Javascript Redirects

[CoolSEOnStuff]

So I have a client who uses a program called test and target by Adobe to test different pages of content for the best layout, design, etc. They use javascript redirects and css hide and show to hide content with div tags. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with test and target or knows about how these hidden div tags and javascript redirects will affect my indexing and SEO.

I'm hoping for some guidance fairly quickly as well

[AlanBleiweiss]

This is yet another case where a big company creates something they think will be useful to web designers, without fully comprehending the impact on others.  Javascript and CSS are bot legitimate tools of web design and programming, however search bots and algorithms fail miserably at processing content that is manipulated by either method in a way that causes them to appear or disappear based on human interaction.

While Google has come a long way in being able to process Javascript, it's far from perfect.  Hit and miss.  And in the case of both Javascript and CSS, there's a very "maybe" situation indeed.  Maybe their system will be able to parse it and not think it's there to fool the search engines.  Maybe it won't. Maybe the result will be a devaluing of some or all of your content and links, maybe it won't.

They play this off in all their public statements, saying "if your intent is not to do evil, you should be fine."  They tell you that if your intent is good, let their system figure it out.

Then they tell you they can't guarantee their system will figure it out properly.  Or that their system won't penalize your site even if your intent is good.

Quite a while back, Matt Cutts specifically stated that he recommends never using any method that could hide content, regardless of your intent.  That's what it really comes down to.

Until and unless you can truly test every possible scenario and can know with absolute certainty that what you're doing isn't causing SEO (or usability) problems, then it comes down to risk.

Is the client willing to risk having the site ranked lower than it might otherwise be?  Are they willing to risk having usability problems? That's what it comes down to.

[CoolSEOnStuff]

Great thoughts, thank you. I agree that companies really don't have SEO in mind when creating many tools. Some very useful tools are that way. There is a balance of options here - the benefit they see from using test and target (and they have seen great results improving userability on the site and refining their processes. It has created great efficiency that have led to improved site conversions), and the SEO factor.

I guess what I'm looking for is a few things: 1. What are the effects of using hidden div tags and javascript redirects. 2. Possible ways to mitigate any negative effects in my rankings of those pages.

From what I have read (and just the story of my SEO life) is that there really isn't much surety when it comes to this...no one seems to know exactly what will happen. I guess I'm looking for someone who has used hidden div tags or javascript redirects and how that has affected their ranking on those specific pages...as well as the site as a whole.