What does Google say about SEO?

Should You Really Fix All 404 Errors Reported in Search Console?

John Mueller Nov 07, 2023 ★★★

On Reddit, John Mueller clarified how to approach Search Console reports showing a significant number of 404 errors related to URLs that don't exist. The culprit: spam sites creating links to imaginary pages. In this specific case, John Mueller simpl...

Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Links & Backlinks Domain Name Penalties & Spam Search Console

Should You Really Stop Thinking About Google When Creating SEO Content?

Danny Sullivan Nov 07, 2023 ★★

On X/Twitter, Danny Sullivan from the Search Liaison team invited bloggers and other content creators not to focus on Google when writing content: "I encourage you (or anyone) to stop thinking – what do I need to do for Google – in terms of content c...

Domain Age & History Content E-commerce AI & SEO Social Media

How Can You Avoid Keyword Stuffing Without Becoming Paranoid About Repetition?

Danny Sullivan Nov 07, 2023 ★★

On X/Twitter, Danny Sullivan provided some clarifications regarding Keyword Stuffing. According to him, the problem is less related to the number of times a word is repeated on a page than to the way they are integrated: "Keyword stuffing is real spa...

Domain Age & History AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Pagination & Structure Penalties & Spam Social Media International SEO

Will Changing a Date or Minor Detail Help You Escape the Helpful Content Filter?

Danny Sullivan Nov 07, 2023 ★★★

Danny Sullivan reminded us that the Helpful Content System is an algorithm that applies to an entire site. Therefore, changing a single character on one page has no impact: "If the Helpful Content system used just one character change on one page to ...

Algorithms Domain Age & History Content AI & SEO PDF & Files

Does Google really remove search features based on clicks alone?

Gary Illyes Nov 07, 2023 ★★★

Google does not base its decision to remove a search feature solely on engagement metrics. Multiple aspects must be considered, not just interaction rates in isolation.

AI & SEO

Should you really optimize invisible or rarely-clicked elements on a page?

John Mueller Nov 07, 2023 ★★

Features that appear at the bottom of a page or receive fewer interactions are not necessarily less useful. They can be extremely valuable to users who do use them, even if their usage volume is lower.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO

Does Google really prioritize user satisfaction, or is maximizing ad revenue the hidden agenda?

Gary Illyes Nov 07, 2023 ★★

Google's ultimate objective is to make users satisfied with search results, defined as users finding what they were looking for, whether it's a recipe or specific information.

AI & SEO

Does Google really measure your page's satisfaction through repeated searches?

Martin Splitt Nov 07, 2023 ★★★

Google can measure whether a functionality truly addresses search intent by observing if the user needs to reformulate their search. If the user returns with similar intent shortly afterward, this may indicate that the functionality did not produce t...

AI & SEO

How does Google decide which features are worth evaluating in its algorithm?

Gary Illyes Nov 07, 2023 ★★

Google prioritizes evaluating features that trigger frequently in search results. Features that display rarely are sidelined to give them time to mature or become more widely deployed.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Local Search

Does Google really sacrifice SEO features just to cut infrastructure costs?

John Mueller Nov 07, 2023 ★★★

When evaluating a feature, Google considers not only its user value but also its costs: result generation speed, volume of data to store, and amount of code to maintain.

Content AI & SEO Web Performance

Is Google really demanding more and more work from website owners indefinitely?

Martin Splitt Nov 07, 2023 ★★

Google must ensure it does not overwhelm website owners by asking them to implement too many things. If Google keeps adding work, webmasters will eventually become frustrated.

Content AI & SEO

Should you really be happy when Google removes SEO features?

Gary Illyes Nov 07, 2023 ★★

When Google removes a feature, it reduces the workload for site owners who no longer need to implement and maintain that feature.

AI & SEO

Does Google really roll out algorithm changes all at once, or are they tested gradually on live traffic?

Martin Splitt Nov 07, 2023 ★★★

Google tests feature modifications through progressive A/B tests, starting by exposing approximately 1% of users to the change, then gradually increasing based on the results obtained.

AI & SEO

Does Google really have to publicly announce every SEO feature it removes?

Gary Illyes Nov 07, 2023 ★★★

When a feature is removed and doesn't require work on the website side, Google may not announce it publicly. However, if the feature required implementation by webmasters, the documentation must be updated to prevent new sites from investing unnecess...

AI & SEO PDF & Files

Does Google really limit search results to just one per domain?

Gary Illyes Nov 07, 2023 ★★

Google does not limit search results to one per domain. For specific queries, showing multiple results from the same site can better serve the user by offering them more relevant options.

AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name

Is Google really replacing traditional blue links with enriched features—and what does that mean for your organic visibility?

Martin Splitt Nov 07, 2023 ★★

Google enriches its search results with various features (maps, videos, FAQs, shopping, etc.) to help users find the answers they're looking for directly without having to do extra work.

Structured Data E-commerce AI & SEO

Is Google Search Console really essential for succeeding in SEO?

Martin Splitt Nov 06, 2023 ★★

Google Search Console is a crucial tool for anyone wanting to increase their website's performance and improve traffic. Its use should be considered essential for natural search engine optimization.

AI & SEO Web Performance Search Console

Why should you establish a baseline in Google Search Console before making any SEO changes?

Martin Splitt Nov 06, 2023 ★★

It's essential to establish a baseline (reference point) when using Google Search Console so you can measure and track your website's performance evolution over time.

Pagination & Structure Web Performance Search Console

Do you really need to request reindexing every time you update your content?

Martin Splitt Nov 02, 2023 ★★

After publishing your updated content, use the URL Inspection tool in Search Console to request a fresh crawl of the page by Google.

Domain Age & History Content Domain Name Search Console

How can you accurately measure the real impact of your SEO optimizations in Search Console?

Martin Splitt Nov 02, 2023 ★★

To verify the impact of your modifications, click on the relevant page in Search Console, then click on Date, select Compare to see whether your numbers have improved after your changes.

Domain Age & History Web Performance Search Console