John Mueller

★★ Can a redesign really boost your SEO signals instead of destroying them?

A site migration doesn't always result in a loss of signals. Often, it corrects structural issues and enhances signals. Google needs to reassess these improvements, which takes time, but allows the si...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ 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...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ 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...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ 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. ...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ 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...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ How can fixing a failed migration within 48 hours completely change your rankings?

After a problematic migration, identifying and fixing differences as quickly as possible is crucial. The longer you wait, the more Google systems learn about the new site as a different site and adjus...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ 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...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ 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...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Can you deploy structured data through Google Tag Manager without touching the source code?

For sites where developers are not available, Google Tag Manager allows you to add structured data that will be detected by Google. It's more complex than the Data Highlighter but provides an alternat...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ How do you set up hreflang and x-default for geographic 301 redirects without losing indexing?

Redirecting users from one country to a different domain (with a canonical link to the main domain) is possible. Using hreflang with x-default for the redirect page helps Google understand the structu...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ 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...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ 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...

May 29, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Why did Google introduce event status support in structured data?

Google has added support for structured data for postponed, canceled, or online events, allowing sites to indicate these status changes directly in search results following the COVID-19 pandemic....

May 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ How can you manage a temporary closure without harming your SEO?

Google has created guidelines to assist websites in managing temporary business closures in an SEO-compatible manner, after finding that some sites mismanage these situations....

May 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Are Core Web Vitals really a full-fledged ranking factor?

Google has launched Core Web Vitals, a set of performance metrics including LCP (Largest Contentful Paint), FID (First Input Delay), and CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift), which will be incorporated into ...

May 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Does Google really give preferential treatment to government and health websites in search results?

Official government and health websites can display special announcements directly in search results using structured data and a dedicated tool in Search Console....

May 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really optimize your site for mobile-first indexing?

About 70% of all search results are indexed through mobile-first indexing. Google was expected to switch all sites in September 2020, but this date could change due to COVID-19. Search Console indicat...

May 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ How can structured data for licensed images elevate your visibility in Google Images?

Google has added documentation on licensed images (licensable images) in the developer documentation, allowing sites to mark this type of content with structured data....

May 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ What exciting new features does Google have in store for your SEO with Search Console?

Search Console offers a revamped removals report, insights on review rich snippets, new site report features, and user interface improvements including better export options....

May 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Will Google Penalize Your Pages After Removing a Noindex Tag?

John Mueller explained on Twitter that a page that was initially deindexed via a meta robots "noindex" tag and then had this tag removed at a later time returns to a "normal" indexation situation afte...

May 25, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available