What does Google say about SEO?

Does Google's crawling really consume the most server resources?

Gary Illyes May 29, 2025 ★★★

Contrary to popular belief, it's not crawling that consumes the most resources at Google, but indexation and processing of the data retrieved that are truly resource-intensive.

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO

Should you really worry about crawl budget before hitting 1 million pages?

Gary Illyes May 29, 2025 ★★★

For an individual website, a threshold of around 1 million pages is the point where site owners should start concerning themselves with crawl budget. Below that, it's generally not a problem.

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO

Why does Googlebot's server load impact vary so dramatically based on your technical architecture?

Gary Illyes May 29, 2025 ★★

The load that crawling places on a server depends heavily on how the site is built. Expensive operations such as complex database queries generate significantly more load than a simple HTML site.

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing

Why Is Google Ignoring Your JavaScript-Generated Meta Tags?

John Mueller May 27, 2025 ★★★

On Reddit, John Mueller responded to a user wondering why Google wasn't using meta tags dynamically implemented with JavaScript. The Google representative suggested that the meta description of the page used as an example is the same across all pages...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO

Is Technical SEO Still Essential in the Age of Artificial Intelligence?

John Mueller May 27, 2025 ★★

After distinguishing between "programmatic SEO" and "technical SEO," John Mueller explained that technical SEO (namely making sites crawlable, indexable, and understandable) will continue to make sense in the future: "there is no artificial intellige...

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO

Why Doesn't Google Search Console Show Any Traffic for Certain Versions of Your Domain?

John Mueller May 27, 2025 ★★★

On Reddit, John Mueller explained to a user that they wouldn't be able to see a drop in traffic on Google Search Console for certain versions of their domain (without "http", without "www") since these versions are not indexed (and are redirected). I...

Content Crawl & Indexing HTTPS & Security AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Domain Name PDF & Files Search Console

Why Does Using Multiple URLs for the Same Image Hurt Your SEO?

Google May 20, 2025 ★★

Google recently clarified its SEO recommendations for images: it is advised against using multiple different URLs or file names for the same image on a website, even if it is embedded on multiple pages. The goal is to facilitate the crawling of large...

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Images & Videos Domain Name PDF & Files Web Performance

Do Hreflang Tags Really Guarantee Indexing of All Your International Pages?

John Mueller May 20, 2025 ★★★

On Bluesky, John Mueller reminded us that using hreflang tags guarantees neither the indexing nor the ranking of pages in Google search. He clarifies that some hreflang variants may not be indexed, especially when they are very similar (such as fr-FR...

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Domain Name Search Console International SEO

Are HTTP 1xx status codes harming your site's crawlability by Googlebot?

Gary Illyes May 15, 2025 ★★

Google does not support HTTP 1xx status codes (such as 100 Continue or 101 Switching Protocols). The crawler simply passes through them without noticing and waits for the next non-1xx status code to evaluate the response.

Crawl & Indexing HTTPS & Security AI & SEO

Are your TCP/UDP network errors really blocking Google's crawl?

Gary Illyes May 15, 2025 ★★★

Connection issues reported in Search Console (network blocking messages or connection problems) can originate from low-level TCP, UDP, QUIC, or DNS layers. These network errors directly impact Google's ability to crawl your sites.

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing Search Console

Should you still worry about choosing between 301 and 302 redirects?

Gary Illyes May 15, 2025 ★★★

For Google Search, all 3xx redirect codes (301, 302, 307, 308) are treated similarly during crawling. Google slightly takes into account the temporary/permanent distinction for canonicalization, but otherwise simply considers it a redirect.

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Redirects

Is Your Crawl Budget Being Compromised by HTTP 429 Status Codes?

Gary Illyes May 15, 2025 ★★

HTTP status code 429 (Too Many Requests) is treated by Google as a client-side error (4xx), indicating that the client is requesting a resource too frequently. It is not a server error even though it limits access.

HTTPS & Security AI & SEO Links & Backlinks

Why does Google really care so much about HTTP status codes for your search rankings?

Gary Illyes May 15, 2025 ★★

HTTP status codes tell an important story about what happens during a request. They are crucial for website owners and SEO professionals because they allow you to understand how Google interacts with a site and diagnose problems.

Content HTTPS & Security AI & SEO

Should You Avoid Having the Same Link Multiple Times on a Webpage?

John Mueller May 06, 2025 ★★★

According to John Mueller, having multiple identical links on the same page is perfectly acceptable and even very common. He clarified that this poses no problem whatsoever, particularly if the links in question appear in navigation elements such as ...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure

Are Your N:1 Redirects Sabotaging Your SEO Migration?

John Mueller May 06, 2025 ★★★

John Mueller explained that a landing page could appear in search results for an e-commerce query, even if it has little content, thanks in particular to the many redirects pointing to it. In the example questioned on Bluesky, all pages from an old d...

Domain Age & History Content E-commerce AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Redirects

Is Google finally offering the advanced SEO training that practitioners have been demanding?

Cherry May 01, 2025 ★★

Google is launching Search Central Live Deep Dive, an extended and in-depth version of Search Central Live events. This new pilot format offers several days of advanced content, practical workshops, and greater networking opportunities, in response t...

Domain Age & History Content

Is Google really serious about hands-on learning with its new Deep Dive workshops?

Cherry May 01, 2025 ★★

The Deep Dive events will include practical workshops on Search Console, Google Trends, and technical subjects like robots.txt, allowing participants to learn through hands-on practice rather than simple theoretical presentations.

Content Crawl & Indexing Search Console

Will Google's Deep Dive SEO sessions finally replace superficial conference presentations?

Gary Illyes May 01, 2025 ★★

Deep Dive events will enable in-depth contextualization of SEO topics, unlike the short 25-minute formats. Google will be able to concretely show how to apply concepts via Search Console, server logs, and other practical tools.

AI & SEO Search Console

Should you trust local SEO experts over Google's official statements?

Gary Illyes May 01, 2025 ★★

Google recognizes the crucial importance of local communities in each country. Lightning talks make it possible to identify and highlight local experts on specific topics, who become more accessible resources than international Googlers.

Content AI & SEO Local Search

Is Google really using your feedback to shape its SEO events—or just making you think it does?

Cherry May 01, 2025 ★★

Google bases event planning on detailed community feedback, including preferred duration, preferred locations, types of content, and participant profiles. Registration forms enable the program to be adapted to the real needs of SEO professionals.

Content AI & SEO