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
★★★ Are JavaScript redirects really treated like standard redirects by Google?
JavaScript redirects are treated like standard redirects but may be slower to process. They are suitable if configured properly....
Jan 22, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does thematic content really help avoid unwanted rankings in SEO?
A page's content influences its ranking in SEO. Focusing on relevant themes is crucial to avoid unnecessary rankings for unrelated terms....
Jan 22, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How long does it really take for Google to reassess your brand signals after a merger?
During a brand merger involving multiple sites, it takes time for titles and brand name signals to be properly reassessed. Several months may be necessary....
Jan 22, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really implement hreflang on all translated pages of your site?
When several search elements on a site remain the same despite translations, hreflang is appropriate but not always necessary to distinguish language versions....
Jan 22, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Does Safe Search really filter out sites without harming their overall ranking?
Safe Search is binary and does not alter the overall ranking quality of a site. No private method to request reconsideration outside of forums....
Jan 22, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you eliminate IP-based redirects for international SEO?
Avoid IP-based redirects as they stop Googlebot from seeing specific country versions. Prefer an informative banner to guide users to the appropriate version....
Jan 22, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are Cookie Banners Really Safe for Your SEO?
John Mueller reminded us on Twitter that banners (completely useless in themselves, let's remember, but mandatory) indicating that the site you are visiting uses cookies do not pose problems for SEO, ...
Jan 20, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Google Really Treat HTTP Links Differently Than HTTPS Links?
John Mueller indicated on Twitter that HTTP links were treated by Google in exactly the same way as HTTPS links....
Jan 20, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does high-quality imagery alone rank well in Google Images?
To optimize images for Google Search, use high-quality images placed relevantly and visibly on your pages, ensure you have effective titles on those pages, provide useful alt attributes for the images...
Jan 20, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really set widget links to nofollow?
If you create widgets with backlinks to your site, it's advised to use nofollow links. This prevents the links from being perceived as an exchange for SEO benefits....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How does Google combine structured event data from multiple sources?
Google uses structured event data to display event cards and often combines information from different sources for the same event....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How do hackers gain access to your Search Console, and what can you do about it?
When hackers gain access to Search Console, the issue arises from a vulnerability on the site itself that allowed them to verify the site. Securing your site to prevent this is crucial....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it really necessary to have a price to benefit from product rich snippets?
For products without a price on your site, use structured data for other elements like reviews. Without a price or reviews, Google will not show the product enrichment in the results....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it really necessary to redirect everything during a website migration?
When migrating a website, it is essential that all pages are redirected to the new domain. Do not keep any pages on the old domain to avoid complicating the migration process....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does the consistency of structured data really affect Google's crawling?
Ensure consistency in the types of structured data on your site. Variations could make your site's analysis less reliable for Google....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are tag pages really safe for SEO?
Tag pages are generally not considered spam by Google if they are used to add context. However, avoid automating the creation of each word combination as a unique page....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why don't Course rich snippets work on my European site?
The 'Course' rich snippet may not yet be available for European sites. These features are sometimes launched first in the United States before being extended to other regions....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really combine 'unavailable_after' with a noindex or a 404?
Google respects the 'unavailable after' attribute to indicate that a page will no longer be available after a certain date. Be sure to accompany this attribute with a 'no index' or a 404 response to c...
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does mobile-first indexing really decrease your website's traffic?
The switch to mobile-first indexing should not affect a site's traffic. A traffic loss may result from other factors like algorithm changes or shifts in user behaviors....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How does Google really choose the site links displayed in the SERPs?
Site links are influenced by a clear site structure and explicit titles on the pages. This helps Google understand which pages are relevant to each other on the same site....
Jan 10, 2020 ⚡ Analysis available
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