After the big chart earlier this week comparing the Search Engine Friendly URL Components for Joomla, I wanted to take a similar approach and compare the SEO features of Joomla 1.0 and 1.5.

What's On the Chart? 

On the chart is a rundown of all the key on-page SEO factors. We can't help you when it comes to building links or writing articles people want to read, but we can advise on the technical stuff.

Who May Find This Useful

Hopefully this chart will help people who:

• are thinking about upgrading to 1.5
• want an easy reference chart for SEO improvements in 1.0 or 1.5
  

The Small Print

• The factors are heavily based on SEOMoz's Google Search Engine Ranking Factors because it does a good job of combining the wisdom of many experts.
  
• The list is more-or-less in the order of importance given by the SEOMoz team. Page titles are much important than duplicate content for example.
  
• The Joomla 1.0 codebase has been around for at least 3/4 years, whereas 1.5 is still Release Candidate. Of course it has less available extensions.
  
• Some important on-page SEO factors have been left out, notable keywords in body text, bold print and h2 or h3 titles. This is because they can just be done with any WYSIWYG editor.
  
• I'm sure that plugins will emerge to cover all the current holes in 1.5. Give it time. However, if SEO is really important to you and thinking that you should wait before using 1.5 ... you're right.
  

	Part of 1.0 Core? [-]	1.0 Extensions to Provide / Improve This Feature [-]	Part of 1.5 Core? [-]	1.5 Extensions to Provide / Improve This Feature [-]
Keyword Use in Title Tag	Yes, but with very little flexibility	Use the Joomlatwork.com SEF Patch or or sh404SEF, Artio SEF, SEF Advance, SerrBizSEF, JPromoter for unique page titles	Yes, but with very little flexibility.	Use "Alias for PageTitle Plugin"
Relationship of Body Text Content to Keywords		JooFox Content Analyzer will calculate your keyword density		Not Yet
Keyword Use in H1 Tag		JoomSEO or sh404SEF		Not Yet
Keyword Use in Page URL		sh404SEF, Artio SEF, SEF Advance, SerrBizSEF, JPromoter	Much better core URLs	Not Yet
Keyword Use in Alt Tags and Image Titles	Any good WYSIWYG Editor. Be sure to set alt tags manually	Any good WYSIWYG Editor. Be sure to set alt tags manually	Any good WYSIWYG Editor. Be sure to set alt tags manually	Any good WYSIWYG Editor. Be sure to set alt tags manually
Keyword Use in Meta Description Tag	Yes, but only for core content items	SEF Patch or sh404SEF, Artio SEF, SEF Advance, SerrBizSEF, JPromoter	Yes, but only for core content itemss	Not Yet
Keyword Use in Meta Keywords Tag	Yes, but only for core content items	SEF Patch or sh404SEF, Artio SEF, SEF Advance, SerrBizSEF, JPromoter	Yes, but only for core content items	Not Yet
Avoids Duplicate Content	non-SEF URLs and Print / PDF buttons can cause duplicate content havoc	Turn off PDF and Print pages	Has SEF URLs and "no-follow" on key links	Not Yet
Avoids Duplicate Title/Meta Tags on Many Pages	Site Title and Global Configuration metadata appear on every page	SEF Patch or sh404SEF, Artio SEF, SEF Advance, SerrBizSEF, JPromoter	Site Title and Global Configuration metadata appear on every page	Not Yet
Google Sitemap		Joomap, SEF Service Map		XMap