Plain Old Semantic HTML

Are there any real benefits to using semantic HTML? Specifically speaking, using W3C valid (X)HTML markup in your web designs to make sure that your site is standards compliant. Not only for simple compliance sake, but for accessibility as well. Many times, designers will stop at their (X)HTML checks, and skip the WAI conformity checks.

Accessible web designs really need semantic markup. I mean, it is possible for your web code to be valid with non-semantic markup, but to pass even the automated accessible checkers, you really need to code semantically.

So what’s my point? You see, the real-life benefits of semantic HTML are twofold. One is your sites will be much more SE crawl able, and two - your websites will be accessible to much more people. It’s a win for your SEO efforts, and a win for people of every ability level.

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