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
★★★ Does DNS verification in Search Console really cover all your subdomains?
DNS verification in Google Search Console covers the entire domain, meaning that any subdomain is included, making it easier to manage multiple subdomains....
Oct 06, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Should you really use nofollow on your internal links?
Using 'nofollow' for internal links is generally unnecessary and does not provide a significant advantage. Google can effectively manage a standard internal linking structure....
Oct 06, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How can you ensure consistency between AMP and desktop versions without facing algorithmic penalties?
The AMP and desktop versions of a page must contain equivalent content to avoid any algorithmic penalties. Texts and images can differ slightly, but the main content must be equivalent....
Oct 06, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Should you really structure your URLs for Google News with specific directories?
Generally, it is not necessary to structure the URLs of Google News articles with specific folders. However, each article must have a unique URL to be properly indexed....
Oct 06, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do 301 and 302 redirects really transfer all link signals?
When 301 or 302 redirects are properly configured, Google can transfer link signals from the old URL to the new one, thus preserving rankings....
Oct 06, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Could an expired SSL certificate really ruin your Google ranking?
If a site's SSL certificate temporarily expires, Google can adjust the display of URLs in search results to show the HTTP version, but this should not affect the overall site ranking....
Oct 06, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you still disavow bad links now that Penguin automatically devalues them in real time?
Google's new Penguin algorithm now works in real time, meaning that low-quality links may not penalize a site if they are automatically devalued. Therefore, it may not be necessary to disavow every me...
Oct 06, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is Manual Content Translation with Editorial Enrichment Really Valued by Google?
Translating content into other languages in a non-automated way while adding personal comments is a positive approach, especially if the content is not yet available in that language....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why does Google ignore most schema.org schemas in its results?
Google does not necessarily use all the available markup types on schema.org in its search results. The impact of the markup depends on its actual use by Google....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are separate URLs by country really essential for local SEO?
To ensure the correct indexing of pages targeting specific locations, make sure to have distinct URLs for each local content so that Google can access those versions....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does geolocation in Search Console really impact your international rankings?
The geolocated parameter in Search Console favors results in a specific country without affecting rankings in other countries. To manage languages, use hreflang tags....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should affiliate sites really prioritize high-quality content to rank?
Affiliate sites need to offer clear added value and high-quality content in order to stand out in search rankings compared to their competitors....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really treat HTTPS just like a regular site migration?
Migrating a site from HTTP to HTTPS is similar to a standard site migration. Google has guidance and checklists available to facilitate this process....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does AMP really boost your site's ranking in Google?
Currently, implementing AMP is not a direct ranking factor. Any observed impact shortly after AMP implementation is likely to be coincidental....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can you really audit the complete indexing of your AMP pages in Google?
Currently, there is no direct way to view all the AMP pages indexed by Google. Search Console only shows the total number of indexed AMP pages....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you still disavow backlinks after Penguin?
It is advisable to continue using the disavow file for links that you do not want associated with your site, even though Google is attempting to manage problematic links automatically....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Google really ignore bad links without penalizing sites after Real-Time Penguin?
Since the Real-Time Penguin update, Google seeks to ignore low-quality links instead of directly penalizing sites for them....
Oct 04, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you ditch HTML hreflang for XML sitemaps?
For complex multilingual sites or those that use extensive JavaScript, it is recommended to place hreflang annotations in sitemaps to avoid issues with search engine consideration....
Sep 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are JavaScript overlays considered intrusive interstitials by Google?
Pages using JavaScript overlays that resemble interstitials will be treated as such by Google, which can influence mobile page rankings....
Sep 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can low-quality UGC content actually hurt your site’s overall ranking?
If a large portion of user-generated content is of low quality, it can negatively impact the overall ranking. Cleaning this content can improve the algorithms' overall perception of the site's quality...
Sep 23, 2016 ⚡ 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.