Can Google read PDF files?

[BrightSparke]

Hi

A client of mine wants to put a bunch of PDF documents on their new website (so visitors can right-click and download them).

They are relevant and content rich.

Can Google read PDFs? Will it be able to follow the links and read the content?

I frequently see PDF documents with an HTML option on Google searches, so wondered.

Thanks, Peter

 

[Rob Holmes]

Hi Peter,

Yes Google can read and rank PDF documents - so you need to make sure they are as optimised as possible (even in the PDF Title and other properties embedded when the pdf is created)

Rob

 

[Yorganic]

Depends on whether the PDF was created from text or from graphics. A common thing to do is to scan old brochures and save them as PDF. If you did that then your average sarch engine [including Google] could not read them.

 

[Ender]

There's a problem though if your pdf page ends up higher in Google's results than your homepage. When a Googler opens the result; he or she will open the pdf and there's no easy way for them to get back to the home page - sort of like a dead end for most people.


Cheers,
Ender.

 

[mia]

Google can read most PDFs, but another option might be to use the Macromedia solution. Looks better and load a lot faster.

 

[marvin_smith]

Definitely Google can read PDF files.