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
★★ Should you really place the schema.org publisher markup on every page of your site?
The schema.org publisher tag does not need to be present on every page of a site, only on important pages like the homepage or contact page. For articles, the schema.org article markup should be used ...
Mar 31, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is Google Really Adapting Its Algorithms in Times of Crisis?
Google is trying to adapt its algorithms to provide relevant and reliable information to users when necessary, especially in crisis situations where user expectations are higher....
Mar 31, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Google really see your pages as duplicates if only the main content is similar?
If the main content of one page is similar to that of another, Google may consider them duplicates. Google focuses on the main content rather than menus or sidebars to determine this....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you still disavow backlinks in SEO?
Google is attempting to filter out irrelevant links and suggests using a disavow file only if you suspect link manipulation that could be harmful....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How does Google determine which image to display in local search results?
Google uses the main image identified on a page to display in local results sliders. This image is automatically determined by analyzing structured data and accessible visual content from the page....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is Infinite Scrolling Really a Hindrance to Google's Indexing?
For sites using infinite scrolling, it is crucial that links to articles or products are explicitly available for Google to index. A paginated structure or interlinks between articles allows Google to...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is responsive design truly more effective than mobile subdomains for mobile-first indexing?
With the shift to mobile-first indexing, Google prioritizes the content of the mobile versions of websites for the index. It is recommended to simplify the site structure by using a responsive design ...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really separate domain migration from structural redesign?
During a significant website redesign, it's advisable to proceed gradually to better monitor and adjust any potential issues. First, change the domain before adjusting the content and URL structure....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really abandon mobile subdomains for mobile-first indexing?
Even with a mobile subdomain, it can significantly affect site management complexity, particularly in Search Console. It's also recommended to have a responsive design to simplify the process, althoug...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Why do PDFs slow down a site migration?
Google may take longer to process PDF files during a site migration, especially if they are large. This is because PDFs are updated less often and, therefore, crawled less frequently....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does infinite scrolling hurt Google indexing?
Pages using infinite scrolling should offer clear links to distinct paginated pages for better crawling by Google....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really disavow toxic backlinks to safeguard your indexing?
Links that we choose to disavow via Search Console typically do not affect indexing if Google already recognizes them as unreliable. Using a disavow list is a way to ensure that these links do not har...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How does Google automatically detect hacked sites before it's too late?
Google utilizes algorithms to detect hacked content on websites based on thematic anomalies, such as the unexpected presence of pharmaceutical content....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it true that your traffic data can become unreadable overnight with Google Search Console and mobile-first?
With mobile-first indexing, the data in Google Search Console will relate to the mobile version of the site, which can be confusing if you are using mobile subdomains....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why does Google crawl PDFs so infrequently, and how can you manage their migration?
Google does not frequently crawl PDF files because they rarely change. During a domain migration, if there are clear redirects, Google can process this quickly, but if there are too many variations, i...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can you safely combine redirects and canonical tags without risking your SEO?
It is possible to use redirects to URLs that have a canonical tag pointing to different content. Google will try to understand the intentions and merge this information to decide which URL to display ...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can Google still index mobile-first even with a canonical pointing from mobile to desktop?
When a mobile page has a canonical annotation pointing to its desktop version, Google may choose to index it mobile-first if the content is relevant and identical. It is advised to move to a responsiv...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Why does Google refuse to unveil new features of the Search Console in advance?
Google does not disclose upcoming features in the Search Console in advance due to possible last-minute changes....
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How does Google really detect duplicate content beyond layout differences?
Google primarily detects duplicate content by comparing the main sections of pages, even if their layout or menus differ. Identical content will be treated as a duplicate, affecting its potential visi...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you isolate a domain change from any other technical modifications?
When changing a domain, it is advisable to separate it from other site modifications to facilitate tracking and correction of potential errors. Google can quickly process a domain change if it is done...
Mar 26, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
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