Many people creating websites use collapsible text, sometimes called accordions. They are frequently used for a FAQ section because it looks neater and cleaner than exposed text.
Can Google Read Collapsible Text?
Google has said that it can read the text in collapsible tabs, or accordions, and you can see the text when you view the source file. The question is, does Google treat the hidden content the same as viewable text? Are they both treated equally for ranking purposes?
What Google Says About Ranking Hidden Text
Gary Illyes (analyst on the Google Search team) back in 2018 answered the question by saying, “We index the content, its weight is fully considered for ranking, but it might not get bolded in the snippets. It’s another, more technical question how that content is surfaced by the site. Indexing does have limitations.”
So, it appears that you can use hidden text in tabs, accordions, and other hidden expandable elements equally without any ranking penalty.
SEO Testing on Collapsible Text Differs from What Google Says
SEO Sherpa wrote an article in 2024 about a test conducted by Search Pilot. They tested the performance of text within tabs (collapsible text) versus text that’s fully visible upon page load.
The result showed that the fully visible text got 12% more organic sessions than hidden text. Was Google lying to us? Well, yes and it’s not the first time.
The SEO Sherpa article goes on to say that another test conducted by Reboot Marketing. In their testing they invented a new phrase and made sure this phrase was not recognized by Google prior to the experiment.
Reboot Marketing didn’t just conduct the experiment on one domain, they used twenty. Then they analyzed the data from the twenty websites over a six-month period.
The data clearly showed what seems to be a preference by Google for visible text over collapsible text.
What Does This Mean for Content Marketing?
Content writers and website designers have frequently used accordions or collapsible text on websites because they are more visually appealing than visible text, especially if the content is long.
Myself, personally have stopped using hidden, collapsible text on websites I create for clients because the SEO for fully visible text appears to be more valuable in Google’s eyes. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.
If you need help with your website or Google Business Profile contact Blue Lacy SEO.
