What does Google say about SEO? /
John Mueller is one of Google's most active spokespeople on search engine optimization topics. As a Search Advocate, he regularly answers the SEO community's questions during Google Search Central sessions and on social media. His statements are a prime source of information for understanding how Google Search works and the best practices to follow.
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🕒 ~1 min 🎯 5 questions
★★★ Does duplicate backend code really harm your SEO?
Using the same backend code and site structure generally does not cause duplication if the content and descriptions are different....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ 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....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Should you really be worried when you modify the anchor text of your main navigation?
Changing anchor text to be less specific without losing the overall context is feasible, but it may require relearning from Google....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can the HTTP 503 code really slow down Googlebot strategically?
HTTP 503 errors are a way to automatically slow down Googlebot, and this is taken into account by all of Google's crawlers....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it really necessary to limit the number of pages to enhance SEO value?
It is recommended to limit the number of pages on a website to focus on quality and strengthen the existing ones, rather than dilute them with multiple keyword variations....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why is Google's indexing API prohibited for most of your pages?
The Indexing API is intended solely for pages with structured data of the type 'job posting' and 'live streamed', and not for other types of pages....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How does Google really detect search intent to rank your pages?
Google tries to understand the intent behind a query. If the intent is commercial, Google will prioritize commercial pages, whereas for an informational search, informative pages will be favored....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Should you really remove breadcrumb markup from your homepage?
Using breadcrumb markup on the homepage may be unnecessary since there is no path leading to it....
Apr 19, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do machine translations really harm organic search rankings?
Machine translations are problematic when they produce low-quality content. Google may regard this content as irrelevant in search results if the text is difficult to understand....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Is it really necessary to configure URL parameters in Search Console?
In cases of massive use of URL parameters, configure them in Search Console to indicate their importance. Google generally learns these parameters, but configuring them can help, especially during rec...
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really limit the Review markup to the main item on the page?
Review tags should be applied to the main item of the page when using structured data markup. It's crucial to follow the guidelines to ensure that the data is displayed in the SERPs....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ What should you know about WMConf Lightning Talks for your SEO strategy?
This year, the Google Webmaster Conference Lightning Talks will feature shortened but information-rich presentations that typically take place during our live conferences. These conferences will be su...
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really disregard meta tags on 404 pages?
When a page returns a 404 error, Google ignores all the content on the page, including tags like noindex. The page will only be considered non-indexed based on the 404 code....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do you really need to audit the history of an expired domain before buying it?
It is crucial to conduct preliminary research on a domain before purchasing it, especially if it has been used before. This includes checking for manual actions or problematic past content....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How can Google's SEO training videos transform your optimization strategy?
Google announces the release of a series of videos titled 'Webmaster Conference Lightning Talks', which include condensed presentations on SEO, similar to those given at their physical conferences....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really be worried about mobile-first indexing arriving amidst a health crisis?
Google is deciding whether the rollout of mobile-first indexing for all sites will be delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis. Stakeholders are invited to share their potential difficulties on Twitter....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do H1 and H2 tags really influence Google rankings?
It's recommended to properly use heading level tags, like H1 and H2, so that Google can understand your page structure. This also aids user comprehension and is beneficial for accessibility....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Should you prioritize geo-targeting or hreflang for your website?
Geo-targeting helps to locally target users, while hreflang assists in swapping the displayed URL according to language preferences. Although they are related, they serve distinct objectives....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does hreflang really work between separate domains without shared geo-targeting?
For multilingual setups, hreflang allows the connection of pages across different domains without the content residing on the same principal domain. Each domain uses its own geo-targeting settings....
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does crawl depth really influence your page rankings?
Google generally places more importance on crawling pages that are nearer to the homepage, as this page is often considered the most important. It's recommended to ensure that the pages you deem impor...
Apr 15, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
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