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.
Quick SEO Quiz

Test your SEO knowledge in 5 questions

Less than a minute. Find out how much you really know about Google search.

🕒 ~1 min 🎯 5 questions
Why does Google sometimes index your AMP pages before their canonical HTML version?
Google may sometimes discover and index an AMP page before its canonical HTML version, especially if links point directly to the AMP. Once the HTML page is crawled, Google connects the two versions an...
John Mueller Jun 12, 2020
★★ Do external links to m. or www. affect ranking differently?
With separate mobile URLs, external links pointing to either the mobile (m.) or desktop version are irrelevant. Google combines all signals from both versions, whether or not mobile-first indexing is ...
John Mueller Jun 12, 2020
★★★ Should we really disregard spammy automated backlinks?
Google automatically ignores spammy links that are created en masse by scripts. Google's algorithms are used to seeing this type of manipulation (thousands of automatically generated links) and comple...
John Mueller Jun 12, 2020
★★★ How are FAQ clicks really counted in Search Console?
In Search Console, an FAQ click is counted only when the user clicks on the main URL of the page. If the user clicks on an internal link in the FAQ answer, it’s the destination URL that receives the c...
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★ Is your brand disappearing from the SERPs for no apparent reason: can Google feedback really fix it?
If a site disappears from search results for its brand name without an identifiable reason (no manual penalty in Search Console, no obvious spam links), use the 'Send feedback' button at the bottom of...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Do URLs with fragments (#) in Search Console mean you need to rethink your tracking and analysis strategy?
URLs with fragments (#) displayed in sitelinks or rich results (FAQs) are NOT normalized in Search Console, unlike traditional search results. Each URL with a fragment generates its own distinct stati...
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★★ Why doesn't Google canonicalize URLs with fragments in sitelinks and rich results?
Google normally canonicalizes URLs with fragments (#) in standard search results, but not in sitelinks or rich results (like FAQs). In these cases, the URL with the fragment is recorded as it is in th...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★ Should you really overlook PageRank when deciding between a domain and a subdomain?
Do not structure domains/subdomains based on presumed PageRank or internal/external links. Choose the architecture based on user logic. Services started in a subdomain sometimes surpass the main domai...
金谷武明 Jun 04, 2020
★★ Do links between root domains and subdomains really pass PageRank?
Google does not confirm whether links between root domains and subdomains (or between subdomains) are treated as internal or external links, nor their 'strength.' The decision to structure as subdomai...
Anonyme (金谷武明) Jun 04, 2020
★★ Does JavaScript server-side rendering hide invisible SEO errors from users?
JavaScript server-side rendering (SSR) produces static HTML similar to WordPress, but if SSR is configured specifically for Google, numerous errors can occur that are invisible to normal users. Compar...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Does temporary removal in Search Console really block PageRank?
Temporary removal in Search Console only hides the page from search results, without altering its indexing. Google continues to crawl, index, and pass PageRank through the links on this page. The remo...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Why does Google sometimes ignore your rel=canonical tag?
Google does not guarantee indexing the URL indicated by rel=canonical. Canonicalization combines multiple signals: redirects, rel canonical, internal and external links, sitemaps, and other factors. I...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Why is it never enough for Google to copy content word for word during a migration?
Copying content word for word during a migration (e.g., from WordPress to React) is not enough. Google also analyzes titles, headings, images, design, navigation, and the structure of internal links. ...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Why does Google remember your SEO history even after a drastic content change?
Historical data influences ranking. An older site has accumulated signals (links) over the years. Some algorithms (adult content, quality) have a memory: a site that changes from adult content to gene...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Can you really display different content on mobile and desktop without facing penalties?
Google indexes the mobile version of the content. Displaying slightly different content between mobile and desktop is acceptable, unless it is malicious cloaking (e.g., comics on mobile, adult content...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Does a clean 301 redirect really transfer 100% of PageRank without any loss?
A clean, page-by-page 301 redirect, with no remaining content on the old site, transfers all signals (including PageRank) to the new domain. A partial or late redirect (e.g., a year later) forces Goog...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★ Why does it take over a month to remove the Sitelinks Search Box from your Google results?
Adding the meta tag that removes the Sitelinks Search Box results in a gradual removal from the results. Processing can take time, sometimes a month or more, similar to the time required to add custom...
John Mueller May 29, 2020
★★★ Do JavaScript links really need to be <a> elements with href to be crawled?
For Google to follow links generated by JavaScript, they must be genuine <a> elements with a valid href attribute. Buttons, divs, spans with onclick, or <a> tags without href or with empty href are no...
Martin Splitt May 27, 2020
★★★ Should you really use rel='ugc' on all links generated by your users?
By default, a website publisher cannot guarantee the quality of links added by users in user-generated content (UGC). Google provides the rel='ugc' link attribute to indicate that these links originat...
John Mueller May 19, 2020
★★★ Should you really mark all your UGC links with rel='ugc'?
For links added in user-generated content, Google recommends using the rel='ugc' attribute to signal that the site owner cannot guarantee the quality or relevance of these links....
John Mueller May 19, 2020
🔔

Get real-time analysis of the latest Google SEO declarations

Be the first to know every time a new official Google statement drops — with full expert analysis.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.