What does Google say about SEO?

Does removing low-quality content really improve the crawl budget?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

Removing or pruning less useful content from your site enables Googlebot to focus its time on higher quality pages that are actually beneficial to users.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO

Should you sacrifice server speed to save on crawl budget?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★

If your servers can handle it, avoid sending 429 or 50x error codes and ensure that your server responds quickly. This positively influences Googlebot's crawl.

Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO

Should you really be concerned about Googlebot's aggressive caching of your static resources?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Googlebot uses relatively aggressive caching. CSS files, images, and other resources that have already been crawled are cached and not requested again, thus not counting against the crawl budget.

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

Is there really a significant difference between pre-rendering, SSR, and dynamic rendering for SEO?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

Pre-rendering creates static content from JavaScript when you know that the content changes (e.g., blog). Server-side rendering (SSR) executes JavaScript on the server for each request. Dynamic rendering is SSR only for bots like Googlebot. They are ...

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO

Is SSR with hydration really the best of both worlds for SEO?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Server-side rendering with hydration allows for generating static content on the server for speed, then loading JavaScript in the browser for dynamic parts. This provides the benefits of both approaches with a single codebase.

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

Are SSR and pre-rendering really SEO techniques or just developer tools?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Pre-rendering, SSR, and dynamic rendering are not specifically created for SEO. They are designed to enhance developer experience (maintaining less code) and particularly user experience (loading performance).

Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Web Performance Search Console

Does Google really apply the same ranking rules to all websites?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

Google applies the Honest Results policy to maintain fairness. It doesn't matter if you are a small or large publisher, if you spend $1 or millions on Google Ads, or if you work at Google or know Google employees: the playing field must remain level ...

AI & SEO

Can private messages to Google really influence the detection of SEO bugs?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Emails and private messages can be useful for identifying systemic issues affecting multiple sites. If several people report the same type of problem, it helps Google detect widespread outages or bugs requiring action.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Search Console

Who really decides on exceptions to Google's Honest Results policy?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

Exceptions to the Honest Results policy only concern issues that significantly impact Google users. These decisions are made by Search leadership, not by individual engineers, and are never based on the subjective importance of a site.

AI & SEO

Does Search Console really provide an SEO advantage to its users?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Search Console is a Search product, thus covered by the Honest Results policy. Google cannot give unfair advantages even for verification or use of Search Console, as they do not have the capacity to provide this level of support to all.

Domain Age & History E-commerce Search Console

Does escalating a request with Google really impact your SEO?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Escalating a request through management hierarchy (my boss will talk to your boss) does not bypass the Honest Results policy. It may even create a negative bias and more frustration. The policy is clear on what the Search team can do.

AI & SEO

Are Office Hours truly the best channel to ask your SEO questions to Google?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

John Mueller's Office Hours (roughly weekly) are the recommended channel for asking SEO questions. You can post on YouTube or join the video call directly. The recordings are then published. Links available on youtube.com/googlewebmasters.

Content AI & SEO Images & Videos JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks

Pre-rendering, SSR, or dynamic rendering: which strategy should you choose for Googlebot to properly index your JavaScript?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

Pre-rendering creates static content when you know when the content changes (like a blog). Server-side rendering (SSR) executes JavaScript on each user request. Dynamic rendering only uses SSR for bots like Googlebot, not for regular users. They are ...

Content Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO

Is pre-rendering really suitable for all types of websites?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Pre-rendering is ideal for sites where you know when the content changes, like a blog. You generate the static version after each content update. For highly dynamic sites (social networks, auctions), this method isn’t suitable as the content constant...

Content AI & SEO

Does SSR with Hydration Really Solve All JS Crawl Issues?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Server-side rendering with hydration allows for generating static HTML on the server for speed, then loading JavaScript in the browser for dynamic features. This combines the advantages of both approaches with a single codebase.

Domain Age & History JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks

Can DMs to Google really trigger fixes?

Martin Splitt Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Although Google does not provide private support, the team sometimes reads direct messages to identify whether a reported issue is systemic or isolated. If multiple messages point to the same problem, it can help detect an outage or bug affecting man...

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Search Console

Does spending more on Google Ads really improve your organic SEO?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

The amount spent on Google Ads or any other Google product has no influence on the handling of natural SEO issues. The principle of fair results applies regardless of ad spending.

E-commerce AI & SEO Pagination & Structure

Can Google really intervene manually on your site for exceptional reasons?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

Google can take exceptional measures only when an issue clearly affects a large number of Google users. These decisions are made by Search leadership, not individual engineers. They are never based on the importance you attach to your site or your Go...

AI & SEO

Does Search Console really lack privileged support from Google?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★

Search Console is a search product and is thus governed by the Fair Results Policy. Google cannot provide privileged assistance for the verification or use of Search Console, even though this frustrates account managers who would like to help their c...

Domain Age & History E-commerce AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure Search Console

Should you really rely on Google’s public channels to solve your SEO issues?

Gary Illyes Dec 09, 2020 ★★★

To get help with search issues, use public channels: John Mueller’s Office Hours (weekly, announced on YouTube), Webmaster Help forums, or public questions on Twitter. These channels ensure fair access and recorded responses that benefit everyone.

Content AI & SEO Images & Videos JavaScript & Technical SEO Pagination & Structure Social Media