How does Google treat Content hidden in click-to-expand tabs?

[nickspiteri]

Hi Peeps

I'm working a web build project and having some debates going on with our UX and SEO department regards hidden content in click-to-expand tabs.  The UX team is suggesting using these tabs is a legitimate method of making large amounts of copy more easily digestible to readers.  The tabs are for FAQs ( hopefully, you can view the wireframe URL ) and the SEO team are concerned that the content in these tabs contains some core keyword phrases which may not be indexed.  I am the project lead on this and honestly can't claim to be an expert on either discipline so any advice would be very welcome.  Can search engines index content hidden in these tabs?

Thank you in advance for any advice shared.

Nicky

213985904

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Hi Nicky,

How far off do you see the content as being published? The reason I ask if because Mobile First isn't far off and this is changing how Google indexes pages and works out the rankings.

Part of this is that they are going to start viewing the content behind a tab or accordion - the main reason for this is that Google is going to start using the mobile site for both mobile and desktop rankings and they see this as the best technique to keep mobile users happy. It is good for UX.

At the moment, Google will index that content, but it will be given a lower score than if it was all shown, but you also need to think about how a page might look without it - will it just be a huge page that you can get lost in, or is it not so big that you could have only 20 Q&A's and have it still looking good?

-Andy

[nickspiteri]

Hi Andy,

Sorry for my late reply and many thanks for your feedback.  You make an excellent point with regards Google's recent mobile first indexing announcement.  The site is due to go live April 2017 so it's certainly relevant, although I am leaning towards prioritising on the UX as the page can still be optimised for the core keywords regardless of the content in the FAQ tabs.

Thanks once again.

Nicky

[BlueCorona]

To add on to Andy's advice, imagine yourself using a website--are you more likely to engage in something that has a wall of text or do you prefer to see something that you can interact with as necessary? I'd recommend using your most important keywords in the h2s and using the expandable content areas for UX. That way, you're getting the best of both worlds.