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 structured data really improve your Google ranking?
Rich snippets generated by structured data like JSON-LD do not affect rankings but can enhance the presentation of search results....
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is crawl rate really an indicator of the quality perceived by Google?
The crawl rate does not directly reflect a site's importance. Google does not randomly explore pages, but certain content is inspected more frequently based on its relevance and recency....
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it really necessary to have a separate URL for each language to avoid multilingual duplicate content issues?
Use separate URLs for each language of your site so Google can better understand and accurately index multilingual content....
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does AMP really boost your ranking in Google?
AMP isn't a current ranking signal, but it allows for the creation of highly efficient mobile pages. This is particularly relevant for news sites that can gain AMP carousels in mobile search....
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Do 301 and 302 redirects really affect PageRank?
Both 301 and 302 are primarily used to redirect users. The preference is to determine which URL Google should index, but this does not directly degrade PageRank. It is important to use consistent sign...
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ HTML or XML Sitemap: Which One Should You Prioritize for Optimizing Google's Crawling?
HTML sitemaps can be useful, especially if navigation is complex, but they lack information on recent page changes. XML sitemaps provide these details and facilitate crawling....
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Should you really ignore the display order of site: results when auditing your indexing?
The results of a site: type query generally appear without a specific order and do not necessarily reflect the relevance or priority of your site in the search results....
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really limit your page to a single H1 for better rankings?
Google can handle multiple h1, h2, or h3 tags on the same page. Title tags help understand the structure and content of the page and are not limited to a strict hierarchy....
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why does the Search Console only show you a maximum of 1,000 queries?
Search Console displays data for the top 1,000 queries. This number does not mean that other queries are ignored, but rather that they are not displayed due to insufficient data. Using the API could h...
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can you migrate between a domain and a subdomain without risking your SEO?
You can move a site between domains and subdomains without negatively impacting your SEO. Google understands the site's structure and will recognize whether it is a single site or multiple sites. Just...
Feb 26, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why does Google rewrite your meta descriptions and how can you take control back?
Google may substitute its own snippets for your meta description if it is considered irrelevant for the user. This affects how the content is displayed in the SERP but does not impact ranking....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does reporting spam to Google really make a difference?
Google primarily uses spam reports to improve its algorithms, rather than to manually handle each individual case. This allows for a broader and more effective approach to combating spam....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Is Panda really running continuously, or is Google simplifying its communication?
The Panda algorithm is currently being deployed continuously, with no specific update dates to watch for. This means it is in constant revision without any notable one-off deployments....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is your HTTPS migration failing in Search Console?
During an HTTPS migration, it's crucial to check the HTTPS version in Search Console to ensure that traffic and impression data are accurately counted. Common issues include incorrect redirects and mi...
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How can affiliate sites truly add value to rank well in SEO?
Affiliate sites must provide unique added value, like price comparisons or exclusive information, to optimize their SEO....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Are Nofollow Links Truly Useless for Your SEO?
Nofollow links do not pass PageRank. They can still be crawled but do not influence the ranking of the linked page....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Are PDFs really treated like any other page by Google?
Google indexes PDF files, but they may be refreshed less frequently. If they're not indexed, ensure they are well linked within HTML content....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can affiliate sites really stand out with duplicate content?
Google treats each affiliate site as distinct and tries to determine which is the most relevant for a specific query. Sites must offer unique content to stand out....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really worry about explicit ports in your URLs?
Google considers URLs with port :80 equivalent to those without it, as :80 is the default port for HTTP. For HTTPS, the default port is 443....
Feb 23, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How long should you wait for Google to recognize a theme shift?
A site changing its theme must have patience for Google to recognize the new topic. Over time, with more links regarding the new subject, Google will adjust its ranking to reflect this change....
Feb 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.