Google Webmaster Central Office-Hours Hangout Q&A: How Do Search Console Issues Affect Google Search?

TL;DR

Google Search Console issues require different responses depending on their cause: inspect unusual blocked-resource reports, remove unauthorized copies when possible, and distinguish harmless low-quality backlinks from unnatural links placed by an SEO. John Mueller also explains that Google can recognize excellent new content within a couple of days, while offering no fixed indexing timeline. Read on for specific guidance from the Google Webmaster Central Office-Hours Hangout.

Transcript

JOHN MUELLER: OK, welcome, everyone, to today's Google Webmaster Central Office-Hours Hangouts. My name is John Mueller. I'm a Webmaster Trends Analyst here at Google in Switzerland, and part of what I do is talk with webmasters, web publishers like the folks here in the Hangout, or the folks that have submitted questions or in the forums, everywhe... Read More

Key Insights

• Google Search Console is essential for monitoring website health and search performance. Regularly checking for errors and updates is crucial.
• Blocked resources in Search Console may indicate issues with robots.txt or embedded content. Ensuring all resources are accessible can improve indexing.
• Duplicate content can affect rankings, but Google is adept at identifying original sources. Filing a DMCA request can help remove unauthorized copies.
• Video snippets showing for non-video articles may be due to algorithmic errors. Google is working on improving these signals.
• The impact of low-quality backlinks is generally minimal unless they are part of a manipulative link scheme.
• Geotargeting can help localize search results. Using hreflang tags can improve the accuracy of search results for different languages or regions.
• Structured data helps Google understand page content but does not directly affect search rankings. It can enhance search appearance with rich snippets.
• App indexing errors can stem from technical issues or outdated app versions. Using the app indexing API can improve indexing efficiency.
• "In general, the blocked resources report includes embedded content within the pages, so if you have a page that embeds an image, for example, and that image file is blocked by robots.txt, then we would show that there." (1:53)
• "In general, that's not a problem, in the sense that we're pretty good at recognizing which website is original, and we tend to show that one in search results." (2:36)
• "No, in general that wouldn't be a problem." (4:51)
• "So if low-quality sites are linking to your site, that's not something that would pull you down." (4:51)
• "If it's something really, really good that we can recognize as really important for that type of query, then that can be a matter of a couple of days." (7:00)

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does Google Search Console report images that appear not to be blocked or used on a page?

The blocked resources report includes content embedded within pages, such as an image file blocked by robots.txt. If the reported images are neither blocked nor used on the affected pages, John Mueller calls that unusual and recommends providing sample URLs or a screenshot for investigation.

Q: Can an unauthorized duplicate of a 190,000-page website hurt the original site's ranking?

Google is generally good at recognizing which website is original and tends to show that site in search results. Mueller supports taking action to remove the copy, while noting that Google's algorithms are accustomed to handling some duplication.

Q: Why does Google show video snippets for articles without videos?

Algorithms can detect signals that incorrectly suggest an article has video content. Google's video team was working on the broader problem, but Mueller had no immediate solution to offer.

Q: What factors cause Google to show tweets in search results?

Mueller says he does not know the specific factors involved. He guesses that Google tries to identify tweets that are highly relevant to the user's query and may include one when it appears to be a good result.

Q: Can poor-quality backlinks reduce a site's ranking?

Low-quality sites linking to a website generally would not pull its ranking down. However, unnatural links placed by the site owner, a previous SEO, or someone else should be addressed.

Q: Does a small website need to take action when it suddenly gains low-quality links?

Not merely because the linking sites look less prominent than a large site such as CNN. Mueller says such links are not inherently a problem and require no action unless they are unnatural links that someone deliberately placed.

Q: How long does Google take to recognize excellent new content in a competitive market?

There is no specific timeline because it depends on the search results, niche, and type of site. If Google recognizes the content as highly important for the query, it can be a matter of a couple of days.

Q: Must a website reach a certain age before appearing in Google search results?

No artificial age limit prevents a site from appearing in search results. Mueller says a site does not have to be a particular age, and exceptionally good, important content may be recognized within a couple of days.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Google Search Console is a vital tool for webmasters to track website performance and identify issues. Addressing errors like blocked resources and duplicate content is crucial for maintaining search rankings. Google's algorithms are designed to identify original content, but filing DMCA requests can help remove unauthorized copies.

• Using structured data and ensuring proper indexing can enhance a site's search presence. While structured data doesn't directly influence rankings, it can improve the display of search results through rich snippets. App indexing and geotargeting are also important for optimizing search results.

• Webmasters should engage with Google forums and use tools like Fetch as Google to diagnose and solve issues. Regular site audits and updates, along with understanding Google's guidelines, can help maintain or improve search rankings. Google's algorithms are continually evolving, so staying informed is essential.