What does Google say about SEO?

Does SEA really influence organic rankings on Google?

Google Dec 05, 2019 ★★★

Paid advertising campaigns (SEA) and advertising investments do not influence SEO results or organic rankings in Google Search. Advertising and search systems operate independently.

AI & SEO Mobile SEO

Should you really be using the disavow file to reject your backlinks?

Google Dec 05, 2019 ★★

Google emphasizes that the disavow file is not necessary for every low-quality link. This file should be used only for links that could truly affect the site's rankings, ensuring that the source of these links is harmful.

AI & SEO Links & Backlinks PDF & Files

Do geographic TLDs really influence local SEO?

Google Dec 05, 2019 ★★★

Geographic TLDs (like .jp for Japan) help clearly indicate a site's geographical target. Choosing a non-associated TLD can affect Google’s geographic interpretation.

AI & SEO Domain Name

Should you really merge your product URLs when selling multiple colors or sizes?

Google Dec 05, 2019 ★★

For e-commerce sites with distinct URLs for each color or size, it is recommended to consolidate these pages to avoid duplications. Google advises having only one URL per product, with variants managed by elements such as URL parameters.

Domain Age & History E-commerce AI & SEO Domain Name

Should you really reach out to the webmaster before filing a DMCA for syndicated content?

Google Dec 05, 2019 ★★

If another site publishes your content without permission, it is advisable to directly approach the webmaster of the site in question to discuss the removal of the infringing content. Google recommends using the DMCA report only in cases of clear cop...

Content AI & SEO Search Console

What does it mean when Google says 'Indexed URL but...'? Is there a reason to worry?

Google Dec 05, 2019 ★★★

When a page has issues as indicated by Search Console ('URL is indexed by Google, but...'), it often means a problem with AMP or structured data. Check and fix these specific elements.

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Mobile SEO Domain Name Search Console

Should you really clean up your old toxic backlinks before the end of the year?

Google Dec 05, 2019 ★★

Google advises cleaning up artificial or low-quality links, especially if these practices were implemented in the past. This is particularly timely as we approach the end of the year.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Links & Backlinks

Are JavaScript links really being tracked by Google?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★★

Google processes pages with JavaScript by trying to see them as they would be rendered to users, meaning that links must be correctly rendered in the DOM to be followed by the bot. Using JavaScript events that change navigation without real links can...

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Pagination & Structure

Should you really adjust the crawl rate to handle traffic spikes like Black Friday?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★★

Adjusting the crawl rate in Search Console can take effect the next day, but for an event like Black Friday, this may be too late if actions are taken at the last minute. To prevent the crawler from temporarily accessing a site, an HTTP status code 5...

Crawl & Indexing HTTPS & Security AI & SEO Search Console

Can you really index a URL blocked by robots.txt?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★

Google can index the URL even if its content is blocked by robots.txt, assuming that the content might be relevant based on the internal or external links pointing to it.

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Domain Name

Should you limit the number of links on your homepage to concentrate PageRank?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★

The homepage is often one of the strongest pages of a site, so the links emanating from it are important. However, reducing the number of links to focus on critical pages could be a strategy, while maintaining a good balance between breadth and conce...

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Links & Backlinks

Do well-ranked category pages really pass authority to the pages they link to?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★

Well-ranked category pages can help bolster the significance of the pages they link to. If a category page is highly ranked, it sends a signal of importance to the linked pages.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Links & Backlinks

Why doesn't Google name its display formats in SERP?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★

Google does not provide specific names for various formats like carousels or galleries because they can evolve or group together based on algorithmic tests and adjustments.

Algorithms AI & SEO

Should you really display a date on all your pages to rank well?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★

The presence of a date in search results depends on an algorithmic assessment of its relevance to the user. It can be removed from the markup if it does not add value to a non-time-sensitive page.

Algorithms Domain Age & History

Does JavaScript lazy loading really block Google from indexing your content?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★★

Lazy loading configurations and JavaScript structures must be implemented correctly for the Googlebot to index content beyond the initial resources or visible elements on a page.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing Images & Videos JavaScript & Technical SEO Pagination & Structure Web Performance

Is the mobile compatibility test in Search Console really reliable?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★

The results of mobile compatibility tests in Search Console can be distorted by fleeting rendering errors, without indicating that the site is not compatible. Checking manually can yield more reliable results.

AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Mobile SEO Pagination & Structure Search Console

Does Google still struggle with dynamic URLs?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★★

Google may have difficulties with dynamically generated URLs when they redirect or duplicate the content of the homepage. Clear structures for parameters can prevent misinterpretations.

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

Does SearchAction markup really suffice to get the Sitelinks search field?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★★

The presence of a Sitelinks search field in the search results depends not only on correct markup but also on algorithmic evaluations of its usefulness to users.

Algorithms Domain Age & History AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Mobile SEO

How does the Search Console actually calculate the average position of your rich results?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★★

The Search Console uses the highest ranking of a rich result on a page to calculate the average ranking of a site's rich results. Results in blocks share a common position.

Domain Age & History Social Media Search Console

Is CrUX really enough to measure your site's user experience?

John Mueller Nov 28, 2019 ★★★

Field data from the Chrome User Experience Report is primarily used to evaluate user experience reporting, as it represents real user interactions.

AI & SEO Search Console