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Better solution? Image mapping or drop down navigation?

It seems to me that when dealing with states, a nice image map of the US would be the way to go. That's what I usually see. For example: http://www.democrats.org/states/ (That doesn't mean I'm a democrat, just that i see their site sometimes) I think that it would work well to use an image map. It's really just a matter of taste though. Good luck! EDIT: OH hey, another idea, why not both? You could have a discreet drop down on the side next to the map. Brainstorming :)

Does either method have an advantage with search engines? I do think the map looks better but I was thinking I could cut the map pages out and make it quicker to get into the core material? Does SE spiders have problems following image maps or DD menus? Would it make a difference bringing my core material up to second level pages instead of 3rd level using the map?

Edwin or somebody will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that images are OK (if not ideal) if you use <alt> tags to describe the link. You could always have normal text in a small font underneath the map.

A quote I found about Image Maps: "Image Maps: Links inside image maps will result in search engines not listing your site because they get trapped inside of them. You need to provide the same links in standard HTML somewhere else on the page--possibly in the footer."

Ack...does that mean i should go with the drop down navigation? I wonder if it reads the links in the drop down as a link and follow it?

Ive figured out DHTML drop downs are not accessible by search engines either. Ok...why couldnt i just put up either one I want.....but build me a good site map linked on the home page and I can depend on the spiders to crawl my site following the site map?

Ok..i see the footer option....so basically on the bottom of each image map page..I could list my states that you could get to from the image map in the footer? Im going to do that..disregard my previous question. Also just for kicks....does placing the links in the footer make it more accessible to the spiders?

the alt text you use should match your page name and your main keywords.

Your talkin about my alt txt on the image map? Got to remember im a newbie...this is my first image map. I entered alt text but im not sure if i did it right ...should the alt txt show upon mouseover or something? it don't show but I know I put it in there. sample line:  <IMG SRC="1.jpg" USEMAP="#3" BORDER=0> <MAP NAME="3"> <AREA SHAPE=RECT COORDS="176,209,260,274" HREF="ww.book-a-hunt.com/hawaii-exotic-hunting.htm" ALT="" OnMouseOut="window.status=''; return true" OnMouseOver="window.status='Hawaii Exotic'; return true"> So your saying after alt= i should actually have it say hawaii-exotic-hunting or do I need to add the .htm and everything?

you got it right! just say "exotic hawaii hunting" in there and you will be all set.

Thanks guys.

Can we see the site? hu hu hu?

He has posted it before: it's http://www.book-a-hunt.com

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