English/Hindi Google Webmaster Central office-hours hangout

TL;DR

Webmaster Hangout covers SEO, indexing, and website optimization.

Transcript

ASHISH KALSI: OK, welcome to this month's Hangout. I mean, it's almost next month, I guess. So we have a bunch of questions in the Q&A app. And we have one question in the-- in the event page. So what we'll do is if you have any live questions, please ask them. And we'll alternate between your questions and the Q&A app questions. Hey, Neeraj. Anyth... Read More

Key Insights

• The hangout discusses the importance of using the Fetch as Google tool to check how Googlebot views a website, which helps in identifying rendering issues.
• Internal anchor text should be descriptive and relevant to the linked content, enhancing user navigation and SEO.
• Responsive design is recommended for mobile websites due to ease of maintenance and improved user experience.
• Guest blogging should focus on providing value rather than manipulating search rankings through excessive or irrelevant links.
• Using hreflang tags is essential for websites targeting multiple languages to ensure proper indexing and user targeting.
• Social signals, while not directly impacting rankings, can increase traffic and awareness, indirectly benefiting SEO.
• Pagination should be handled with rel='prev' and rel='next' tags to help Google understand the relationship between pages.
• Google evaluates website authority based on content relevance, user engagement, and the quality of external references.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is Google's cache different from Fetch as Google?

Google's cache shows the last indexed version of a page, whereas Fetch as Google allows webmasters to see how Googlebot views their site currently. Fetch as Google helps identify rendering issues and does not follow redirects, unlike the regular Googlebot.

Q: What should be done if targeting the same keyword for multiple pages?

It's common to target multiple pages for the same keyword. Webmasters should strike a balance to avoid overkill and ensure different pages provide unique value. Interlinking and content optimization are key strategies to improve ranking for targeted keywords.

Q: How does Google handle synonyms in search queries?

Google's search algorithms are designed to understand synonyms and related terms. For example, if someone searches for 'cheap hotels,' Google might show results for 'budget hotels.' Webmasters should focus on using terms that are most relevant to their audience.

Q: How should expired pages be handled if they might be needed again?

The approach depends on the timeframe. For short-term expirations, a server error response can be used to indicate temporary unavailability. For long-term expirations, using noindex is advisable. For out-of-stock products, it's fine to keep pages indexed with proper indications.

Q: Does Google consider Roman Hindi as English content?

Google tries to understand Roman Hindi as Hindi content, recognizing that users often type Hindi queries in English letters. Roman Hindi content is indexed for Roman Hindi queries, providing relevant results to users.

Q: Is it better to have a separate mobile site or a responsive design?

Responsive design is recommended as it simplifies maintenance and ensures a consistent user experience across devices. Separate mobile sites offer more design freedom but require managing multiple versions of content.

Q: Does linking to other sites hurt my rankings?

Linking to relevant external sites does not hurt rankings. It can enhance user experience by providing additional resources. However, selling links or engaging in manipulative link schemes can lead to penalties.

Q: How does Google evaluate the popularity of a website?

Google considers the authority of content, user engagement, and external references. Mentions and citations across the web can indicate a site's reputation. The focus should be on creating authoritative content that naturally attracts links and discussions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Google Webmaster Hangout provides insights into handling common SEO issues like rendering, indexing, and mobile optimization. Participants are encouraged to use tools like Fetch as Google to ensure their websites are accessible and properly indexed by Google.

• Responsive design is highlighted as a preferred method for mobile optimization due to its simplicity and effectiveness in providing a seamless user experience across devices. The discussion also touches on the importance of appropriate internal linking and anchor text.

• The hangout emphasizes the role of quality content and user engagement in improving website authority. Social media mentions and proper use of hreflang tags are also discussed as strategies to enhance visibility and relevance in search results.