Invisible h1-h2 tags?

[Jeremy]

If you were to do this utilizing the CSS so that the tags are visible to screen readers but not visual users, would this compromise your standing in google?

It sounds like a good idea in theory to have h1,h2 tags on your site that don't stand out at the top of your page like a sore thumb, but again I'm just not sure if G will slap you with a penalty for it. More so, does Google still give any weight to h1.h2 tags?

Here is the link to what I am referencing:

http://www.webaim.org/techniques/css/invisiblecontent/

[GregK]

I wouldn't try it.

About the same thing as the old hiding blocks of text under images w/css or the even older white text on white BG.
Some used to add keyword text in html comments which don't render in the browser, still probably the safest method if you don't get carried away.

[Jeremy]

I ask this because one of the poker sites that dominates the SE's right now appears to have their h1 tag invisiblly incorporated right into the header. It certainly seems to be working for them.

Greg check your PM.

[GregK]

Just skimmed that article...

You could probably use a few things discussed there for small SEO boosts, basically SEO tricks disguised as accessibility features.

I have a few of them done already on my new site strictly for accessibility & usability reasons.
Skip Navigation links: which is simple a [jump] button that is hidden in my Browser css & is the first link visible in my Mobile css & also for screen readers etc.
Saves a ton of scrolling in my 1 column mobile layout & saves screen readers from listening to your whole navigation on every page.
Simply click [jump] & it jumps right to the page content using a basic link/anchor.

I have [back to top] links that are hidden/visible the same way.

I have labels on all of my form elements too.

Good article, bookmarked it for a full re-read soon

cheers

[pokerforfree]

I have been doing SEO and reading articles for about two months now, and everywhere I read the same: Tricking a search engine will be negative for your site in the end. If they catch you doing "bad stuff", you will loose your PR, and sometimes even get banned from Google at all.

Basically spoken it's simple. Search engines are made to bring content to people that are searching for something specific.

If you build your site the way it's ment to be (XHTML Strict) and you offer valuable content, then search engines will index your site and award you with high positions.

I think it works even better. People that are tricked into a site will sooner press the exit button than the one that has found your site because that's what he's been looking for.

I've been active in web development for many years. Last year I started to build strict sites only, and it has payed of, without even knowing anything about SEO. I am positive that I will get even better results with all the reading I've been doing on SEO lately.

Strict sites rule!

Peace,

Giorgio / PokerForFree

[PPP]

Hiding text should earn you a penalty. Resizing text via CSS is fine so you should never have a problem.

These words >>right here<< could be the H1 text on this page if the CSS file is set up to make the text that size and look, and there is no problem with that.

[GregK]

ditto!

Strict sites rule!

[CasinoMack]

Dont do it.