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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★★★ Do old backlinks really lose their SEO value over time?
The value of a link does not depreciate with age per se. It’s the position of the link in the source site that evolves: an article on the homepage becomes archived, losing relevance. It’s not the link...
John Mueller May 01, 2020
★★★ Is Pagerank still enough to rank in SEO?
Pagerank is used internally by Google, but it is only part of the many signals considered for website ranking. Therefore, it is more beneficial to focus on multiple quality signals rather than just Pa...
John Mueller May 01, 2020
★★★ Should you index the internal search pages of your site?
If internal search pages resemble categories, indexing them can make sense. If they consist of random user searches, it’s better to use noindex or robots.txt. Mueller prefers noindex because robots.tx...
John Mueller May 01, 2020
★★★ Should you really choose between a fresh start and redirections during a partial migration?
To migrate the best content to a new domain without transferring bad signals, you must choose: either start completely fresh (no redirects/links/reused content) or redirect (and accept the transfer of...
John Mueller May 01, 2020
Does the target="_blank" attribute affect SEO rankings?
The fact that a link opens in a new tab or in the same tab has no SEO impact. It is an editorial decision without consequences for SEO....
John Mueller May 01, 2020
★★★ How do internal links really shape the topical relevance of your pages?
Links allow crawlers to explore the pages of your website and understand the structure and architecture of information. They are essential for search engines to determine which pages are relevant to a...
Martin Splitt Apr 29, 2020
★★★ Does Googlebot really follow all the JavaScript links on your site?
Googlebot can follow links produced by JavaScript, provided they are generated with appropriate anchor tags. Non-standard elements, such as spans with onclick, will not be followed....
Martin Splitt Apr 29, 2020
★★★ Are Your JavaScript Links Wrecking Your Crawl Budget, and How Can You Fix It?
Use semantic HTML markup for links and ensure your links point to a correct URL. Avoid using pseudo-protocol URLs like 'javascript:' because they are not followed by crawlers. Make sure that links inc...
Martin Splitt Apr 29, 2020
★★★ Do complex JavaScript menus really block the indexing of your navigation?
As long as the navigation uses appropriate links with anchor tags and hrefs, it will be correctly followed and indexed by Google. Avoid complex interactions, such as dropdowns that are not traditional...
Martin Splitt Apr 29, 2020
★★★ Is it true that URL fragments (#) are killing your crawl budget and how can you fix it?
Avoid using URL fragments if you want crawlers to discover and follow your links. Fragment identifiers are not designed to point to different content and are ignored by crawlers....
Martin Splitt Apr 29, 2020
★★★ Is it true that Google really respects the canonical tag?
Canonical tags are viewed as indicators by Google. Google can choose a different canonical URL based on various signals such as inbound links and the actual content of the page....
Martin Splitt Apr 29, 2020
★★★ Do non-canonical URLs in internal links really kill PageRank?
Using non-canonical URLs in internal links does not directly affect PageRank flow, but it can complicate analysis in Search Console and lead Google to choose the wrong canonical URL....
John Mueller Apr 28, 2020
★★ Should you really be wary of the noreferrer attribute on your links?
The noreferrer attribute on a link prevents the transmission of referrer information to the target site. This is separate from nofollow, which limits the transfer of signals between pages for search e...
John Mueller Apr 28, 2020
★★★ Are your internal links sabotaging Google’s canonical choice?
Google selects a canonical URL by using various factors, such as rel=canonical, internal and external links, as well as redirects. If the internal links point to non-canonical URLs, it can complicate ...
John Mueller Apr 28, 2020
★★ Are Sitelinks Search Boxes Really Under SEO Control?
Adding tags for search sitelinks does not guarantee their appearance; they are only used if Google decides to display a search box for your site....
John Mueller Apr 28, 2020
★★★ Should you really clean up all internal links after a 301 redirect?
To help Google focus on the new URL after a 301 redirect, it is advisable to update internal links, sitemap files, and any other references pointing to the original page so that they point to the new ...
John Mueller Apr 22, 2020
★★ Do backlinks from adult sites really penalize your SEO?
Having links from adult sites does not prevent ranking otherwise, but it is possible to use the 'disavow' tool to lessen their impact....
John Mueller Apr 19, 2020
★★★ Are links between affiliate sites really risk-free for SEO?
Working with affiliate or partner sites is generally trouble-free if the links do not appear to be illegitimate advertising. Use 'nofollow' for links that are clearly promotional....
John Mueller Apr 19, 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 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
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