What does Google say about SEO?

Should You Temporarily Deindex a Page to Remove Its Sitelinks from SERPs?

John Mueller Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

On Reddit, John Mueller shared his perspective on using noindex to modify link appearances. A user asked him whether it was possible to temporarily deindex a specific page to prevent it from appearing in the sitelinks displayed in SERPs. John's take:...

Domain Age & History Content Crawl & Indexing Featured Snippets & SERP AI & SEO Links & Backlinks Local Search

Should You Really Avoid Depending on Google Discover Traffic for Your Site?

John Mueller Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Google's John Mueller stated on Mastodon that it was a bad thing for your site to depend on Discover for traffic. He wrote: "If your site depends on Discover traffic, that's a bad idea, regardless of your specifics." He then cited the Discover docume...

Content Discover & News AI & SEO PDF & Files

Why is Google now officially differentiating between ranking systems and updates?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Google now differentiates between ranking systems and updates. A system is a permanent component, while an update means that an existing system has been reworked or improved.

AI & SEO

Do you really need to overhaul your entire site after every Google update?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Contrary to popular belief, when a new ranking update rolls out, you don't need to start from scratch. The changes required are generally minor if your content was already aligned with Google's principles.

Content AI & SEO

Is Google finally consolidating the documentation of its ranking systems in one place?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Google is creating dedicated pages to explain key systems like product reviews or helpful content. These pages give concrete advice to creators on what each system looks for and how to align with it.

Domain Age & History Content E-commerce Local Search

Should you really wait for a Google system to impact your traffic before taking action?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

If you notice a performance drop after the launch or update of a system, it signals that your content may not be aligned with what that system is looking for. In this case, review the official advice associated with it.

Content AI & SEO Web Performance Search Console

Will Google finally document all of its ranking systems?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★

Google plans to progressively enrich its documentation with more ranking systems, such as recently with the thematic authority system shared by the news team.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO PDF & Files

Is HTTPS losing its grip as a Google ranking factor?

Martin Splitt Aug 22, 2023 ★★

HTTPS was a quality and trust signal for ranking, but as more and more sites adopt it by default, its weight as an indicator of care and quality has diminished in ranking systems.

HTTPS & Security AI & SEO

Are Google's technical guidelines really as binary and verifiable as they claim?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★

Search Essentials contain clear technical guidelines that are verifiable in a binary manner (yes/no). Good technical optimization does not guarantee ranking number one but remains a necessary foundation.

Content AI & SEO

Does word count really matter for Google rankings?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Contrary to popular belief, Google never specifies that content must contain a minimum or maximum number of words. Content volume is not a ranking criterion in itself.

Content AI & SEO

Should you really display an author on every single page of your website?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★

Displaying an author is only relevant where it makes sense for the visitor. On a technical product page, no one expects to see an author name. Authorship is useful for editorial content, not systematically across the board.

Domain Age & History Content E-commerce AI & SEO Local Search

Does Google really use just one algorithm to rank websites?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Google doesn't have one giant algorithm, but instead uses multiple ranking systems that work together. This official documentation lists the main systems to help creators understand how ranking works.

Algorithms AI & SEO PDF & Files

Is Google really rolling out more updates or just communicating about them better?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★

The number of updates hasn't increased, but Google is communicating more about them. Notable updates communicated publicly are those that merit particular attention.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO Pagination & Structure

Does Google really limit search results to just two pages per domain?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Google uses a diversity system that generally limits to a maximum of two pages from the same website in the top search results, except for brand-specific searches where more results from the same domain can appear.

Domain Age & History AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Domain Name

Should you ditch the technical SEO checklist and focus solely on user experience instead?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Google is evolving from an approach based on specific signals to a holistic approach centered on overall mindset. Rather than checking off technical boxes, you need to adopt a comprehensive vision of user experience.

Content

Is Page Experience optimization becoming impossible by focusing on individual signals?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

Page Experience is no longer a specific system but a general concept. It's not enough to optimize Core Web Vitals or HTTPS separately: you must provide a globally positive page experience including format, interstitials, pop-ups, etc.

Domain Age & History HTTPS & Security AI & SEO Web Performance

Is authentic content for a real audience truly the SEO game-changer Google claims it is?

Danny Sullivan Aug 22, 2023 ★★★

The fundamental recommendation is to create authentic content for a real audience you know, people who would come directly to your site. This is the winning strategy against system evolution and generative AI.

Content AI & SEO

Should you really adapt your content to match the exact vocabulary of your target audience?

John Mueller Aug 17, 2023 ★★★

It is crucial to put into words on your site what you have identified as your audience's search queries. This is an important step that is often neglected.

AI & SEO

Does Google really require you to remove 'fluffy content' from your pages to rank higher?

John Mueller Aug 17, 2023 ★★★

Be direct and honest in your content. Say what you mean without filling your pages with superficial content or unnecessary filler.

Domain Age & History Content

Does complex SEO really matter to rank on Google, or is simplicity enough?

John Mueller Aug 17, 2023 ★★

You don't need to be sophisticated or complicated when it comes to SEO. Simplicity and clarity are preferable.

AI & SEO