Dynamically Generated Site Index

benchwarmer · Post by **benchwarmer** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 4:51 pm

Since installing the java script we have dropped significantly in our Search Engine Ranking. We had underestimated the weight of this in our rankings and now need to create a dynamic site index for each catagory on our site. The <noscript> tag does not seem to be a feasible solution as we currently have 2300 pages and will be adding approximately 2300 more (parts pages - one page per part we carry).

In addition, the no script tag would create manual changes of all the above pages each time a change was made which is not cost effective. We would be interested in software and/or any other at least semi-automated system.

Thanks for your iput!

Post by **John** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:46 pm

Not really sure why the menu would affect your ranking. Maybe tune-ups of your description and keyword metas, and possibly your title, are in order. The spiders look at those pretty hard.

benchwarmer · Post by **benchwarmer** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:29 pm

We haven't changed the meta tags, description title etc. From our research and the article on this site about how search engines can't read java script and layers I sort of have to assume it's the new navigation since they are not linked otherwise.

Post by **John** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:38 pm

Hmmm - how 'bout a basic menu system. Categories rather than all your parts. Call it in using an include statement. Yes, it would involve adding that statement to all the pages, but from then on any changes would only have to be made to one page.

benchwarmer · Post by **benchwarmer** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:50 pm

Could you expound on what you mean - I am not sure I am following you. Thanks

Post by **John** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 11:16 pm

Haven't seen your site, so I have no idea what the menu looks like. However, you mentioned parts, so I ass-umed (hate to do that!) these parts can fall into general categories.

So, going down that guilded path, I thought maybe a general "Table of Contents" kind of thing might do. Place it in a file by itself...

Code: Select all

<a href="category1.htm">Category 1</a><br />
<a href="category2.htm">Category 2</a><br />
<a href="category3.htm">Category 3</a><br />
<a href="category4.htm">Category 4</a><br /> etc.

Then, a couple lines added to each page at the appropriate spot...

Code: Select all

<noscript>
<!--#include file="menu.htm" -->
</noscript>

...would bring in that menu file in case of no JS. Any changes would be made to that one file only, not all of your pages.

Note the include statement may be different for your server.

This make any sense...