What does Google say about SEO?

Is pure spam truly synonymous with black hat SEO?

Google Dec 14, 2020 ★★

Google considers 'pure spam' to correspond to what webmasters typically refer to as black hat SEO. This involves SEO techniques that contradict Google's guidelines.

Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Penalties & Spam

Why does Google always say 'it depends' when you ask SEO questions?

Google Dec 14, 2020 ★★

Many SEO questions do not have a universal answer. The typical response is 'it depends', particularly based on the size of the site or the specific context of each situation.

Content AI & SEO

Should you really rewrite all your title tags to rank higher?

Google Dec 14, 2020 ★★

Google recommends identifying areas where you can modify the text of title tags within the appropriate HTML title tags to optimize your pages.

Domain Age & History Content

Is it true that Google claims there's no magic formula for SEO?

Google Dec 14, 2020 ★★

There is no magic formula or powder in SEO. Search engine optimization requires methodical work and adherence to best practices rather than miracle solutions.

AI & SEO

Do domain extensions (.com, .fr, .uk) really influence the weight of backlinks?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

Google does not differentiate link weight based on domain extensions (.au, .com, .uk). Instead, Google evaluates the type of link and its importance according to the context provided: some links bring a lot of information about the targeted page, whi...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Domain Name

How does Google truly detect duplicate content and why doesn't it seek the original?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★

Google easily identifies duplicate content by searching for identical texts on different pages. However, determining the appropriate action when faced with duplicate content is more complex. Google does not attempt to identify the original content ow...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO

Are site migrations really as risky as they seem?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★

Serious technical issues during site migrations are extremely rare according to Google’s internal analyses. However, Google admits that it needs to manage these migrations better to prevent webmasters from having to personally contact the team.

Content AI & SEO Redirects

Are Web Stories really indexable like regular pages?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★

Web Stories are canonical AMP pages (without an alternative HTML version). They can be indexed individually like regular content. Google does not yet display them in all countries in specific features, but they appear in standard search results.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Images & Videos Mobile SEO Local Search

Does boilerplate content really harm SEO?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★

Boilerplate duplicate content (such as legal notices and disclaimers) is not an issue because users typically do not search for these elements. Google appropriately weighs this copied content while assessing the rest of the site.

Content AI & SEO

Are domain migrations really risk-free according to Google?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

Issues during domain migrations are extremely rare. It's essential to follow the official guidelines, check the redirects, and properly configure Search Console. The history of the new domain (spam, adult content) can cause difficulties in the transi...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Penalties & Spam Redirects Search Console

Can Web Stories really rank like traditional pages?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

Web Stories are canonical AMP pages (not alternates). They can be indexed just like any regular content. They show up in the Web Stories features in certain countries; otherwise, they appear in standard search results. Classic SEO aspects apply: titl...

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Images & Videos Mobile SEO Local Search

Can adult sites actually display rich results on Google?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

All types of rich results that Google offers are not intended for adult content sites. If an adult site uses schemas, the systems recognize the adult content and simply do not display the rich results, without manual action or demotion.

Content Structured Data Featured Snippets & SERP AI & SEO Penalties & Spam Local Search

Does every change to content or design really affect SEO rankings?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

Any change on a website (adding/removing text, modifying internal linking, changing layout affecting headers) must be reflected in rankings. Keeping the same URLs helps preserve signals, but Google must reevaluate the content and internal links.

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

Can redirecting to an archive section really help preserve the SEO of old pages?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

To archive old pages while preserving their SEO value, simply redirect the URLs to the site's archive section. This signals Google to transfer link signals to the new destinations.

Domain Age & History Content Links & Backlinks Domain Name Redirects

Does blocking a folder via robots.txt kill the PageRank transfer to your strategic pages?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

Completely blocking a folder with robots.txt prevents Google from knowing the content of the pages. If external links point to these blocked pages, Google cannot indirectly transfer those links to the main content. It is essential to avoid blocking i...

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing Links & Backlinks

Do links from old press releases really hold any SEO value?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★

Old press releases often accumulate links from archived news sites. While numerous, these links have limited utility as they originate from outdated content and are no longer relevant.

Domain Age & History Content Links & Backlinks

Does content originality really ensure top rankings on Google?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

The original source of content is not always the most relevant for users. For instance, someone might copy a Google blog article and add in-depth analysis that could be more useful for certain searches than the original article.

Content Discover & News AI & SEO

How long does it really take for a domain migration to stabilize in Google?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

It takes time for Google's signals to stabilize after a site migration. It’s not instantaneous: Google must gather all signals associated with the pages, a process that can take several months, even for individual pages.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Pagination & Structure Redirects

Should you really check a domain's history before purchasing it for an SEO migration?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★★

Before migrating to a new domain, it's crucial to check its history. If the old domain hosted spam or adult content, Google retains negative signals. A domain associated with adult content may remain filtered by SafeSearch even with new legitimate co...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Penalties & Spam Redirects

Do you really need the address change tool to migrate between subdomains?

John Mueller Dec 11, 2020 ★★

The address change tool in Search Console mainly helps when changing a domain name to transfer signals at the domain level. It is not necessary for a migration between subdomains of the same domain (for example from m.domain.com to www.domain.com).

AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Redirects Search Console