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 Will Bing Chat's New #nosearch Feature Change the Way AI Answers Your Questions?
On Twitter, several users complained about Bing Chat's tendency to provide answers sourced from the web, even when simply coding or solving a math problem. In response, Mikhail Parakhin, Corporate Vic...
Google Jul 11, 2023
★★★ Do 404 errors and 301 redirects really hurt your SEO rankings?
404 errors are completely harmless, just like 301 redirects. You should choose the solution best suited to your specific scenario without worrying about negative SEO impact....
Gary Illyes Jul 11, 2023
★★ How can you create unique content for identical products without falling into duplicate content traps?
To make a product page unique when sold by multiple vendors, you need to offer your own perspective: a genuine review, a product test, or useful information beyond the manufacturer's text and specific...
Martin Splitt Jul 11, 2023
★★ Should you really verify each subdomain separately in Search Console?
Subdomains and subdirectories can be verified separately in Search Console. If the main domain is verified, you can add these sub-sections without additional verification. Data can take a few days to ...
John Mueller Jul 11, 2023
★★★ Why does Google treat hreflang and canonical tags as two completely separate mechanisms?
With hreflang, you tell Google that pages are identical but in different languages or regions. Canonicalization then selects the main URL in the index. Other URLs can appear in search results dependin...
Martin Splitt Jul 11, 2023
★★★ Is mobile-friendliness really no longer a Google ranking factor?
Google is removing mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor because most sites are now mobile-optimized. The mobile usability report and mobile-friendly testing tool will be removed from Search Console...
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★ Does Search Console Insights really work without Google Analytics? A game-changer for site owners?
Search Console Insights now supports users without Google Analytics, making it easier to verify your site's performance in Google Search for site owners and their clients....
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★★ Do Core Web Vitals Really Impact Your Content's Search Rankings?
Google has clarified how Core Web Vitals are used in its helpful content ranking system. It is recommended to consult the blog and documentation for all the details....
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★ Is Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE) about to completely transform how organic traffic works?
Google has launched Search Labs where users can test new products and ideas, including Search Generative Experience (SGE) which uses generative AI to provide more information and context to searches. ...
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★ Is Google's new spam report really a game-changer for SEOs?
The spam report has been redesigned and anti-spam policies in Search Essentials (formerly Webmaster Guidelines) have been updated to make it easier to report problematic search results....
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★ Should you really stop using the ping endpoint to submit your sitemaps?
Google announced the upcoming deprecation of the ping endpoint for sitemaps, scheduled for the end of 2023, because the data received was not particularly useful. Sitemaps can still be submitted via S...
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★ Does Google's improved video indexing report finally reveal the real blocking issues?
The video indexing report has been updated to include more detailed information about video indexing issues that can be resolved....
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★★ Is Google really switching from FID to INP in Core Web Vitals — and should you worry?
Interaction to Next Paint (INP) will become a core component of Core Web Vitals and replace First Input Delay (FID) in March 2024. INP data is already available in Search Console to enable preparation...
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
Should you rethink your domain strategy now that .ai has become a generic ccTLD?
Google has changed how it treats the .ai top-level domain in Google Search. It is now considered a generic country code top-level domain (generic ccTLD)....
John Mueller Jul 05, 2023
★★★ Is Semantic HTML Markup Really an SEO Ranking Factor?
In a video published on the Google Search Central channel, John Mueller answered a question about the role of semantic HTML markup in SEO and website rankings. The famous Google employee clarified tha...
John Mueller Jul 04, 2023
★★★ Is semantic HTML really decisive for your search rankings?
Semantic HTML helps search engines understand a page. It involves using HTML elements to structure content according to their meaning rather than their appearance....
John Mueller Jun 29, 2023
★★ Why does Google still insist on anchor tags instead of JavaScript for your links?
You must use anchor (a) tags for links rather than on-click JavaScript handlers, so that Google can properly identify and follow links....
John Mueller Jun 29, 2023
★★ Does placing images near relevant text really boost your SEO and visibility in Google Images?
Images should be integrated near their textual context to help Google better understand the relationship between the image and the content....
John Mueller Jun 29, 2023
★★★ Is semantic HTML really useless for SEO?
Semantic HTML is not a ranking factor and is not a magic multiplier to improve a site's positioning. It aids in understanding but does not directly influence ranking....
John Mueller Jun 29, 2023
★★ Should you really ban HTML tables for page layouts?
Table elements should be used to present tabular data and not to position text or create a layout....
John Mueller Jun 29, 2023
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