SEO: Nested List vs List, Split Over Divs vs Definition List
- by Jon P
From an SEO perspective which, if any, is better:
Option 1: Nested lists with h2 tags
<ul id="mainpoints">
<li><h2>Powerful Analysis</h2>
<ul>
<li>Charting and indicators</li>
<li>Daily trading signals</li>
<li>Company health checks</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><h2>World Market Data</h2>
<ul>
[List Items removed for brevity]
</ul>
</li>
<li><h2>Daily Market Data</h2>
<ul>
[List Items removed for brevity]
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Option 2: Divs with h2 and lists
<div id="mainpoints">
<div>
<h2>Powerful Analysis</h2>
<ul>
<li>Charting and indicators</li>
<li>Daily trading signals</li>
<li>Company health checks</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<h2>World Market Data</h2>
<ul>
[List Items removed for brevity]
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Daily Market Data</h2>
<ul>
[List Items removed for brevity]
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Option 3: Definition List
<dl id="mainpoints">
<dt>Powerful Analysis</dt>
<dd>- Charting and indicators</dd>
<dd>- Daily trading signals</dd>
<dd>- Company health checks</dd>
<dt>World Market Data</dt>
[List Items removed for brevity]
<dt>Daily Market Data</dt>
[List Items removed for brevity]
</dl>
My instincts tell me that semanticaly the pure list options (1 & 3) are the best and that h2 may be more SEO friendly (1 & 2) which would point to option 1 as being the best option. I do love the lean makeup of the definition list but will I take an SEO hit by losing the h2 tags?
Before anyone asks, h2 is not valid markup in a dt tag.
Are my instincts right with a nested list being the way to go?
