What does Google say about SEO?

Should you really include keywords in your URLs?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★★

Keywords present in URLs are a very minor ranking factor for Google, and their importance is much lower than other SEO aspects.

AI & SEO Domain Name

Should you really delete or no-index your low-quality content?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★★

If a site contains low-quality content, there are three options: improve the content, delete it entirely, or no-index it so that Google does not see it.

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO

Is it true that every URL needs to be mapped 1:1 during a site migration?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★★

During a site migration, ensure that the original URL structure is mapped one-to-one to the new structure to correctly transfer signals.

Domain Name Pagination & Structure Redirects

Is it really true that structured data alone can secure a carousel spot in the SERPs?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★

Carousels in search results are algorithmically generated and using structured data does not guarantee their display.

Algorithms Domain Age & History

Do embedded YouTube videos really slow down your page speed?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★

The impact of embedded YouTube videos on page loading speed is taken into account by Google, and different integration methods could alleviate potential slowdowns.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Images & Videos Web Performance

Should you really avoid adding distinctive text on coupon pages?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★★

Adding long, irrelevant text to differentiate coupon pages could lead to algorithmic confusion or keyword stuffing; avoid this practice.

Algorithms Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO

Should you really aim for a minimum word count to rank on Google?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★★

There is no minimum keyword limit for content to be considered by Google. The content must meet the user's needs.

Content

Does URL structure really influence ranking in Google?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★★

The structure of URLs (flat or with folders) does not affect page rankings in Google. Choose a structure that facilitates long-term management.

Domain Age & History Domain Name Pagination & Structure

Does mobile performance really affect SEO rankings?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★

The actual performance of users in terms of loading speed influences mobile rankings, but you can address these issues with CDNs.

AI & SEO Mobile SEO Web Performance Search Console

Are alt texts really as flexible as Google claims?

John Mueller Jul 23, 2019 ★★★

Google recommends using descriptive and contextually relevant alt texts for images, without forcing irrelevant keywords, for accessibility and image indexing.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing Images & Videos

Can Google Actually Identify the Real Author Behind a Pseudonym or Avatar?

John Mueller Jul 22, 2019 ★★★

A user asked John Mueller on Twitter about whether Google can (or cannot) determine who the real author of content is when an avatar (pseudonym) is used. John's response: "I doubt Google's algorithms can judge the 'reality' of the author names you us...

Algorithms Content AI & SEO Pagination & Structure Social Media

Is PageRank Really Dead Since 2006, or Has It Simply Evolved?

Google Jul 22, 2019 ★★

Jonathan Tang, a former Google engineer (between 2009 and 2014) explained on a forum that Google no longer used the notion of PageRank in its algorithm since 2006. He actually clarified later that the original PageRank had been replaced by a new elem...

Algorithms Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Images & Videos JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks

Should You Worry About Missing Features in the New Search Console?

John Mueller Jul 16, 2019 ★★

John Mueller hinted on Twitter that features still present in the old Search Console and not yet migrated to the new one (such as International Targeting or the robots.txt file tester, for example) would not be abandoned. "If we thought it wasn't imp...

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO PDF & Files Social Media Search Console International SEO

Does Domain Age Really Influence Google Rankings?

John Mueller Jul 16, 2019 ★★★

John Mueller once again reiterated on Twitter that the age (seniority) of a domain name does not play a role in SEO. A new domain name will have just as much chance of ranking as an old one...

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

Will visual content become an essential ranking factor?

John Mueller Jul 12, 2019 ★★★

Google recommends paying attention to images and videos as they are gaining importance in search results, particularly due to the increasing interest in visual content on social media.

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Images & Videos

Should you really stop keyword stuffing in alt tags?

John Mueller Jul 12, 2019 ★★★

It's important to describe images in alt tags rather than keyword stuffing. The text surrounding the image is also taken into account for image SEO.

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Images & Videos

Is it really essential to use only one H1 per page to optimize your SEO?

John Mueller Jul 12, 2019 ★★★

Google does not require a strict theoretical structure of H1 titles. It is possible to use multiple H1s on a page, even before HTML5, as Google must manage page structures as they are.

Domain Age & History Content Pagination & Structure

Do you really need a separate URL for each language to ensure Google correctly indexes your multilingual content?

John Mueller Jul 12, 2019 ★★★

To index content in multiple languages, it is necessary to have a distinct URL for each language. Otherwise, Google will only index the version it sees, often the default one for the search engine.

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Domain Name International SEO

Is your server secretly throttling your crawl budget?

John Mueller Jul 12, 2019 ★★

A slow server or one that produces errors can limit Google's crawl. To increase crawling, ensure that the server is fast and error-free, based on the response times indicated in the Search Console.

Crawl & Indexing JavaScript & Technical SEO Search Console

Does the URL removal tool really suffice to take a page off Google?

John Mueller Jul 12, 2019 ★★★

Use the URL removal tool to temporarily hide pages from search results. However, the pages remain in the index and must be properly deleted or adjusted on the site for permanent removal.

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