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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★★★ How does migrating to HTTPS affect your HTTP indexing, and what can you do to prepare for it?
When migrating to HTTPS, expect a decrease in the indexing of HTTP pages. Ensure that the SSL configuration is correct and that the redirects from HTTP to HTTPS are properly in place....
Google Dec 05, 2019
★★ Is the mobile compatibility test in Search Console really reliable?
The results of mobile compatibility tests in Search Console can be distorted by fleeting rendering errors, without indicating that the site is not compatible. Checking manually can yield more reliable...
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★★ Does SearchAction markup really suffice to get the Sitelinks search field?
The presence of a Sitelinks search field in the search results depends not only on correct markup but also on algorithmic evaluations of its usefulness to users....
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★ Can you really index a URL blocked by robots.txt?
Google can index the URL even if its content is blocked by robots.txt, assuming that the content might be relevant based on the internal or external links pointing to it....
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★★ Is CrUX really enough to measure your site's user experience?
Field data from the Chrome User Experience Report is primarily used to evaluate user experience reporting, as it represents real user interactions....
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★ Do well-ranked category pages really pass authority to the pages they link to?
Well-ranked category pages can help bolster the significance of the pages they link to. If a category page is highly ranked, it sends a signal of importance to the linked pages....
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★★ Should you really adjust the crawl rate to handle traffic spikes like Black Friday?
Adjusting the crawl rate in Search Console can take effect the next day, but for an event like Black Friday, this may be too late if actions are taken at the last minute. To prevent the crawler from t...
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★★ Does Google still struggle with dynamic URLs?
Google may have difficulties with dynamically generated URLs when they redirect or duplicate the content of the homepage. Clear structures for parameters can prevent misinterpretations....
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★ Why doesn't Google name its display formats in SERP?
Google does not provide specific names for various formats like carousels or galleries because they can evolve or group together based on algorithmic tests and adjustments....
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★ Should you limit the number of links on your homepage to concentrate PageRank?
The homepage is often one of the strongest pages of a site, so the links emanating from it are important. However, reducing the number of links to focus on critical pages could be a strategy, while ma...
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★★ Are JavaScript links really being tracked by Google?
Google processes pages with JavaScript by trying to see them as they would be rendered to users, meaning that links must be correctly rendered in the DOM to be followed by the bot. Using JavaScript ev...
John Mueller Nov 28, 2019
★★★ Can Google Search Console truly optimize your SEO, or is it just a monitoring tool?
Google Search Console is a free tool that helps website owners understand their performance on Google Search. It allows monitoring and optimizing how Google crawls, indexes, and serves their site, whi...
Daniel Waisberg Nov 27, 2019
★★★ Does AMP really enhance your crawl budget?
AMP pages do not fundamentally change how our crawl budget is processed. They may be easier to crawl if they load more quickly, but they are not treated differently from traditional HTML pages....
John Mueller Nov 26, 2019
★★★ Should you really disavow all your toxic links?
If you have a clear pattern of unnatural links pointing to your site, it is advisable to remove them. If that is not possible, using the disavow file is an option to instruct us not to consider them i...
John Mueller Nov 26, 2019
★★★ Why does Search Console fail to detect all my mobile errors?
Mobile compatibility reports in Search Console are based on a sample of pages, not all indexed pages. Errors may sometimes be due to temporary access issues with CSS or JavaScript files....
John Mueller Nov 26, 2019
★★★ Can a domain change really be done without losing rankings?
A properly configured domain move should not significantly affect rankings if the domain is well-structured and geographic targeting parameters are correctly defined in Search Console....
John Mueller Nov 26, 2019
★★★ How does Googlebot really schedule the crawling of your site?
Googlebot schedules the crawling of a site's URLs for the entire day to avoid overloading servers. We assess the entire day and adjust the plan for the next day based on this assessment....
John Mueller Nov 26, 2019
★★★ Does Google Really Penalize Websites Using Outdated HTML Code?
John Mueller reminded us on Twitter that Google does not penalize sites that use "old version" HTML, the use of tables, the absence of CSS, the fact that the HTML code does not pass the W3C Validator,...
John Mueller Nov 25, 2019
★★★ Can a Backlink Still Pass SEO Value if the Source Page Isn't Indexed?
John Mueller reminded us on Twitter that a backlink is only taken into account if the link is present in a page indexed by the search engine. If a link exists but the page containing it disappears or ...
John Mueller Nov 25, 2019
★★★ Should You Remove Analytics and Advertising Scripts to Optimize Googlebot Crawling?
Martin Splitt (Google) announced at the SMX East event that during the crawl and "rendering" phases, Googlebot does not take into account Analytics scripts or other advertising-oriented scripts it can...
Martin Splitt Nov 25, 2019
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