English Google Webmaster Central office-hours hangout

TL;DR

Discussion on web crawling, indexing, and site management.

Transcript

JOHN MUELLER: OK, welcome, everyone, to today's Webmaster Central office-hours hang out. 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 where webmasters and publishers can jump in and ask any kind of web sites, web search related question that maybe is id... Read More

Key Insights

• Webmasters can participate in office-hour hangouts to ask questions related to website and web search.
• Internal linking is crucial for crawling; sitemaps should not be the sole method of linking pages.
• Brand changes in different regions can be managed using hreflang tags to connect different brand names.
• Favicons in mobile search may take time to update; ensure consistency across the domain.
• Google Images indexing does not support inline SVGs; consider the user's visual search intent.
• Duplicate content like lyrics can be indexed if the surrounding content provides unique value.
• E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines suggest linking to author bios for credibility.
• Algorithm updates may affect traffic; focus on overall quality and user expectations for recovery.

Questions & Answers

Q: How should webmasters handle internal linking and sitemaps?

Webmasters should ensure that pages are linked internally and not rely solely on sitemaps. Internal links help Google crawl and index pages effectively. Sitemaps are useful for finding new and updated pages but should complement a well-structured internal linking strategy.

Q: How can brands manage different names across regions?

Brands can use hreflang tags to connect different brand names across regions. This helps Google show the correct brand name to users in different locations. It's essential to consider how users search for the brand and ensure that hreflang tags are used on relevant pages, like homepages or about us pages.

Q: What should webmasters do if favicons don't update in mobile search?

If favicons don't update in mobile search, webmasters should ensure consistency across the domain. It may take more than seven days for changes to settle. Ensure that the favicon is updated not only on the homepage but also on other associated pages to provide a clear signal to Google.

Q: Are inline SVGs indexed by Google Images?

Inline SVGs are not indexed by Google Images. Webmasters should consider how users visually search for content and decide if every image needs to be indexed. Decorative or interface elements may not need indexing, while content that users search for visually should be made indexable.

Q: How does Google handle duplicate content like lyrics?

Google indexes duplicate content like lyrics if the surrounding content provides unique value. Pages with the same lyrics may be indexed, but Google will try to show the most relevant page. It's essential to provide additional context or information to differentiate pages from others with the same lyrics.

Q: What is the importance of E-A-T and author bios?

E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is crucial for credibility. Webmasters should link to author bios to demonstrate the expertise of content creators. While there's no specific guideline on how to link, it's important to provide users with information about the authors to build trust.

Q: What should webmasters do after an algorithm update affects traffic?

After an algorithm update, webmasters should focus on the overall quality of their site and user expectations. It's not always about specific technical changes but understanding how the site meets modern user needs. Feedback from unbiased users can help identify areas for improvement.

Q: How can webmasters address issues with XML sitemap errors?

XML sitemap errors only affect the specific URL with an error, not the entire sitemap. Ensure that the sitemap is properly formatted and that individual URL elements are correct. A logical error within an element won't affect other elements unless it prevents parsing the rest of the file.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Google Webmaster Central office hours allow webmasters to ask questions and get insights on web search and site management. Topics include crawling, indexing, and the importance of internal linking.

• Brand changes across regions can be managed using hreflang tags to connect different brand names, ensuring users see the correct version. Favicons may take time to update in mobile search, requiring consistency across domains.

• Duplicate content like lyrics is indexed if the page offers unique value. E-A-T guidelines recommend linking to author bios for credibility. Algorithm updates affecting traffic require a focus on overall site quality and user expectations.