Coding with Web Standards means creating web pages using standards-compliant XHTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and following guidelines set forth by the W3C.
The reasons are to ensure consistent presentation of content across different platforms, browsers and Internet devices (including handheld wireless devices). Considered an industry Best Practice, coding with Web Standards allows for the creation of faster loading web sites, sites that are easier to update AND...sites that are indexed quite nicely by Search Engines.
More Search Traffic - a nice bonus to coding with Web Standards
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Another important aspect of the movement to Web Standards is Section 508 compliance, which ensures equal access to a web site's content by persons with disabilities. For example -- a person who is blind could use a screen reader to reliably access the content on your site, but ONLY if it was developed to be Section 508 compliant. In the years ahead, more and more companies will choose to (or be required to) make their content more broadly accessible than it is now.
Some of the key advantages in tuning a web site to conform to W3C and Section 508 accessibility standards are:
- Improved search engine ranking due to more stringent coding requirements
- Multiple browser compatibility eliminates the need for alternate web sites and/or special coding
- Greater exposure to the market base by accommodating wireless, web-enabled devices and all Internet users, including those with disabilities.
- Many companies moving to requiring accessible web sites
Unless your site was redesigned or developed in the past few years and the developer was mindful of this trend and practice, it probably isn't. If you want us to verify it, just email support@presentek.com with your name, email, company and url. One of our staff members will be happy to take a look and let you know (at no charge).