John Mueller

★★★ Are 404 URLs really harmless for SEO?

It is acceptable for a directory in a URL structure to lack its own content and lead to a 404 page. This does not affect the final page's performance in terms of SEO....

Jul 26, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really extract important text from alt tags to boost your SEO?

John Mueller recommends that important text be visible in the body of the web page rather than only in image alt tags. This ensures better compatibility with rich snippets and good SEO....

Jul 26, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does creating valuable content really attract organic traffic?

Google highlights the importance of creating high-quality content that provides significant value to users. It is crucial for publishers to verify the type of content they wish to provide on the searc...

Jul 26, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really use rel=nofollow on all your sponsored links and comments?

Be cautious with outbound links created as part of an arrangement, advertising, or in the comments on your site if the quality of the links seems uncertain. For these types of links, using the 'rel=no...

Jul 26, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Why is Google launching an official channel to answer SEO questions?

Google is launching a new series of videos titled 'Ask Google Webmasters' to answer webmasters' questions about Google Search, our tools, and our related documentation and policies. Users can submit t...

Jul 25, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does URL structure really influence ranking in Google?

The structure of URLs (flat or with folders) does not affect page rankings in Google. Choose a structure that facilitates long-term management....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Do embedded YouTube videos really slow down your page speed?

The impact of embedded YouTube videos on page loading speed is taken into account by Google, and different integration methods could alleviate potential slowdowns....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really delete or no-index your low-quality content?

If a site contains low-quality content, there are three options: improve the content, delete it entirely, or no-index it so that Google does not see it....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Are alt texts really as flexible as Google claims?

Google recommends using descriptive and contextually relevant alt texts for images, without forcing irrelevant keywords, for accessibility and image indexing....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really aim for a minimum word count to rank on Google?

There is no minimum keyword limit for content to be considered by Google. The content must meet the user's needs....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Is it really true that structured data alone can secure a carousel spot in the SERPs?

Carousels in search results are algorithmically generated and using structured data does not guarantee their display....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really include keywords in your URLs?

Keywords present in URLs are a very minor ranking factor for Google, and their importance is much lower than other SEO aspects....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Does mobile performance really affect SEO rankings?

The actual performance of users in terms of loading speed influences mobile rankings, but you can address these issues with CDNs....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really avoid adding distinctive text on coupon pages?

Adding long, irrelevant text to differentiate coupon pages could lead to algorithmic confusion or keyword stuffing; avoid this practice....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Is it true that every URL needs to be mapped 1:1 during a site migration?

During a site migration, ensure that the original URL structure is mapped one-to-one to the new structure to correctly transfer signals....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Should you really avoid changing your URLs to protect your SEO?

Google suggests keeping URLs stable over time to avoid the tedious management of constant redirects, which could impact the tracking of links on your site....

Jul 23, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Can Google Actually Identify the Real Author Behind a Pseudonym or Avatar?

A user asked John Mueller on Twitter about whether Google can (or cannot) determine who the real author of content is when an avatar (pseudonym) is used. John's response: "I doubt Google's algorithms ...

Jul 22, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★ Should You Worry About Missing Features in the New Search Console?

John Mueller hinted on Twitter that features still present in the old Search Console and not yet migrated to the new one (such as International Targeting or the robots.txt file tester, for example) wo...

Jul 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Does Domain Age Really Influence Google Rankings?

John Mueller once again reiterated on Twitter that the age (seniority) of a domain name does not play a role in SEO. A new domain name will have just as much chance of ranking as an old one......

Jul 16, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available

★★★ Do URL parameters after the ? really matter to Google for indexing?

Google takes URL parameters into account after the question mark but ignores the fragment identifier (#). For stable URLs, some parameters can be managed via the Search Console's parameter management ...

Jul 12, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available