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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★★★ Should you really upload your disavow list only on the current domain?
For the link disavow tool, the list must be uploaded only to the Search Console property of the current domain. If a redirect is properly configured, Google transfers link signals to the new domain. N...
Google Mar 05, 2026
★★★ Why is Google treating your e-commerce category pages as duplicate content?
On e-commerce sites, category pages can be considered duplicated if boilerplate content (navigation, header, footer) represents too high a proportion. Server instability can also prevent complete cont...
Google Mar 05, 2026
★★★ Does valid W3C HTML code really improve your search rankings?
Strict compliance with the W3C validator has no importance to search engines. Unless you do something really stupid with the HTML, it will work. We cannot give a ranking bonus to valid HTML, because a...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★ Does web performance really improve your organic search rankings?
Performance improvements that speed up loading for users (via preload, prefetch, etc.) have positive side effects on SEO because studies show that users appreciate fast sites, with better retention an...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★ Is HTML5 semantic markup really useless for SEO?
Using HTML5 semantic tags (article, section, nav, header, footer) or respecting the hierarchical structure of headings (single H1, then H2, etc.) has no significant impact on search engine optimizatio...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★★ Does Google really ignore canonical tags placed in the <body>? Here's why it matters.
Google does not accept link rel=canonical tags located in the <body> of the page. If this powerful signal were accepted in the body, a malicious user could place it in a comment and hijack a page's se...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★ Why does Googlebot ignore your resource preloading hints?
When rendering pages, Google caches the necessary resources on its side rather than fetching them each time. This approach saves bandwidth and reduces the load on hosting servers, which explains why c...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★★ Is Google really ignoring your meta tags placed in the <body>?
Meta and link tags carrying metadata for search engines must mandatorily appear in the <head> section of HTML. If they appear in the <body>, they are ignored by Google's infrastructure. The HTML stand...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★ Should you really optimize preloading hints for Googlebot?
Google does not use or barely uses link hints like DNS prefetch, preconnect, preload or prefetch, because its infrastructure works differently from browsers: no synchronous resource fetching, Google-s...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★★ Why does modifying canonicals with JavaScript create contradictory signals that confuse Google?
When a canonical tag is present in the initial HTML and then modified by JavaScript, this creates mixed signals that are difficult to interpret. Google discourages changing metadata with JavaScript be...
Martin Splitt Feb 26, 2026
★★ Does Google really parse HTML the same way browsers do?
Search engines, including Google, try to behave similarly to browsers when parsing HTML. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Like browsers, Google accepts metadata tags in the <head> but not in ...
Gary Illyes Feb 26, 2026
★★★ Why could your HTTPS site display an incorrect name and favicon in Google due to a phantom HTTP page?
John Mueller from Google revealed an unusual issue: an old invisible HTTP homepage can cause malfunctions in the display of the site name and favicon in Google search results. The context: a site was...
John Mueller Feb 17, 2026
★★★ Why Can Displaying 'Not Available' via JavaScript Kill Your Google Indexing?
John Mueller strongly advises against displaying "not available" via JavaScript before the actual content loads. This practice can lead Google to believe that the page doesn't exist, preventing its in...
John Mueller Feb 17, 2026
★★ Does a clean website really boost your credibility in Google's eyes?
Having a well-designed website with an appropriate domain name and HTTPS strengthens the credibility and trust users place in a business or project, compared to a presence limited to social media alon...
Martin Splitt Feb 12, 2026
★★ Why does Google still prioritize the open web over native mobile apps?
Sharing a web link represents a lower barrier to entry for users compared to downloading an application, because it requires no strong commitment and no compatibility with a specific operating system....
Gary Illyes Feb 12, 2026
★★ Are social media platforms becoming real SEO competitors for your website?
Social networks have begun optimizing their content for search engines (SEO) and are gaining visibility in search results, unlike previous years when they were not optimized for this purpose....
Martin Splitt Feb 12, 2026
★★ Are social media profiles really websites from an SEO perspective?
Profiles and shops on social networks are indeed websites accessible via browser. The distinction between website and social network has faded, making the categorization less relevant....
Gary Illyes Feb 12, 2026
★★★ Do you really still need a website to rank on Google in 2024?
The decision to have a website in 2026 depends entirely on your objectives, target audience, and the type of content or service you provide. There is no universal answer—some businesses succeed withou...
Gary Illyes Feb 12, 2026
★★ Why does owning a website give you far more control over monetization than relying on social media platforms?
A website gives you complete control over monetization strategies (affiliate links, display ads, etc.), unlike social platforms that impose restrictions and often take a commission....
Gary Illyes Feb 12, 2026
★★ Should You Really Analyze All Redirects and CSP Configurations to Optimize Your SEO?
John Mueller advises against spending too much time analyzing redirects and CSP (Content Security Policy) parameters for every URL on a website to optimize search engine rankings. His argument: Bad re...
John Mueller Feb 10, 2026
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