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 Google really replacing First Input Delay with Interaction to Next Paint in Core Web Vitals, and what does that mean for your SEO?
Google will replace First Input Delay with Interaction to Next Paint in Core Web Vitals in March 2024. This new metric measures the delay between all user interactions and the page's response, not jus...
Martin Splitt Dec 21, 2023
★★ Are Google's AI principles really shaping how search results rank?
Google applies its artificial intelligence principles to all its AI-related products, including SGE and Bard. The gradual rollout across different countries allows it to comply with local regulations ...
Martin Splitt Dec 21, 2023
★★★ Is Googlebot really rejecting HTML pages larger than 15 MB from being crawled?
Google has a 15 megabyte request size limit for crawling web pages. This limit applies to individual HTML files and is large enough for the vast majority of websites....
Gary Illyes Dec 21, 2023
★★★ Why does Google separate Googlebot and Google-Other in its crawling activities?
Google created the Google-Other user-agent to isolate crawl traffic unrelated to search. Googlebot is now reserved exclusively for search-related traffic, while Google-Other is used for search and cer...
Gary Illyes Dec 21, 2023
★★ Does Google really check 4 billion robots.txt files every single day?
Google checks the robots.txt files of roughly 4 billion hostnames daily, and the total number of sites (including subdirectories) likely surpasses this number. Any control solution must factor in this...
Gary Illyes Dec 21, 2023
★★ Should you really ignore Core Updates during the holiday season?
There's no need to worry about core updates during the end-of-year period. Google recommends taking a few days off and relaxing, as core updates don't require constant monitoring during this time....
Martin Splitt Dec 20, 2023
★★★ Do structured data implementations really guarantee rich snippet display in Google search results?
Structured data is primarily used to provide more context in search results, but its use is not guaranteed by Google....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★★ Should you slow down Googlebot when it's crawling your site too aggressively?
If Googlebot is crawling your site too aggressively, you can use standard HTTP result codes 503 or 429 to slow it down....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★ Is Google really cutting down the Page Experience Report to just Core Web Vitals and HTTPS?
The Page Experience Report in Search Console has been simplified to provide an overview of Core Web Vitals and HTTPS status. Core Web Vitals measure the speed and interactivity of a web page....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★ What are Google's real priorities hidden behind its latest algorithmic updates?
Google has deployed several algorithmic updates including Core Updates, a spam update, and a Reviews update. Details are available on Google's blog and the Search Status Dashboard....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★★ Should You Worry About Duplicate Content Between an HTML Page and Its PDF Version?
In a recent video published on YouTube, John Mueller explains that there is no problem with content being published in both HTML and PDF formats, noting that both types of pages can be displayed indep...
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★★ Are these new structured data types really opening doors for your SEO, or just adding technical overhead?
Google has announced several new types of structured data: course information, vehicle announcements for auto dealerships, learning videos for students and teachers, vacation rental listings, updates ...
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★ Is Google finally giving you the structured data transparency you've been waiting for?
Search Console now offers reports and tests for new types of structured data, from course information to vacation rental listings....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★ Did Google really move the robots.txt testing tool and why does it matter for your site?
The robots.txt testing tool has been updated in Search Console. It is now located under Settings and provides an overview of all your subdomains....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★ Can timezone errors in structured data really destroy your local SEO visibility?
Timezones can have a significant impact in structured data, even when you're simply using a date. It's important to account for them correctly....
Google Dec 19, 2023
★★★ Should you really exclude prices from flight page title tags?
For pages concerning flights, you should not include prices in title tags. Titles are highly visible and prices can change rapidly, which would make the title become outdated....
Google Dec 19, 2023
★★ Is the death of third-party cookies threatening your e-commerce conversions?
Chrome is progressively removing third-party cookies, notably affecting e-commerce payment processes and comment or login systems. It is recommended to test your site to verify if it is affected....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★★ Should you block Google's generative AI in robots.txt? Here's what you need to know about Google-Extended
Google has added Google-Extended, a new user agent for robots.txt. Web publishers can use it to control whether their sites help improve Bard and generative Vertex AI APIs....
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★★ Should you still worry about crawl budget now that Google is removing the crawl frequency parameter?
The crawl frequency parameter is being removed from Search Console because it's no longer necessary. Google's systems have improved to automatically determine an appropriate and sustainable crawl freq...
John Mueller Dec 19, 2023
★★★ Does Google really ignore text generated through the CSS 'content' property—and why should you care?
Content added to a page through the CSS 'content' property is generally not indexed by Google. This information has been officially documented by the Google Search team....
Google Dec 19, 2023
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