What does Google say about SEO?

Search through official Google statements about search engine optimization

Recent searches requetes de marque crise economique signaux conflictuels url bloquees ctr serps cache rendu url multilingues signal pertinence
9666 statement(s) found
Should you really disavow toxic backlinks to safeguard your indexing?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Links that we choose to disavow via Search Console typically do not affect indexing if Google already recognizes them as unreliable. Using a disavow list is a way to ensure that these links do not harm the site.
Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Search Console
Why does Google crawl PDFs so infrequently, and how can you manage their migration?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Google does not frequently crawl PDF files because they rarely change. During a domain migration, if there are clear redirects, Google can process this quickly, but if there are too many variations, it will take longer.
Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name PDF & Files Redirects
Does Google really see your pages as duplicates if only the main content is similar?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
If the main content of one page is similar to that of another, Google may consider them duplicates. Google focuses on the main content rather than menus or sidebars to determine this.
Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Pagination & Structure
Should you really separate domain migration from structural redesign?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
During a significant website redesign, it's advisable to proceed gradually to better monitor and adjust any potential issues. First, change the domain before adjusting the content and URL structure.
Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name Pagination & Structure Redirects
Can you safely combine redirects and canonical tags without risking your SEO?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
It is possible to use redirects to URLs that have a canonical tag pointing to different content. Google will try to understand the intentions and merge this information to decide which URL to display in the results.
Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Domain Name Local Search Redirects
Does infinite scrolling hurt Google indexing?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Pages using infinite scrolling should offer clear links to distinct paginated pages for better crawling by Google.
Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks
Should you still disavow backlinks in SEO?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Google is attempting to filter out irrelevant links and suggests using a disavow file only if you suspect link manipulation that could be harmful.
Domain Age & History AI & SEO Links & Backlinks PDF & Files
Is blocking JS and CSS in robots.txt an SEO mistake or a legitimate strategy?
Martin Splitt Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Blocking JavaScript or CSS with robots.txt is not cloaking, but it can be problematic if the content relies on these blocked files to appear. Google cannot index content that is not visible in the rendered HTML due to a block in robots.txt.
Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO PDF & Files Penalties & Spam
How can you optimize the speed of a JavaScript site for SEO without breaking everything?
Martin Splitt Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
To improve the speed of JavaScript sites, it is advisable to defer the loading of JavaScript scripts and implement server-side rendering for critical content. Additionally, it is beneficial to minimize the loaded JavaScript code by using tree shaking...
Content JavaScript & Technical SEO Web Performance
Does the XML sitemap really make up for a lacking internal linking structure?
Martin Splitt Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
A sitemap can speed up content discovery, especially for large sites. It does not replace a good internal linking structure but ensures that Google does discover all the important content.
Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure Search Console
Will Googlebot rewrite your titles and meta descriptions generated with JavaScript?
Martin Splitt Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Even though Googlebot respects titles and meta descriptions defined in JavaScript, it may rewrite them if they are deemed irrelevant. In cases of random absence, it's necessary to check the server logs and inspection tools for unexpected behaviors.
Content Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO Search Console
How can you effectively manage 404 errors in a single-page application?
Martin Splitt Mar 26, 2020 ★★
To handle 404 errors in single-page applications (SPAs), using a 'noindex' meta tag or redirecting to a real external 404 page are acceptable and equivalent solutions.
Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Pagination & Structure Redirects
Is responsive design truly more effective than mobile subdomains for mobile-first indexing?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
With the shift to mobile-first indexing, Google prioritizes the content of the mobile versions of websites for the index. It is recommended to simplify the site structure by using a responsive design instead of mobile subdomains. This allows for easi...
Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Mobile SEO Domain Name Pagination & Structure
Can Google still index mobile-first even with a canonical pointing from mobile to desktop?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
When a mobile page has a canonical annotation pointing to its desktop version, Google may choose to index it mobile-first if the content is relevant and identical. It is advised to move to a responsive design to simplify this management.
Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Mobile SEO
Should you really abandon mobile subdomains for mobile-first indexing?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Even with a mobile subdomain, it can significantly affect site management complexity, particularly in Search Console. It's also recommended to have a responsive design to simplify the process, although this is not an immediate imperative.
Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Mobile SEO Domain Name Search Console
How does Google automatically detect hacked sites before it's too late?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
Google utilizes algorithms to detect hacked content on websites based on thematic anomalies, such as the unexpected presence of pharmaceutical content.
Algorithms Content
Is it true that your traffic data can become unreadable overnight with Google Search Console and mobile-first?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★★
With mobile-first indexing, the data in Google Search Console will relate to the mobile version of the site, which can be confusing if you are using mobile subdomains.
Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Mobile SEO Domain Name Search Console
Why does Google refuse to unveil new features of the Search Console in advance?
John Mueller Mar 26, 2020 ★★
Google does not disclose upcoming features in the Search Console in advance due to possible last-minute changes.
AI & SEO Search Console
Is Google My Business a simple visibility tool or a crucial local SEO lever to prioritize optimizing?
Google Mar 25, 2020 ★★★
Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to manage how your local business appears on Google Maps or in search results. It is essential to keep your information up-to-date and verify your business to enhance your online reputation.
Local Search
Is W3C Validation Really an SEO Ranking Factor?
John Mueller Mar 23, 2020 ★★★
John Mueller explained during a hangout that W3C validation of a web page had no impact on the search engine's results, but that this tool could be useful for other topics such as accessibility (reading a page by people with disabilities) for example...
Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO
🔔

Get real-time analysis of the latest Google SEO declarations

Be the first to know every time a new official Google statement drops — with full expert analysis.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.