How Does Google Treat Rel Canonical Tags for SEO?

TL;DR

Rel canonical tags are not equivalent to 301 redirects; they require indexing and decision-making on signal forwarding, which can take more time. Multiple links from similar domains do not negatively impact rankings, and domain age is not a primary ranking factor. Focus on building a reputable site and addressing user behavior issues to improve search visibility.

Transcript

JOHN MUELLER: OK, welcome, everyone, to today's Google Webmaster Central Office Hours Hangout. We have a bunch of people here already. I bet some of them already have questions as well. We have a bunch of questions submitted with the Q&A feature. But as always, maybe we can get started with a question from you guys. AUDIENCE: Hi, John. Can I step i... Read More

Key Insights

• Rel canonical tags are similar to 301 redirects but require indexing and can take more time to process.
• Freebase submissions can take longer than Wikipedia entries to appear in search results.
• Having multiple links from similar domains is not problematic as Google can resolve these technical issues.
• Domain age is not a primary factor in Google's algorithms; focus on building a reputable site over time.
• 301 redirects do not negatively impact site ranking, but ensure they direct to the final page efficiently.
• User behavior indirectly affects search ranking; focus on reducing bounce rates by improving site quality.
• Malware warnings are removed automatically once a site is confirmed clean, but SEO spam requires manual review.
• Social media signals are not used in search algorithms, but public social content can be indexed.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is rel canonical treated like a 301 redirect by Google in terms of page rank?

Rel canonical tags are similar to 301 redirects but not equivalent. Google needs to index the page to see the rel canonical and then decide how to forward the signals. It involves extra work and can take more time or encounter issues compared to a direct 301 redirect.

Q: Why does submitting to Freebase take longer than Wikipedia for search results?

John Mueller does not know the specifics of how the Freebase system operates. However, he acknowledges that Freebase submissions can take longer to appear in search results compared to Wikipedia entries, which typically show up within a few days.

Q: How important is domain age in Google's algorithms?

Domain age is not a primary factor in Google's algorithms. Mueller advises webmasters to focus on building a reputable site over time rather than artificially trying to find and use an older domain. Trust and recognition from users and other sites are more beneficial.

Q: Does a large number of 301 redirects affect site ranking?

No, a large number of 301 redirects should not be a problem if implemented correctly. Mueller advises ensuring that redirects lead directly to the final page to optimize processing. The number of redirects or 404 pages does not inherently affect rankings.

Q: Does user behavior impact search engine ranking?

User behavior can have indirect effects on search engine ranking. Poor user experience, like high bounce rates, can prevent users from recommending a site, which affects its reputation. Mueller suggests focusing on improving site quality to enhance user experience.

Q: What is the process for resolving a malware warning?

Malware warnings are resolved through an automated process. Webmasters can request a review, and Google will recrawl the site to check for malware. Once confirmed clean, the warning is removed from search results, browsers, and the safe browsing list.

Q: What role does social media have in Google's algorithms?

Social media signals are not used in Google's search algorithms. However, public social media content that can be crawled and indexed may appear in search results. Private or closed group content cannot be indexed by Google.

Q: How should webmasters handle expired content?

For expired content, using a 410 status is technically correct. However, redirecting users to a category or related items page can improve user experience. Google treats redirects to category pages as soft 404s, which do not pass page rank.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• John Mueller clarifies that rel canonical tags are not equivalent to 301 redirects, as they require indexing and decision-making on forwarding signals. He advises not to worry about having multiple links from similar domains, as Google can resolve these technical issues.

• Domain age is not a primary factor in Google's algorithms. Instead, focus on building a reputable site over time. Mueller also addresses concerns about large numbers of 301 redirects, assuring that they do not negatively impact site ranking if implemented correctly.

• Malware warnings are automated, while SEO spam requires manual review. Social media signals are not used in search algorithms, but public social content can be indexed. Mueller emphasizes the importance of user experience, suggesting webmasters focus on reducing bounce rates.