I believe everything can be ranked regardless of code. Search engines seem like they would not include any code in their weighting of a website for ranking. If all the results were filled with "optimized" sites, then the content would more likely be less relevant and filled with SEO tricks. Anyways, thats my thought.

A lot of sites get ranked due to age and many other factors. Clean code does help though. It seems like whenever I look at the top ten results for any keyterm, I can find 8 different main reasons those are ranked.

Anyways, you can go ahead and set up your signature in here:
http://www.agentsonline.net/cgi-bin/bbs/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/edit_my_profile.html

Mike

There is so much bad information and guessing in this thread, my advice to everyone that has read it is to ignore it and forget you every read it. Spend your time wisely reading an actual SEO website that doesn't have so much mis-information!

Hmmmmmmmmm

Bad information? What do you consider bad? General statements with no reference leave it up to the reader to fill in the blanks. If you are referring to my posts on this thread I for one would value your opinion of the "bad" information they contain. When someone goes to an SEO site the SEO by definition would like to sell his/her services, so I would consider much of the information on a SEO site "suspect." In a forum, as is evident on this thread, there are several views, some correct, some incorrect.

I would not recommend going to an "actual seo website" even though I would be interested in knowing which ones you were referring to.

I have yet to see a site run by an authority figgure in the business who does not give false information as well. I prefer discussion forums any day. Like Frobn said, it would be great if you could pinpoint some of the areas that you disagree with.

Thanks,

Mike

"When someone goes to an SEO site the SEO by definition would like to sell his/her services..."

There are many sites where they aren't selling anything, but are the watchdogs of search engines, giving advice and trying to predict the algo's without selling you anything.

Not everyone is trying to sell you something, but many people will give you free advice, which is usually worth what you paid for it! Hmmmmm... so that means my advice is worthless? maybe...

This is my favorite site for getting the straight dope: http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/ You may find it useful, or not... I don't care either way!