How Does Google Handle SEO for Subdomains?

TL;DR

Google's John Mueller discusses various SEO topics, including the impact of geo-redirects, handling malware attacks, and the challenges of indexing new content. He emphasizes the importance of consistency in business listings and the potential effects of moving content from subdomains to main domains. Ensuring technical correctness and understanding Google's indexing behavior are key for effective SEO.

Transcript

[DING] JOHN MUELLER: All right. Welcome, everyone, to today's "Google Search Central SEO Office Hours Hangout." My name is John Mueller. I'm a search advocate on the Search Relations team here at Google in Switzerland. And part of what we do are these office hour sessions, where people can jump in and ask their questions around their website and w... Read More

Key Insights

• Geo-redirects can complicate Google's ability to crawl and index content, potentially affecting visibility.
• Malware attacks require thorough cleanup and verification to ensure unwanted pages are removed from search results.
• Consistency in local business listings across directories helps Google trust and understand the entity behind a website.
• Moving content from subdomains to main domains requires careful planning to maintain SEO signals.
• Google's indexing is not guaranteed for all pages; valid pages may still not be indexed due to resource limitations.
• Emojis in titles and meta descriptions do not significantly impact SEO but can be used for stylistic purposes.
• Core Web Vitals influence the page experience ranking factor but are not directly tied to crawling or indexing.
• Seasonal content can be managed by reusing URLs yearly to maintain accumulated SEO signals.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Google handle geo-redirects?

Geo-redirects can make it difficult for Google to crawl and index content, as they may redirect users, including Googlebot, to different versions of a site based on location. This can result in Google indexing the wrong version or duplicating content across different URLs, complicating search results.

Q: What should be done after a malware attack on a website?

After a malware attack, ensure all malicious content is removed and verify with Google's URL Inspection Tool. Use the removal tool for visible hacked pages and wait for Google to naturally recrawl and drop other affected URLs. Prioritize cleaning up visible pages to minimize user impact.

Q: Why is consistency in local business listings important?

Consistency in local business listings helps Google verify and trust the entity behind a website. Accurate and uniform information across directories supports Google's understanding of a business, aiding in local SEO and potentially improving visibility in search results.

Q: What are the challenges of moving content from subdomains to main domains?

Moving content from subdomains to main domains involves reevaluating the overall site structure and ensuring all redirects are correctly set up. This can impact SEO signals, and it's crucial to plan the migration carefully to maintain the site's search visibility and rankings.

Q: Why might valid pages not be indexed by Google?

Even valid pages may not be indexed due to Google's resource limitations. Not all content can be indexed, and Google prioritizes pages based on perceived importance and relevance. Ensuring high-quality content and a logical site structure can improve the likelihood of indexing.

Q: Do emojis in titles and meta descriptions affect SEO?

Emojis in titles and meta descriptions do not significantly impact SEO. While they can be used for stylistic purposes, Google focuses more on the content's relevance and quality. Emojis may not always display in search results, depending on Google's assessment of their appropriateness.

Q: How do Core Web Vitals impact Google's crawling and indexing?

Core Web Vitals are part of the page experience ranking factor but do not directly affect crawling or indexing. While they influence how a page ranks in terms of user experience, they are not a quality factor for determining crawl frequency or indexing decisions.

Q: How should seasonal content be managed for SEO?

Seasonal content should ideally reuse the same URLs each year to maintain accumulated SEO signals. This strategy helps preserve the page's authority and ranking potential, ensuring it remains competitive during peak seasonal periods. Pages can be temporarily removed or kept live between seasons.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Geo-redirects can hinder Google's crawling and indexing, making it crucial for websites to ensure technical accessibility. This is particularly important for global sites aiming to maintain visibility across different regions.

• Handling malware requires a comprehensive approach, including using removal tools for visible pages and ensuring all hacked content is cleaned. Prioritizing visible pages helps mitigate immediate user impact.

• For local SEO, maintaining consistent business listings and engaging with relevant directories are essential. Google's understanding of business entities benefits from consistent and accurate information across the web.