English Google Webmaster Central office-hours from Nov 15, 2019

TL;DR

Discussion on mobile-first indexing, URL parameters, and structured data.

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 here at Google in Switzerland. And part of what we do are these office hour Hangouts where people can join and ask their questions around their website and around web search, and we can try to help wit... Read More

Key Insights

• Mobile-first indexing does not completely eliminate desktop crawling; both are used to ensure comprehensive website indexing.
• URL parameter handling remains consistent across mobile and desktop versions; unnecessary parameters can complicate crawling.
• Link rel alternate and canonical tags should connect mobile and desktop versions to clarify content relationships.
• Structured data must be technically correct, logically appropriate, and associated with high-quality websites to show rich results.
• Google's indexing API is limited to specific content types; sitemaps are recommended for general website indexing.
• Rich results depend on technical, logical, and quality factors; manual resubmission is unnecessary unless there's a manual action.
• Duplicate content on e-commerce sites is treated like any other; Google filters duplicates and selects the most relevant page.
• Google Discover uses content relevance and visual appeal; it doesn't require Google News registration but has specific guidelines.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does mobile-first indexing affect desktop crawling?

Mobile-first indexing does not completely replace desktop crawling. Google continues to use both mobile and desktop crawlers to ensure comprehensive indexing. This dual approach helps Google understand content across different devices and is not a disadvantage if a site is still crawled with the desktop crawler.

Q: What is the recommended approach for handling URL parameters?

URL parameters should be managed to prevent crawling inefficiencies. If parameters complicate crawling, they can be specified in the parameter handling tool. However, if crawling is functioning well, parameter handling can be skipped. Canonical tags should point to the main desktop URL to consolidate signals.

Q: What factors influence the display of rich results?

Rich results are influenced by the technical accuracy of structured data, logical appropriateness, and the overall quality of the website. There is no need for manual resubmission unless a manual action is present. Google assesses these factors to decide when to display rich results.

Q: Can the indexing API be used for e-commerce sites?

Currently, the indexing API is limited to live streaming and job content. For e-commerce and other general websites, sitemaps are the recommended method for submitting URLs. Sitemaps should focus on primary content and include accurate last modification dates to facilitate indexing.

Q: How does Google treat duplicate content on e-commerce sites?

Duplicate content on e-commerce sites is treated similarly to any other site. Google filters duplicates and aims to show the most relevant page to users. There is no penalty for duplicate content, but Google tries to select the best page to display in search results.

Q: What role does Google Discover play compared to Google News?

Google Discover focuses on content relevance and visual appeal, showing content in users' feeds without keyword-based queries. It does not require Google News registration, but it has specific guidelines. Large images and engaging content improve Discover visibility, but do not guarantee it.

Q: How can page speed issues be addressed effectively?

Page speed can be improved by focusing on both lab and real-world data. Tools like PageSpeed Insights provide actionable insights. Prioritizing low-hanging fruit and addressing significant speed issues can enhance user experience and potentially influence search rankings.

Q: How should structured data descriptions be handled?

Structured data descriptions should accurately match the product and be of reasonable length. There are no strict character limits, but descriptions should be concise yet informative. They should not be overly long or too brief, ensuring they provide clear context for the product.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The session covers various aspects of mobile-first indexing, emphasizing that desktop crawling is still part of the process. URL parameters should be handled carefully to ensure efficient crawling.

• Structured data implementation is discussed, highlighting the importance of technical correctness, logical appropriateness, and website quality. Rich results depend on these factors and are not guaranteed.

• Google Discover and News are differentiated. Discover relies on relevance and visual content, while News requires specific registration. Page speed and indexing issues are also addressed, with practical solutions offered.