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.
Quick SEO Quiz

Test your SEO knowledge in 5 questions

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🕒 ~1 min 🎯 5 questions
★★★ Should you really recycle the same URL for your annual seasonal content?
Use a single URL for articles that return every year, such as holiday articles. Updating these URLs instead of creating new ones for each year strengthens the accumulated SEO value of the page....
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can noindex pages still pass PageRank and enhance crawling?
Noindex-marked pages that contain relevant links can still contribute to content discovery. Googlebot will continue to follow links if they are regularly found through internal links....
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really redirect each URL individually when moving a site?
When relocating a site, it's recommended to redirect each URL individually, rather than using a redirect to the homepage. This helps preserve the relevance and ranking of the pages....
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Google really use different ranking criteria for mobile and desktop?
Google may use different ranking signals for mobile searches compared to desktop searches, such as mobile page loading time, which can influence positioning differently depending on the platform....
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do unique contents really provide a measurable SEO advantage?
Creating unique product descriptions and original images gives an advantage in terms of SEO, as it allows you to stand out in search results compared to sites using duplicated content provided by supp...
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you index all product variations or canonize them to the main page?
For product pages with variations in color or price, you can either use the canonical tag to point to the main product or allow each variation to be indexed. Choosing to index fewer URLs allows for pa...
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really vary keyword spellings to avoid keyword stuffing penalties?
Varying spellings or minor variations of a keyword on a page is not considered spam. However, avoid overexploitation with excessive repetitions, as this may be identified as keyword stuffing by Google...
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you duplicate your images for every language version of your site?
It's preferable not to clone images for each language version, but rather to use appropriate tags and contexts for each language. This avoids duplication and allows consolidating the relevance of the ...
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is hidden content in mobile menus really considered for SEO?
Content that can be revealed through user interaction like a click is included in indexing. However, avoid permanently hiding content that would never be visible to users....
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why does the change of address tool block URLs with parameters?
The change of address tool in Search Console cannot be used if parameters are added to the URLs of the new site, as the tool explicitly checks that the homepage is redirected one-to-one....
Jun 13, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really return a 404 error for expired job listing pages?
When a listing expires, it is appropriate to let the page return a 404 error. This signals to Google that the page is no longer available and prevents it from being indexed....
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Should you still enable server-side rendering for search engine bots?
Using server-side rendering for bots is acceptable, but it is often beneficial to consider doing so for users as well to enhance page loading speeds. Over time, fewer bots will require this type of re...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really multiply Schema.org properties to boost your SEO?
Adding additional properties with schema.org can help Google better understand the content of pages, but it does not directly improve rankings. It is essential to first meet the requirements for the d...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really limit yourself to job postings and live videos with Google’s Indexing API?
Google's Indexing API is reserved for job postings and live videos, and using it for other types of content is not recommended. This will not affect ranking but may not offer the expected benefits for...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really combine hreflang and self-referencing canonicals?
Hreflang tags can be used with self-referencing canonicals to indicate which page versions should be displayed. Canonicals help Google determine the primary version of a URL. This is not mandatory, bu...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How many links can you place on a page without facing SEO penalties?
There is no strict limit to the number of links on a page, but in practice, a very high number can decrease the value of each link due to the dilution of PageRank. A reasonable number of links that be...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it true that Google penalizes duplicate content?
Duplicate content isn't necessarily bad if users find it interesting. However, Google may struggle to decide which page to show if a user specifically searches for that content. Generally, this doesn'...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should You Really Report Your Competitors' Rich Snippet Abuses?
If you notice competitors abusing rich snippets, you can report this using Google's rich snippets spam report form. Once confirmed, Google may remove a site's ability to display these snippets....
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why is cloaking an absolute red line for Google?
It is crucial that the main content is identical for both users and search engines to avoid cloaking. Consequently, the information displayed in search results must match what the user sees on the pag...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Is it really necessary to create dedicated author pages to enhance your website's EAT?
Author pages are not explicitly necessary for EAT, but it is important to show users that authors are experts. This can be done within the article itself or via links to a biography. Quality raters do...
Jun 11, 2019 ⚡ Analysis available
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