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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★★★ 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
★★ 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
★★★ 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
★★★ 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
★★★ Is Page Loading Speed Really a Google Ranking Factor or Just an SEO Myth?
On Twitter, a user wanted to know what John Mueller thought about Page Speed and more specifically whether it was a ranking factor for Google. Mueller responded by stating that the notion of Page Spee...
John Mueller Jul 25, 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
★★ Do .edu and .gov domains really provide an SEO advantage?
Contrary to popular belief, .edu and .gov domains do not provide more 'link juice' or ranking advantage in Google....
Gary Illyes Jul 20, 2023
★★★ Should you really mark every affiliate link with rel=nofollow or rel=sponsored?
Affiliate sites are acceptable. There is no special structured data to signal that a site is affiliate-based. Affiliate links must be marked with rel=nofollow or rel=sponsored so that search engines k...
John Mueller Jul 11, 2023
★★ Does the disavow tool really delete toxic backlinks from Google's index?
The link disavow tool tells Google not to count links for ranking, but it doesn't remove them from the web or from Google's systems. Links from foreign language websites are perfectly acceptable and c...
John Mueller Jul 11, 2023
★★★ Does the canonical tag really prevent your pages from being indexed?
Canonicalization examines the website owner's recommendation via the canonical tag and how the URL is linked elsewhere on the web. Shorter URLs are preferable but not mandatory. There is no difference...
Martin Splitt Jul 11, 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
★★ 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
★★★ Why isn't your homepage showing up in Google's search results yet?
Among the technical problems preventing a homepage from being indexed: server inaccessible to Googlebot, misconfigured robots.txt, noindex tag, empty page or lacking indexable content, non-discoverabl...
John Mueller Jun 22, 2023
★★★ Why do some pages get indexed in seconds while others never appear in Google at all?
Indexing time varies enormously depending on the interest and popularity of the content. For a viral event with numerous backlinks (like Eurovision), indexing can happen in seconds. For isolated conte...
Gary Illyes Jun 22, 2023
★★★ Should You Worry About Backlinks from Foreign Language Websites?
During a conversation with an internet user, John Mueller indicated that receiving links from non-English sites on an English-language site could be beneficial in terms of rankings... provided they ar...
John Mueller Jun 20, 2023
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