Are drop down menus spiderable?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by driven, Jun 25, 2005.

  1. #1
    The question says it all. For a visual, go to this site; http://www.advancedaccess.com/

    You will notice the horizontal bar and as you mouse over the menus, a drop down menu will appear.

    Will the Search engines be able to spider this type of a menu layout as opposed to the typical vertical side bar menu, which is usuall spiderable.

    I ask because I'm considering having a horizontal menu bar with a drop down list, similar to the site above. Your thoughts?
     
    driven, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  2. Smyrl

    Smyrl Tomato Republic Staff

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    #2
    If javascript powered, would give it careful thought. If running on high security javascript menu's will not work.

    I am in process of removing javascript from sites due to useability issues.

    Shannon
     
    Smyrl, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  3. bigdoug

    bigdoug Peon

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    #3
    My God, what SEO worth his wait would pick blue colored headings, unless hyperlinked?
    Like Smyrl said, Java will hurt your organic SERP position
    This would be a great site for print media advertising but falls short on SEO basics. I think a site like this will do very well in 2008 when SE’s are modeled for Java and Flash.

    D
     
    bigdoug, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  4. driven

    driven Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Can you guys give me a site that has a drop down menu but isn't powered by Javascript. I'd like to be able to use it as a reference for my web designer so that they know what I'm talking about. Most designers have little clue about SEO. Thanks.
     
    driven, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  5. ROAR

    ROAR Well-Known Member Affiliate Manager

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    #5
    Excuse me, if this is beyond obvious. But why not have a java-drop down and then static links elsewhere on the page ie footer?
     
    ROAR, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  6. rbucich

    rbucich Peon

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    #6
    I have asked the same question in the past with the same concerns. But the code I have for the dropdown uses javascript, HTML and CSS. The HTML portion appears to be easily spiderable. Actually, it seems to me that this is an excellent way to provide links from the home page directly to much deeper pages

    The javascript and CSS can be kept in external files keeping the page that much cleaner.
     
    rbucich, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  7. bigdoug

    bigdoug Peon

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    #7
    bigdoug, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  8. Smyrl

    Smyrl Tomato Republic Staff

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    #8
    In my mind it boils down to number of footer links needed. The site reference looked as if it would take many links in footer thus causing footer links to look like a paragraph.

    I have a love hate relation with javascript navigation. It is slick and enhances look of site BUT it is my belief that computer novices are buying computers off the shelf that are not equipped to run javascript. Unless site is aimed toward a more sophisticated user, you run risk of site non-user friendly.

    Shannon
     
    Smyrl, Jun 25, 2005 IP
    bigdoug likes this.
  9. bigdoug

    bigdoug Peon

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    #9
    Thank you, right on the money Shannon.
     
    bigdoug, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  10. driven

    driven Well-Known Member

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    #10
    Well, that's certainly one way of doing it. What do you think is the impact if we had a javascript navigation bar and then just had a sitemap link at the footer? Do you think the sitemap is enough to allow the SEs to spider the site. Admittedly, it is preferable to provide the SEs with more "outlets" and links to spider the site, but do you think the sitemap is enough?

    Also, I don't know much about javascript and how to identify it. How does one go about identifying if a site is using javascript.

    Thanks.
     
    driven, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  11. nevetS

    nevetS Evolving Dragon

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    #11
    My weddings website has drop down menus built entirely using css. To the SE's they look like unordered lists. SEO-wise, I think it's the best thing you can do. Putting it together so that it will work in Safari, Firefox, and IE is enormously difficult. I have a new design I'm working on that uses the same methodology (unordered list) but with a little bit of javascript involved to go along with the css. There are a lot of different methods, but it'll take reading for a couple of days to make sure all your bases are covered. I don't have a Mac to test with, so I have to trust my research.

    Even though my nav links are at the top of the page, they are at the bottom in the html. You can put them wherever you want though.
     
    nevetS, Jun 25, 2005 IP
  12. ROAR

    ROAR Well-Known Member Affiliate Manager

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    #12
    Nevets, that looks pretty good.
     
    ROAR, Jun 28, 2005 IP