Website Question About CSS/SEO

[Hikin Mike]

I'm using a <h1> tag on my header (Fine Art Landscape,...), as it should IMO, but I made the text smaller than a standard <h1> font. More like a <h3> size. I did this because the <h1> is too big, but I wanted the SEO benefits.

Do you think it okay to leave it as it is, or should I change it? I don't want any problems with 'G'! ;)

If anybody has any other issues about the website (good or bad), let me know. :D

Website is on the sig....

[urbansickness]

Its fine to change the font size even though its h1.

As long as you dont add lots of h1's in the page it wont cause a problem.

Its whats in the h1 tag that the spiders read , font size plays no part.

Plus the google algorithms for SEO are massive the h1 plays .05% of everything it calculates.

Just make sure you submit a sitemap to google helps the spiders find there way to you.

[Hikin Mike]

My header is dynamically-driven (PHP), so I use only 1 <h1> per page. Already submitted the sitemap months ago. :D

Thanks! :cool:

[Faolan]

I was taught to have one H1 for the main banner/header and then use the rest for the 'structure' of the page. for example section headers would be H2 and sub-headers H3 and so on. This mean the important H1 content would stand out for SEO as it was used for the page title. How much applies today I have no idea.

Font size is a presentation aspect (and design) and bears no meaning for the page elements and tags other than the layout.

[Hikin Mike]

I didn't that it matter about the font size, just actual tag. I didn't want to be blacklisted!

Thanks Rob.

[Sickness]

So...you want the H1 text smaller? I assume you're using CSS, so try something like this:

h1 {font-size 14px;}

Just change 14px to whatever size font you want. You could even go further if you wanted to leave the standard H1 tag alone:

-HTML-

<h1 class="h1-big">Title Here</h1>

-CSS-

h1-big {font-size: 14px}

[Faolan]

You should never specify font size in Pixels for screen output. There are many reasons:

1) You have no control over the DPI
2) Not control over the screen resolution
3) It's a static measurement.

If yo are needing to specifiy font-size it's far better to use percentages or ems. If you're doing print then feel free to use pixels as the printer knows how many DPI there is.

[Hikin Mike]

"Sickness" - I already know about re-sizing <h1> tags, I'm doing that already using my CSS. I was just concerned about SEO. :D

Rob - I'm using PX and I don't have any scaling issues. Should I switch to EMS or percentages?

[Sickness]

"Sickness" - I already know about re-sizing <h1> tags, I'm doing that already using my CSS. I was just concerned about SEO. :D

Rob - I'm using PX and I don't have any scaling issues. Should I switch to EMS or percentages?

Oh, sorry. :)

It might be better practice to use em instead of px. http://pxtoem.com/

[Faolan]

The reason for using EMs over pixels for non-defined visual displays such as monitors/mobile devices is that your content can be more 'fluid'.

Take for example you set a border, and padding/margins of 10px, now if the person enlarges the text your your padding, margins will remain the same which can either make your site look bad or illegible!

Most of my font sizes are using ems, but I'm redesigning the site to make more extensive usage of EM measurements. It's not as easy as, say, using pixels but it's far better in the long run for design.

There are arguments against using EM based measurements, but I'm in the EM school ;)

[tracknut]

Mike, keep in mind that using font size as px will cause different effects in IE than it will in FF. IE does not scale up a px font, whereas FF does. One can argue which method is preferable, but the fact is they're not the same. So if you're looking for a consistent display, px is not the way to go.

That said, you're only using px in your navigation and your footer, that I can tell, which is actually similar to what I do, so I'm not gonna argue with that one :). You're using % for your body text, which is quite reasonable (IMO) as you're using % of the "normal" font size as a measurement. It can get quite hairy keeping track of % though if you have lots of different sizes and they cascade down (90% of 90% of 90% is what??) whereas a size like 0.8em is going to be 0.8 em.

Font size is a pain though, I'll say that.

Dave

[Hikin Mike]

I thought because I can re-size my layout, including text, by using either 'Ctl++/'Ctl+-' or 'Ctl & scroll' I was okay. It shouldn't be a big deal changing from PX to EMS or percentages in my case.

I'm not a web designer. I know enough to be dangerous! I was reading a few sites last night and there's some web designers are switching back to PX because most browsers now a days can zoom text/pictures etc without any problems.

Another can of worms, but how about the "frame work". I use PX for borders, padding, height, width etc. Should I change that too?

[Faolan]

Firefox now uses a similar technology to Opera's zoom feature. IE still uses the old scaling method, although IE 8 now has it. More here:

http://www.gunlaug.no/contents/wd_additions_45.html

As to padding, borders and so on. I'd treat that on a case by case basis and see what does and doesn't work.

[Hikin Mike]

I'm using Firefox myself, but I check my site(s) on IE7, Opera and Chrome.

While I have lots of free time...I doubt I'll switch to 100% EMS or Percentages any time soon.

I'll take a look at the link Rob.