John Mueller | Swipe Insight

Google Downplays Core Web Vitals Impact on Search Rankings, Emphasizes Content Quality

2 months ago

Google's John Mueller downplayed Core Web Vitals' impact on search rankings, stating they are not major factors. Researcher Andrew Mcleod's study showed traffic drops linked to performance metrics, sparking debate. Mueller emphasized content quality over technical metrics for rankings and noted smaller sites' agility in making changes. SEO professionals should prioritize user experience and rethink Core Web Vitals' impact.

Google Advises Not to Worry About Blocked URLs Being Partially Indexed

3 months ago

SEO Technical SEO

John Mueller, Google's Search Advocate, explained on LinkedIn that URLs blocked by robots.txt but appearing as "Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt" in Google Search Console are not a major concern. If a page is disallowed in robots.txt, Google can't see the noindex tag, and these URLs are unlikely to appear in regular search results. He advised not to worry about this issue as it isn't harmful to SEO. The key is to avoid making these pages both crawlable and indexable.

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Google Advises Quality Over Quantity in SEO Outbound Links

3 months ago

SEO

SEO discussions question the optimal number of outbound links in blog posts, suggesting 2-5 internal and 1-3 external links for a 1000-word post. Google's John Mueller clarifies that Google does not count links or words and recommends writing for the audience. Key points include focusing on content quality and relevance rather than specific link counts. Effective SEO involves creating valuable, engaging content with useful links that enhance the reader's experience.

Google Recommends Waiting Until August Core Update Completes To Judge Effects

4 months ago

SEO

Google released its August 2024 core update on August 15th, followed by a large search ranking bug. SEOs and site owners struggle to differentiate between the two. Google's John Mueller advises waiting until the core update fully rolls out to judge its impact. The update will take about a month, and the bug's effects may linger. Compare data from before and after the update for accurate assessment.

Google Search Console Reveals Only 35% of Performance Data, Recommends BigQuery Export

4 months ago

Google Search Console

Google's recent Search Console recommendations highlight data limitations, revealing only 35% of performance data is shown. John Mueller clarified the extent varies by site, with larger sites more affected. Bulk export is recommended when discrepancies are detected. Tools like Search Analytics for Sheets can access more data. Regular data export can provide a comprehensive view of site performance, emphasizing the need for thorough data collection in SEO.

Clearing Confusion About Canonical Tags and Link Tags

4 months ago

SEO

"Link tags" are preferred over "canonical tags" for better canonicalization in SEO. The term "canonical tag" is technically incorrect; the proper term is a link tag with rel=canonical. Using accurate terminology is crucial when working with web developers unfamiliar with SEO jargon. Precise language can enhance respect and ensure correct implementation of SEO recommendations

Google Advises Against Switching Canonicals for Mobile URLs

4 months ago

SEO

Google advises against changing existing canonical setups from desktop to mobile URLs for sites with separate mobile URLs (m-dot). They recommend maintaining the current setup or transitioning to a responsive design that uses the same URLs for both versions. Switching canonical links can create confusion and technical complications. The best practice is to keep existing canonical setups as they are or move to a responsive design.

Google Advises Keeping Current Mobile and Desktop URL Practices

5 months ago

SEO

An SEO professional questioned Google's recommendations for mobile and desktop website versions due to mobile-first indexing. The inquiry focused on bidirectional references, canonical tags, and redirecting desktop to mobile versions. Google's John Mueller advised sticking to documented best practices, regularly reviewed and updated, and recommended moving to a responsive design. Deviating from these guidelines is discouraged.

Google Addresses Concerns About Massive Disavow Lists

5 months ago

Link Building SEO

Google's John Mueller addressed concerns about large disavow lists on LinkedIn, reassuring SEO professionals and website owners. Michael Martucci asked if extensive disavow files could negatively impact a website or if removing them could cause harm. Mueller's response was "Zero," indicating no concern is needed for either scenario. His guidance suggests that having or removing a large disavow list is unlikely to affect a site's performance.