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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★★ Does the rel=canonical via HTTP header really still work?
The rel=canonical attribute via HTTP header continues to work and remains effective for PDFs or other content with separate desktop/mobile versions on different domains....
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Does a ranking drop after a Core Update really indicate an issue with your site?
The May 2020 Core Algorithm Update is over. A ranking drop does not necessarily mean there's a problem with the site: it can result from the enhancement of competing content. There isn't always a corr...
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Should you really be worried about duplicate content from scraping?
If content is copied by scraping/hacking sites, the original site is unlikely to be penalized for duplication. Submit the URLs of hacked sites via Spam Report for Google to process them quickly....
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★ Why does Google emphasize textual context in Search Console feedback?
When sending Search Console feedback, attach a detailed textual explanation in addition to the screenshots. The Search Console team can use Google Translate to understand Japanese if English is imposs...
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★ Do Google penalties really transfer between domains and subdomains?
Google does not publicly specify whether a manual penalty on a main domain affects its subdomains or the other way around, as it would reveal the internal workings of the anti-spam fight. Google recom...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Why does Google refuse to show your FAQs in rich results despite perfect markup?
The display of FAQs in rich results is determined by the algorithm, not the webmaster. If the markup is correct and error-free in Search Console, no further action is possible. Content quality remains...
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Can you really add a FAQ just to get the rich result without risking penalties?
Adding a legitimate FAQ section to achieve the rich result is acceptable, as long as the FAQ content is genuinely useful and unique per page. Avoid mechanically reused FAQs across hundreds of pages or...
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★ What really causes your sitemap to fail in Search Console and how can you effectively resolve the issue?
If submitting a sitemap fails in Search Console, the best action is to use the 'Send Feedback' feature in Search Console with a detailed description (ideally in English, but Japanese works too via Goo...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Are mobile and desktop accordions really neutral for SEO?
Google recognizes and correctly indexes hidden content in accordions, whether on mobile or desktop. With Mobile-First Indexing, hidden content on desktop has no impact on indexing because Google mainl...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Can you relaunch an old domain without being penalized for duplicate content by spammers?
If a site that has been closed for a year is relaunched on a new domain and its content has been copied by scraping sites, Google will likely not penalize the legitimate site for duplication. The algo...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Should You Really Wait Before Optimizing Core Web Vitals?
Google has announced new ranking signals (Web Vitals) but they will not be launched until the end of 2020. Webmasters can prioritize other urgent tasks such as adapting to the health situation....
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Should you really report every scraping URL via the Spam Report to prompt action from Google?
In the face of mass scraping or hacked sites displaying stolen content, Google advises reporting each URL via the Spam Report. Although each report may not lead to individual action, these reports ass...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★ Do Google penalties really spread between domains and subdomains?
Google does not reveal whether manual or algorithmic penalties propagate between the main domain and subdomains, to avoid exposing anti-spam methods. Avoid creating content that risks manual action....
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★ How do you set up hreflang and x-default for geographic 301 redirects without losing indexing?
Redirecting users from one country to a different domain (with a canonical link to the main domain) is possible. Using hreflang with x-default for the redirect page helps Google understand the structu...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★ Does JavaScript server-side rendering hide invisible SEO errors from users?
JavaScript server-side rendering (SSR) produces static HTML similar to WordPress, but if SSR is configured specifically for Google, numerous errors can occur that are invisible to normal users. Compar...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Why does Google remember your SEO history even after a drastic content change?
Historical data influences ranking. An older site has accumulated signals (links) over the years. Some algorithms (adult content, quality) have a memory: a site that changes from adult content to gene...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Can you really display different content on mobile and desktop without facing penalties?
Google indexes the mobile version of the content. Displaying slightly different content between mobile and desktop is acceptable, unless it is malicious cloaking (e.g., comics on mobile, adult content...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Why is it never enough for Google to copy content word for word during a migration?
Copying content word for word during a migration (e.g., from WordPress to React) is not enough. Google also analyzes titles, headings, images, design, navigation, and the structure of internal links. ...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Is geographic cloaking really allowed by Google?
Serving different content by country is not cloaking if all users in a given country (including Googlebot crawling from the USA) see the same version. Cloaking only refers to the act of serving specif...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★ Why doesn't your homepage always show up first in a site: query?
For site: queries, Google has no defined order for displaying results. It's common but not guaranteed to see the homepage first. Its absence does not indicate a problem if the page normally ranks for ...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
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