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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★★★ Is it true that you can't use Google My Business reviews in schema?
Including Google My Business reviews in schema markup on your site goes against Google's policies regarding structured data for reviews. Reviews must be collected directly from the website to be prope...
John Mueller Aug 20, 2021
★★ Why doesn't Google diminish the power of generic keywords across all pages?
Having a generic keyword like 'flags' present on every page of a site (1000 pages) does not weaken the homepage's potential for that term. Google understands that this word applies to the entire site ...
John Mueller Aug 20, 2021
★★ How does Google really adjust its ranking algorithms for internal testing?
Google has the technical capability to disable certain ranking components from the search results page on its internal network. This feature allows raters to compare two versions of the results: one w...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★★ Why do some SEO experiments fail despite solid ideas?
Many ideas that seem excellent in theory are ultimately abandoned after experimentation because they reduce user engagement. For instance, some labels meant to identify secure sites were tested but ha...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★★ Should we rethink our SEO testing approach with Google's latest methods?
Google employs two testing methods: live experiments on real user segments for adjustable interface and ranking changes, and evaluations by human raters for modifications that require a complete rebui...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★★ How crucial is loading speed for SEO success?
Google discovered the importance of speed by deliberately introducing a delay of a few hundred milliseconds in search results for a segment of users during an experiment. This significantly decreased ...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★★ How do Google's secret tests impact your SEO strategy?
Users are never notified when they are part of a search experiment. Google wants to observe their natural behavior without them altering their habits knowing they are part of a test. Any user can be p...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★ Why isn't Google the final judge for DMCA claims?
When it comes to copyright infringements, Google receives and reviews DMCA notices and takes action if everything is in order, but it is not the final decision-maker. Affected parties can file a count...
Aurora Morales Aug 19, 2021
★★★ How does Google evaluate user behavior during its experiments?
During experiments, Google analyzes several behavioral metrics: whether users avoid certain results, how much time they spend on the results page, if they click and then go back, and the overall durat...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★ Why does the duration of Google's SEO tests vary so much?
Search experiments can last from a week to several months depending on the amount of data needed to make an informed decision. Google doesn't rely on assumptions but waits to gather enough data before...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★ How was RankBrain tested before its official launch?
The RankBrain algorithm, like almost all search features launched by Google, was tested through experiments or evaluations by human raters before its public deployment. Positive test results led Googl...
Gary Illyes Aug 19, 2021
★★ Could unmoderated UGC really be blocking your SEO monetization?
If a site contains user-generated content such as comments, those sections must be moderated in order to be monetized. Publishers are responsible for all content present on their site, including that ...
Aurora Morales Aug 19, 2021
★★★ Why should you rely on Search Console instead of the site: command?
To find out how many pages Google has indexed on your site, you should use Google Search Console rather than the site: query. It is the official and reliable tool to obtain this information....
John Mueller Aug 17, 2021
★★★ Is the site: command really a reliable SEO diagnostic tool?
The site: query is not intended to be comprehensive or used for diagnostic purposes. It limits results to a specific site but does not represent a complete collection of all pages on that site....
John Mueller Aug 17, 2021
★★★ Why does Google recommend Search Console for diagnosing indexing issues?
Google Search Console is a free tool that website owners can use to gain insights into how Google Search views their site, including the number of pages currently indexed and how they appear in the re...
John Mueller Aug 17, 2021
★★★ Is it true that the site: command isn't reliable for evaluating indexing?
The number of pages displayed in a site: query doesn't necessarily reflect the actual number of pages indexed by Google. There's no need to worry about the counts shown in a site: query....
John Mueller Aug 17, 2021
★★★ Should You Really Optimize Your Image ALT Attributes to Improve Your SEO?
Martin Splitt confirmed on Twitter that the ALT attribute of image tags (no, we don't say "ALT tag" 🙂) carries weight in SEO and that this information should therefore be included in IMG tags for imag...
Martin Splitt Aug 16, 2021
★★★ Why Isn't Your Site Affected the Same Way by Every Google Core Update?
John Mueller explained during a hangout with webmasters that each "core update" has its own truth and can impact one site or another differently. Also, a site impacted by a core update will not necess...
John Mueller Aug 16, 2021
★★★ Should You Worry About Click Bot Traffic in Search Console?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that in the "Performance" menu of Search Console, traffic coming from click bots is not necessarily removed. Therefore, there may be "automated" traffic displayed, wh...
John Mueller Aug 16, 2021
★★★ How do real user data insights from Google change the SEO game?
Core Web Vitals data in Search Console comes from real user measurements (field data or RUM). This is what real users experience. Tools like PageSpeed Insights are lab tests that provide estimates, wh...
John Mueller Aug 14, 2021
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