PDFs & search engine indexing

[Madtown RM]

Am I correct in assuming that search engines don't index the text contained inside of PDF files? I'm concerned that if I post PDF files for certain info (e.g. a buyer's or seller's guide) that I'll be cheated out of the indexing the search engines would normally do with that content.

[Discover Davis Homes]

Why not take the info from the PDF's and make them individual pages? I know it's more work but it should pay off in the long run.

If you had several PDF's on the page, just make them separate pages in your site.

[Madtown RM]

That's what I did (ie create all separate pages) on my old site (still in use). It definitely is more work but all I care about is getting the maximum amount of content indexed (my time is cheap in this slow market anyway).

So are you saying it is true, that the search engines definitely don't index content contained in PDF files?

[OCTeam]

Take a look at the below link.. what do you think?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...ng&btnG=Search

However, I would not depend on any pdf file getting good search results. You might want to have the pdf file link on a page that is optizmized for whatever search term(s) and content you think is appropriate. That is what we do and it seems to work. For us, it is more about getting them to the site so they sign-in somewhere. The pdf files are just an incidental curiosity.

[Madtown RM]

Drew, Not sure what you mean. That link is for the Google search "Exemption from withholding". Back to PDFs, so why are you posting them for your buyers and sellers guides? Why not just include all that text in pages? -Jo

[OCTeam]

Why not just include all that text in pages?

Because if it is not my content, I consider it to be copyright infringment. The easy way is to just embed the pdf file on the page so you would not need to click on any link. Like I just did to show an example on a test page shown here (ignore the other stuff)
http://dev182.rewtemplates.com/test-test.php

[Madtown RM]

Interesting. My broker allows us to replicate any and all content from the broker site that we want to. I guess that's one thing I'll miss.

Okay, so this is really frustrating. Every time I click on your test page I get this prompt to install the Adobe Reader plug-in. But I already have it and have even reinstalled it. What plug-in am I missing to see how you've embedded PDF files in your pages?

[OCTeam]

Here is what it looks like on the site

pdf.jpg

[Madtown RM]

When you do it that way (by embedding the PDF file) does it mean the search engines definitely do index the content? And if you attach the PDf file the search engines don't index the content? Just trying to get the straight poop on that one.

Heck, I sure can't figure out why your test link won't work. Not on my Mac (despite having the latest Acrobat Reader plug-in, nor on my laptop running Vista). Bizarre.

Too many battles to fight here. I can see the sky climbing this learning curve!

[Madtown RM]

Good Lord! One hour and twenty-eight minutes later I finally got it working. Some super special plug-in I'm not even allowed to use for free. Sheesh! One of these days I'll have to figure out why I'm working on a Mac...

Okay, so what was the point of all this? That I should embed PDF files rather than link to them, correct? Entonces no comprendo. Why aren't you embedding your buyer/seller guides, Drew?