What does Google say about SEO?

Why is Google ending the Sitelinks Search Box?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★★

Google will remove the Sitelinks Search Box from search results starting November 21, 2024, as its usage has decreased over time. This change will be applied globally across all languages and countries, without impacting rankings or other sitelinks.

Links & Backlinks International SEO

Can you influence the site name shown by Google in search results?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★★

There is currently no method to force a specific site name display in search results. Using the domain name as the site name is a normal behavior and is not considered a bug. The issue may resolve over time, but with no guarantee.

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

Does Google actually crawl CSS-hidden elements?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★

Google's crawler can retrieve HTML elements even if they are hidden with display:none. Links found within elements like details tags or popovers are also followed by the crawler if they exist in the DOM, thereby facilitating the discovery of content ...

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks

How should you handle the X-Robots-Tag during 301 redirects?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★

If you want to use the X-Robots tag with noindex/nofollow during a 301 redirect, you need to apply it not only on the intermediate page but also on the final destination page.

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Redirects

Why does Google only support one favicon per site?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★

Google Search only supports one favicon per site, where the site is defined by the site name (domain-level or subdomain-level, including the homepage). Updating favicons takes time as they are updated individually, so patience is required after imple...

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

Why should you include both publication and modification dates in your NewsArticle structured data?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★

For NewsArticle structured data, it is recommended to include both the publication date (datePublished) and the modification date (dateModified), even if only the modification date is visible on the page. This helps Google better understand the conte...

Domain Age & History Content Discover & News AI & SEO

Why are some data points hidden in Search Console?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★★

Search Console may not display certain data to protect user privacy, particularly for queries with very few impressions or containing personal or sensitive information. It is technically impossible to trace a single impression in a large-scale system...

Content AI & SEO Web Performance Local Search Search Console

Should you still worry about Googlebot desktop with a mobile-first index?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★★

Googlebot desktop is still active after the full transition to mobile-first indexing in July 2024. The MFI change means that Google primarily uses the mobile user-agent to index content, but Googlebot desktop continues to crawl. If mobile content is ...

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Mobile SEO

Should you really drop AMP to simplify your SEO?

Google Oct 31, 2024 ★★

For websites that already have a well-optimized responsive mobile version, Google recommends considering the removal of AMP versions to simplify maintenance. The fewer versions to manage, the easier it is to diagnose SEO issues and reduce maintenance...

AI & SEO Mobile SEO

What Should You Do with Your Old AMP Subdomains: Keep or Delete Them for Good?

John Mueller Oct 29, 2024 ★★★

John Mueller advises site owners with obsolete AMP subdomains to maintain existing 301 redirects, or alternatively to completely remove the AMP subdomains from DNS. He also clarifies that there is no risk regarding sites' crawl budget since most AMP ...

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Mobile SEO Domain Name Redirects

How Can You Diagnose and Fix Crawl Problems Affecting Multiple Domains at Once?

John Mueller Oct 29, 2024 ★★★

John Mueller explained how to resolve crawl issues affecting multiple domains simultaneously. He suggests examining shared infrastructures, such as CDNs, which are often responsible for these interruptions. He also recommends analyzing Search Console...

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Pagination & Structure Search Console

Should You Really Integrate AI Into Your SEO Strategy Right Now?

John Mueller Oct 29, 2024 ★★★

Emphasizing that AI is not a temporary phenomenon, John Mueller recommends that industry professionals embrace it. However, he acknowledges that AI is often overhyped or subject to excessive enthusiasm, reinforcing a sense of insecurity among some. N...

Content AI & SEO Pagination & Structure

Are ARIA Attributes Really Useless for Your Google Rankings?

John Mueller Oct 29, 2024 ★★★

John Mueller and Martin Splitt have spoken out about ARIA attributes, which are used to improve accessibility, stating that they have no direct influence on ranking or indexing in Google Search. While these elements can help users with specific needs...

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO

Should You Really Invest That Much Time Optimizing Core Web Vitals?

John Mueller Oct 29, 2024 ★★★

Once again, John Mueller has downplayed the importance of Core Web Vitals in SEO rankings. While these metrics are taken into account by Google, they don't carry as much weight as content quality and user experience.

Content Web Performance

Should you really anticipate seasonal search peaks with an SEO editorial calendar?

Daniel Waisberg Oct 23, 2024 ★★★

For an effective SEO content strategy, it is recommended to create an editorial calendar by anticipating recurring special moments that internet users search for every year, such as seasonal changes. This allows you to prepare content before search i...

Content AI & SEO

Should you analyze topics instead of individual keywords in Google Search Console?

Hadas Jacobi Oct 23, 2024 ★★★

It is preferable to use topics rather than individual search terms to analyze trends. A topic groups multiple search terms including spelling mistakes, variations, acronyms and covers all languages, which generates higher search volume and more compl...

AI & SEO International SEO

Should you really sacrifice SEO planning time to cover breaking news in real time?

Hadas Jacobi Oct 23, 2024 ★★★

A well-defined SEO content strategy must combine advance planning of special moments throughout the year, while maintaining bandwidth to monitor and cover emerging news in real time.

Content AI & SEO

How can you leverage related queries to uncover untapped content opportunities before your competitors?

Daniel Waisberg Oct 23, 2024 ★★

To understand user behavior and identify content opportunities, analyze related queries by examining both the most popular terms and those experiencing the strongest increases in search frequency.

Content AI & SEO

Are you leaving regional search trends on the table? Here's how to leverage geographic data for massive local content wins

Daniel Waisberg Oct 23, 2024 ★★

Analyzing search trends by region and sub-region enables you to identify where interest concentrates for a specific topic, helping you adapt your content strategy to local needs and schedule your editorial calendar based on regional search peaks.

Content AI & SEO Local Search

Should You Stop Using Third-Party SEO Tool Metrics to Optimize Your Rankings?

John Mueller Oct 22, 2024 ★★★

In a recent discussion, John Mueller warned a Reddit user against excessive reliance on metrics from third-party SEO tools. The well-known Google employee emphasized that these tools don't have access to Google's data. Consequently, their data—whethe...

Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Domain Name Penalties & Spam