To preface this post, around my shop we make every effort to design sites according to the constricts imposed by http://validator.w3.org.

I've always thought that valid code is the only aspect of design that might insure cross-browser compatability. And, as a by product, I have always thought that clean, valid code helps to achieve good SERPs.

But, thie article referenced below refutes some of my thinking. Read the entire article to achieve its full effect.

Valid HTML is important - right? We are told every day in the website owner community that valid HTML code is the 'right' way to build your website. Valid HTML allows for greater accessibility, cross-browser compatability, and can even possibly help your search engine rankings.

http://www.site-reference.com/articl...ogle-Care.html

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Great, I'm toast.

I can believe that Google doesn't give weight to valid html but that's as far as I go.

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Interesting...

I would agree with the article that G! does not penalize for not valid code. I do not think that they "reward" code that is "less than valid", I just think that not having to validate code gives SEO folks a little bigger sandbox to play in (no pun intended) and that some use that flexibility to their advantage...

For the record, that doesn't mean that Google won't change their mind at any point down the road.

Cheers

Eric

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Eric Blackwell
Technologist, SEO Specialist and Consultant

Louisville Real Estate

Southern Indiana Search Engine Marketing Blog

Real Estate Industry Watch - Real Estate Industry News Blog

If they ever do decide to prioritize valid code they'd probably start with their own.

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I think the valid code alow many kinds of spiders to get into your site, i mean, they can follow all your links because you use a clean and right code. I don't know if has a weight on Google, but is important to think in other search engine that don't have a good spider.

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