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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★★★ Where Should Pagination Tags Be Placed for Google to Recognize Them?
John Mueller reminded that pagination tags (rel=next and rel=prev) must be in the "Head" section of the source code for paginated content. If these indications are found in links (A tag) and therefore...
John Mueller May 02, 2018
★★★ Does the HTTPS SEO Boost Really Work the Same for Every Website?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that the "SEO boost" given when a website switches to HTTPS does not depend on the type of site or its topic, but is identical for all information sources......
John Mueller May 02, 2018
★★★ Should You Split Your Content Across Multiple Pages to Improve Google Indexing?
John Mueller indicated during a hangout that it was not a good strategy to split content across multiple pages solely to increase the number of pages indexed by Google because, by doing so, you also r...
John Mueller May 02, 2018
★★★ Should you really use rel="next" and rel="prev" for pagination?
For paginated pages, use rel="next" and rel="prev" to indicate the order. Ensuring that content URLs are stable is helpful for Google indexing when paginated pages contain content that frequently chan...
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★★ Does hidden content behind tabs really harm mobile SEO?
In mobile-first indexing, we consider content that is not visible by default, such as content behind tabs or drop-down menus, as normal due to space limitations on mobile....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★★ Are URLs with a hash (#) truly ignored by Google during indexing?
Google does not index URLs with hashes separately. If the content you want indexed is loaded when you access the URL without the hash, then it is acceptable....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★★ Should you really include Googlebot in your A/B tests, or could it lead to an SEO penalty?
When conducting A/B tests, do not exclude Googlebot from the different content variants. Ensure that Googlebot is an integral part of the test....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★★ Could Googlebot completely miss entire pages due to geolocation?
Googlebot mainly accesses content from the United States, so if you display location-based content for users, Googlebot may not see all the location-based variations....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★★ Why do your new pages experience ups and downs in the SERPs for weeks?
It is normal for the ranking of new pages to fluctuate in search results as Google adjusts positions while it assesses the relevance and importance of new pages....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★★ Should you really separate family and non-family content by URL for SafeSearch?
It is advisable to separate family content from non-family content by using distinct URL structures (e.g., subdomains) to facilitate Google’s SafeSearch algorithms....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★ Should you really optimize the length of meta descriptions for Google?
There is no fixed recommended length for meta descriptions. Their lengths can vary and adapt to the search context and the device used....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★★ Is a static fallback really necessary for JavaScript-generated URLs?
For dynamic URLs generated by JavaScript (HTML5 pushState), ensure that you include a fallback in the form of a regular static link so that Google can properly index them....
John Mueller May 01, 2018
★★ Are image-focused pages really penalized by Google?
Pages containing only images and minimal text are not automatically considered poor quality in Google's SEO, but it is advisable to ensure they are well indexed and their usefulness is clear....
Google Apr 25, 2018
★★ Why is Google focusing on online events to engage with webmasters?
To improve the dissemination of information to webmasters, Google encourages the organization of online events and ensures the availability of live broadcasts when technically possible....
Google Apr 25, 2018
★★ Does Google Really Count JavaScript Links for SEO?
John Mueller also indicated on Twitter that some JavaScript links, particularly those using "onclick" directives, could be poorly analyzed by Google and the link not taken into account....
John Mueller Apr 23, 2018
★ Does Your Site's Mobile Traffic Influence Its Migration to Mobile First Index?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that the decision to migrate a site to the Mobile First Index was not dependent on the volume of mobile traffic on that site, but solely on whether the site is techni...
John Mueller Apr 23, 2018
★★★ Should You Really Avoid Redirects in Hreflang Tags at All Costs?
John Mueller reminded us on Twitter that URLs specified in Hreflang tags should not be subject to 301, 302 or any other type of redirect. In other words, they must return a 200 code and not be redirec...
John Mueller Apr 23, 2018
★ Should You Use Canonical Tags or Noindex to Handle Duplicate Content?
John Mueller indicated that Google only uses the pages it has in its index for a given site to establish an overall quality score for the information source (which seems quite logical). He also explai...
John Mueller Apr 23, 2018
★★★ Does Having an RSS Feed Actually Improve Your Google Rankings?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that having an RSS feed on your site does not help it rank better in the SERPs, neither in Google nor in Google News....
John Mueller Apr 16, 2018
★★★ Are Complex Tables Really Killing Your Featured Snippet Chances?
John Mueller indicated during a hangout that content displayed in the form of a large table or a long series of links was not optimized to appear as a featured snippet and, therefore, in the context o...
John Mueller Apr 16, 2018
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