English/Hindi Google Webmaster Central office-hours hangout

TL;DR

Webmasters discuss SEO challenges and Google's latest updates.

Transcript

welcome to this hangout by the way and yeah we have a few questions posted already uh by a couple of folks but if there are any live questions we can take those and then we can go to the questions posted on the computer plus page yeah I have a question yeah yeah okay awesome good morning by the way good morning good morning so so I don't know websi... Read More

Key Insights

• Google's featured snippets are dynamic and not guaranteed for any website, even with proper content markup.
• HTTPS is recommended for all websites to ensure user data security, even if it's not an e-commerce site.
• Google's mobile-first indexing experiment prioritizes mobile pages but doesn't ignore desktop pages.
• It's important to provide unique content for local service pages instead of duplicating content across multiple suburb pages.
• Footer links are not inherently bad but should be relevant and not spammy to avoid negative SEO impacts.
• Google's ranking algorithms are complex and involve multiple factors; page rank is not the sole focus.
• Infinite scrolling requires pagination with unique URLs to ensure Google can index all content.
• Rich snippets are not guaranteed even with proper implementation; quality guidelines must also be met.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Google's featured snippets selection work?

Google's featured snippets are selected dynamically from any of the results on the first page, not necessarily the top result. There is no agreement with specific websites for snippets, and they are chosen based on relevance and quality. Proper content markup can increase chances but does not guarantee selection.

Q: Should websites switch to HTTPS even if they're not e-commerce?

Yes, HTTPS is recommended for all websites to ensure user data security. Even if a site doesn't handle transactions, HTTPS protects user privacy and is a minor ranking signal for Google. The security of user data is a priority, and HTTPS helps maintain trust and integrity.

Q: What is Google's stance on mobile-first indexing?

Mobile-first indexing is an ongoing experiment prioritizing mobile pages for indexing. It doesn't mean desktop pages are ignored, but mobile content should be as comprehensive as desktop content. Webmasters should ensure mobile pages load quickly and provide a seamless user experience.

Q: How should webmasters handle local service pages for multiple suburbs?

Webmasters should avoid duplicating the same content across multiple suburb pages. Instead, they should provide unique content that adds value to local users. Each suburb or location should have its own page with specific, relevant information to avoid content duplication and improve user experience.

Q: Are footer links harmful to SEO?

Footer links are not inherently harmful if they are relevant and not spammy. They should not be used to manipulate search rankings. If they are relevant to the content or service provided, they can be beneficial. However, webmasters should avoid excessive or irrelevant footer links.

Q: What is the best practice for implementing infinite scrolling?

Infinite scrolling should be supplemented with pagination that provides unique URLs for all content sections. This ensures Google can index all parts of the content. Webmasters should use HTML pushState and ensure there are no duplicate pages, providing a seamless experience for users and search engines.

Q: Why might rich snippets not appear despite correct implementation?

Rich snippets require more than just technical implementation; Google's quality guidelines must also be met. Even if structured data is correctly applied, snippets are not guaranteed. Google dynamically decides which pages to display snippets for, based on quality and relevance to the search query.

Q: How should webmasters handle page rank concerns?

Page rank is just one of many factors in Google's ranking algorithm and is not publicly visible. Webmasters should focus on creating high-quality, unique content that provides value to users. Overemphasis on page rank can distract from more impactful SEO practices like improving user experience and content quality.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The hangout discussed various SEO challenges, including the dynamic nature of Google's featured snippets and the importance of HTTPS for all websites. Participants were advised to ensure their content is unique and not duplicated across pages, especially for local listings.

• Google's mobile-first indexing is still experimental, but webmasters should ensure mobile pages are as content-rich as desktop pages. Infinite scrolling should be supplemented with paginated URLs to ensure all content is indexed by Google.

• Rich snippets are not guaranteed even with correct technical implementation, as Google's quality guidelines must also be met. Footer links are acceptable if relevant, but webmasters should avoid spammy practices to maintain SEO health.