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Does inclusion of iFrames hurt website SEO?

R

ruruuu99

New Member
Hello, hope everyone is well.

So I've ran a few online SEO reports on our website and all the reports indicate that iFrames are being used.

Seeing as I just joined the forum, it won't let me post a link to the website so can't provide it as a reference and I'm not sure if I can say what needs to be typed into the search bar in case you're not allowed to do that here.

Basically, I'm very new to this so could someone point me in the right direction and let me know how I can diagnose exactly where the iFrames are located and how they can be fixed? Is there a specific online tool that can pinpoint where the iFrames are instead of just indicating their presence?

From my limited knowledge, iFrames can include things like videos and Google Maps. There used to be a video on the home page so I removed it, ran the report and it still said iFrames were present. Then I removed the Google Maps in the footer, ran the report and it said the same thing (have kept the Google maps widget for now as it's useful).

Also is the removal of iFrames absolutely necessary if it doesn't cause things layout issues? Or does their absence sit better with Google and therefore increase the likelihood of ranking higher due to being more SEO friendly?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you!
 
T

Tornadoo

New Member
Hello,
iframes don't directly hurt SEO but can impact load times and user experience. Tools like Screaming Frog can help identify iFrames. If they're necessary for functionality (like Google Maps), it's fine to keep them. Just ensure your content is strong and optimized.
 
K

kenworth

New Member
Established Memeber
In the past Google wasn't able to crawl iframes, but now it can, so you don't need to remove them just for SEO. If you want to find where the iframes are in a page, just inspect the source code and look for the <iframe> tags
 
M

MPsf

New Member
Use the SEMrush Website Auditor to find hidden iFrames on your site. Minimize iFrames as much as possible, but don't worry about removing necessary ones like videos or maps. Focus on overall on-page optimization to offset any SEO impact.
 
web69

web69

New Member
The inclusion of iFrames on a website does not directly hurt SEO, but it can pose challenges if not implemented thoughtfully. Here's a breakdown:

Potential Downsides of iFrames for SEO:​

  1. Content Crawling Limitations: Search engines typically don’t crawl or index content within iFrames. If the content is critical to your SEO strategy, it might not contribute to your rankings.
  2. Page Speed Issues: iFrames can slow down page loading times, especially if they load external content. Page speed is a key ranking factor.
  3. User Experience: Poorly implemented iFrames can disrupt navigation and responsiveness, negatively affecting user experience and engagement metrics, which influence SEO.
  4. Link Equity: If the embedded content links to another domain, it won't pass link equity to your site.

Best Practices for iFrames and SEO:​

  • Use iFrames Sparingly: Only embed content when necessary.
  • Optimize Loading: Use lazy loading for iFrames to improve performance.
  • Supplement with Indexable Content: Provide descriptive text or summaries of the iFrame content on the page.
  • Ensure Relevance: Embed high-quality, relevant content that adds value to users.
  • Mobile Compatibility: Ensure iFrames are responsive and work seamlessly across devices.
By using iFrames strategically and optimizing their implementation, you can minimize any potential SEO impact while leveraging their functionality effectively.
 
John_Collinson

John_Collinson

Member
Established Memeber
Honestly, don't stress too much about iFrames. I remember freaking out about them when I first started with SEO, but they're really not that big of a deal. As long as your site loads fine and users can navigate easily, Google doesn't care much about iFrames.

Quick tip - if you want to find them, just hit F12 in your browser and search for 'iframe' in the code. That's the easiest way I've found.

Keep your Google Maps if it's useful for your visitors - that's way more important than some minor SEO concerns. I've worked on plenty of sites with iFrames (maps, videos, etc.) that rank just fine. Trust me, you'll get much better results focusing on creating good content and making sure your site loads quickly than worrying about this stuff
 
M

MPsf

New Member
iFrames themselves don’t directly hurt SEO, but they can limit what search engines can index if the content inside isn’t crawlable. Tools like Screaming Frog or Chrome DevTools can help you find iFrames on your site.
 
M

MabelCastro

New Member
Established Memeber
iFrames are commonly used for embedding content like videos, maps, or third-party widgets, and their presence is not inherently bad for SEO. However, they can limit search engines from indexing the embedded content, which may impact rankings. To identify iFrames, inspect your website's source code using the browser's developer tools (Ctrl+Shift+I or Cmd+Option+I) and search for <iframe> tags. Alternatively, use online tools like Screaming Frog SEO Spider to crawl your site and highlight iFrames. Removing iFrames is unnecessary if they serve a functional purpose and don’t cause layout issues. Instead, ensure your main content is rich and optimized, as Google prioritizes that over the use of iFrames.
 
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