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 Still Use Geographic Meta Tags for Local SEO?
John Mueller indicated that Google does not take into account geo-type meta tags (<meta name="geo.position" content="latitude; longitude">, <meta name="geo.placename" content="Place">, <meta name="geo...
John Mueller Aug 14, 2017
★★ What's the Maximum Page Size Google Will Actually Crawl?
John Mueller explained that Googlebot's current crawl limit for a web page is 200 MB (the last known limit in 2015 was 10 MB)....
John Mueller Aug 14, 2017
★★★ Does Google really index all the JavaScript content on your site?
Google can process JavaScript content displayed by default but may miss content that needs user interaction to appear, such as clicking on tabs....
John Mueller Aug 11, 2017
★★★ Does structured markup really affect Google rankings?
Structured markup helps Google better understand the content of a page and can lead to enhanced display in search results, but it is not a direct ranking factor....
John Mueller Aug 11, 2017
★★★ Does Google rewrite your titles and meta descriptions without your permission?
Titles and snippets can be adjusted by Google to better match the queries and devices used. Variations are normal and cannot be blocked by webmasters....
John Mueller Aug 10, 2017
★★★ How does Google really determine the crawling frequency of your site?
The frequency of crawling by Google depends on factors such as server speed, content quality, and changes made to the site. Google adapts its resources accordingly to maximize the efficiency of crawli...
John Mueller Aug 10, 2017
★★★ Is First Click Free still a viable strategy for indexing paid content?
The 'First Click Free' model allows users to access the first part of a page's content before a paywall appears. This is permitted by Google as long as the initial content is visible unconditionally....
John Mueller Aug 10, 2017
★★ Do subdomains really pass their authority to the main domain?
Subdomains can be considered as either part of or separate from the overall main domain. Google tries to understand the context to determine how subdomains and root domains interact....
John Mueller Aug 10, 2017
★★★ Should you really count words to rank on Google?
Google does not recommend counting the maximum number of words on a page. The file size could technically limit indexing, but it does not significantly affect a page unless a script produces an infini...
John Mueller Aug 10, 2017
★★ Should you still use rel=prev/next tags for paginated content?
For paginated content, it is advisable to provide clear pagination indicators such as rel=prev/next tags, allowing Google to better understand the relationships between pages....
John Mueller Aug 10, 2017
★★★ Is it possible to hide H2 headings for screen readers without SEO risks?
The use of hidden content for screen readers is not problematic for SEO as long as the content is relevant to the page. Abuses in hiding unrelated content to manipulate rankings could be problematic....
John Mueller Aug 10, 2017
★★★ Should you really avoid using nofollow on your internal links?
It is generally not necessary to use the 'nofollow' attribute on internal links pointing to reliable and relevant pages within the context of your website....
Google Aug 08, 2017
★★★ Should you really report hacked spam sites to Google?
It is advisable to report a site that has been hacked and displaying fraudulent content using Google's spam report. Google has automated mechanisms to detect and process these cases, but your report c...
Google Aug 08, 2017
★★ How do spaces in Google queries affect your rankings?
Search results can differ when spaces are added or removed in queries. This is due to how Google interprets the queries, where even small variations can change the context or perceived results....
Google Aug 08, 2017
★★★ Is it really necessary to keep your CMS updated to avoid an SEO penalty?
It is important to ensure that the content management systems (CMS) used are up to date, including their plugins and passwords, to reduce hacking risks and prevent potential security issues....
Google Aug 08, 2017
★★★ Do Commas in Title Tags Actually Hurt Your SEO Rankings?
A user asked John Mueller on Twitter whether using commas as separators in Title tags posed a problem. Unsurprisingly, John replied that he could do as he pleased in this regard....
John Mueller Aug 07, 2017
★★★ Should You Really Place Optimized Text Below Your Footer to Boost SEO?
An internet user pointed out to Gary Illyes - with examples - that certain "SEO experts" were placing several sentences (clearly intended for Google optimization) below the footer of their pages and a...
Gary Illyes Aug 07, 2017
★★★ Does the Order of URLs in an XML Sitemap File Actually Matter to Google?
John Mueller explained on Twitter that you can structure your XML Sitemap file absolutely however you want in terms of field order, and this won't cause any problems for Google. The file is read autom...
John Mueller Aug 07, 2017
★ Do Google's Quality Raters Really Influence Your Site's Rankings?
John Mueller indicated in a hangout that quality raters were there primarily to evaluate and even help correct Google's algorithms, but that their purpose was not to assess the sites appearing in sear...
John Mueller Aug 07, 2017
★★★ Does Capitalization in Hreflang Tags Really Affect International SEO?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that it was possible to specify language and country codes in Hreflang tags in lowercase or uppercase, regardless of case: fr-FR, fr-fr or FR-fr, everything will work...
John Mueller Aug 07, 2017
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