What does Google say about SEO?

Search through official Google statements about search engine optimization

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9421 statement(s) found
Does Google really experience delays in discovering JavaScript links?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
Links added via JavaScript after the HTML rendering are discovered a few hours later than those present in the raw HTML. Google first examines the raw HTML to discover links, and then after rendering. This delay only affects discovery, not indexing o...
Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks
Why does Google ignore your canonical tags when the raw HTML contradicts the rendered output?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
Having a different canonical URL in the raw HTML and in the rendered HTML creates mixed signals for Google. This may lead Google to choose a completely different canonical or to alternate between the two versions, making reports in Search Console dif...
Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Images & Videos Domain Name Search Console
Can you really modify title, meta, and links on the client side with JavaScript without risks?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
Modifying title tags, meta descriptions, adding, deleting or changing links via JavaScript is generally acceptable for Google. There is no strict rule prohibiting these client-side modifications. JavaScript rendering is specifically designed to handl...
Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure
Is client-side JavaScript really holding back your SEO performance?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★
While Google handles JavaScript well, using client-side JavaScript generally has a negative impact on performance and is less predictable. It is advised to avoid client-side JavaScript when it is not strictly necessary, even if it does not pose a dir...
AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Web Performance Search Console
Does Google AdSense really penalize your site's speed like any other third-party script?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★
Google products like AdSense receive no preferential treatment concerning SEO or performance guidelines. If a Google product does not adhere to best practices (like speed), it is assessed in the same way as a third-party service.
E-commerce AI & SEO Web Performance Search Console
Should you be worried about 'other error' issues with images in the Search Console?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★
In the URL inspection tool, 'other error' issues for images or resources like tracking pixels are normal. Google Search does not directly extract images (that's Google Images' job) and does not need tracking pixels or ads to index the page.
Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing Featured Snippets & SERP AI & SEO Images & Videos Domain Name Search Console
Do JavaScript navigation links really affect your site's SEO?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
Main navigation links added via JavaScript pose no issues in terms of transmitting ranking signals. The only difference is a slight delay in discovering these links, but their SEO value remains the same.
AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure
Can you really lose control of your canonical by leaving the href attribute empty at load time?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★
An empty canonical tag in the initial HTML that is then filled by JavaScript can cause involuntary auto-canonicalization of the page. It is better to either not include the tag at all or to create it entirely via JavaScript if necessary.
Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO
Are the structured data from your mobile version also applicable to desktop?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
Once a site has migrated to mobile-first indexing, Google uses the structured data from the mobile version for all rich results, including those displayed on desktop. Before migration, the data from each version is used for its respective context.
Content Crawl & Indexing Structured Data Mobile SEO Pagination & Structure Redirects
How can a different canonical tag between raw HTML and rendered output destroy your canonicalization strategy?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
Having a different canonical tag in raw HTML and rendered HTML sends conflicting signals to Google. This can weaken the canonical signal and lead Google to choose a completely different URL or alternate between the two versions, making Search Console...
Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Images & Videos Domain Name Search Console
Can you really remove a noindex via JavaScript without risking de-indexation?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
If the raw HTML contains noindex and JavaScript removes it, Google will never see this change because it will not render the page due to the initial noindex. Conversely, adding a noindex via JavaScript works correctly since Google first renders the p...
Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO
Is it truly safe to modify meta tags and links with JavaScript without risking your SEO?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★
Changing title tags, meta descriptions, or other meta tags with JavaScript is generally acceptable. Adding, removing, or modifying links with JavaScript is also perfectly acceptable for Google.
Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure
Do JavaScript-generated links truly pass ranking signals like traditional HTML links?
Martin Splitt Apr 26, 2021 ★★★
Links generated by JavaScript after the raw HTML pose no issues for signal transmission. The only impact is a slight delay in link discovery, not in their processing for SEO.
Domain Age & History AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks
Does a 301 redirect really suffice to impose the canonical to Google?
John Mueller Apr 23, 2021 ★★★
Google uses 301 redirects as a signal of canonicalization, but also relies on other signals: internal links, sitemaps, external links, and annotations. It can happen that a redirect is in place but that Google chooses the original URL as canonical if...
Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Domain Name Redirects Search Console
Do links on forums and UGC sites still hold any SEO value?
John Mueller Apr 23, 2021 ★★
Most sites using user-generated content (like Quora) apply no-follow to their links. Therefore, it is rare to gain any SEO advantage. Google may consider the massive addition of links on forums as borderline spam behavior.
Domain Age & History Content JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Penalties & Spam
Are multiple URL parameters really a risk for thin content?
John Mueller Apr 23, 2021 ★★
Having several products with similar parameters is not considered thin content. Google learns which parameters are important and which are not. The URL parameter management tool can help clarify this.
Content E-commerce AI & SEO Domain Name
Are Core Web Vitals Really Reflecting What Your Users Experience?
John Mueller Apr 23, 2021 ★★★
For Core Web Vitals, Google uses field data based on what users actually see in the search results. If AMP pages are displayed, the metrics are based on the AMP pages. If it's the mobile web pages, those are the ones the measurements rely on.
Domain Age & History AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Mobile SEO Web Performance
Should you really rewrite all your product listings to rank well?
John Mueller Apr 23, 2021 ★★
Having unique product descriptions (different from those provided by the manufacturer) is a good practice that helps Google differentiate pages. However, it is not critical, especially if other aspects make the store unique (location, services). Goog...
Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing E-commerce AI & SEO Local Search International SEO
Can A/B testing in JavaScript trigger a cloaking penalty from Google?
John Mueller Apr 23, 2021 ★★★
JavaScript-based A/B testing is acceptable as long as Googlebot gets a stable and consistent view of the pages. Changing colors, calls-to-action, and designs is acceptable. Significantly changing the content or purpose of the page can be considered c...
Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO Pagination & Structure Penalties & Spam
Why do you need to wait 28 days to see the SEO impact of your Core Web Vitals optimizations?
John Mueller Apr 23, 2021 ★★★
Field data from Core Web Vitals (Chrome User Experience Report) takes about 28 days to update after changes on the site. The changes are not immediate but appear gradually with a subtle rise over time.
AI & SEO Web Performance
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