Wordpress/ Insert Tables/ SEO

[AndySolo]

I'm using Wordpress to create websites and blogs. I have limited (non-existent) HTML Coding knowledge. I'm looking to insert tables within my pages with information. Inside of these tables I want certain names to link to another page with more specific information about that name.

I'm using a plugin called "WP Tables Reloaded" it simple helps you to create aesthetically pleasing tables without needing to know HTML Code or CSS.

The issue is... when you create this table and insert it to the post, the only thing that shows on the sites back-end page is the table I.D. and the only thing that shows in the HTML is the tables I.D. It looks like this...

[table id=2 /]

I don't think search engines will be able to crawl this table, thus I won't be receiving any credit for the links being used within the table.

Am I right about this?

[BedeFahey]

Hi andymisiu,

Unless I'm misunderstanding, you're looking at the editor in Visual and HTML view, and only seeing [table id=2 /] instead of the HTML table it generates?

If I'm correct, that's perfectly OK. What you're seeing in the editor isn't exactly what's being displayed to someone who visits your site (or to the search engines).

The [table id=2 /] is a WordPress shortcode that basically says to WordPress "when you generate this page, call display the table 2". Even when you switch to HTML view in the WordPress editor, it's still only going to show you the shortcode, as it's not going to display the final HTML until someone visits the URL.

What matters is what's showing up in the page source when someone visits the URL (e.g. after WordPress has processed the short code). You can can check that by going to the URL (published or via preview) and viewing the page source. I've used WP Tables Reloaded before and my experience is that the HTML it produces is fine.

Hope this helps!

[AndySolo]

Thanks for the reply! great answer and good to know. The developer mirrors your answer as well.

[KeriMorgret]

I've had the same experience. I have WP Tables Reloaded, and am seeing some of the table info in snippets in Google even. If you search [site:strikemodels.com/products] you'll see several examples.