What does Google say about SEO?

Does duplicated content really hurt if you add value around it?

John Mueller Jun 14, 2019 ★★★

In the case of duplicated content, such as song lyrics, Google recognizes duplication but considers additional content to determine the ranking in search results.

Content AI & SEO

Should you display author biographies directly in articles for better SEO?

John Mueller Jun 14, 2019 ★★

Google does not provide explicit guidelines on the necessity of showing E-A-T information and author biographies directly in an article, but it is important to present them in a way that highlights the credibility and expertise of the content.

Content Discover & News AI & SEO

Should you really use hreflang for untranslated pages?

John Mueller Jun 14, 2019 ★★★

It is possible to use hreflang with untranslated pages by using canonical content. However, it is generally better to aim for a reduced number of URLs to avoid diluting the authority of your content.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing Domain Name International SEO

Could a mistake in your XML sitemap block the indexing of your entire site?

John Mueller Jun 14, 2019 ★★★

If a URL in an XML sitemap file has an error, only that URL is ignored; the rest of the file is processed if it is technically valid.

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name PDF & Files Search Console

Is it true that the Classic Search Console is about to vanish?

John Mueller Jun 14, 2019 ★★★

Ultimately, the classic version of Search Console will be shut down, potentially by the end of the year. The features you use will be transferred to the new version, but some aspects may be reconsidered.

AI & SEO Search Console

Should you really use nofollow on all guest blogging links?

John Mueller Jun 14, 2019 ★★★

The use of nofollow links is recommended when creating guest publication content to avoid link manipulation issues. This contributes to brand visibility without negatively impacting link evaluations.

Content Links & Backlinks

Should you still buy expired domains to boost your SEO?

John Mueller Jun 14, 2019 ★★★

Buying expired domains to redirect to your site is an outdated technique often ignored by Google and could trigger algorithmic filters for manipulating results.

Algorithms Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name

Should you really redirect each URL individually when moving a site?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

When relocating a site, it's recommended to redirect each URL individually, rather than using a redirect to the homepage. This helps preserve the relevance and ranking of the pages.

Domain Age & History Domain Name Redirects

Why does the change of address tool block URLs with parameters?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

The change of address tool in Search Console cannot be used if parameters are added to the URLs of the new site, as the tool explicitly checks that the homepage is redirected one-to-one.

Domain Age & History Domain Name Search Console

Should you index all product variations or canonize them to the main page?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

For product pages with variations in color or price, you can either use the canonical tag to point to the main product or allow each variation to be indexed. Choosing to index fewer URLs allows for pages to have greater SEO weight.

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

Can noindex pages still pass PageRank and enhance crawling?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

Noindex-marked pages that contain relevant links can still contribute to content discovery. Googlebot will continue to follow links if they are regularly found through internal links.

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

Is hidden content in mobile menus really considered for SEO?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

Content that can be revealed through user interaction like a click is included in indexing. However, avoid permanently hiding content that would never be visible to users.

Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Mobile SEO Pagination & Structure

Do unique contents really provide a measurable SEO advantage?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

Creating unique product descriptions and original images gives an advantage in terms of SEO, as it allows you to stand out in search results compared to sites using duplicated content provided by suppliers.

Domain Age & History Content E-commerce Images & Videos Search Console

Should you really recycle the same URL for your annual seasonal content?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

Use a single URL for articles that return every year, such as holiday articles. Updating these URLs instead of creating new ones for each year strengthens the accumulated SEO value of the page.

Domain Age & History Discover & News Domain Name

Should you duplicate your images for every language version of your site?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

It's preferable not to clone images for each language version, but rather to use appropriate tags and contexts for each language. This avoids duplication and allows consolidating the relevance of the images.

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Images & Videos International SEO

Does Google really use different ranking criteria for mobile and desktop?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

Google may use different ranking signals for mobile searches compared to desktop searches, such as mobile page loading time, which can influence positioning differently depending on the platform.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Mobile SEO Web Performance Search Console

Does hreflang without differentiated content really prevent Google from displaying distinct versions?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

For multilingual sites, hreflang markup helps indicate to Google the appropriate language or regional version to display. However, hreflang without real content variation does not guarantee the display of different URLs in the results.

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Domain Name Local Search International SEO

Should you really vary keyword spellings to avoid keyword stuffing penalties?

John Mueller Jun 13, 2019 ★★★

Varying spellings or minor variations of a keyword on a page is not considered spam. However, avoid overexploitation with excessive repetitions, as this may be identified as keyword stuffing by Google's systems.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Penalties & Spam

Do web performance metrics really influence Google rankings?

Martin Splitt Jun 12, 2019 ★★★

Google incorporates performance metrics into search result rankings. This includes parameters like time to first byte and time to interactive, but also when the content is ready for the user.

Content AI & SEO Web Performance Search Console

Is Google really unlocking its SEO black box — or are we still left in the dark?

Martin Splitt Jun 12, 2019 ★★★

Google aims to open the 'black box' of SEO by engaging with web developers and SEOs to provide useful tools and metrics. Google Search Console offers insights into a site's performance in search, avoiding reliance on risky interpretations.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Web Performance Search Console