English Google Webmaster Central office-hours hangout

TL;DR

John Mueller discusses site maps, server changes, and Panda updates.

Transcript

JOHN MUELLER: Welcome, everyone, to today's Google Webmaster Central Office Hours Hangout. My name is John Mueller. I'm a webmaster trans-analyst at Google in Switzerland, and part of what I do is talk with webmasters and publishers like we have here in the audience already. Before we get started with the normal Q&A, if one of you has any questions... Read More

Key Insights

• John Mueller explains that refreshing site maps can potentially increase crawl rates if server capacity allows, but it doesn't guarantee improved rankings.
• Moving to a stronger server can increase crawl capacity, but it doesn't inherently improve rankings or indexing speed.
• Changes in CSS or JavaScript should not frequently update the last modified date in a sitemap unless they impact main content.
• Google is improving its ability to render JavaScript directly, reducing the need for Ajax crawling workarounds.
• Payday Loans algorithm is distinct from Penguin, and its updates are not necessarily announced or synchronized with other algorithm changes.
• Penguin updates are not on a fixed monthly schedule; Google aims for more regular updates but not automatically yet.
• Mobile-friendly ranking factors are currently binary; a page is either mobile-friendly or not, with no partial credit.
• Panda updates have not been refreshed since October 2014, affecting sites making quality improvements post that period.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does refreshing site maps affect crawl rates?

Refreshing site maps can potentially increase crawl rates if the server has the capacity for more frequent crawling. However, this increase in crawl rate does not necessarily lead to better rankings or faster indexing. It's more about Google's ability to recognize that content has changed and should be re-crawled.

Q: What impact does moving to a stronger server have?

Moving to a stronger server can allow Google to crawl more pages if the server can handle the increased load. This can lead to more pages being indexed, but it doesn't guarantee that these pages will rank higher. Crawling capacity is adjusted based on the server's performance during previous crawls.

Q: Should CSS or JavaScript changes update the sitemap's last modified date?

Changes in CSS or JavaScript should not frequently update the last modified date in sitemaps unless they significantly affect the main content of the page. The focus should be on when the main content changes, which can include updates like new articles or comments.

Q: What is the current status of the Ajax crawling workaround?

Google has improved its ability to render JavaScript directly, reducing the need for the Ajax crawling workaround. The goal is to render pages as users see them without needing alternate versions specifically for Googlebot. This reflects ongoing advancements in handling JavaScript.

Q: Is the Payday Loans algorithm different from Penguin?

Yes, the Payday Loans algorithm is distinct from Penguin and targets specific issues within the payday loans niche. Updates to this algorithm are not necessarily announced or synchronized with other algorithm changes. It focuses on niche-specific spam issues.

Q: Are Penguin updates on a fixed monthly schedule?

No, Penguin updates are not on a fixed monthly schedule. Google is working towards more regular updates, but they are not yet automatic or predictable. This means that changes in rankings due to Penguin may not occur on a consistent basis.

Q: How does the mobile-friendly ranking factor work?

The mobile-friendly ranking factor is currently applied in a binary manner. Pages are either considered mobile-friendly or not, with no partial credit given for being partially mobile-friendly. This means that sites must pass the mobile-friendly test to receive the ranking boost.

Q: When was the last Panda update refreshed?

The last Panda update was refreshed in October 2014, and there has not been a data refresh since then. This affects sites that have made quality improvements post that period, as they may not see the expected recovery until the next data refresh occurs.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• John Mueller from Google Webmaster Central discusses various SEO topics, including the impact of site maps on crawl rates and the potential benefits of moving to stronger servers. He highlights that while these changes can influence crawling, they do not directly affect rankings.

• Mueller also addresses the importance of using last modified dates in sitemaps accurately, suggesting that changes in layout elements like CSS or JavaScript should not frequently trigger updates unless they affect the main content. He emphasizes the ongoing improvements in Google's ability to render JavaScript directly.

• The session touches on the distinct nature of the Payday Loans algorithm compared to Penguin, with updates not always being publicly announced. Mueller clarifies that Penguin updates are not on a predictable schedule, and that the Panda algorithm data has not been refreshed since late 2014, impacting sites that have made quality improvements since then.