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

Less than a minute. Find out how much you really know about Google search.

🕒 ~1 min 🎯 5 questions
★★★ Should you really submit for indexing after fixing your structured data?
After correcting errors in structured data such as an incorrect phone number, use the indexing submission tool in Google Search Console to have it re-indexed faster. However, updates can still take ti...
Nov 30, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Can you really use French text in image geotags for local SEO?
You can use a non-English language in image geotags. If Google Maps recognizes the location using the text, Google can infer the location from the image tags....
Nov 30, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why does Google crawl pages but not index them?
It's normal for Google to crawl certain URLs without indexing them. If a URL does not bring added value in terms of search, such as index or archive pages, it may be crawled but not indexed....
Nov 30, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are image alt attributes truly critical for your Google SEO?
To ensure Google correctly understands the content of your images, benefit from adding alternative text and captions to clearly describe what your images contain....
Nov 30, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do images really affect your ranking in web search results?
While good images can appear in image search results and sometimes in standard web search results, they do not directly improve your site's ranking in web search....
Nov 30, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do unique images really impact your visibility in Google Images?
Using unique photos on your site is beneficial because if you use the same photo as other sites, Google will choose one of those articles as the destination page for image search. With unique images, ...
Nov 30, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it possible to index your internal search results pages without risking a penalty?
Indexing internal search results, with care and careful selection of keywords, is acceptable as long as the added content is relevant and not automated....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Do canonical chains really hinder the consolidation of your SEO signals?
Google can follow canonical chains, but this complicates the concrete determination of the canonical page. Simplify this task by reducing cascading redirects....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really keep all versions of a site in Search Console after a redirect?
Even if a redirect is in place, it is advisable to keep all versions of your site in Search Console to monitor redirects and potential errors....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Can structured data really help you avoid SEO complications?
Using structured data like 'schema.org' for products and reviews allows Google to show this information in search results, which can help avoid complications....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do spam comments really ruin your SEO?
Low-quality comments can negatively affect the main content of a page. It is advised to moderate or hide lower quality comments....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is mobile-first indexing truly a one-way street for your website?
Once a domain is moved to mobile-first indexing, it is not possible to revert to traditional indexing. This requires a mobile site optimized for Google's crawling....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Do cross-promotions harm SEO when they stray from the main topic?
Cross-promotions on pages must be consistent with the main page theme to avoid negative impacts on Google's interpretation of the subject....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Do complex canonical chains really compromise your site's indexing?
Complex 'canonical' chains can make it difficult for Google to determine the final canonical URL. Adopting a direct linking strategy is recommended....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why does Google refuse to index all your pages even with an optimal crawl budget?
Google often does not index all pages of a site, especially if redundant URLs are detected during crawling. A clear and duplication-free structure helps to increase indexation....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Why don't the display dates in Search Console match reality?
Changes to the 'canonical' tag can affect the display dates in Search Console, as Google might use the date of the initially recognized version....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is duplicate content across geographic domains really safe for SEO?
Having duplicate content on different domains, such as .de and .ch, should not pose a major problem. Google will select one of the versions to index while keeping the other in reserve....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Google really process indexing directives added via JavaScript?
Google can process changes to 'meta' tags via JavaScript, but it is advisable to use static tags for 'noindex' directives. Changing a page from 'index' to 'noindex' works better than the reverse....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why do site modifications lead to temporary drops in rankings?
Changes made to websites, whether old or new, can lead to temporary fluctuations in their rankings. This is normal, as Google must process and integrate these changes....
Nov 29, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Are your XML sitemaps cluttering your search results?
Google can index XML sitemap files, and they may appear in search results. If you want to exclude them, use the HTTP X-Robots-Tag header for the XML sitemaps....
Nov 27, 2018 ⚡ Analysis available
🔔

Get real-time analysis of the latest Google SEO declarations

Be the first to know every time a new official Google statement drops — with full expert analysis.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.