English Google Webmaster Central office-hours hangout

TL;DR

John Mueller answers webmaster questions on crawling, indexing, and more.

Transcript

Thanks all right welcome everyone to today's Google 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 hours hangouts together with webmasters and publishers from around the world with regards to different kinds of search related questio... Read More

Key Insights

• GDPR compliance can be improved by using noindex tags instead of blocking pages with robots.txt, as Google needs to crawl pages to remove them from its index.
• Dynamic rendering should be considered when JavaScript is essential for displaying critical content, and it can help with faster indexing of rapidly changing sites.
• Using realistic last modification dates in sitemaps can help Google prioritize crawling, especially for large sites with user-generated content.
• Review websites occupying top search results can be problematic if they offer duplicate or low-quality content; specific examples can help Google improve search quality.
• Google uses multiple signals for canonicalization, including rel=canonical, internal linking, and sitemaps; conflicting signals can lead to indexing challenges.
• Serving a 503 response code to Googlebot during site maintenance is acceptable for short periods, but prolonged errors can lead to deindexing.
• Shared hosting does not negatively impact SEO, and using platforms like WordPress or Blogger is common and not detrimental.
• Pages marked as soft 404s due to temporary technical issues will be recrawled by Google, and using sitemaps can expedite this process.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can we ensure GDPR compliance while managing user-generated content?

To improve GDPR compliance, use noindex meta tags instead of blocking pages with robots.txt. This allows Google to crawl and remove pages from its index. Ensure that user profiles and pages with sensitive data are appropriately tagged to prevent unintended public access.

Q: What is the best approach to dynamic rendering for JavaScript-heavy sites?

Dynamic rendering is beneficial when JavaScript is critical for displaying content. It can expedite indexing for sites with rapidly changing content. Assess whether JavaScript is essential or merely enhances the page. If necessary, implement dynamic rendering to ensure timely indexing by search engines.

Q: How can we improve sitemap effectiveness for large, user-generated content sites?

Use realistic last modification dates in your sitemaps to help Google prioritize crawling. Avoid setting dates to 'now' for all pages, as this reduces trust in the data. Instead, update sitemaps with accurate modification dates based on actual content changes to ensure efficient crawling.

Q: How can we address the issue of review websites dominating search results?

If review websites with duplicate or low-quality content occupy top search results, provide specific examples to Google for evaluation. This feedback can help Google identify and rectify issues, improving the overall quality of search results for relevant queries.

Q: What factors does Google consider for canonicalization?

Google uses multiple signals for canonicalization, including rel=canonical tags, internal linking, and sitemaps. Ensure these signals are consistent to avoid indexing challenges. Conflicting signals, such as differing rel=canonical tags and sitemap entries, can lead to Google selecting a different canonical page.

Q: Is it acceptable to serve a 503 response code to Googlebot during site maintenance?

Yes, serving a 503 response code to Googlebot is acceptable for short periods during site maintenance. However, avoid prolonged 503 responses, as they can lead to deindexing. Ensure that the site returns to normal operation promptly to maintain search visibility.

Q: Does shared hosting negatively impact SEO?

No, shared hosting does not negatively impact SEO. Platforms like WordPress or Blogger, which use shared infrastructure, are common and not detrimental. Google's systems do not penalize sites for using shared hosting; focus on content quality and technical SEO instead.

Q: How can we expedite the reindexing of pages marked as soft 404s?

Google will recrawl pages marked as soft 404s due to temporary issues. To expedite this, use sitemaps with updated last modification dates. This prioritizes crawling and helps restore pages to the index faster. Additionally, use Search Console to verify and resolve indexing errors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• John Mueller addresses various webmaster queries, emphasizing the importance of using noindex tags for GDPR compliance and the role of dynamic rendering for JavaScript-heavy sites. He advises using realistic sitemap modification dates to aid Google's crawling priorities.

• Mueller discusses the impact of review websites on search results, suggesting that specific examples can help Google address duplicate content issues. He explains canonicalization signals and the importance of consistent communication with Google through sitemaps and rel=canonical tags.

• The session covers technical aspects like serving 503 response codes during maintenance and the non-impact of shared hosting on SEO. Mueller assures that Google recrawls pages marked as soft 404s and offers tips for improving indexing speed through sitemaps.