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
★★★ Do Google script cache settings skew your speed audits?
The cache settings of Google scripts, such as Google Analytics, can be specific to meet the dynamic needs of users, and speed measurement tools should be used judiciously....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Could short-term SEO strategies permanently harm your main site?
Adopting SEO techniques for temporary gains, like EMD sites, can be problematic in the long run and may potentially affect the main site....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you keep or delete SEO archive pages?
Site archives can retain some traffic but tend to become less relevant over time due to content decay....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does mixed content (HTTP/HTTPS) really affect your SEO?
Mixed content can lead to warnings for users. Although it does not affect rankings, it harms user experience....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can password-protected pages really be indexed by Google?
If a page is password-protected, Google will not be able to index it, which can affect its visibility in search results....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How can you successfully migrate to HTTPS without losing your Google rankings?
Ensure that content is properly redirected to HTTPS and that sitemaps are updated to avoid indexing issues....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really noindex all your tag pages?
Tag pages are often considered low-value and resemble search result pages. They are frequently noindexed for this reason....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is the canonical tag really essential for managing duplicate content?
To manage duplicate content, it is advised to use the rel=canonical tag to designate the preferred version, particularly on large sites....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do behavioral signals really affect Google's rankings?
Google uses behavioral signals not for direct ranking, but to assess the effectiveness of its algorithms....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are paid backlinks really always penalized by Google, even on high-authority sites?
Paid backlinks are against Google's guidelines, no matter the domain authority. They can lead to manual actions or algorithmic adjustments....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it true that Google completely ignores Domain Authority?
Google does not rely on the concept of Domain Authority. It can be a useful tool for SEOs but should be taken with caution....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are microsites really an SEO trap to avoid?
Creating microsites can be tricky, as they risk looking like doorway pages. It's important not to dilute content and to focus on long-term value....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really delete expired content or are there more cost-effective alternatives?
For expired content like job listings, it is advisable to remove the content or use a 301 if the content is replaced, otherwise, a 404 or a noindex is appropriate....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do links to images really influence page SEO and rankings in Google Images?
Google considers links to images as normal links and can use them to associate an image with the linking HTML page, particularly for image search results....
Nov 03, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why is your site losing positions even though you haven't changed anything?
Ranking fluctuations can be explained by ongoing updates to Google's algorithms and the evolution of competition. It is crucial to continuously optimize to remain competitive....
Nov 02, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Where should you position hreflangs to avoid harming your international SEO?
Hreflangs can be placed in the HTML code or in XML sitemaps, with no notable difference in treatment. However, it is crucial that the referenced pages are indexable and the content is distinct....
Nov 02, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do 301 redirects really transfer 100% of link signals to a new domain?
When changing a domain, it's normal to see backlinks associated with the old domain in Search Console. However, link signals are transferred to the new domain if the redirects are properly configured....
Nov 02, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Do footer links with rich anchors really harm SEO?
Keywords in footer links can be interpreted as keyword stuffing, leading to their value being overlooked. It is better to create links naturally and usefully for users....
Nov 02, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Subdomains or Subdirectories: Does Google Really Favor One for Your SEO?
There is no official SEO preference regarding the use of subdomains or subdirectories to structure a site. It is up to the webmaster to choose what is easiest to manage....
Nov 02, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Googlebot mobile actually use the same version of Chrome as desktop?
Googlebot uses the same version of Chrome for mobile crawling as it does for desktop, but with mobile-specific configurations to simulate the rendering environment on a mobile device....
Nov 02, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
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