{"id":97842,"date":"2022-10-15T10:59:14","date_gmt":"2022-10-15T10:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/google-search-essentials-replaces-the-google-webmaster-guidelines\/"},"modified":"2022-10-15T10:59:14","modified_gmt":"2022-10-15T10:59:14","slug":"google-search-essentials-replaces-the-google-webmaster-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/google-search-essentials-replaces-the-google-webmaster-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Search Essentials Replaces The Google Webmaster Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Google has replaced the Google Webmaster Guidelines with the Google Search Essentials. The name change is Google’s ongoing efforts to remove the term “webmaster” so that these tools and documentation do not narrow the focus to just “webmasters,” but expands it to publishers, site owners, developers, creators, and so on.<\/p>\n
Before I even started blogging (which was in 2003), Google launched the Google Webmaster Guidelines back in 2002 – yes, two decades ago. The name stuck for 20 years but now Google decided it was time to change the name and refresh the guidelines in a very big way.<\/p>\n
Google changed more than just the name, Google also changed the overall format, added clearer terms and examples and also tried to simplify them for easier consumption. Google explained they updated the:\n<\/p>\n
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The new spam section has content on:\n<\/p>\n
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Drilling in, here is the list of changes from Google:<\/p>\n
Here are some of the observations made from the SEO community on the changes here, mostly from Marie Haynes and Glenn Gabe:<\/p>\n
\nUnder technical requirements:
“There are actually very few technical things you need to do to a web page; most sites pass the technical requirements without even realizing it.” pic.twitter.com\/toF3W6cBxm<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nNice that Google added “Spammy” to autogenerated content. It used to just say “autogenerated content intended to manipulate search rankings. Again, this is a tough area for Google with AI writing software on the move. \ud83d\ude42 pic.twitter.com\/YppvHrEg0i<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nSpam policies can lead to an entire site being ranked lower or completely omitted from Google search. pic.twitter.com\/ud80KOAfRh<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nGoogle also included “Thin” in the guideline for affiliate pages. They did have “thin” in the description in the past, but I think it’s a good idea they added “thin” in the specific guideline title. Avoids confusion with affiliate content vs. thin affiliate content. pic.twitter.com\/aWGdMCQH2Y<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nAlso, “Misleading functionality” is new. “Site owners intend to manipulate search ranking by intentionally creating sites w\/misleading functionality & services that trick users into thinking they would be able to access some content or services but in reality can not.” pic.twitter.com\/h6yPyUxosM<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThe first key best practice is to create helpful, reliable people first content.https:\/\/t.co\/F8Xnaclkzs<\/p>\n
Looks like this document is the former core update questions questions plus more\ud83d\ude0d pic.twitter.com\/kJc9pLrZDO<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThey added new questions
-do you have an existing audience?\ud83e\udd14
-does your content clearly demonstrate expertise? pic.twitter.com\/k14KiKxNZF<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nDoes your site have a primary focus?<\/p>\n
Does content fulfill searcher’s goal?<\/p>\n
Will the reader leave feeling satisfied? pic.twitter.com\/9ceRXni5Dp<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nAnd more questions to ensure we’re not creating content just for search engines.<\/p>\n
These look like they are the helpful content update questions. pic.twitter.com\/yYRKw5Cmcv<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nDon’t worry. Google doesn’t hate SEO. pic.twitter.com\/EYn2NTmsJh<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n“our systems give even more weight to content that aligns with strong EAT for topics that could significantly impact the health, financial stability, or safety of people, or the welfare or well-being of society.”<\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThere are more key best practices<\/p>\n
Use words ppl would use.
Place them in prominent places.<\/p>\nMake links crawlable.<\/p>\n
Tell people about your site, like in forums related to your topic. pic.twitter.com\/pdwKGxI8h3<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nand lastly
Follow best practices for images, videos, structured data and JavaScript
There’s a lot more under “how your site appears” as well. pic.twitter.com\/YqS4U2rraJ<\/a><\/p>\n\u2014 Dr. Marie Haynes\ud83d\udc3c (@Marie_Haynes) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThat nothing’s changed. pic.twitter.com\/cqBl7IYvM6<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Rohan Ayyar (@searchrook) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nRelevant new section about what G considers spam: <\/p>\n
“A site that claims to provide certain functionality (for example, PDF merge, countdown timer, online dictionary service), but intentionally leads users to deceptive ads rather than providing the claimed services”<\/p>\n
\u2014 Lily Ray \ud83d\ude0f (@lilyraynyc) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nit’s essential you look at this \ud83d\udc40 https:\/\/t.co\/l1r31o38Ix<\/p>\n
\u2014 Lizzi (@okaylizzi) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nAn update on Google’s Webmaster Guidelines …<\/p>\n
… they’re now called Search Essentials, and split into technical requirements, spam policies, and key best practices. The content is largely the same as before. Check them out, & update your links :-). https:\/\/t.co\/gOTnj7QvC0<\/p>\n
\u2014 \u26f0 johnmu is not a cat \u26f0 (@JohnMu) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nIt wouldn’t be a bad thing, but regardless, pretty much nobody in the corporate world calls themselves a “webmaster” anymore. It’s outdated terminology. https:\/\/t.co\/6hSMsNSm7v<\/p>\n
\u2014 \u26f0 johnmu is not a cat \u26f0 (@JohnMu) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nYeah, some of those have a lot of historical significance, I think “webmaster” never really got there, people moved on fairly quickly. (That said, even things of historical significance can be improved – just because something’s old doesn’t mean it’s still appropriate today)<\/p>\n
\u2014 \u26f0 johnmu is not a cat \u26f0 (@JohnMu) October 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nHow does that contradict that?<\/p>\n
\u2014 \u26f0 johnmu is not a cat \u26f0 (@JohnMu) October 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n(and first good morning, and the statement that you are not a cat must be true, as you are an early bird \ud83d\ude00)<\/p>\n
\u2014 R\u00fcdiger Dalchow (@RuedigerDalchow) October 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nthanks that clarfies it for me. \ud83d\ude42 Never really understood why to waste time on chasing low-quality links anyway.<\/p>\n
\u2014 R\u00fcdiger Dalchow (@RuedigerDalchow) October 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Forum discussion at twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n