HTML5 Nav Tag Issue - Be Aware

[veezer]

In checking my internal links with GWT, it is apparent that links within the nav tag in HTML5 are discounted by Google as "internal links"

This could have major repercussions for designing your internal link structure for SEO purposes.

I was surprised to see this result, as I have never seen it discussed.

Anyone else notice this, or have any alternative views?

[sprynewmedia]

This seems reasonable and a good way to ensure the link is allocated correctly.

I presume your issue is you have external links inside a

<nav>container?

Follow up: it appears the specifications do suggest the nav element is for internal links - the element is primarily intended for sections that consist of major navigation blocks. External links are generally not considered major navigation, no?

http://www.whatwg.org/specs/web-apps/current-work/multipage/sections.html#the-nav-element

</nav>

[veezer]

"I presume your issue is you have external links inside a

<nav>container?"

No - that is not my issue. I have 5 "landing pages" (Home and 2nd tier pages) included in the main nav bar include below my site logo on every page.

I had assumed (incorrectly) that those pages would be internally linked to every page of the website - but they are NOT (at least as far as the internal links shown on GWT)

</nav>

[veezer]

To be clear, I believe it is good SEO practice to ensure that every page of a website contains a link to the Home Page (and other key landing pages as befits the site).

Putting a link to the home page WITHIN a nav tag in HTML5 does not accomplish this goal.

[sprynewmedia]

To be sure I understand; you have a site-wide header ,

<nav>section but you are not seeing the backlinks from all the pages in the GWT internal links report?

(Incidentally, my experience has shown these links do count.)

Could we see the site?

How long ago did you post the nav element?

</nav>

[sprynewmedia]

While I have found it does, you could always use a logo link to accomplish this.

[sprynewmedia]

Here is how one could test this to be sure:

1. Create site on a throw away domain that includes:

• home page
• sub page (containing unique text in title and body)
• orphaned sub page

2. Place the nav tag on all pages with links to only the first two pages.
3. Add some dummy content but don't create any other links.
4. Link to the orphaned page from a decently trusted and ranked page on another site.
5. Wait 2-4 weeks.
6. Search for the unique string and write a YouMOZ post about your findings.

[veezer]

_Could we see the site?  _

www.optimalfoods.org/

How long ago did you post the nav element?

The nav bar at top of page has been there since the site went live about two weeks ago. My GWT show only 7 internal links to my home page, but there are 15 pages published

[sprynewmedia]

Appears I broke the site... sorry

[sprynewmedia]

Two weeks is pretty short time for a new site to get accurate reports from GWT.  The back links I found weren't valuable - none with a page authority over 1.

I would secure at least one high quality link and wait a few more weeks.