When I tested my website in the past with powermapper tools, It suggested I should add a skip to content link hidden off-screen to help people with screen readers use the website.I can completely relate and so can this website:  http://accessibility.oit.ncsu.edu/training/accessibility-handbook/skip-to-main-content.htmlThen I go look at Google's webmaster quality guidelines at:https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/66353and it mentions that hidden text can be seen as deceptive.The only text I deliberately made hidden on my website is a Skip to content link which when clicked takes users to just past the common menu header (a.k.a. straight to where the content starts). I placed the hyperlink tag directly below the body tag, and used CSS to set the link as a block and positioned it to -xxxxpx (some location off screen) so that users with sufficient technologies won't see the skip to content link, but instead see the site as it is meant to be displayed.I'm curious of the best course of action to take. I could either:remove the skip to content link all together and make Google happy and possibly several other advertisers unhappyOrMake the skip to content link visible at the minimum font size acceptable by Google (whatever percent that is) and pray that no user complains.OrFigure out who runs Google and rant (which I will likely be unsuccessful at).
Would Google think a hidden skip to content link is deceptive?
links;anchor;hidden text;named anchor;colors
For what it's worth, I'll offer my own take on this. Hidden text alone is not deceptive. What you do with it is what determines whether it's deceptive.There are many scenarios in which hidden text is a good thing, both in terms of accessibility, functionality and just pure awesomeness. But there are also some setbacks, and times where hidden text may prevent certain users from being able to use the website as it was intended to be used.You must always take the common-sense approach. Do what is right for your users, and always follow the standards; if you can do that, nobody has the right to penalise you or your website, and if they do try, fight back.This page says that skip to main content links are good. Also, Google does not say that hidden text is bad, and it does not say that you will - or may - be penalised for using hidden text on your website.What Google does say, is:Hiding text or links in your content to manipulate Googles search  rankings can be seen as deceptive and is a violation of Googles  Webmaster Guidelines. Text (such as excessive keywords) can be hidden  in several ways...And a little further down, they say:However, not all hidden text is considered deceptive.So basically, Google is saying this:'Hidden text is only considered bad if you are doing something bad with it (E.g. trying to manipulate the search rankings or trying to deceive your visitors/potential visitors).'