js

Google provides other useful libraries. You can read more about it - and how to use it

Google Libraries API - Developer's Guide - Google Libraries API - Google Code

The rest of the javasript code could be compiled into one file and loaded as external javascript.

Rich

dburk · 02-04-2011, 07:24 AM

Hi DavidO,

Paulg gave good advice. You won't see any SEO consequence until you reach a certain threshold. Google takes into account the page load speed, and may rank your page lower, or even de-index your page if it loads too slow.

Having said that, you should also consider how a slow loading page effects the user experience. Not everyone has fast connection speeds, and even if they do, they may have slower computers or bloated software. The bottom line is if your pages load slower then you will see higher abandonment rates.

Read this announcement about page load speed now being included as a factor in ranking at Google:

Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Using site speed in web search ranking

YouTube - Is speed more important than relevance?

YouTube - Optimizing the order of scripts and...

Page Speed Home

02-03-2011, 05:12 AM	#1
DavidO Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: United Kingdom, Spain Posts: 2,031 Thanks: 10 Thanked 101 Times in 58 Posts	Site with a big "head"... Is it possible to have too much in the <head> section? My sales page has all the usual meta tags plus Google Optimizer code (split-testing), Google Analytics, jquery for a slideshow, media player code and dropdown menu code. Now I want to add a greybox feature to highlight content. Is there a point where all this can be detrimental to SEO? I've got all my style and js files in external folders so I don't think I can minimize it any more, other than eliminating some of the special features. I've goggled this and found webmasters advising against excessive coding. But a lot of stuff on the web is already out of date and download speeds have increased a lot. My site loads quickly, even with all the gizmos.
	Last edited by DavidO; 02-03-2011 at 05:23 AM. Reason: Add new details

02-03-2011, 06:15 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: Site with a big "head"... It's not the coding, it's what the coding does. If the coding calls scripts, preloads certain images, etc., it may slow the site's total load time. If that really slows it down, it may affect it. meta, css, defining javascripts, php variables, etc., is not executed code on loading. Some of what you have is executed on loading, some is not. Some does not need to be "executed," just browser display or definitions. I could have a short (in code) javascript that took a minute to execute. I could have 1,000 lines of other stuff that happened in a millisecond. Servers are pretty fast today. Take a look at the code of sites like yahoo. Paul
	How to Make Money off Facebook: Login to your account. Deactivate your account. Get your butt to work.

02-04-2011, 04:22 AM	#3
Rich Lowe Rich War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 172 Thanks: 2 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts	Re: Site with a big "head"... Hi David , It isn't a problem - but for speed you need to use external standard javasript libraries such as jquery which means do not use local copy of jquery but version hosted on Google for instance: https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/lib.../jquery.min.js Google provides other useful libraries. You can read more about it - and how to use it Google Libraries API - Developer's Guide - Google Libraries API - Google Code The rest of the javasript code could be compiled into one file and loaded as external javascript. Rich