John Mueller

★★★ 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....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does Googlebot really submit your forms on its own?

Googlebot can sometimes automatically submit forms, potentially generating a multitude of new URLs with parameters. This can lead to increased crawling activity if the server can support the load....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does the URL structure of your AMP pages really impact your SEO?

For AMP pages, Google recommends that the pages be on the same domain, whether on a subdomain or a subdirectory. This does not affect SEO, but it is important to maintain a stable structure over time....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Why does Google hide the queries for your new URLs in the Search Console?

New URLs with 5 to 10 impressions may not show query data due to privacy filters. More impressions will enhance query visibility over time....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really eliminate all internal redirects from your site?

Google suggests linking directly to the destination final URL rather than through redirects. This enhances speed for users and optimizes crawling....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Should you disallow indexing of your low-traffic pages to boost your SEO?

Disallowing pages with few impressions might not have a significant impact on overall SEO. The decision should be based on the perceived usefulness of the pages....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Why doesn’t Google show backlinks to your 404 pages in Search Console?

Google does not display links to 404 pages in Search Console because these links are removed when processed....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really use the canonical tag on product listings with long and identical descriptions?

Using the canonical tag to designate a preferred version of a product is a good practice when alternative versions share a similar or identical description. This helps Google focus on the primary vers...

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Do lastmod tags in sitemaps really affect crawling?

Including last modification dates in sitemap files is recommended, as it helps prioritize pages for crawling. The absence of these tags for certain URLs has no negative effect....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does mobile-first indexing really ignore the desktop version of your site?

With mobile-first indexing, only the mobile version of a site is used for indexing. The desktop version is occasionally checked for relevant links....

Apr 09, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does Google Really Index Content Hidden in Tabs and Accordions?

John Mueller reiterated in a Hangout that if content was available and displayable in a tab or in an accordion (visible by default or by clicking somewhere on the page), this content was taken into ac...

Apr 06, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does Google really declare its user-agent while crawling?

Google clearly states its user-agent when indexing for search. However, Google employees can access websites without a specific user-agent associated with Google....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Is high-quality content really enough to generate natural backlinks?

Google prioritizes the creation of high-quality content that attracts natural backlinks, rather than SEO tactics like inserting artificial links into low-readership platforms....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Is it true that Domain Authority is totally irrelevant for ranking on Google?

Moz's Domain Authority is not an indicator used by Google for ranking sites. However, it can help site owners track certain performances on a personal level....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does Google really ignore poorly marked structured data without penalizing the page?

Structured data markup errors are handled on a per-page and per-element basis. Google uses valid data and ignores invalid ones....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really feature your best-selling products in the main navigation?

Linking popular product pages directly from navigation is beneficial to indicate their importance. However, it's essential to maintain a clear hierarchy to avoid diluting the value of all links....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does Google really filter medical sites manually to ensure the quality of results?

Google does not manually filter health sites but strives to provide very high-quality search results by using improved algorithms to ensure the relevance and reliability of information....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Are nofollow links really ignored by Google for SEO?

According to Google, nofollow links are not completely ignored. They are used as a signal and can be crawled in certain cases, especially when a site is primarily linked with nofollow links....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does Google really understand all video embedding formats for SEO?

Google can understand different methods of embedding videos on a page, as long as it recognizes that video content is present, including native video tags and iframes....

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you ditch the desktop version to solely optimize the mobile version?

With mobile-first indexing, only the mobile version of the site is used for indexing. Consistency between desktop and mobile versions is preferable, but emphasis can be placed on the mobile version fo...

Apr 03, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available