navigation

[geminisden]

Hi All,
i have a site that has image navigation and i wana know does it really matter nowadays to have img navigation or text navigation?

Also,my site supports image maps, is it a good practice?

Although i personally do not recommend any of these, but just wanted to be doubly sure.

[dharrison]

Hi geminisden

Image maps are OK if it appeals to your target audience, but its always worthwhile to have 2 forms of navigation throughout your site, the second being more accessible.

You could include text links below the image map or at the bottom of the page. Then both SEs can crawl your site and visitors with images disabled.

Funny enough, I wrote an article covering navigation a while ago: http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?t=72807

HTH

[le_gber]

does it really matter nowadays to have img navigation or text navigation?

as with everything else ... it all depends on the situation :)

What you have to consider is this:
1. text links are usually more accessible but if you properly used the img alt attribute you should be ok
2. search engine gives anchor text more value than alt attribute so if search engine positioning / optimisation is important, consider text links
3. using CSS you can achieve any style of links and give your text link the exact same look than your navigation
4. images take more time to load so if you have many images, consider using text

Also,my site supports image maps, is it a good practice?

Although i personally do not recommend any of these, but just wanted to be doubly sure.

If you don't recommend any of these whay do you use them ;) ?

As you guessed I am pro text links for accessibility - and SEO - reasons.

Check out http://www.alistapart.com/ - do they use images as links? Nope it's CSS styled text links. Beautiful isn't it :)?

[Boom Boom]

Originally Posted by le_gber

2. search engine gives anchor text more value than alt attribute so if search engine positioning / optimisation is important, consider text links

I was wondering about this. How much more value do SEs give text links over image alt?

[le_gber]

I haven't done any comparison - before and after - but read on WmW (sorry can't find the thread now, but it was 2007) that someone did change all their nav and nothing but the nav to text - was images - and that they jumped quite a bit towards the top of the SERPs.

From what I remember it was a comment from a old (read experienced) member / SEO.

[geminisden]

Hi All, thnx for the advice!
Hi le_gber, i m into SEO and not designning (also i work for client sites, it's not my site)
:)
Had i been the designer i wud have never gone for img links.

Also ppl come for SEO only once their site is done n not prior to designing.

Thnx all!