What does Google say about SEO? /
This category compiles all official Google statements regarding links and their role in search engine optimization. Backlinks have always been a cornerstone of Google's ranking algorithm, though guidelines continue to evolve. Here you'll find Google's positions on link building strategies, acceptable practices versus manipulative techniques, proper use of nofollow and dofollow attributes, and official guidance on private blog networks (PBN) and guest blogging approaches. SEO practitioners will discover authoritative recommendations on anchor text optimization, toxic link management through the disavow tool, and the significance of internal linking for site architecture. Google regularly communicates about backlink quality, emphasizing relevance and natural link profiles over sheer volume. Understanding these official declarations is crucial for developing compliant netlinking strategies, avoiding algorithmic or manual penalties, and effectively optimizing PageRank flow throughout your website. This documentation helps search marketers separate myths from facts regarding outbound links impact, various link types, and acquisition techniques endorsed by the search engine. Whether you're addressing linkspam concerns or building sustainable link equity, these official statements provide the authoritative foundation for modern link-based SEO strategies.
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★★★ Can affiliate links coexist with a high-quality SEO strategy?
Affiliate links are not a problem if you create useful and original content, such as a genuine product review. Simply copy-pasting the description provided by the affiliate without added value is not ...
Gary Illyes Sep 19, 2023
★★★ Why Can Your Indexed URL Count Suddenly Skyrocket in Search Console?
In the September SEO Office Hours, Gary Illyes explained why it's sometimes possible to observe a sudden spike in indexed URLs in Google Search. There are multiple reasons that can explain this, but G...
Gary Illyes Sep 19, 2023
★★★ Why does Google rely on links from 'normal websites' to evaluate your site's authority?
Links from normal websites (not profile pages or suspicious sites) are very useful for estimating a site's importance for indexation. The more natural links a site receives from legitimate websites, t...
Gary Illyes Sep 19, 2023
★★★ Are guest posts really banned by Google for building backlinks?
Using guest posts to obtain backlinks violates Google's anti-spam policies. These links must be marked with the rel="nofollow" or rel="sponsored" attribute to signal that they do not affect search res...
Google Sep 06, 2023
★★★ Why does Googlebot ignore your buttons and how can you work around this limitation?
Generally speaking, Googlebot does not click on buttons. Links must be accessible via standard HTML elements rather than requiring user interaction....
Gary Illyes Sep 06, 2023
★★★ Does mobile-first indexing really force you to prioritize the mobile version above all else?
With mobile-first indexing, Google uses the mobile version of a page as the basis for indexing and discovering links. If the mobile version contains the complete content, that's sufficient....
Google Sep 06, 2023
★★★ Should You Slow Down Your Page Load Time to Boost Your SEO?
On LinkedIn, Liam Fallen published a joke about a myth that Google has debunked numerous times: "If your site loads too fast... consider slowing it down. Why? Users will have to wait longer for your p...
John Mueller Sep 05, 2023
★★★ Should you really choose redirects based on SEO impact or technical logic?
Google recommends using the type of redirect that is technically correct for your use case, rather than choosing based on supposed SEO impact. The choice should be based on technical criteria and not ...
John Mueller Aug 31, 2023
★★★ Do 301 and 302 redirects really transmit the same amount of PageRank?
There is no difference between 301 and 302 redirects in terms of PageRank transmission. Both types of redirects are treated the same way by Google regarding PageRank, so you shouldn't worry about the ...
John Mueller Aug 31, 2023
★★★ Should You Create Internal Links Pointing to the Page Itself to Boost SEO?
On Mastodon, Sina Afkham asked whether internal links on a page pointing to itself carried more weight or provided additional context to the page. John Mueller responded that he didn't think this adde...
John Mueller Aug 29, 2023
★★★ Should You Temporarily Deindex a Page to Remove Its Sitelinks from SERPs?
On Reddit, John Mueller shared his perspective on using noindex to modify link appearances. A user asked him whether it was possible to temporarily deindex a specific page to prevent it from appearing...
John Mueller Aug 22, 2023
★★ Are transparent scores really the key to uncovering your hidden UX problems?
A transparently calculated score makes it possible to estimate a website's performance and can help identify concrete problems, such as overly short anchor text, that affect user experience....
John Mueller Aug 15, 2023
★★★ Why isn't perfect technical optimization enough to rank your site anymore?
Having a sitemap, indexed pages, updated content, backlinks, and on-page optimization is not enough to rank. Like a book or a restaurant, technical aspects are important but there is much more to do t...
Google Aug 09, 2023
★★★ Should you really use prefetch and prerender to boost your SEO rankings?
Link prefetch, prerender, DNS resolve and similar tags are not directly a signal. However, when used correctly to improve user experience, this will be reflected in actual Core Web Vitals metrics and ...
Google Aug 09, 2023
★★ Do you really need to redirect canonicalized URLs to improve your search rankings?
Redirecting a canonicalized URL provides no SEO advantage. It is useful to be consistent: use x-default in Hreflang for the default version. Consistency with canonicalization and internal links will f...
Google Aug 09, 2023
★★ Do Relative and Absolute Links Really Make a Difference for SEO?
Search engines look at links the same way a browser would. There is therefore no SEO difference between using relative or absolute links on a website....
Google Aug 09, 2023
★★★ Does Linking to Wikipedia or CNN Really Improve Your SEO Rankings?
During a conversation on Reddit, John Mueller took the time to answer a question about outbound links. His interlocutor specifically wanted to know if Google considered a small site more credible when...
John Mueller Aug 08, 2023
★★★ Does Google really respect your canonical tag, or does it decide on its own?
The tool shows the canonical URL you provided on the page with the link rel='canonical' tag AND the canonical URL that Google ultimately chose. This allows you to verify whether Google respects your s...
Google Aug 02, 2023
★★★ Can Fake Profiles Really Deceive Google in 2024?
In a series of sharp tweets, John Mueller shared his perspective on the use of fake profiles designed to deceive users, whether on LinkedIn or Google. After reminding us that Google uses machine intel...
John Mueller Jul 25, 2023
★★★ Should You Showcase Author Awards to Boost Your SEO Rankings?
Last May, Jennifer Granito from Google Search Central provided an update on the Topic Authority system designed to highlight the most relevant content and experts on Google News and in Search. A few d...
Danny Sullivan Jul 25, 2023
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