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
★★★ Why isn't your structured markup showing up in Google results?
The absence of markup display in SERPs may be due to compliance issues with Google's policies or a perception of low quality of the site....
Jan 15, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Does Panda now operate continuously, or are we still waiting for waves?
Panda, now part of Google's core algorithm, operates continuously rather than through distinct updates....
Jan 15, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it true that Google penalizes duplicated content?
Google does not impose a strict penalty for duplicated content but generally groups similar pages, showing the one deemed most relevant for the query....
Jan 15, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can mixed content on HTTPS really push Google back to your HTTP version?
Google prefers to index the HTTP version if the HTTPS version has mixed content issues, unless strong signals indicate otherwise....
Jan 15, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does Google News really boost your ranking in web search?
Being indexed in Google News is not used as a ranking factor in web search....
Jan 15, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does PageRank really flow through all your backlinks, or does Google filter it at the source?
Google tries to keep the algorithms for quality assessment and those for PageRank separate. PageRank is generally not transmitted by sites identified as low quality or spammy....
Jan 15, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Schema.org: How long does it really take for Google to index your markup?
Google generally recognizes schema markup quite quickly, often in one or two crawls. However, appearing in search results depends on the correct validation of the markup and the quality of the site....
Jan 15, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Why does Google almost never notify you when an algorithm penalizes you?
Information about algorithms in Search Console is generally limited, and Google only provides specific alerts if they are directly actionable by the webmaster concerned....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Can shared hosting really hurt your SEO?
Google is generally effective at understanding that multiple sites can share hosting. The negative impact arises only if an entire server is predominantly filled with low-quality sites....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Do Google algorithms really work the same way across all languages?
Most Google algorithms are the same for all languages and countries, although some are adapted for specific linguistic needs....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Does user search history really distort your SEO ranking tests?
A user's search history can influence their search results, and this personalization can apply across different devices as long as the user is logged into the same account....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Are mobile interstitials really penalized by Google?
Commercial interstitials are not currently banned by Google's quality guidelines, but they are described as bothersome and can impair user experience, particularly on mobile....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Can you really merge multiple sites into one using rel="canonical"?
Using rel="canonical" does not improve SEO by duplicating subdomains to other sites. It does not merge pages into a single SEO entity and should not be done with the intent to deceive the system....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really enforce all your internal links as dofollow to rank?
Dofollow internal links, especially for related articles within the same site, help Google explore and understand the site structure....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Could a sudden surge in URLs trigger a warning in Google Search Console?
A sudden increase in URLs can trigger a warning. This happens when URL parameters lead to multiple variations of the same page. Ensure that these parameters are relevant and necessary for crawling and...
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Are Google updates truly real-time or is it an SEO myth?
Core ranking updates, including components like Panda, do not happen in real-time. They are periodic and updated slowly, gradually influencing results....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ What does the integration of Panda into the main algorithm really mean for your SEO?
Google's Panda algorithm is now part of the main ranking algorithm, meaning its impacts are integrated more regularly and continuously into the overall updates....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really use rel=canonical on your A/B test pages?
If one version of a page is essentially equivalent to another, use "rel=canonical" to point to the main URL. This applies even if the test page is meant for 10% of traffic for a year....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Should you really validate your AMP pages to ensure Google recognizes them?
AMP pages must be validated using specific tools to be recognized by Google, such as the AMP validator or the structured data testing tool....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does integrating Panda into the core really mean it's real-time?
Integrating Panda into the core algorithm does not mean it operates in real-time but that it performs regular score calculations....
Jan 12, 2016 ⚡ Analysis available
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