Since I have not yet set aside time to study SEO much and can't be certain of the truth of this, I can't state this comment as absolute fact. Nevertheless, I have read that what really has an effect is the location in the html.

If you use CSS (as you really should, right) then you don't really have to put the left hand column before the center or right hand column in the html. If each is contained in a div then you can easily position it wherever you want on the page with your CSS.

The idea seems to be that what comes first in the html gets some added value in the SEO process. If this is a major concern it would be worth doing some research. Otherwise just sticking with left side seems a good idea since that is where most people look first, although it seems to me that the horizontal bar across the top with drop down menus are getting almost as popular.

Good success,


James