Semantic HTML still matters with Jono Alderson

Jono Alderson joins the podcast to discuss why semantic HTML still matters today. He shares how thoughtful markup can improve accessibility and performance, from using the picture tag and responsive images to optimizing with content-visibility CSS. The conversation dives into common pitfalls like div soup, the shift toward more template-centric design, and techniques for improving the critical rendering path. Jono also discusses preloading, HTTP early hints, and the evolving role of structured data, LLMs, and Google’s trust signals in shaping a more meaningful and efficient web. Links Website: https://www.jonoalderson.com X: https://x.com/jonoalderson BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jono.id LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonoalderson Resources Why semantic HTML still matters: https://www.jonoalderson.com/conjecture/why-semantic-html-still-matters/ Chapters 00:40 Meet Jono Alderson: SEO Consultant and Web Performance Expert 02:00 Why Semantic HTML Still Matters in 2025 05:00 Accessibility, Performance, and the 15% Market Opportunity 08:00 The Cost of Div Soup and Framework Abstraction 10:30 Finding Balance: Developer Experience vs User Experience 13:00 Template-Centric Thinking vs Component-Centric Development 16:00 What Is a Page? Rethinking How the Web Works 18:30 Structured Data, Schema.org, and Google’s Trust Signals 21:00 Quick Round: Picture Tag, Content Visibility, and Performance 23:30 The Worst HTML Anti-Patterns Developers Still Use 25:00 Will LLMs Reward Good Markup or Ignore It? 26:00 Where to Find Jono Alderson and Closing Thoughts We want to hear from you! How did you find us? Did you see us on Twitter? In a newsletter? Or maybe we were recommended by a friend? Fill out our listener survey (https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu)! Let us know by sending an email to our producer, Elizabeth, at elizabet.becz@logrocket.com (mailto:elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com), or tweet at us at PodRocketPod (https://twitter.com/PodRocketpod). Follow us. Get free stickers. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, fill out this form (https://podrocket.logrocket.com/get-podrocket-stickers), and we’ll send you free PodRocket stickers! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket provides AI-first session replay and analytics that surfaces the UX and technical issues impacting user experiences. Start understanding where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com. Try LogRocket for free today. (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr)