| There have been many arguments as to whether or | | | | make web designers and developers lives so much |
| not Google search engine ranking factors look for a | | | | easier. As of now different web browsers will show |
| clean code in a website. The W3C Schools have | | | | websites differently. On Mozilla-Firefox your website |
| brought forth a very popular and widely used tool, | | | | may look perfect, but on Internet Explorer the |
| called the W3C Validation and the CSS Validation. | | | | website may be off centered. This causes many |
| Basically, both these tools look at your HTML and | | | | headaches and tiresome trial and error to perfect |
| CSS Style Sheet that code your website for any | | | | websites. |
| errors that may arise. This free tool will scan all of | | | | There have been efforts made to create universal |
| your code to make sure it is compliant with current | | | | web standards, but these have yet to be widely |
| web standards and free or any errors. | | | | adopted. Website designers and developers are at |
| Recently Matt Cutts, Google software engineer, has | | | | heeds with one another because of the issues |
| said again that the W3C Validation does not affect | | | | caused by web compatibility. Until universal standards |
| search engine rankings. This is not the first time he | | | | are adopted, there will be angry people working |
| has said this and will not be that last as many people | | | | behind the scenes to create websites that look good |
| are convinced that W3C is a factor in search engine | | | | in every browser. This becomes a time intensive, |
| rankings. Many people are convinced that having a | | | | tedious project that can be eliminated once universal |
| clean coded website will increase search engine | | | | standard have been adopted. |
| rankings. This is in fact untrue. A clean code does | | | | The major roadblocks to having universal web |
| help the search engine spiders read and understand | | | | standards are the browsers themselves. They are |
| your website easier. A clean coded website will guide | | | | not compatible with one another causing websites to |
| the spider to the important places on your site, | | | | look good in one browser and horrible in another. |
| without getting jumbled up in a web of unnecessary | | | | Designers and programmers are frustrated by these |
| coding. | | | | inconsistencies between browsers, making their jobs |
| The main reason that W3C Validation is not used is | | | | nearly impossible. They do not know which website |
| because Google is concerned with browser | | | | standards to use when building or coding a new |
| compatibilities. Because a website shows up looking | | | | website. |
| perfect in Internet Explorer does not mean it will look | | | | Matt Cutts even admits that he wishes Google did |
| the same in Mozilla Firefox, on mobile phones, on web | | | | validate webpage's, but the reality is that a lot of |
| TV, etc. This is a big issue for many website | | | | sites on the web, even popular sites do not pass the |
| developers as one site can look great on one | | | | validation. This would mean that these pages would |
| computer, and look horrible on another computer. | | | | be dropped from their rankings, or need to redesign |
| This is Google's main issue with the W3C Validation. | | | | and recode their site. Both outcomes can have |
| Just because a website passes theW3C Validation | | | | daunting effects on the website. If the code needs |
| Test does not mean that it will be compatible in all | | | | to be changes, then the site may need to change to |
| browsers. This is why Google does not factor this | | | | adjust to the new coding. |
| into their ranking. | | | | Now you may be wondering why so many websites |
| Another reason that Google does not validate | | | | have a link at the bottom saying W3C Valid. They |
| websites is because of the time it would take to | | | | are under the impression that this adds value to the |
| validate each individual page. Internet users want | | | | page when customers see it. The big reason to |
| everything to happen instantaneously. They do not | | | | validate your website is too look for human errors |
| want to wait around for slow loading websites, when | | | | that you may have overlooked when building your |
| there are another million sites out there with the | | | | site. The W3C Validation will show you broken links |
| similar information. Therefore, Google eliminated the | | | | and many other important coding factors that can |
| use of validating websites, to increase website load | | | | negatively impact the way humans see your site. |
| time and user appreciation for the speed and agility | | | | In conclusion, it is a good idea to have the W3C |
| of their search engine. This makes sense, as larger | | | | validation on your site to check for errors and clean |
| websites would be slowed down by the validation | | | | up unnecessary coding. Who knows, in the next few |
| process, causing unhappy web users. | | | | months or years this may become an important |
| Although it seems glum that there will be any | | | | ranking factor for the search engines and you can be |
| universal web standards anytime soon, we can all | | | | one step ahead. |
| keep our hopes up. Universal web standards will | | | | |