An SEO question about include files

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Doctor Mark, Jan 16, 2007.

  1. #1
    Hi all

    I am setting up a site and putting in include files. I am not an expert but getting there.

    However, if include files are "server side" does this mean that google et al won't be able to see them? If I include files that are part of the on page optimization, will that exclude the power of the page.

    for example, header tags, menu items, navigation items

    Thanks
     
    Doctor Mark, Jan 16, 2007 IP
  2. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #2
    Google sees the code that is visible when you click "View source" on the page. It can't tell whether you use server side includes or not.

    You are fine. :)
     
    mad4, Jan 16, 2007 IP
  3. hhheng

    hhheng Banned

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    #3
    There is no problem for that. Most of the php websites use include to combine the main content and the header and footer. And there is no SEO or indexing problem with these websites.
     
    hhheng, Jan 16, 2007 IP
  4. thegypsy

    thegypsy Peon

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    #4
    the inherent problem is that you will likely end up with identical TITLE and META DESCRIPTION tags throughout the site.

    This is not good form with one's SEO-Fu grasshopper
     
    thegypsy, Jan 16, 2007 IP
  5. mistermix

    mistermix Active Member

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    #5
    This is a good point. I would not put the page title and meta tags within the include files, something like this:

    <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3c.org/TR/1999/REC-html401-19991224/loose.dtd">
    <HTML lang=en><HEAD><TITLE>Unique Page Title</TITLE>
    <meta name="robots" content="index,follow">
    <META name="description" content="unique spam" />
    <META name="keywords" content="spam goes here, must be unique" />
    </HEAD>
    
    <?include header?>
    
    page content here
    PHP:

    This is an easy mistake to make with include files.
     
    mistermix, Jan 17, 2007 IP