Common Design Problems That Hinder Search Engines
Frames, Flash, Javascript, Image Maps, or Dynamic URLs can cause problems with search engines.
Frames
Search engines do not index framed websites very well and the very strong recommendation is not to use frames if good search engine results are important to you.
If you must use frames then here are some tips for making the best of the problem:
A frame is an HTML page that "frames" other HTML pages. Now, the problem arises when you go to submit. In most cases a framed site will only have one page you can submit, the home page but the home page actually has nothing on it because it is just a frame so the search engine cannot find anything it can use (i.e. page copy) to list your site.
The get around if you really can't get rid of the frames is:
Repeat your best optimised page copy within the <noframes> tag and add the best title tag, and meta tags that you can.
Flash
Content and links within Flash cannot be indexed by search engines.
Splash pages as home pages entirely made of Flash and navigation systems using Flash will mean the search engines find no content to index and can't navigate your website.
If you must submit a page that is mostly Flash you can improve your chances of getting listed by to adding as much non flash page copy to the page that you can. You should also make sure you have good meta tags and title tag.
If you must use Flash for navigation make sure you have alternative text navigation links so the search engines can navigate and index the rest of your website.
A text based site map linking to all your pages with a text based link to the web site map on all pages is a good idea to overcome all graphic, Flash and Javascript navigation issues.
Image Map Navigation
Search engines cannot usually navigate links on image maps.
If you must use an image map navigation system make sure you have alternative text navigation links so the search engines can navigate and index the rest of your website.
A text based site map linking to all your pages with a text based link to the web site map on all pages is a good idea to overcome all graphic, Flash and Javascript navigation issues.
Javascript Navigation
Search engines can't follow links that are within Javascript.
If you must use a Javascript navigation system make sure you have alternative text navigation links so the search engines can navigate and index the rest of your website.
A text based site map linking to all your pages with a text based link to the web site map on all pages is a good idea to overcome all graphic, Flash and Javascript navigation issues.
Database Driven Sites and Dynamic URLs
Most search engines cannot or will not list any dynamic URLs. Dynamic URLs are most commonly used on database driven sites, or sites that are running scripts.
If your URL contains any of the following elements it is considered a Dynamic
URL as far as the search engines are concerned:
? & % + = $ cgi-bin .cgi
If your URL contains any of the above elements it is very unlikely that it will get listed at any of the major search engines.
Submit a different URL that is not dynamic if possible. If all of your URLs are dynamic you should probably consider making static pages (i.e. not dynamic) with URLs that do not contain any of the elements noted above so that you can get listed in the search engines.