Does blogging with a wysiwyg negatively affect SEO (vs. hand coding)?

[Jason-Rogers]

Many bloggers use a wysiwyg editor to write posts. Are there any drawbacks to wysiwyg vs plain text? When I write blogs I prefer to hand code my text to be sure everything is optimized. My feeling is that wysiwyg leads to code bloat and generally fewer optimization opportunities. I have no real evidence. Is there any reason not to use the wysiwyg editor?

[Jason-Rogers]

Thomas, I agree with you about a copywriter's role and expertise. My point is that there ARE differences in the copy produced by a capable wordsmith versus a writer that understands and considers things like SERP features, semantic scope, mobile vs desktop experience, the role of supporting assets, etc. I've spent so much time massaging professional copy that, by the time it was passably optimized, I had basically done it myself. So yes, I already pay 2x for optimized web copy (and code). The problem is that_ half of that cost is my time_. I would definitely pay a premium for a copywriter with SEO chops.

I digress... The question is whether decent web page / blog copy published via wysiwyg is any more or less successful, SEO-wise, than the same copy coded by hand (by which I mean foundational SEO, not ninja guru jedi sh*t). I'm asking a specific technical question; wysiswyg vs hand coding.

There is clear consensus here that coding by hand (done well) has a better chance to rank on the Google. That's pretty obvious, really. That is not the thrust of the question. Good copywriters write good copy. Good SEOs do good SEO.

Copywriting is tough. We ask these professionals to become experts in topics (and their page-level details) in a matter of just a few (billable) hours. On the other hand, we SEOs spend weeks, months, and years with our clients. We understand their market, audience, vernacular, and differentiating nuance. I don't envy the copywriters' challenge, but I will pay a premium for a unicorn who can do it all.

...I digress again... This is a technical question: What is the delta for the same copy produced via wysiwyg vs. by hand?

[ThomasHarvey]

What a copywriter does best though is writing copy. Any time spent doing something like coding a blog post would not be an effective use of their time. It would probably be more cost effective to get the copywriter to do the writing and then get a web designer to design the blog post itself. Otherwise you're paying a higher hourly rate (if hourly, obviously) to a copywriter to do something they aren't efficient at.

[Jason-Rogers]

Thanks everyone. It would be great if copywriters knew basic html and code. If you know anyone send them to me!! In my experience they don't and won't (HUGE opportunity here). You have all touched on the implications if wysiwyg IS a problem. If so I have to ask myself 1) how big is the problem, 2) how big is the opportunity, and therefore 3) how much are we willing to invest to hire or train these unicorns? Even bringing it up with some writers may be enough to ruffle their feathers so I'm looking for some data.

[Optimal_Strategies]

I really doubt. This comment section seems to somehow prove it as it also uses wysig editor. I can't really see co-relation between wysig editor and hand coding as in almost every editor you can switch to source code and manualy alter anything you need.

[MoosaHemani]

“Professional Service Provider”

No, but I agree to the fact that handing over your code to someone who may or may not know about SEO and SEO friendly codes is simply the worst idea ever. I think SEOs and content producer (in your example) have to learn at least that much of a code that they can fix their things by themselves instead of handing over it to someone who might make things worse for you!

Just a thought!

[EGOL]

My feeling is that wysiwyg leads to code bloat and generally fewer optimization opportunities. I have no real evidence. Is there any reason not to use the wysiwyg editor?

If you are working really hard to make great content and a great website, then you want to be sure that your code is as good as you can make it.  When wysiwyg is used, you are trusting your SEO to a coder who many or may not know anything about SEO.

Because SEO is a competitive endeavor and because one screw-up in the code can be fatal, one must either check to be sure that the wysiwyg code is perfect of take control of the coding yourself.

I found a long time ago that I can only bet on myself for certain things.  My work isn't perfect, but my work on a bad day is often better than the work of many "professional service provders" on a good day.  So I bet on myself.