How Does Google Handle Internal Linking and Pagination?

TL;DR

Google processes internal links and pagination by considering the HTML structure and JavaScript events. If a link is replaced by a JavaScript event, it might not be seen as an internal link. Pagination should be indexable and linked properly to ensure content is discoverable. Google treats rel=canonical as a hint, not a directive, and duplicate content is a normal part of the web.

Transcript

JOHN MUELLER: All right welcome everyone to today's Webmaster Central Office-hours Hangout. My name is John Mueller. I'm a webmaster trends analyst at Google in Switzerland. And part of what we do are these office-hour Hangouts, where people can jump in and ask their questions around their website and web search. And we'll try to come up with an an... Read More

Key Insights

• Google processes internal links based on the rendered HTML; JavaScript events replacing links may not be recognized.
• Pagination should be implemented with proper linking to ensure all content is indexed.
• Rel=canonical is treated as a hint, not a directive, so canonicalization isn't guaranteed.
• Duplicate content is common on the web, and Google handles it through canonicalization signals.
• Google uses multiple data sources, including sitemaps and RSS feeds, to discover new URLs.
• Crawl budget is determined by server capacity and Google's demand, not sitemap structure.
• Guest post links are generally considered low-value for SEO if done solely for link-building.
• Google's systems may take time to process reconsideration requests, especially for complex issues.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Google handle internal links modified by JavaScript?

Google processes internal links based on the rendered HTML. If a link is replaced by a JavaScript event and the HTML link is no longer present on the rendered page, Google might not see it as an internal link. However, if the HTML link remains and JavaScript adds functionality, Google will still recognize it as an internal link.

Q: What is the best practice for pagination in SEO?

Pagination should be implemented with proper linking between pages, using next and previous links to ensure Google can crawl and index all content. Infinite scroll should be complemented by separate URLs for each page, and links should be available for Google to follow. Proper pagination ensures all content is discoverable.

Q: How does Google use rel=canonical?

Google treats rel=canonical as a hint, not a directive. While it helps Google understand which URL you prefer to be indexed, it doesn't guarantee that URL will be chosen as the canonical. Google considers other signals like internal links and sitemaps when determining the canonical URL.

Q: Is duplicate content a problem for SEO?

Duplicate content is a normal part of the web, and Google handles it by using canonicalization signals to determine the most relevant URL to show in search results. While reducing duplicate content is beneficial, using rel=canonical is also a good practice to guide Google in understanding content relationships.

Q: How does Google discover new URLs?

Google discovers new URLs through multiple data sources, including sitemaps, RSS feeds, and external links. Even if a URL is not in a sitemap, it can be discovered if linked from other sources. Google follows links to find new content for indexing.

Q: What factors influence Google's crawl budget?

Crawl budget is influenced by server capacity and Google's demand for content. It is not directly affected by the sitemap structure. Google determines how many pages to crawl based on the site's importance and server response times, ensuring efficient use of resources.

Q: Do guest post links have SEO value?

Guest post links are generally considered low-value for SEO if the primary purpose is link-building. Google's stance is that links should be earned naturally, and guest posts created solely for obtaining links may not provide significant ranking benefits.

Q: How long does it take for Google to process reconsideration requests?

The time to process reconsideration requests can vary, especially for complex issues. While Google aims to review requests promptly, factors like the nature of the issue and the volume of requests can affect processing times. Persistence and ensuring all issues are addressed in the request can help expedite the process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Google processes internal links by examining the rendered HTML structure. If JavaScript replaces a link with an event, it might not be recognized as an internal link. Proper pagination is crucial for ensuring content is discoverable by Google.

• Rel=canonical is treated as a hint rather than a directive, meaning Google may not always choose the specified canonical URL. Duplicate content is common, and Google uses various signals to determine canonical URLs.

• Crawl budget is influenced by server capacity and Google's demand for content, not by the sitemap structure. Guest post links are typically low-value for SEO if they're solely for link-building purposes. Reconsideration requests can take time to process.