What does Google say about SEO? /
The Content category compiles all official Google statements regarding textual content creation, optimization, and evaluation in the context of search engine optimization. It encompasses fundamental aspects such as editorial quality, E-E-A-T criteria (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), duplicate content issues, and thin content concerns. Google's positions on these topics are critical for understanding how algorithms assess the relevance and added value of web pages. This category also includes recommendations on structural elements like headings (H1, H2, Hn tags), meta descriptions, and semantic optimization. With the introduction of the Helpful Content system, Google has reinforced the importance of a user-first approach rather than a search engine-first methodology. SEO professionals will find here official guidance for creating content that meets algorithmic expectations while delivering genuine value to users, a balance that has become essential for achieving and maintaining strong rankings in search results. These declarations provide clarity on content strategies that align with Google's evolving quality standards and ranking factors.
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★★★ Is it true that the number of words isn't a Google ranking factor?
Google does not count the words on a page to determine its ranking. A 300-word piece can be excellent, while a 2000-word piece can be pointless. What matters is the value provided, not the length....
John Mueller Apr 01, 2021
★★★ Is it true that the number of words doesn’t really matter for Google rankings?
The number of words per page is not a Google ranking criterion. Google does not count words and will never refuse to display a page just because it has less than 400 words. What matters is the unique ...
John Mueller Apr 01, 2021
★★★ How Does Google Really Handle Hyphens in Keywords and Search Queries?
John Mueller explained on Twitter that Google can interpret an expression containing a hyphen in several different ways, depending on the context. For example, "wifi" and "wi-fi" will be understood th...
John Mueller Mar 29, 2021
★★★ Should You Really Return a 503 Code Instead of a 502 When Your Site Goes Down?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that when a site goes down (as recently happened with the fire at OVH in Strasbourg), the main idea was for the server to immediately return a 503 code ("Service Unav...
John Mueller Mar 29, 2021
★★ Could duplicate content on product listings actually cost you your rankings?
Having duplicate content (like manufacturer descriptions) on product pages does not make the page bad. It is a common situation. Google will simply choose a version to index from the internal duplicat...
John Mueller Mar 26, 2021
★★ Can you display different ads between the AMP version and the canonical version without risking a penalty?
AMP pages can differ from the canonical HTML version in terms of monetization (ads). Advertisements can vary between versions without issue, as long as the main content and images remain equivalent....
John Mueller Mar 26, 2021
★★★ Mobile-first indexing: Does Google really use the same signals for desktop and mobile?
With mobile-first indexing, Google indexes content only once with the mobile crawler and uses this version along with all its signals as the basis for both desktop AND mobile ranking. This primarily c...
John Mueller Mar 26, 2021
★★ How can you precisely control what appears (or doesn't) in your featured snippets?
To prevent certain paragraphs from appearing in search result snippets, use the data-nosnippet tag. For content that absolutely must not be indexed (legal reasons), block the JavaScript that loads thi...
John Mueller Mar 26, 2021
★★ Do e-commerce sites really need a different SEO approach than others?
E-commerce sites are treated just like regular websites by Google. All the standard SEO best practices apply. Additionally, set up Google Shopping via Merchant Center (free in most countries) to enhan...
John Mueller Mar 26, 2021
★★★ How can you prove your medical expertise to meet Google's YMYL requirements?
For medical sites (YMYL - Your Money Your Life), Google is very demanding. You must demonstrate real expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (EAT). The content must be created or validated by legiti...
John Mueller Mar 26, 2021
★★★ Subdomains vs subdirectories: Does Google really distinguish between them for SEO?
Google treats subdomains and subdirectories the same way for SEO. The choice should be based on what is easier to maintain technically. Geographical targeting is configured in Search Console in both c...
John Mueller Mar 26, 2021
★★★ Does Duplicate Content Really Kill Your SEO?
Duplicate content generally does not lead to penalties. However, it can harm your site's visibility because Google might choose a canonical version from another source....
Google Mar 25, 2021
★★ Should you really limit third-party scripts to enhance your SEO?
Reduce the number of requests needed to load critical content. For optional content, Google Tag Manager is useful. Every JavaScript holds the keys to your content and loading performance. Only use wha...
Martin Splitt Mar 25, 2021
★★★ Does duplicate content really kill your SEO, or is it enough to add a few unique paragraphs?
When different sites have exactly the same product descriptions, Google doesn't need to show all the copies. It's not spam. To solve this issue, add substantial, quality content to your page to stand ...
Gary Illyes Mar 25, 2021
★★ Does lending a subdomain really affect your main domain?
Lending a subdomain to a third party carries risks. Any additional content might impact the reputation of your main domain if quality standards are not maintained....
Google Mar 25, 2021
★★★ Is quality content really enough to rank locally?
To launch a new local business website, the number one priority is to have good content. You need to clearly indicate where you are located, your opening hours, and what services or products you offer...
Gary Illyes Mar 25, 2021
★★ Should you really optimize the length of title tags for Google?
There is value in having title tags longer than the displayable space in search snippets. Keep the title relevant to the page, but don't worry too much about the exact length. If it fills your screen,...
Gary Illyes Mar 25, 2021
★★★ Is it true that JavaScript is fully compatible with modern SEO?
JavaScript SEO is not a novelty but an aspect of technical SEO. It simply acknowledges that many sites use JavaScript to generate content. The claim that JavaScript and SEO are incompatible has been f...
Martin Splitt Mar 24, 2021
★★★ Why does Google never click on your Load More buttons, and how can you avoid this?
Google does not click on buttons. For pagination, it is better to use static links (with href) to page 2, page 3, etc. JavaScript can then override the behavior to load content without page reloading ...
Martin Splitt Mar 24, 2021
★★ Can you really provide a different navigation experience to Google without risking a cloaking penalty?
Having a different experience between users (cumulative display in pagination) and Google (separate pages) is not considered cloaking. It’s simply a different way to navigate content....
Martin Splitt Mar 24, 2021
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