Redesign highly ranked site, text links instead of graphics

[rjjj111]

My website has first page rankings on Google in a niche market. My menu bar graphics are about 42K, overall front page size is about 63K. I would like to change the menu bar from graphics to text but frankly, I am afraid too. Any option on my ranking being affected in Google?

URL BibleBible.com
keywords
'Bible on CD' #1 in Google
'Audio Bible' #7 in Google

[Webnauts]

Don't be afraid doing that. That can only make things better. :)

[deewpeb]

Having your links as text will make things a lot better search wise, while also reducing your page size significantly.

One possibility is to look at CSS style links if you need a graphic look.

Cheers

[rjjj111]

What I am most concerned about are my rankings, being they are front page rankings on Google. Has anyone ever done this type of change, from graphics to text links on a well ranked site and what happened to their rankings?

[Webnauts]

rjjj111 could it be that you do not understand what we wrote above?

It is the best way to go. Period!

[meinking22]

I'm a huge fan of CSS text menus and navbars. They function so clean and smooth, especially compared to javascript buttons and the like. The SEO advantages are obvious. One of my old websites, and I mean old (CSS, before it was designated CSS1 haha!), features both javascript rollovers and a css navbar. You can see the performance difference for yourself.

I wouldn't sweat your rankings with the change. Just keep the same href and titles and the bots won't know the difference.

Steve

[crickets]

Switching to text is a great way to HELP your rankings, or at least hold on to the ones you have (since you said you were at the top).

You can pack a lot more information in a text menu then a image based menu, and search engines can read that information a lot easier.

[brian.mark]

What I am most concerned about are my rankings, being they are front page rankings on Google. Has anyone ever done this type of change, from graphics to text links on a well ranked site and what happened to their rankings?

Yes. I have done this personally, and it helped the inner pages of the site without hurting the homepage.

BTW, the changes you've made recently look nice. You're getting there.

Brian.

[rjjj111]

hey, Brain.Mark...

i think will likely change the menu bar right after the first of december. that way if something does go crazy with the listing in google, i should be able to make it through Christmas.... or do you think i should wait till after Christmas to make sure?

[rjjj111]

hey, Brain.Mark...

i have been making some changes to the shopping cart, trying to learn as i go.

***** if you have any suggestions to raise my PR4 in Google, i am all ears......