What does Google say about SEO? /
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping search engine optimization and Google's algorithms. This category compiles Google's official statements regarding AI usage in search, including machine learning technologies, large language models (LLMs), and new generative search experiences like SGE and AI Overview. SEO practitioners will find Google's positions on how AI-generated content (ChatGPT, Gemini, Bard) impacts website rankings and organic visibility. Google has clarified its guidelines concerning artificial intelligence for content creation, distinguishing acceptable practices from manipulative techniques that violate search quality standards. Understanding these official declarations is crucial for adapting SEO strategies to algorithmic evolutions, particularly with the increasing integration of machine learning into ranking systems. This category also covers the impact of AI-generated answers in SERPs, E-E-A-T quality criteria applied to AI-assisted content, and recommendations for maintaining organic search presence in the era of generative search. Essential insights include how Google evaluates content quality regardless of production method, focusing on helpfulness and user value rather than creation process. A must-follow resource for staying ahead in modern search engine optimization.
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★★ Why are we still optimizing for Google instead of our readers?
For medical content supervised by experts, the goal should be to make this information clear for readers, not search engines. Writing in clear HTML text is enough for Google to understand. There are n...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★ What's the deal with Google's 1000 URL limit on DMCA requests?
For clone sites with tens of thousands of pages, there is no official method to submit more than 1000 URLs at a time via DMCA. The current batch process of 1000 must be followed. Also sending a Spam R...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★★ Is it necessary to cite external sources for AggregateRating?
For AggregateRating data sourced from external partner sites, it's crucial to clearly display the source and allow users to verify the original reviews. Showing only favorable reviews or not allowing ...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★★ How can you truly master indexing in four steps according to Google?
Indexing follows four steps: 1) Discovery of the URL, 2) Crawl to retrieve the content, 3) Indexing on the servers, 4) Display in the results. 'Detected - not indexed' means discovered but not yet cra...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★★ Should you rethink comment campaigns for SEO?
Offering rewards for comments is acceptable for engagement, but it becomes problematic if used to obtain links (link spam). Google detects and penalizes sites that excessively use comments or guest po...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★ Why should you prefer robots.txt to block crawling?
To prevent the crawling of certain URLs with parameters, robots.txt is preferable to the URL Parameters tool because it works for all crawlers, not just Google. The URL Parameters tool is only useful ...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★★ How does Google really use your spam reports?
For sites using spam techniques (such as subdirectories with irrelevant content), the official method is to submit a Spam Report. Google uses these reports to identify global trends and improve algori...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★★ Is DMCA the Better Choice for Reporting Copied Content Instead of Search Console?
For copied content displayed in search results, the appropriate procedure is to submit a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) request using Google's legal form, not through Search Console or Spam R...
Google Jan 27, 2022
★★ Is the impact/effort matrix really the key to prioritizing your SEO tasks effectively?
Martin Splitt recommends that SEOs use an impact/effort matrix to prioritize technical requests. High-impact, low-effort tasks should be prioritized to facilitate collaboration with developers....
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★★ Should you embrace experimentation to unlock your SEO potential?
Martin Splitt strongly endorses the "test and learn" approach in SEO. He compares this method to software development where engineers build prototypes and experiment when they don't know the exact sol...
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★ Is developing content that remains invisible to search engines really worth your time and effort?
Martin Splitt explains that SEO serves to give visibility to developers' work. If no one discovers the software through search engines, the development effort loses a large portion of its potential im...
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★ Why does Google refuse to reveal the complete formula behind its ranking algorithm?
Jenn Mathews and Martin Splitt confirm that Google does not disclose the complete formula of its ranking algorithm. SEOs must work with hypotheses based on experience and adopt a test and learn approa...
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★★ Is E-A-T really not a Google ranking factor?
Martin Splitt indirectly confirms that E-A-T is not a ranking factor by mentioning that statements claiming "E-A-T is a ranking factor" are examples of persistent SEO myths that should no longer circu...
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★ Does choosing between 301 and 302 redirects really impact your Google rankings?
In the example provided, Martin Splitt and Jenn Mathews confirm that the type of redirect (temporary 302 vs permanent 301) is important and must be chosen correctly based on the redirect's intention....
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★★ Should you really integrate SEO from the development phase to avoid costly fixes later?
Martin Splitt approves the idea of "mitigation" where technical teams integrate best SEO practices (correct redirects, optimal structure) from the development phase, before launch, thus reducing the n...
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★★ Does having multiple URLs for the same content really trigger a Google penalty?
Martin Splitt indicates that the idea that having multiple URLs pointing to the same content would result in a Google penalty is a myth. He mentions this as an example of unrealistic beliefs that SEO ...
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★ Should SEOs be comfortable admitting when they don't have all the answers?
Martin Splitt encourages SEOs to admit when they don't know an answer, the way developers do. This honest approach followed by a proposal to test is more productive and strengthens credibility with te...
Martin Splitt Jan 26, 2022
★★★ Should You Avoid Special Characters in Faceted Filter URLs?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that it wasn't a good idea to create URLs with non-standard characters for faceted filters. Therefore, it's not recommended to use commas or parentheses in this type ...
John Mueller Jan 24, 2022
★★★ Does Google Really Use the Same Algorithm for All Languages?
John Mueller indicated on Reddit that Google uses "most of the time" the same search algorithms for all languages, but that certain languages require a specific algorithm to process them. For example,...
John Mueller Jan 24, 2022
★★ Crawled vs Discovered: Are these two non-indexed statuses really the same thing?
The statuses 'Crawled, not indexed' and 'Discovered, not indexed' are essentially equivalent. In both cases, Google knows the URL but has decided not to index it....
John Mueller Jan 21, 2022
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