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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★★★ Should you choose AMP or PWA to maximize your SEO performance?
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and AMP serve different purposes. AMP is ideal for publishing content with fast loading times, while PWAs are better suited for web applications with interactive features a...
John Mueller Sep 06, 2019
★★★ Is it true that Google fails to index content it can't render in JavaScript?
If Google is unable to render the content when checking with Search Console tools, it is likely that this content will not be indexed....
Martin Splitt Sep 04, 2019
★★★ Does the Google Sandbox Really Exist or Is It Just an SEO Myth?
John Mueller himself indicated on Twitter that the notion of the Sandbox (the idea that a site, when it is created, is put "in quarantine" by the search engine before achieving the positions it aspire...
John Mueller Aug 26, 2019
★★★ Are Multilingual Backlinks Toxic to Your SEO?
John Mueller reminded us on Twitter that getting backlinks from sites that aren't in your language isn't necessarily a spam signal indicating that these links are "toxic"......
John Mueller Aug 26, 2019
★★★ Does AMP/mobile equivalence really affect Google rankings?
User experience and content on AMP pages should match those of normal pages to avoid poor user experience that could potentially harm rankings....
John Mueller Aug 23, 2019
★★★ How does Google really handle duplicate content in search results?
If part of a page's content is copied, Google will try to filter duplicates by showing only one version of that content for a given query....
John Mueller Aug 23, 2019
★★ Is it really essential to highlight the medical validation of your health content through structured data?
While it's not necessary to mention that the content has been verified by doctors, if you are doing something beneficial for your users, it’s helpful to highlight it, as it could underscore the value ...
John Mueller Aug 23, 2019
★★ Is it true that Google merges your international content in its results?
For the same content across multiple countries, Google may merge these pages in the results. Hreflang tags help manage these duplicates. You can also choose to slightly adapt the content for each mark...
John Mueller Aug 22, 2019
★★★ How does Google decide which version of duplicated content to display in search results?
When publishing articles on multiple domains, Google first indexes the different versions and then chooses one version to display in the search results. Using a canonical tag to designate a primary ve...
John Mueller Aug 22, 2019
★★ Is Google really rewriting your titles without your consent? The truth about A/B testing of title tags.
Google automatically adjusts the length of displayed titles based on A/B tests. Manual changes can ensure better control over the display in the results....
John Mueller Aug 22, 2019
★★★ How does Google actually handle duplicate internal links on the same page?
Google treats duplicate internal links, such as those present in text and images, by primarily using the text link for contextualization. The alt attribute of a linked image may also be considered for...
John Mueller Aug 22, 2019
★★★ How does Google really assess your site's mobile compatibility before switching to mobile-first?
Google evaluates sites' readiness for mobile-first indexing by comparing mobile and desktop versions, ensuring that all content, including structured data and images, is accessible....
John Mueller Aug 21, 2019
★★★ Does Amazon's Alexa Rank Actually Influence Google Rankings?
Some questions asked to Google spokespeople are truly bizarre... For instance, a user asked John Mueller on Twitter whether Amazon's Alexa Rank played a role in Google's relevance algorithm. John's an...
John Mueller Aug 19, 2019
★★★ Do Nofollow Links Really Show Up in Search Console and Pass PageRank?
In a new video on the #AskGoogleWebmasters YouTube channel, John Mueller explains that "nofollow" links do not transmit any signals (and particularly no PageRank) to Google, but that they do appear in...
John Mueller Aug 19, 2019
★★★ Should You Really Add the Nofollow Attribute to All Affiliate Links?
John Mueller himself indicated on Twitter that the "nofollow" attribute should be used on all links "that were part of a financial transaction." He was referring here to affiliate links....
John Mueller Aug 19, 2019
★★★ Are JavaScript Redirects Really Safe for Your SEO?
Third episode of the #AskGoogleWebmasters videos, which this time addresses the question of JavaScript redirects. John Mueller explains that Googlebot understands JS redirects well during its crawls a...
John Mueller Aug 12, 2019
★★★ Does Google Really Index Parts of Pages or Always the Entire Content?
The same John Mueller indicated on Twitter that Google always indexes a page in its entirety and never "bits" or parts of HTML code....
John Mueller Aug 12, 2019
★★★ How Can You Optimize SEO for Links Placed on Images?
John Mueller reminded us in a hangout that it's important, when a link is placed on an image, for that image to have an ALT attribute, so that anchor text is provided to the search engine, as if the l...
John Mueller Aug 12, 2019
★★ Is Word Count Really a Ranking Factor for Google?
In a Reddit discussion, John Mueller indicated that "the number of words on a page is not a relevance criterion" for the search engine....
John Mueller Aug 12, 2019
★★★ Does the mobile-friendly test really guarantee the indexing of your JavaScript?
If your content is visible in Google's mobile-friendly test, it is generally well indexed. However, the mobile-friendly test does not follow the robots.txt file. Use the URL inspection tool in Search ...
John Mueller Aug 09, 2019
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