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 passages serve as a separate index in Google?
Passages are not a core update. Instead, they are about better ranking extracts from existing pages, recognizing that a large page can contain a particularly relevant part for a query. There is no sep...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★★ Could Fixing CSS Dimensions of Your Graphics Save Your Core Web Vitals?
To avoid impacting your Core Web Vitals, use CSS to give fixed dimensions to graphic containers so they do not cause layout shift (cumulative layout shift) when they appear....
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★ Should you really be concerned about corrupted titles in the site: operator?
If you see default titles or corrupted descriptions in the results of the site: operator, it's not really a problem since Google generally does not use these versions for real search queries. It becom...
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★ Should you really avoid CDNs for your API calls?
CDNs should strictly be used for static resources (JavaScript, CSS, images, videos, fonts) as they can slow down dynamic API calls. For APIs, use a separate domain like api.example.com....
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★★ Is server-side rendering truly the magic solution for JavaScript SEO?
Google recommends server-side rendering as a robust approach, but it is absolutely necessary to test with tools like Search Console, the mobile optimization test, or the rich results test to ensure th...
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★ Is JavaScript pagination really an issue for Google?
Using JavaScript for pagination isn't bad. It's acceptable as long as you test that it works correctly and that Google can crawl it....
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★★ Is it true that translated content is free from duplicate content issues in Google's eyes?
If you translate content from one language to another, Google does not consider it duplicate content because the words are different. Search engines look at the words on the page, and if the words dif...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★★ Is it really necessary to merge your pages to climb in the SERPs?
Reducing the number of pages by consolidating content can enhance those pages in search and make them more visible. However, these pages will be less targeted on individual topics, which may reduce th...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★ Should you optimize your content for emojis in SEO?
Google tries to understand the emojis used in searches and generally maps them to normal text searches. If someone searches for the coffee emoji, Google should understand that it's equivalent to the w...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★★ Should you really optimize your pages for featured snippets passages?
You should not attempt to specifically optimize for passages. These changes occur because web pages are often messy. Making a clean page disorderly to make it work with this system would offer no adva...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★★ How can you structure your pages so that Google recognizes indexable passages?
For Google to recognize sections of a page as part of passages, it is recommended to have clear headings and well-structured content. If you already have clean pages with clear headings and structure,...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★ Can Geolocation-Based JavaScript Redirects Really Be Crawled Safely by Google?
Modifying the URL and content during hydration based on user location is generally acceptable. Caution is necessary if rendering fails, as Google might see the server-side content. Testing is essentia...
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★ Do JavaScript charts create duplicate content on your pages?
Adding JavaScript charts to an existing page does not cause duplicate content issues. If the chart is the only content on the page, it may not be useful and could be disregarded....
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★★ Do 301 redirects really pass SEO juice even when the content changes completely?
301 redirects transmit signals (link juice) even if the content of the destination page is different from the original page. This is normal in the evolution of a site. The exception would be the purch...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★ Should we really consider Googlebot as a user with accessibility needs?
To explain SEO to developers, think of Googlebot as a user with assistive technology needs: it can’t really see, doesn’t necessarily understand text at first glance, and requires semantically rich dat...
Martin Splitt Oct 30, 2020
★★★ Can lazy loading block Google from indexing your content?
If a site requires scrolling to a certain position for content to load automatically, Google will not see that content. Google loads the page once and sees what is displayed without performing any spe...
John Mueller Oct 30, 2020
★★ Should you really differentiate between the visible date and the structured data date?
The visible date on the page should reflect substantial changes to the main content. For structured data (sitemaps, headers), you can include minor changes like new comments or sidebar adjustments, bu...
John Mueller Oct 29, 2020
★★ Why does Google still display old content in your meta descriptions?
Google adapts the snippets and descriptions based on the user's query, even if the content is no longer present on the page. This adaptation can persist for a few weeks after a content change before i...
John Mueller Oct 29, 2020
★★★ How does Google really handle the separation of a site into two distinct entities?
Separating a site into two is not considered a domain migration by Google since a new state is being created. Using rel canonical followed by 301 redirects is an acceptable approach. It is essential t...
John Mueller Oct 29, 2020
★★★ Do 302 redirects really pass on as much PageRank as 301 redirects?
Google uses numerous signals to determine the canonical URL: 301/302 redirects, rel canonical, internal/external links, sitemap, appearance of the URL. A long-term 302 can be treated as a 301 if it st...
John Mueller Oct 29, 2020
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