What does Google say about SEO?

Should you really request manual crawling via the URL inspection tool in Search Console?

Martin Splitt Dec 07, 2023 ★★

If a page hasn't been crawled yet, you can request crawling via the URL inspection tool. Sometimes, it's simply a matter of patience as the robot reaches that URL.

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

Is Google indexing a different URL than the one you actually set as canonical?

Martin Splitt Dec 07, 2023 ★★★

Check whether the page was ignored as a duplicate after crawling and whether the canonical URL points to another URL. For example, the HTTP URL may be ignored in favor of the HTTPS URL. Even if it's not the expected canonical URL, the content remains...

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing HTTPS & Security Domain Name

Could invisible errors in your rendered HTML be silently destroying your Google rankings?

Martin Splitt Dec 07, 2023 ★★

If problems persist, check the rendered HTML and HTTP response to identify unexpected elements like stray error messages or missing content, caused by technical issues from the server or application code.

Domain Age & History Content HTTPS & Security

Why does Google actually recommend against using cache and site: for debugging indexation issues?

Martin Splitt Dec 07, 2023 ★★★

Don't use cache or site: search operators and functions to debug indexation issues because they are not intended for debugging and could give you false results if you use them for this purpose.

Domain Age & History Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Web Performance

Should You Really Fix All Your 404 Errors for SEO?

John Mueller Dec 05, 2023 ★★

On Reddit, John Mueller stated that there's relatively little value in attempting to restore broken links displaying a 404 error, at least from an SEO perspective: "Keep in mind that it's not necessary to fix 404 pages. It's normal for them to disapp...

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

Can the URL Inspection Tool really diagnose all your indexation problems?

Martin Splitt Dec 01, 2023 ★★★

The URL Inspection Tool can help identify why a web page isn't appearing in Google Search. It's a diagnostic tool for technical issues.

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Domain Name Search Console

Is the URL Inspection Tool Really Enough to Diagnose Your Crawl and Indexation Problems?

Martin Splitt Dec 01, 2023 ★★★

The URL Inspection Tool allows you to diagnose issues related to crawling (exploration) and indexability of web pages in Google Search.

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

How is Mobile-First Indexing reshaping SEO strategies?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★★

The deployment of Mobile-First Indexing (MFI) is now completely finished. Google continues to crawl some non-mobile-friendly sites with the desktop Googlebot, but this practice will gradually be minimized. Reevaluations will occur a few times a year.

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Mobile SEO

Why is Google eliminating Index Crawler information from Search Console?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

Google is removing 'Index Crawler' information from Search Console settings because it is no longer necessary following the full rollout of Mobile-First Indexing. Google's mobile crawler now primarily crawls mobile-optimized sites.

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Mobile SEO Search Console

How do Google's updates really affect your SEO strategy?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

Google regularly updates its ranking systems to display the most relevant and useful content. A new Q&A blog explains the differences between ranking systems and updates, the reasons behind the updates, and how to respond to them.

Content AI & SEO Local Search

Why should you optimize your course data with Google's new structured data?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

Google now allows the addition of detailed course information (price, level, ratings, duration) through structured data. This information appears in a new carousel of enhanced results called Course Info Rich Result.

Structured Data E-commerce Featured Snippets & SERP AI & SEO

What Causes the Significant Fluctuations in Discover Traffic?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★★

Traffic from Discover varies for several reasons: changes in user interests, types of content, and updates to Google Search. Since Discover is an extension of Google Search, it is impacted by algorithm updates. Fluctuations are normal.

Algorithms Content Discover & News AI & SEO Domain Name

Why do server errors 5xx create issues for crawling and indexing?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★★

Server errors 5xx and 429 indicate to Googlebot to temporarily slow down its crawling pace. Already indexed URLs remain in the index, but will ultimately be removed if the errors continue. The number of server errors directly impacts the crawling fre...

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Domain Name

Why is Structured Data Vehicle Listing Limited to the US?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

Structured Data Vehicle Listing requires a verified Google Business profile in the United States. Even though the USA is among the targeted countries, a profile located outside the USA does not allow the use of this feature. Support will be extended ...

Why doesn't Google automatically index your site?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★★

Websites (Google Sites or others) are not automatically indexed. You need to make your site discoverable to search engines, particularly by obtaining links from other sites. Submission via Search Console does not guarantee a quick indexing time.

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Search Console

Is it true that you can successfully combine Product and Vehicle data on the same page?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

It is indeed possible to implement both structured data for Product and Vehicle (Car) on the same page without issues. The two types of markup can coexist.

Domain Age & History E-commerce

Why is patience essential when dealing with 301 redirects after a website redesign?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

After implementing 301 redirects following a website redesign, it may take some time before Search Console accurately reflects the changes. It is advisable to be patient and wait for the system to update.

AI & SEO Redirects Search Console

Should You Really Worry About 404 Errors from Phone Links?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

404 errors caused by phone links (href='tel:...') can be safely ignored or blocked via robots.txt. Their presence in Search Console does not negatively impact SEO.

Crawl & Indexing AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Search Console

How can interstitials damage your SEO?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

Google cannot comment on specific methods like offerwalls, but warns against elements that may disrupt users. Recommendations on page experience and avoiding intrusive interstitials should guide the creation of user-focused pages.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO

What happens when SafeSearch hampers your SEO efforts on adult sites?

Google Nov 30, 2023 ★★

When users activate SafeSearch or have their accounts set up this way, adult sites do not appear in the results. There is no technical solution on the site side to bypass this user-enabled filtering.

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO Local Search