difference between Strong and Bold

[snareshiver]

In terms od search engine Optimization which adds more value to the text. Is it Bold or Strong?

 

[fisicx]

Neither they both do exactly the same which is virtually zero.

The SE strips out all the markup so you can bold, italisize and underline all you like and will make just about no difference.

 

[crossdaz]

Use bold text to highlight text for your users - don't worry what google thinks.

 

[MASSEY]

Are we sure it has zero use?

 

I refer you to paragraph 2.3

http://infolab.stanford.edu/~backrub/google.html

Earl

 

[Faevilangel]

Are we sure it has zero use?

Yup Google won't read the code and can't see the effects of the code, they just read the content. The only thing it does is make the word(s) more distinctive to visitors.

There are a lot of seo myths and one of them is bolding the text means google will give it more importance, I for one don't believe it for one second.

Make your site work for your visitors and not Google, bolding all your keywords will make them more identifiable but too many will put people off.

 

[LaaMok]

As far as I am aware, they both have equal value. Some people will argue, that you can use it for on page optimisation, however, I don't use it anymore at all.

You could risk highlighting the fact that you are purposely highlighting what words you are optimising the page for... and the fact that you are seo'ing your website.

 

[Annoying Donkey]

Yup Google won't read the code and can't see the effects of the code, they just read the content. The only thing it does is make the word(s) more distinctive to visitors.

There are a lot of seo myths and one of them is bolding the text means google will give it more importance, I for one don't believe it for one second.

Make your site work for your visitors and not Google, bolding all your keywords will make them more identifiable but too many will put people off.

So making hidden text for blackhat SEO will work then...

 

[Faevilangel]

So making hidden text for blackhat SEO will work then...

Hidden text text that's the same colour as the background? Google will read that as it's CONTENT and not code...

My original point was I don't think google will make a decision of importance based on the html tags around the content. You can make it bold, italicised and underlined and google will see no difference.

 

My original point was I don't think google will make a decision of importance based on the html tags around the content. You can make it bold, italicised and underlined and google will see no difference.

Well this is what Serge and Larry say about it.

"Aside from PageRank and the use of anchor text, Google has several other features. First, it has location information for all hits and so it makes extensive use of proximity in search. Second, Google keeps track of some visual presentation details such as font size of words. Words in a larger or bolder font are weighted higher than other words. Third, full raw HTML of pages is available in a repository"


Earl

 

[Annoying Donkey]

Hidden text text that's the same colour as the background? Google will read that as it's CONTENT and not code...

My original point was I don't think google will make a decision of importance based on the html tags around the content. You can make it bold, italicised and underlined and google will see no difference.

Google has always looked at the styles to make ranking decisions. A bolded word would obviously be more important as it's presumably been bolded for a reason. See Earl's reference.

 

[fisicx]

Well this is what Serge and Larry say about it.

Yeah right Earl. 10+ years ago that may have been the case but things have moved on a little.

 

Yeah right Earl. 10+ years ago that may have been the case but things have moved on a little.

Oh no they ain't Mr punch.


so prove it.?

The basic algo has not moved off the spot.IMHO

Earl

 

[fisicx]

I didn't suggest it has NO effect , I said it has virtually no effect.

I had a phrase emboldened on a site. I let things stabilise then removed the bold. Didn't move an inch. I know this isn't that scientific a test but it did indicated the relative lack of importance.

Use bold, italics and underlining for emphasis to help your visitors (I still do) but don't do it in the vain hope your ranking will improve unless you are stuck down on page 37.

 

[bluedreamer]

The <b> tag is a presentational bolding tag that has no sematic meaning, eg for when text is being read by a screen reader. The <STRONG> tag represents a "strong" importance for the text within it, eg by emphasising it when read in a screen reader.

Whatwg on Bold
Whatwg on strong

 

I didn't suggest it has NO effect , I said it has virtually no effect.

I had a phrase emboldened on a site. I let things stabilise then removed the bold. Didn't move an inch. I know this isn't that scientific a test but it did indicated the relative lack of importance.

Use bold, italics and underlining for emphasis to help your visitors (I still do) but don't do it in the vain hope your ranking will improve unless you are stuck down on page 37.

It may affects ranking by 0.00001% ,but that can make all the difference.

Earl

 

[MASSEY]

I for one think it has a use.

Its ok saying to people virtually zero, but some is better than none.]

Also i have read stuff on seomoz about it.

And i have looked at some of the sites TIN has seo'd and he does it , so it must work right?

 

[LaaMok]

Hidden text text that's the same colour as the background? Google will read that as it's CONTENT and not code...

My original point was I don't think google will make a decision of importance based on the html tags around the content. You can make it bold, italicised and underlined and google will see no difference.

I think the fact of the matter is, that google will look at the keyword density of the bold... but I dont ever bold text anymore, because I know quality links is all that you need.

 

[Ali-v-8]

bold or strong used to refer to an important term or keyword.
A long time ago (ok a very long time ago) they would be used as important for SEO.
Now they are just a way of optimising our content for end users rather than just search engine.
@curiosity killed the cat@
if you build it they will come.

You bold a key term it will stand out. you link that term and you will increase the possibility of a click. Add google analytics and the data will show this link to be of importance.
Will it help? "je ne sais pas"