New site design - feedback please

**SIMONR85** · 13-07-08

Ive just redone my website http://www.Freeuksimcards.co.Uk and would like some feedback, there is a few more pages to add, and i hav decided to replace the login box with something else.
--<br>Posted via my Mobile Device

**PhineasTBarnum** · 13-07-08

I think you need to look at your grammar and spelling.

You also need to provide some value to your visitors (apart from the links). I'm not sure I really understand what a free sim card is (as opposed to a sim card that is not free); maybe you could explain this.

**FairFX** · 14-07-08

I see you have an H1 heading tag "Free SIM Cards" but the text doesn't appear on the page - you're using a background image instead in your style sheet.
I never like the idea of coding just for search engines. What's everybody elses opinion on this one?

**pete_coles** · 14-07-08

Originally Posted by FairFX

I see you have an H1 heading tag "Free SIM Cards" but the text doesn't appear on the page - you're using a background image instead in your style sheet.
I never like the idea of coding just for search engines. What's everybody elses opinion on this one?

I'm personally all for image replacement for stuff like logos. Keeping the 'h1' tag and then styling it in CSS seems pretty smart to me as it will display the heading when the styles are turned off and also allow screen readers to know what the site is called/about.

**FairFX** · 14-07-08

Originally Posted by pete_coles

I'm personally all for image replacement for stuff like logos. Keeping the 'h1' tag and then styling it in CSS seems pretty smart to me as it will display the heading when the styles are turned off and also allow screen readers to know what the site is called/about.

I'm just never that comfortable with what is essentially displaying one thing for search engines and another thing for readers.

**SIMONR85** · 16-07-08

Originally Posted by pete_coles

I'm personally all for image replacement for stuff like logos. Keeping the 'h1' tag and then styling it in CSS seems pretty smart to me as it will display the heading when the styles are turned off and also allow screen readers to know what the site is called/about.

Glad somebody else agrees

**FairFX** · 16-07-08

Keeping the 'h1' tag and then styling it in CSS seems pretty smart to me

That seems smart to me too - but only if you retain the text on the page - visible to the reader. If on the other hand you display an image instead, there is an argument to say that you're approaching grey-hat SEO.

**hens00** · 16-07-08

Is that a template you're using?

I swear Ive seen a couple of sites in the past which look very similar? Probably just me.

**SIMONR85** · 16-07-08

yes its a template

**DMSLLC** · 16-07-08

Looks fun and interesting. I feel that the header lacks. The tile is too faint. Maybe some flash in the header would spice it up, too!!

**khuram** · 17-07-08

Good site. A couple of headings are breaking in the FF3. but I guess thats just me. Best of luck.

**mjp3000** · 18-07-08

Originally Posted by FairFX

That seems smart to me too - but only if you retain the text on the page - visible to the reader. If on the other hand you display an image instead, there is an argument to say that you're approaching grey-hat SEO.

This is a standard CSS technique - you'll find it in dozens of CSS books. It's actually very reader friendly - displaying aesthetically pleasing images for full-fat viewing, but leaving headings in place for non-css browsers, screen readers for partially sighted etc etc.

It's CSS done proper, like. Good stuff, and the way I've been doing it for years. :tup

**FairFX** · 18-07-08

Originally Posted by mjp3000

This is a standard CSS technique - you'll find it in dozens of CSS books. It's actually very reader friendly - displaying aesthetically pleasing images for full-fat viewing, but leaving headings in place for non-css browsers, screen readers for partially sighted etc etc.

It's CSS done proper, like. Good stuff, and the way I've been doing it for years. :tup

I accept that it's common place on many sites but it doesn't mean that you shouldn't be slightly wary of how this CSS technique may impact search engine algorithms in the future.

Quote from Matt Cutts @ Google:
"We can flag text that appears to be hidden using CSS at Google. To date we have not algorithmically removed sites for doing that."

The "To date" part scares me.

More discussion:
SEOmoz | CSS Image Replacements and SEO

It is something that's potentially open to abuse as the H1 tag is a significant part of on-site SEO. Although I accept that this isn't impacting rankings at the moment, in my opinion it's taking a risk with future rankings.

**mjp3000** · 18-07-08

Originally Posted by FairFX

Quote from Matt Cutts @ Google:
"We can flag text that appears to be hidden using CSS at Google. To date we have not algorithmically removed sites for doing that."

I would have assumed that this refers to display:none, rather than indenting the text. Indenting still leaves it visible, albeit 10,000 pixels off the page or whatever.

I can't see google punishing sites that use text-indent. 99% of text replacement is going to be done by designers who want good design whilst keeping their sites accessible and standards compliant. By penalising this method, they'll be penalising designers for doing things the 'proper' way, which wouldn't make sense.

They're clever guys at google, I'm sure if they were to do anything about this, they will find a way to differentiate between honest design, and people hiding links through hidden divs and such like.

**FairFX** · 18-07-08

Originally Posted by mjp3000

I would have assumed that this refers to display:none, rather than indenting the text. Indenting still leaves it visible, albeit 10,000 pixels off the page or whatever.

I can't see google punishing sites that use text-indent.

Punishing possibly not - but a reduction in value is still likely in the future - in my opinion. Perhaps we'll have to agree to disagree.