How to Understand Google Webmaster Office Hours

TL;DR

Google Webmaster Central office hours allow webmasters to ask questions about crawling, indexing, and other search-related topics. John Mueller, a Google webmaster trends analyst, provides insights and answers to help improve website performance. The session covers a range of issues from handling doorway pages to optimizing page titles and descriptions for better search visibility.

Transcript

JOHN MUELLER: All right. Welcome, everyone, to today's Google Webmaster Central Office Hours Hangouts. My name is John Mueller. I am a webmaster trends analyst here at Google in Switzerland. And part of what we do are these Webmaster Office Hour Hangouts, where people can join in, ask a bunch of webmaster, web search-related questions, and we can t... Read More

Key Insights

• Doorway pages are collections of pages with tweaked keywords for ranking, while valid location pages serve a clear user purpose.
• Google's selfie video feature is partner-based, with no current plans for SEO question answers by Google staff.
• TLS 1.2 is the recommended security version, and Google sends notifications for outdated configurations.
• Google sometimes adds brand names to page titles, which may require waiting for updates to settle.
• A drop in indexed pages post-HTTP to HTTPS migration is often due to duplicate content recognition.
• Blocking pages via robots.txt means Google won't see noindex or canonical tags on those pages.
• Spam reports are processed, but not all lead to removal; focusing on site improvement is more beneficial.
• Noindex tags remove pages from the index and eventually drop associated links from the link graph.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Google distinguish doorway pages from location pages?

Doorway pages are characterized by a large collection of pages that are merely tweaked for keyword ranking without providing real value or purpose. In contrast, valid location pages serve a clear user purpose, such as improving navigation or user experience by providing relevant and useful information about specific locations.

Q: What is Google's approach to handling TLS 1.2 updates?

Google recommends using TLS 1.2 for secure connections and sends notifications via Google Search Console to webmasters who have outdated configurations. These notifications serve as a reminder to update to the latest security versions to ensure secure HTTPS connections, although they do not directly impact search rankings.

Q: Why might indexed pages drop after migrating from HTTP to HTTPS?

A drop in indexed pages following an HTTP to HTTPS migration is often due to Google's recognition and consolidation of duplicate content. When Google reprocesses URLs, it identifies duplicates and may index only the primary version, which can lead to a reduction in the total number of indexed pages reported.

Q: How should webmasters handle spam reports for competitors?

While Google processes spam reports, not all lead to competitor removal. It's important to focus on improving one's own site quality and content. Google may discount spammy signals from competitors without removing their sites if they still provide useful content, so enhancing your site's value is a more effective strategy.

Q: What effect does a noindex tag have on a page?

A noindex tag instructs Google to remove the page from its index, meaning it will no longer appear in search results. Over time, this also leads to the removal of any links associated with that page from Google's link graph. Whether the tag is followed or nofollowed, the outcome is the same: the page is deindexed.

Q: How does Google handle JavaScript-rendered content?

Google can index content that is part of the page's DOM without user interaction. However, if content requires user interaction, like a click to load additional data, Googlebot may not index it. Webmasters should ensure important content is accessible without requiring user actions to improve indexability.

Q: How should webmasters handle meta descriptions with Google's changes?

Google's recent changes allow for longer meta descriptions in search results. While meta descriptions don't directly impact rankings, they affect click-through rates. Webmasters should consider crafting longer, informative descriptions to better represent their content and improve user engagement in search results.

Q: What should webmasters consider when using geolocation-specific content?

Geolocation-specific content can enhance user experience by providing relevant local information. However, Googlebot typically crawls from a U.S. location, so it's important to include general content visible to all users to ensure proper indexing. This approach helps maintain visibility for non-local searches.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• During the Google Webmaster Central office hours, John Mueller clarifies that doorway pages are identified by their keyword-focused nature, unlike valid location pages which enhance user navigation. He advises against relying solely on spam reports for competitor removal, suggesting instead to focus on improving one's own site quality and content.

• Mueller discusses the importance of HTTPS migration, noting that a drop in indexed pages might occur due to duplicate content consolidation. He also explains that noindex tags remove pages from Google's index, including their links, and emphasizes the need for improving low-quality content rather than just blocking it.

• The session also covers the handling of JavaScript-rendered content, advising that content requiring user interaction might not be indexed. Mueller recommends using fetch and render to confirm how Googlebot sees a page, stressing the importance of providing accessible content for users and search engines alike.