Why IFrames Stink!
An iframe is an inline frame that consists of an html page within an html page. Creating one is really simple, but there are no associated search engine optimization benefits to have an iframe. Essentially, when it comes to SEO, you’re screwed.
Here’s what you do to create an iframe:
- Create an html page and put some content on it; give it a name
- Create another html page
- Place the following code within the body content of the second html page
(bracket)iframe src=”newpage.html” width=”200″ height=”200″
frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”auto” name=”myInlineFrame”(c-bracket)
Body Text (bracket)/iframe(c-bracket)
Replace (c-bracket) with the > symbol and (bracket) with the < symbol.
The effect will be the second page appears within the first page. It might look cool, especially if you have a cool page design, but the page within the page will not get crawled. If you have no additional content on the page that houses your iframe then it won’t get indexed (NOTE: I highly recommend that, if you do this, you put some additional content on that second page).
Many companies with affiliate programs use iframes for their affiliate banner ads. The benefit to them is they get links to their websites and their affiliates do not get SEO benefits and steal their customers. That’s a great use for iframes. But if you plan to build an html page and put that page within another page on the same site, that just doesn’t make any sense. Maybe, maybe you can make it work if you have a page on Site A that you want to appear on Site B. Even then, I’d think long and hard before using an iframe. The SEO benefits just aren’t there.
4 Responses to “Why IFrames Stink!”
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Iframes is surely not good with SEO but still i see a lot of people are doing it. This article will help others know why they should not use Iframe if they are after SEO.
Hi Bryan,
I agree, I too see many sites with iFrames…thanks for the comment!
Is the problem with iFrames simply that there is no benefit from this added content? If there is no kind of penalty from using one, it seems just the same SEO-wise as a banner ad.
Then, when extra content distracts from the overall optimization efforts, it makes plenty of sense not to allow its indexing with your page/site. Take PRWeb for example: the iFrame they add at the bottom of their news releases may not help that page’s rank, but it still can have benefits. For usability, it allows visitors to see the release-submitting company’s landing page without leaving PRWeb. Plus each of their pages has snippets of their own SEO efforts, which could be undermined by sites in the frame.
Still, I should agree that iFrames are often misused/overused.
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for the comment, great points…iFrames can be used to help the user experience outside of on site optimization changes.