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
★★★ Do you really need to configure URL parameters in Search Console to control indexing?
Correctly managing URL parameter settings in Search Console can reduce excessive and ineffective indexing, but this is only a suggestion for Google, which may choose to continue crawling these URLs....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can localized entry pages really harm your rankings?
Creating entry pages that use city names to duplicate content can weaken the relevance of each page and lead to manual penalties if the added value is insufficient....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do structured data really work without site quality?
For structured data to be considered in search results, the quality of the site must meet Google's standards to ensure it can be trusted....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it necessary to separate the title tag and H1 for SEO?
The title tag is visible in search results and in the browser tab, while the H1 tag serves as the title on the page itself. These elements should be descriptive and aligned with the content, but there...
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do 301 redirects really kill your PageRank?
301 redirects no longer dilute 'link juice', so when a redirect is necessary for a well-configured site, it should not negatively affect its ranking....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Google+ really enhance your SEO, or is it just a total myth?
Google+ does not directly affect SEO because the links are nofollow. The choice between Google+ and other social networks should be based on the presence and engagement of your audience....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you migrate your website to HTTPS all at once or in stages?
When migrating to HTTPS, it is best to make the transition all at once instead of in multiple steps because this helps Google recognize the change and index it more quickly....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do website redesigns always lead to ranking drops?
After significant changes to a website, such as a redesign or URL change, it is normal to see fluctuations in rankings, as Google needs to reevaluate the site....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why do your structured data disappear from search results?
For structured data to appear in the SERPs, it must be technically correct, comply with Google’s policies, and Google must trust the quality of the page to show this markup....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really remove stop words from your URLs to boost your SEO?
The use of stop words like 'in', 'at', 'how', 'this', 'what' in URLs is not an SEO issue. It might simply extend the URL and make it harder to type manually, but it won’t affect SEO....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really set facets to noindex, or could you risk losing strategic pages?
It is recommended to use the noindex tag on faceted navigation pages that generate unnecessary variations to avoid overloading the server. However, it is essential that product pages remain accessible...
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really block the indexing of pagination pages after page 2 to save crawl budget?
It is possible to choose not to index pagination pages after page 2 to avoid excessive crawling budget. However, ensure that all pages of important content remain accessible through other means....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does local jargon really boost your regional SEO?
Using local jargon on your site can be beneficial if users search in that language. It makes it easier for both users and search engines to recognize the relevance of the content....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can a ccTLD really target a global audience without SEO penalties?
A domain with a ccTLD (country code Top-Level Domain) like .ch can be used to target a global audience. It is important not to explicitly aim for another country with this type of domain, but the cont...
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Penguin 4 in real-time really slow down the indexing of new links?
New links are tracked very quickly. The speed of indexing depends on how quickly we recognize page changes. The real-time update of Penguin has not altered this speed....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do featured snippets negatively affect your SEO?
Rich snippets provide significant value and are not viewed negatively. Websites should optimize their content for these snippets, as they can attract positive attention by providing valuable and clear...
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does changing a page's URL or design kill its ranking?
Changing a page's URL or design can affect its previous ranking. Ranking fluctuations are normal after significant changes, and this process involves a reevaluation by algorithms....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can structured data be ignored due to page quality?
For structured data tags to appear in search results, the page quality must be deemed sufficient by the algorithms. A page with questionable quality may prevent the display of the markup, even if it i...
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do 301 redirects still lose PageRank in SEO?
301 redirects no longer result in significant link juice loss. It is recommended to migrate a site to HTTPS all at once instead of in multiple steps to facilitate Google's processing....
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really duplicate your keywords between the Title tag and the H1?
The Title tag and the H1 serve different purposes. The title is visible in search results and in browser tabs, while the H1 helps convey the content of a section on the page. Keywords should naturally...
Sep 22, 2017 ⚡ Analysis available
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