What does Google say about SEO? /
This category compiles all official Google statements regarding JavaScript and technical aspects of search engine optimization. Modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js) and web application architectures (SPA, SSR, CSR) present critical challenges for crawling and indexing. Google's guidance on JavaScript rendering, dynamic DOM manipulation, AJAX implementation, and API calls is essential for ensuring client-side content visibility. SEO professionals will find authoritative positions on implementation best practices, differences between server-side and client-side rendering, and recommendations for optimizing load times while guaranteeing content accessibility to search crawlers. Understanding data formats (JSON, XML) and their SEO implications completes this vital resource. These official declarations help prevent common technical implementation mistakes that can severely impact the search performance of modern websites and JavaScript-powered applications. Access to Google's verified positions on these technical matters enables practitioners to make informed architectural decisions and implement JavaScript solutions that maintain strong organic search visibility while delivering enhanced user experiences.
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★★★ How Does Google Handle Sudden Search Spikes and Fleeting Trends?
John Mueller explained during a hangout that Google's algorithm does not currently take into account changes in internet user behavior due to the coronavirus, for example: searches to buy toilet paper...
John Mueller Apr 20, 2020
★★★ Why is Google's indexing API prohibited for most of your pages?
The Indexing API is intended solely for pages with structured data of the type 'job posting' and 'live streamed', and not for other types of pages....
John Mueller Apr 19, 2020
★★★ Are Doorway Pages Still Penalized by Google?
Creating pages solely for keyword variations and redirecting to the same content is considered doorway pages, which is discouraged by Google's Web Spam team....
John Mueller Apr 19, 2020
★★ Why are your domain migrations inexplicably killing your visibility?
During frequent domain migrations, it may happen that signals are not transmitted correctly, which affects visibility....
John Mueller Apr 19, 2020
★★★ Do you really need to audit the history of an expired domain before buying it?
It is crucial to conduct preliminary research on a domain before purchasing it, especially if it has been used before. This includes checking for manual actions or problematic past content....
John Mueller Apr 15, 2020
★★★ Should you really limit the Review markup to the main item on the page?
Review tags should be applied to the main item of the page when using structured data markup. It's crucial to follow the guidelines to ensure that the data is displayed in the SERPs....
John Mueller Apr 15, 2020
★★★ Does hreflang really work between separate domains without shared geo-targeting?
For multilingual setups, hreflang allows the connection of pages across different domains without the content residing on the same principal domain. Each domain uses its own geo-targeting settings....
John Mueller Apr 15, 2020
★★★ Is dynamic rendering in JavaScript really a dead end for your SEO?
Dynamic rendering is seen as a temporary solution for sites that heavily use JavaScript. The preferred solution is server-side rendering with hydration for increased efficiency....
Martin Splitt Apr 09, 2020
★★★ Should you really set all guest article links to nofollow?
Guest articles containing links to your site must have nofollow links, as they are considered non-natural. This avoids potential spam concerns....
John Mueller Apr 09, 2020
★★★ Can Google really interpret what it can't see in the DOM when it comes to JavaScript and structured data?
Google can interpret structured data added via JavaScript, but it must be visible in the rendered HTML. Tools like the Rich Results Test can help verify this....
Martin Splitt Apr 09, 2020
★★★ Does the URL structure of your AMP pages really impact your SEO?
For AMP pages, Google recommends that the pages be on the same domain, whether on a subdomain or a subdirectory. This does not affect SEO, but it is important to maintain a stable structure over time....
John Mueller Apr 09, 2020
★★★ Does hidden content in the DOM really get indexed by Google?
Hidden content present in the DOM is taken into account by Google for indexing, unless it is deemed irrelevant or misleading....
Martin Splitt Apr 09, 2020
★★★ Does client-side rendering (CSR) really hurt an Angular site's SEO?
An Angular site where content is rendered client-side does not present ranking issues as long as the content is visible to Googlebot and the site is not too slow....
Martin Splitt Apr 09, 2020
★★★ Should You Worry About External Resources (JS/CSS) Blocking for SEO?
Martin Splitt indicated during a hangout that it generally does not pose major SEO problems if external resources (JavaScript or CSS files) that are hosted elsewhere than on the site using them are bl...
Martin Splitt Apr 06, 2020
★★★ Is it true that Domain Authority is totally irrelevant for ranking on Google?
Moz's Domain Authority is not an indicator used by Google for ranking sites. However, it can help site owners track certain performances on a personal level....
John Mueller Apr 03, 2020
★★★ Why does Google ignore your poorly formatted JavaScript links?
Google can follow JavaScript-injected links when they are in the <a> tag format with an href attribute. However, elements like buttons or spans with onClick event handlers are not followed....
Martin Splitt Apr 03, 2020
★★★ Are JavaScript links without href really invisible to Google?
Google can track JavaScript links injected as anchor tags with URLs. However, if a link is designed as a button without an href attribute, it cannot be followed....
Martin Splitt Apr 03, 2020
★★★ Why does Google consider links from image sites, classifieds, and free platforms to be spam?
Link building on image sharing sites, classifieds, and often low-quality free platforms provides no SEO value. Google sees this as spam....
John Mueller Apr 03, 2020
★★ Should you ditch Data Highlighter for JSON-LD?
Google advises implementing JSON-LD or schema.org markup directly on the site for the long term to enable better understanding and usage by various search engines, rather than relying on Data Highligh...
John Mueller Apr 03, 2020
★★★ Are no-follow links truly ignored by Google when it comes to crawling?
Links with a no-follow attribute can still be followed by Google depending on the case. JavaScript links with on-click handlers are not considered links by Google during JavaScript rendering....
John Mueller Mar 31, 2020
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