John Mueller

★★ Should you really use the 410 code instead of the 404 to speed up deindexing?

There is a difference between 404 and 410 errors. A 410 error is processed faster for removal from the index because it indicates a permanent deletion. However, using the Google removal tool is more e...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ How can you optimize for Google Discover without targeting keywords?

Achieving visibility in Google Discover is not about keyword optimization but about monitoring which topics resonate with users. A focus on relevancy and user engagement can lead to better performance...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ How can you effectively use canonical tags to prevent competition among your multi-location content?

Using canonical tags can be useful to indicate which version of content is the most relevant, thereby allowing appropriate ranking signals to concentrate on that version. This can help prevent your di...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Do you really need to register with Google News to appear on Discover?

Although Discover uses sources similar to Google News, there are no special criteria regarding meta tags or mandatory registration with Google News to appear on Discover. The content must be relevant ...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does white label content really harm your Google indexing?

The main issue with white label content is often the inability of our systems to discern the different parts of a site. It is recommended to clearly separate content sections for better indexing and p...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really isolate sensitive content in separate subdomains?

It's not always necessary to move content to a separate subdomain or directory for varied content such as coupons if the site is organized correctly to differentiate SafeSearch content....

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Should you really use noindex to control the visibility of internal content?

It can be wise to use the noindex attribute to differentiate content you want to index from that you prefer to keep out of the index. This can help experiment with the internal visibility of certain c...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does user-generated content really hold as much weight as your editorial content in Google's eyes?

Our algorithms do not make a significant distinction between user-generated content and original content. We focus on the overall quality of content published on the site. If the perceived quality is ...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really worry about your backlinks and use a disavow file?

If you have no specific reason to worry about your backlinks, for example, if no link purchases have taken place, there’s no need to excessively stress about them. Periodically review your backlinks a...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Why don’t SEO tools and Google Analytics show the same impacts after a Core Update?

Changes in visibility following core updates can vary depending on websites. This phenomenon is attributed to how visibility measurement tools interpret data compared to our own analysis in Search Con...

Oct 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Does Having Expert Authors Sign Your Content Really Improve Your SEO Rankings?

John Mueller and Danny Sullivan explained on Twitter that, within the framework of the EAT criterion (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), it was useless to buy an expert's name solely to v...

Oct 14, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Do structured data really guarantee enhanced results on Google?

To be eligible for enhanced results on Google, it is essential to use appropriate structured data that complies with Google's policies. Even if this data does not always lead to enhanced results, it a...

Oct 09, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really modify Googlebot's crawl rate in Search Console?

John Mueller indicated that changing Googlebot's crawl rate via Search Console should not be considered by very large sites. He strongly recommends letting Googlebot determine the crawl rate it will u...

Oct 07, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Is it absolutely necessary to display your postal address on your site for SEO?

John Mueller caused a slight wave of panic by asking on Twitter why some SEOs didn't display their postal address on their website. Some believed that the search engine would penalize this practice. T...

Oct 07, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Should we still use nofollow on internal links for crawl budget management?

John Mueller explained on Twitter that the new approach to Nofollow attributes will also work for internal links on a website, although he indicated that these changes were primarily designed for exte...

Oct 07, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does the length of a content really affect its Google ranking?

Content length is not a direct ranking factor, but the quality and relevance of the content are essential. Focus on writing high-quality content....

Oct 04, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Why is Google pushing for JSON-LD for structured data instead of other formats?

Use JSON-LD to add structured data to your pages because it is easier to implement. Test the tags with the available testing tools to ensure that they are properly indexed....

Oct 04, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ How long do ranking fluctuations really last after a website redesign?

When redesigning a website, expect ranking fluctuations that may last several months. Be prepared to monitor redirects and internal links to prevent traffic loss....

Oct 04, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you still use rel=next and rel=prev for pagination?

Google ignores the rel=next and rel=prev annotations for indexing paginated pages. Make sure that the URL parameters are properly managed in Search Console....

Oct 04, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Do links really lose value over time?

Links do not lose their value over time, but if the page hosting the link becomes less relevant or buried within the site, its value may decrease in the overall context of the linked site....

Oct 04, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available