Div Tags/Remote Content Tag for Site Maps

[Brand Digital]

Hi,

I have a client that uses sessionIDs in the URL (I know, I'm working to get that changed). In the meantime I want to implement a site map that can be spidered and they want to use a div tag/remote content tag on the homepage to display the site map links to a search spider, but not to anyone else.

My gut tells me this is not such a good idea because it is content that is not visible to the end user, but they seem to think that a spider won't be able to tell the difference as it is a link that they can follow.

Thoughts?

[webmasterjunkie]

Welcome Digital!!

Something you think might not be "ethical" is a good thing to stay away from. Why is it that you think the spider won't follow the link as is?

As long as it's href you should be great!

[flood6]

What you are describing is cloaking. Displaying content to spiders that average users can't see is against nearly every major SE's guidelines and can get you banned.

That doesn't mean there is anything "unethical" about it. If you decide to go ahead with the plan, make sure you do a lot of research about it and inform your client of the inherent risks.

Good luck.

[Brand Digital]

Even if it is just links to get the spiders deeper into the site? There is no text that is the same color as the background, there are no hidden pages, just hidden links.

Thanks

[flood6]

If you show a spider an extra period that users don't see, it's cloaking.

Originally Posted by Google

Quality Guidelines - Basic principles:

• Make pages for users, not for search engines. Don't deceive your users, or present different content to search engines than you display to users.
• Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings. A good rule of thumb is whether you'd feel comfortable explaining what you've done to a website that competes with you. Another useful test is to ask, "Does this help my users? Would I do this if search engines didn't exist?"

Quote taken from Google's Guidelines for Webmasters.

Again, it's not a bad or evil thing, it's just risky. Read up on it, present the facts to your client, make your recommendation, and let them decide what to do.