What does Google say about SEO? /
Martin Splitt is a Developer Advocate at Google, specializing in JavaScript rendering and modern web application indexing. He created the 'SEO Mythbusting' video series and regularly explains how Googlebot handles JavaScript frameworks. His statements are essential for developers looking to optimize the SEO of their applications.
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🕒 ~1 min 🎯 5 questions
★★★ How does Google handle dynamic content associated with hash URLs for indexing?
Google does not index content that loads solely through hash changes in the URL. However, if all the content is already present in the HTML and the hash merely shows/hides sections like tabs or accord...
Sep 29, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Does a layout error during prerendering really affect your site's SEO indexing?
If you are using Prerender and Google's cache has an incorrect layout due to an error, it does not impact indexing as long as it is only the layout that is affected. Google's cache does not always wor...
Sep 29, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How do blocked API requests impact your SEO?
When content does not appear in Googlebot's rendering but works on the client side, it's essential to check if the API calls required for loading the content are blocked in robots.txt, too slow, or bl...
Sep 29, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How can you effectively diagnose JavaScript rendering issues in SEO?
To diagnose a JavaScript rendering problem, start by checking the rendered HTML in Search Console, then review console messages and errors, and finally analyze network requests to identify resources t...
Sep 29, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why is First Input Delay so challenging to measure in a lab setting?
FID is hard to replicate in a testing environment because it heavily depends on actual user metrics. An FID under 100 milliseconds should be seen as successful. Low-end mobile devices are particularly...
Sep 29, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How can you improve FID by analyzing the main thread?
To enhance the First Input Delay, use the performance profiler to identify what is blocking the main thread. Massive DOM manipulations, layout recalculations, and heavy JavaScript are often culprits. ...
Sep 29, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How can you prevent the indexing failure of your web pages?
For a non-indexed page, especially on a SPA, use Google Search Console and the URL inspection tool to verify if Googlebot can render the page correctly. If the content is not visible after rendering, ...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Why do links without HREF hinder Google's indexing?
If links lack an HREF attribute, Google likely cannot discover the linked pages. This is a common cause of non-indexing, as Googlebot follows links with HREF to find content....
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Does the no-index tag really prevent Google from crawling your pages?
A no-index tag on a page does not stop Googlebot from crawling the page; it only prevents its indexing. On the other hand, blocking via robots.txt truly prevents crawling. If you see Googlebot crawlin...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Why does Google index blocked pages by robots.txt?
If a page is blocked by robots.txt but receives links, Google can index it without any actual content because it cannot crawl it. These pages will probably not rank well since Google has no informatio...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How does Google view window.history.pushState in terms of SEO?
When a page uses window.history.pushState to change the displayed URL, Google likely treats this as a redirect and associates the content with the modified URL instead of the original URL....
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Is it true that the mobile validator isn't always reliable for your URLs?
The mobile-friendliness validator can swing between 'valid' and 'invalid' for the same URLs. This can be due to caching or stability issues with the classifier. If only a few URLs fluctuate and the si...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Does mobile compatibility really have a significant impact on your SEO?
Mobile compatibility is a ranking factor among many others. Don't worry excessively unless it creates real positioning issues....
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How can CDNs disrupt your site's mobile display?
CDNs can sometimes exhibit unstable behavior when distributing CSS. If Google is unable to fetch the CSS, the styling may be incorrect, leading to mobile compatibility issues that Google may detect....
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Is it true that JavaScript-loaded content remains invisible to Googlebot?
If the main content of a page is loaded only after a user clicks and is not present in the initial HTML, Googlebot will not see it. Clickable elements must be actual links with HREF pointing to URLs c...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ Could HTML Buttons Be Undermining Your SEO Efforts?
HTML link elements (<a>) without HREF attributes act like buttons. Googlebot doesn't click on these elements, so it can't access content that is only revealed after interaction. Use real links with HR...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★★ How can you ensure that every URL in your SPA is properly indexed by Google?
For single-page applications, each URL must load enough consistent content that is visible to Googlebot. If the content is revealed progressively, you should either create distinct URLs for each level...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How Does the Compatibility of the Beacon API with the WRS Influence Your SEO Tracking?
The Beacon API, POST, and Fetch requests work effectively within Google's Web Rendering Service (WRS). Developers can utilize these APIs to track Googlebot's behavior during rendering....
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ How can you ensure that content beneath the viewport is acknowledged by Google?
To test if content loaded via Intersection Observer further down the page will be visible to Google, use the Rich Results Test with the desktop crawler, as it allows viewport expansion unlike mobile t...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
★★ Are Google’s Testing Tools Truly Reliable for SEO?
There are slight differences between Google’s testing tools (Mobile-Friendly Test, URL Inspection Tool) and the actual indexing process. For example, viewport expansion is not activated in mobile tool...
Sep 22, 2021 ⚡ Analysis available
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