SEO for Blogs: HTML5 & Why It’s Important for Your Blog

As a blog owner, there are times when it seems the code behind some of your posts, known as HTML, is especially convoluted and confusing. With <div> this and <span> that, how can one be expected to achieve even a basic mastery of what should be the Internet’s simplest language?

Did you know that HTML has not received a proper upgrade since 1997?

When considering the future development of your blog, HTML5 should be a defining factor. Whether you’re working solo or with a blog development company, it is important that your code be semantically written with a set of best practices or standards in mind. With the use of HTML5, this couldn’t be simpler! And an added bonus? When each page of your website is written this way, you’ll notice marked gains in your search engine placement.

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HTML 5 and SEO for Your Blog

With the addition of new HTML5 tags and other factors, blogs and websites are becoming more and more easily compartmentalized. This allows for search engines to more easily understand your content and file it properly so that viewers can find it more quickly and easily.

1. <article> for articles, blog posts, and more. Content wrapped in these tags are considered to be the “meat” of your website’s pages; this section is therefore weighted more heavily than others that may follow.
2. <section> so that different parts of your website’s pages can be discerned instead of using the ever indiscernible <div> tags. For example, if the keywords you’re targeting are all located within one <section>, search engines will assume a higher relevance for this section as opposed to others (such as sidebars). Again, this could be used to feature the main content of your website, or a simple aside.
3. <header> for your header blocks. Again, <div> tags will no longer be needed thanks to this more semantically-minded tag for the top or header of your website.
4. <footer> nearly identical to the new <header> tag, except for your website’s footer.
5. <nav> for primary navigation. This tag allows important page links to be featured prominently, therefore providing more overall coverage to your other pages.

Although many of these tags conribute to better segmentation semantics on the web, many other media-based tags exist and are being developed, as well, such as <audio>, <video>, <canvas> and more.

The <canvas> Tag: A Better Choice for Added Glitz Over Flash

The <canvas> tag aims to replace the difficult and often nonsensical use of Flash and its search engine noncompliance. Did you know that any content featured in a Flash feature, including text, will not be recognized by any search engine? Many popular mobile browsers, such as Safari for the iPhone, will ignore Flash as well. The <canvas> tag literally provides a canvas for awesome, interactive features that are search engine friendly and visually stunning.

Curious to see an example? Check out the real time clock in our footer! It’s written in pure HTML5 and is always set to the current time in New York, NY, or Eastern Standard Time.

How Can I Use HTML5 on my Blog now?

By choosing to employ HTML5, you’ll not only give your website a shot of search engine adrenaline, but you’ll be working to produce better practices on the web as we move to a more semantic, and logical Internet. As of August 2011, HTML5 is still under development. However, many of the great new features that are hugely beneficial for SEO and your blog are ready and are now commonly in use by many modern web browsers. Remember, these are generally only modern web browsers, such as the latest versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 9+. To take a sneak peak as to how well your browser and version performs, check out html5test.com and optionally choose to upgrade at Browse Happy.

To begin the transfer of your website’s code over to HTML5, contact us to receive a quick estimate! How will you publish today?