What do web site development, search engine optimization and Hippocrates have in common? A line from the Hippocratic Oath comes to mind: First, do no harm. In a previous post, I touched on how the technological factors underlying a web site are important to the site’s search engine optimization.
These factors aren’t important so much for their ability to rank a site highly, as they are for avoiding problems that can harm a site’s ranking.
Using standard href links rather than javascript links, and avoiding canonical URL problems by implementing a 301 redirect from non-www to www, won’t actually help your site rank better for any given search. But using all javascript links and having canonical URL problems can harm your site’s ability to rank well.
These technological factors fall under the “Do no harm” umbrella. Don’t throw obstacles in the path of high rankings. Removing the obstacles won’t cause you to win that race — but it will make winning possible.
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