SEO for Hidden Content: Mastering JavaScript and Accordions

Balancing lots of content with a clean, user-friendly layout in web design?can be tricky. That’s where accordions, tabbed content, and other expandable text blocks come in. These elements let you package information into neat, unobtrusive compartments, allowing users to choose what they want to see. But how do these design choices impact SEO? Are all accordions created equal? And what about other types of hidden content?

What Are Accordions in Web Design?

Accordions are a popular design element that hides content until the user decides to view it. This hidden content is typically revealed through a mouse click or keystroke, making it a responsive design feature. Think of accordions as a dresser with drawers, each compartmentalizing specific content categories and keeping everything out of sight until needed.

Does Google Crawl Accordion Content?

Google has consistently stated that its crawlers can see hidden content on pages. However, some digital marketers believe that content hidden in accordions and tabs may not be treated the same as always-visible text. A 2017 study suggested that Google ranked pages lower for keywords hidden in JavaScript and CSS accordions than visible text. While Google’s stance on hidden text dates back to 2013, it’s worth considering how these elements might affect your SEO strategy today.

The Evolution of Hidden Content in SEO

Hidden content has a controversial history in SEO. In the '90s and early 2000s, developers would hide keyword-rich text to manipulate search engine rankings. This practice, known as black-hat SEO, is now penalized by search engines. However, there are legitimate ways to use hidden text to enhance user experience without compromising SEO.

Best Practices for Building Content Accordions

Accordions have three main components: headers, icons, and panels. Each plays a crucial role in user interaction and SEO.

• Accordion Headers: These should be concise and set clear expectations for the hidden content.
• Accordion Icons: Icons like the “+” or down arrow signal expandable content. Avoid using right-facing arrows, as they typically indicate links to other pages.
• Accordion Panels?are hidden blocks of text revealed upon interaction. Keep the content brief and informative, often using short paragraphs or bullet points.

Using Accordions on Different CMS Platforms

Platforms like Squarespace and WordPress offer pre-built accordion content blocks. Squarespace introduced collapsible sections in 2022, while WordPress has several excellent accordion plugins that require minimal customization.

Accessibility Considerations

One challenge with accordions is accessibility. Many are not perceivable by screen readers used by visually impaired individuals. Developers can address this by adjusting ARIA settings. The?<aria-label>?attribute helps screen readers discover hidden content, improving accessibility.

Building Accordions with JavaScript

To enhance accessibility, developers can use ARIA properties like?<aria-hidden>?and?<aria-expanded>. By assigning unique IDs to expandable sections and controlling visibility through ARIA properties, developers can make hidden content accessible to screen readers.

What About CSS-Only Accordions?

While creating hidden content using only CSS is possible, it requires advanced skills. Pre-built code snippets can help, but achieving the perfect on-page experience often demands detailed work.

And the Accordion Plays On...

Accordions and tabbed content are valuable design elements that enhance user experience without sacrificing SEO. While they may not be ideal for your most critical keywords, they remain crawlable by search engines. With thoughtful implementation, these elements can also support accessibility for visually impaired users.

For expert assistance in making hidden content work for you, reach out to Oneupweb.