What does Google say about SEO?

Why is it essential to inspect rendered HTML and unloaded resources?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★★

In the URL inspection tool, examine the rendered HTML of the crawled page and check under 'More Info > Resources' for resources that haven’t loaded. Missing critical resources (JS, CSS, API) can prevent content from rendering.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Search Console

Should you prefer dynamic rendering to avoid indexing troubles?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★★

When client-side rendering causes indexing issues (empty pages, incorrect canonicalization), one should consider dynamic rendering or even better, server-side rendering, depending on the technical stack.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks

Why is it crucial to test mobile compatibility before launching your website?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★★

The Mobile-Friendly Test operates on the same infrastructure as the live test and the Rich Results Test. It allows you to test any URL (local with ngrok, staging) and provides access to blocked resources, a full screenshot, and the rendered source co...

Structured Data Featured Snippets & SERP Mobile SEO Domain Name Pagination & Structure Local Search

Could blocked resources by robots.txt be a nightmare for your SEO?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★★

If critical resources like JavaScript files or API calls are blocked by robots.txt, Googlebot can’t access them or render the page, which means the content will never be seen. This manifests as missing content in the live test and the crawled page.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO PDF & Files

Why are generic button texts a concern for SEO?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★

Using the same button text ('Read More', 'Check Profile') isn't duplicate content but represents poor anchor text. Google might weigh these anchors less heavily. It's advisable to use descriptive text.

Content AI & SEO Links & Backlinks

What are the key differences between live testing and Google indexing?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★★

Two major differences between live testing and the indexing infrastructure are: (1) fetch deadlines are shorter in live tests, and (2) indexing uses a cache while live testing occurs in real-time. Cache lag can cause errors if JavaScript has changed.

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO Pagination & Structure Web Performance

Why is the 2.5-second LCP threshold still critical for SEO?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★★

The threshold for Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) remains at 2.5 seconds. Faster is always better, but this threshold hasn't been adjusted recently.

Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Web Performance

Does hidden code in React really affect SEO?

Martin Splitt May 18, 2021 ★★

In a React application, having code that hides certain elements on mobile and others on desktop within the same code is not a crawlability concern, as Google can see both versions of the code.

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Mobile SEO Web Performance

How Can You Tell Google Core Updates Apart from Daily Algorithm Changes?

Danny Sullivan May 17, 2021 ★★★

Danny Sullivan confirmed on Twitter that Google has not implemented any "core update" (major algorithm update) since the one on December 4th. This does not mean, of course, that there have been no algorithm modifications since that date...

Algorithms AI & SEO Social Media

Does Having Content Above the Fold Really Matter for Your Rankings?

John Mueller May 17, 2021 ★★★

John Mueller explained during a webmaster hangout that if a web page doesn't offer content "above the fold" (visible without scrolling), this could pose a problem for SEO. Not all content needs to be there, of course, but having a portion of it is we...

Algorithms Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Images & Videos

Is Page Experience Set to Transform SEO Rankings?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

Page Experience is a new ranking signal for Google Search that will take effect later this year. It allows the content to be ranked in the top stories carousel and in standard search results based on the quality of the actual user experience on the p...

Domain Age & History Content

How Does User Experience Really Impact SEO Rankings?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

Google has always stated that user experience is essential for ranking well in search results. Page Experience now provides a clear roadmap to follow to ensure a good experience.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO

Should you still worry about AMP for the top stories carousel?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

AMP is no longer a requirement to be included in the top stories carousel. Any relevant news article that provides a good user experience can feature there, whether it uses AMP or not.

Discover & News Mobile SEO

How Does the Chrome UX Report Shape Your SEO Strategy?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

The metrics that make up Page Experience are partly collected from the Chrome User Experience Report, a public dataset showing the actual loading speed of millions of URLs on real users' devices.

Domain Age & History Domain Name Web Performance

How Does Page Experience Really Impact SEO?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

Page Experience includes elements that you either have or don't have: mobile-friendliness, HTTPS, safe browsing, and the absence of intrusive interstitials.

Domain Age & History HTTPS & Security AI & SEO Mobile SEO Pagination & Structure

Why are Core Web Vitals essential for your site's user experience?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

Core Web Vitals are metrics that evaluate your page based on the actual experiences of your users on their devices. They currently include First Input Delay, Largest Contentful Paint, and Cumulative Layout Shift.

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Web Performance

How do the annual updates of Core Web Vitals impact your SEO?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★

Core Web Vitals is a list of metrics updated annually that defines what it takes to provide an excellent user experience.

Web Performance

Why does Page Experience matter on a per-URL basis?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

Page Experience does not apply to an entire website because each user interacts with the site differently. Each individual URL is assessed separately, which means that different pages of the same site can have varying performances.

Domain Age & History Domain Name Web Performance Search Console

Why is it essential to monitor page experience with the Search Console for SEO?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★★

The Search Console allows you to check the Page Experience report to see how different pages of your site are performing. This provides insight into the parts of the site that need the most work, as a homepage may have excellent results while content...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Domain Name Search Console

Why are Core Web Vitals based on the Chrome UX Report?

Google May 17, 2021 ★★

All Core Web Vitals are sourced from the monthly Chrome User Experience Report, making the assessment transparent and not based on a black box.

Featured Snippets & SERP AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Web Performance Search Console