The use of frames in website design was commonplace a few years ago, now they’ve become something of an historical footnote. With today’s advanced html editors and powerhouse design programs such as Dreamweaver, the use of frames has faded into the archives.

One of the main reasons frames have lost so much favor is the consequences of using them from an SEO perspective. Some SEO experts will tell you that the use of frames is a cardinal sin, and others say, while frames are a problem, its possible to optimize a site that’s using frames.

Essentially, the consensus suggests the best basic approach for website design is the use of XHTML and CSS standardized code, and while this sentiment holds a lot of water, what if you have an old site that uses frames? Perhaps a site that you’ve bought of somebody else that you wish to bring into the 21st century?

Well, it’s certainly possible to breath new life into that old beast by implementing the following code tweak.

By using the NOFRAMES tag you have a fighting chance of getting a decent position In the SERPs and giving your old site a new lease on life.

The NOFRAMES tag is intended to allow users to see the content of websites using frames in browsers that do not support frames. By adding content to a page within the NOFRAMES tag, that content becomes visible to spiders. Be certain to place your tag directly after the FRAMESET tag, and also include a link to your index page, or navigation page, so the spider can carry on indexing your entire site.

You could also use the method outlined at Business Tool Chest for a more thorough approach.

While optimizing a frame enabled site is possible, and may provide a temporary solution, id suggest a complete rewrite, using of more modern design technique will yield a greater return.