Some coding questions like <strong> or <b> ?

Hi all, for a long time, i cant be sure if it better <strong> or <b> for the Google. And which is better

<a href="/forumdisplay.php?f=17"> Programming</a></td>
or
<a href="http://mydomain.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17">&nbsp; &nbsp; Programming</a></td>




<strong><a href="/forumdisplay.php?f=17"> Programming</a></td></strong>
or
<a href="/forumdisplay.php?f=17"><strong>Programming</strong></a></td>



if you have similar questions please live this thread

 

Either is fine. As long as your code is clean, you'll be fine.

 

I just read somewhere that its better to use <strong>. I dont think it really matters. Just stick to one that way if you ever need to change its just one step.

 

As far as I know it has to do with look, and what does look have to do with visibility on Google?

 

If you can use css this would be better still using font-weight: bold; use it on a external style sheet

 

Use CSS, class to make it bold. Use full URL especially if you have keywords in the domain name.

<td>
<a class="redBig" title="programming forum" href="http://mydomain.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17">Programming</a>
</td>

Code (markup):

Your external css would look like this...

A.redBold:link {
	color: #8D2800;
	font-weight:bold;
}

Code (markup):

/*tom*/

 

will SE's thought it is a strong link then?

 

No, not really. In the "old" days using bold, or italics seemed to have some effect. But, SEs caught on to that a long time ago. The best advice today is to build your pages for people, not searchengines.

If having a link or text in bold red is appropriate and your visitors would understand why it is that way, then do it. If visitors would think it is odd, then do not do it. Build a high quality site that others will want to link to. And in time, your site will do well.

There are lots of people who try to cheat the system. They may get away with it for a while. Sometimes they get away with it for a very long while. Eventually they crash & burn. Then they come to DP and start a new thread "why my site gets banned???? I do nothing wrong!!!"



/*tom*/

 

like longcall911 said,
the modern method is adding a CSS class to bold the font.

 

i usually use the <strong> , i think the <strong> benefit for google.