Hiding body copy with a 'read more' drop down option

[RafalJ]

Partial doesn't necesserily means there is a problem. Check this article by Google: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6066472?hl=en

If that font is the only thing not loading then it's not a problem for crawlers and it wouldn't have affected you rankings.

Btw that link to the font returns 404 error? Why are you loading fonts from a different website in the first place? Have it loaded from your site or from Google.

[Dan-Lawrence]

Ok thanks Rafa that's good news

Rankings must just be just fluctuation or impact of any recent G algo updates since no other changes to site apart from the addition of some exact match anchor text links to product pages & more copy in prod descrips.

will see how next ranking report performs and look into further then if more drops or no bounce back

Re: 404 your correct how did you know without the domain part of the url ?  Thanks ill tell dev

Really appreciate all your help Rafa !! thanks again !!

All Best

Dan

[Dan-Lawrence]

Sorry just to confirm ....

if the body copy being displayed in GWT under the "This is how Googlebot fetched the page:" does NOT show the text that's revealed after clicking 'read more' button then thats ok since if was a prob would be listed problem such as javascripts blocked etc etc

OR

it is a problem since Googles not seeing the rest of the body copy ?

thanks

dan

[MickEdwards]

yes, if the date of the cache is prior.  So I would suggest disabling javascript in the browser reload the page and see if the expected text is displayed.  If not that's what Google misses.

...and yes Google should show all the text in the cache version (text only) if the cached version is subsequent to your amendment.

[Dan-Lawrence]

ok have done this now and all normally hidden body copy/content now shows so presume that means G can see it

[MickEdwards]

You want Settings >> Show Advanced Settings >> (Privacy) Content Settings >> (Javascript) Do not allow any site to run javascript >> Finished.

Reload the site and check what you can see, or open up.

[Dan-Lawrence]

grt thanks Mick

have done this now and all normally hidden body copy/content now shows so presume that means G can see it and i no longer need worry about this

[MickEdwards]

yep, sound good.

I was working on a site last year and they switched a DNN module based on your scenario without letting me know, having already tested the existing module.  First I saw was when rankings and traffic wobbled.  In this case the text was lost in the javascript and accounted for about 25-30% of content on all their main pages. Nightmare!

[Dan-Lawrence]

great thanks for the reassurance Mick !

[RafalJ]

Hi Dan,

I have just clicked on the link you provided

Since the new Penguin is still rolling out and most ranking changes are at the moment down to this algo refresh I would suggest looking at your link profile for a start and if there is nothing wrong there, simply wait a couple of weeks until the refresh has officially finished and take it from there...

[Dan-Lawrence]

Ah ha ! i see it included the full url in the link code

thanks Rafa yes i see similar flux with all my other clients now and none have dodgy links so presume just algorithmic flux, will review in a week or two

all best

dan

[Dan-Lawrence]

Hi

For your info and others on this thread I have just seen this on SERT: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-index-click-to-expand-19449.html

And in the comments seen this hangout with John Mueller referenced where he says they discount non-displayed text (aprox 11 mins in): https://plus.google.com/events/cjcubhctfdmckph433d00cro9as

Having said that the client I have been looking into this for non-displayed text is indexed but then last cache date is 21st October which some people say in the thread will change after next crawl/cache.

Just wandering your (or anyone elses thoughts on this are) ?

All Best

Dan

[RafalJ]

This is pretty disturbing news actually and it doesn't make any sense to me. If Google wants to promote pages with more and better quality content above the fold but also clean pages that users like - the read more buttons were the only functionality to marry both concepts.

At the moment all my pages are still fully indexed but if I see this change come into life I will have to re-think the content and layout of many pages...

[Dan-Lawrence]

agreed very worrying indeed !

let me know any findings after next crawl here & ill do the same

[MickEdwards]

I've just had fresh content crawled and indexed that is in this scenario.  Basically we are saying to the visitor "if you really want to know some more boring technical information then expand this, but we don't want to spoil your experience by vomiting all the data at you at once".  Crazy if that is changed.

[Dan-Lawrence]

Hey Mick, makes good sense to do it that way so yes crazy if that has changed!!

My client scenario different in that three quarters of entire page of body copy (all well written & good quality) client wanted hidden behind a 'read more' button.  Whilst im sure this will always be seen/crawled & indexed (although poss not given some of the recent comments) i think given Muellers hangout response theres a very good chance the hidden text will be seriously devalued.

Do you think advisable for me to recommend client re-show all body copy, im thinking so ?

All Best

Dan

[Dan-Lawrence]

he he

https://twitter.com/sugarrae/status/535823812143497216/photo/1