Should you stop tweeting at Google and start using the 'Submit Feedback' button in Search Console?

Why is Google promoting this channel over social media?

Google has multiple communication channels with SEO professionals: Twitter, forums, events, Help Center. The problem is that feedback on Twitter or LinkedIn tends to be anecdotal and scattered. A bug reported by three people on Twitter does not generate any actionable quantitative data.

The 'Submit Feedback' button present in Search Console transforms each report into a structured data point. When 500 users report the same issue through this channel, Google can assess severity, prioritize the fix, and allocate resources. Product teams work with metrics, not with screenshots of tweets.

What features have been developed thanks to this feedback?

Martin Splitt explicitly mentions the speed report as a concrete example of a feature born from user feedback through this channel. Repeated requests for more granular performance data generated enough feedback volume to justify development.

This mechanism works like a voting system. The more a need is reported by numerous distinct Search Console accounts, the higher it climbs in the product roadmap. Conversely, an isolated request — even relayed by an SEO influencer on Twitter — doesn't statistically weigh much in internal decision-making.

Does this channel completely replace other means of contact?

No. Google maintains several channels depending on the context. John Mueller's Office Hours serve to clarify general misunderstandings. Twitter remains useful for reporting critical bugs affecting many sites simultaneously (massive indexing failures, widespread crawl issues).

However, for anything pertaining to product improvement, minor bugs, or new feature requests, the 'Submit Feedback' button becomes the primary channel. It's a way for Google to structure the ambient noise and turn scattered complaints into actionable data.

• Feedback via Search Console generates actionable quantitative metrics for product teams
• Twitter remains relevant for critical bugs affecting many sites simultaneously
• Every report via 'Submit Feedback' counts as a vote to prioritize a feature
• Aggregated data directly influences the product roadmap of Search Console

Is this statement consistent with observed practices?

Yes, but with an important nuance. It is indeed observable that Google is responding less and less to individual reports on Twitter, except when they concern widespread outages. Isolated bugs reported via tweet rarely receive a public response, whereas a critical volume of feedback via Search Console triggers investigations.

However, the speed of fixes remains opaque. Some bugs reported massively via 'Submit Feedback' take months to be resolved, or may never be fixed. The channel structures the reports but does not guarantee timing or resolution. [To be verified]: Google does not publish any statistics on the feedback processing rate or the average response time.

What limitations does this channel present for SEOs?

The 'Submit Feedback' button allows for no exchange or personalized follow-up. You send a message into the void, without acknowledgment, ticket number, or possibility of follow-up. For a critical bug impacting a client, this is frustrating — you never know if your report has been read, classified, or archived.

Moreover, this channel favors problems encountered by a large number of users. If you manage a niche site with a specific issue affecting 0.01% of sites, your feedback will statistically drown. Edge cases have no chance of rising in product priorities, even if they are technically legitimate.

When is it better to use Twitter or forums?

Twitter remains the fastest channel for reporting a widespread outage: sudden indexing drop, 500 error on Googlebot, rendering issues affecting thousands of sites. In these cases, the volume of public reports forces Google to communicate quickly via @searchliaison or @googlesearchc.

Google Search Central forums are better suited for questions of understanding or interpretation of guidelines. You sometimes get a response from a Product Expert or even a Googler, with the ability to engage. But for requesting a new feature or reporting a non-critical bug, 'Submit Feedback' remains the proper channel according to Google.

How to effectively use the 'Submit Feedback' button?

Be precise and factual. Instead of writing "the X report isn't working", document the problem: affected URL, screenshot, expected vs. observed behavior, browser used. The more structured your feedback is, the more likely it is to be actionable by the technical teams.

If several of your clients encounter the same bug, ask them to submit feedback from their own Search Console as well. Google counts the number of distinct accounts reporting a problem, not the number of messages sent by a single account. A bug reported by 50 accounts carries infinitely more weight than a bug reported 50 times by the same account.

Should you completely abandon Twitter for reporting to Google?

No, but adjust your strategy. For a critical bug impacting a client, use both channels simultaneously: 'Submit Feedback' for quantitative traceability, and Twitter for public visibility. If other SEOs encounter the same issue, the tweet might trigger a wave of feedback via Search Console.

For feature requests, however, Twitter is nearly useless. Googlers will consistently redirect you to the 'Submit Feedback' button. Save your time and go straight through the official channel, even if you later relay on Twitter to encourage other SEOs to vote as well.

What mistakes should you avoid when sending feedback?

Do not drown your message in unnecessary context. Google receives thousands of feedbacks daily — a 500-word block is less likely to be read than a 3-line message with an annotated screenshot. Get straight to the point: what issue, on which URL, what observed impact.

Avoid emotional feedback like "your tool is terrible" or "why aren't you doing anything?" Product teams are looking for actionable data, not opinions. Feedback should describe reproducible behavior, not subjective frustration. If you request a new feature, explain the concrete use case it would resolve.

• Document each bug with URL, screenshot, and expected vs. observed behavior
• Mobilize multiple Search Console accounts to report the same issue if relevant
• Use Twitter only for widespread critical bugs, not for feature requests
• Write short, factual, and reproducible feedback — no emotional blocks
• Encourage other SEOs to submit similar feedback to increase priority
• Do not expect an individual response — this channel does not allow for personalized follow-up