Yearly, John Mueller, Senior Search Analyst / Search Relations crew lead at Google makes a major effort to assist reply to Search engine optimization-related questions on Christmas. He has carried out this since no less than 2007, so sixteen-years and counting, and has carried out it once more this Christmas.
Listed here are the earlier years of John providing assist on Christmas. He did it final 12 months in 2022, then in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007.
This 12 months, he appears to have stayed off X (previously often called Twitter) probably for good purpose, and posted totally on Reddit. Listed here are the Reddit threads and responses he posted on on Christmas day:
- Hreflang rendering – head or physique? – “It appears like (because you talked about “rendering”) you are including hreflang with JavaScript. Technically, that is attainable, however debugging goes to be painful. I’d think about that many hreflang testing instruments may have bother seeing it, for instance. Hreflang is difficult by itself, I’d attempt to not make it even tougher. It sounds such as you’re up to the mark, simply understand that if the js injects an iframe within the head, you might want to be sure that the meta tags that you simply want for search are earlier than the iframe. (The iframe will typically cease processing of the top at that time).”
- Robots.txt unreachable – “That is nearly definitely your server blockinng Googlebot, for instance with a very spicy CDN configuration. This isn’t a bug in Search Console. In case your robots.txt is just not accessible to Googlebot, nothing will get crawled. The contents of the robots.txt file would not matter for this challenge – the issue is that Googlebot cannot even take a look at the file, so it assumes that your server desires to dam all site visitors.”
- Google Cache is totally different from Search Console Dwell Inspection – “The cached web page is just not reflective of what is listed – the JS won’t “run” there for technical causes. Use Search Console as a substitute.”
- What Search engine optimization myths are you uninterested in listening to of? – “That some issues are myths and will subsequently by no means be adopted / used.”
- Any level in placing model identify on meta title for web site pages? – “I like cheese, sorry.”
- Comply with this web site characteristic. Is it automated or do you might want to add code? – “You probably have a weblog, it is most likely already arrange for it (RSS / atom feed). In any other case, relying in your CMS, you most likely both have feeds like that already too, or it is easy to activate them. When you’re making your individual CMS, creating an RSS feed is not that rather more work.”
- Absolute URLs in Hreflang vs Impressions efficiency? – “Random ideas, may / won’t be related to you. I would be tempted to verify the meta charset is the primary factor of the top, to make it possible for all content material in there may be processed with the best character set. Trying round (like https://webhint.io/docs/user-guide/hints/hint-meta-charset-utf-8/ ), this looks like a standard follow, however I do not suppose it is a requirement. In case your scripts “break the top” (eg, inject an iframe), you may find yourself shedding the hreflang hyperlinks under that part. I would put any meta tags that you simply care about for search (meta robots, canonical, hreflang come to thoughts) above issues like scripts added within the head.”
A pair days earlier than the vacation, he posted his annual year-end Search engine optimization meme on X, click on by way of to undergo all of them:
The #Search engine optimization memes of 2023 – as discovered on the road, in numerous locations, and utilized in a few of my inside stories. Roughly in time order. No takesies-backsies. No garlic was used within the making of this thread. Not appropriate for time travellers. All hyperlinks are nofollow.
— I’m John – 🍟 Say no to cookies, biscuits solely 🍪 (@JohnMu) December 22, 2023
As I wrote final 12 months, there are additionally tons of volunteers, Google Product Specialists, and different volunteers which have answered dozens and dozens of questions all through Christmas eve and day and over the weekends. Like I stated final 12 months, this exhibits how John deeply cares about site owners. He is aware of that if a webmaster, web site proprietor, or enterprise proprietor is posting one thing regarding their web site over the vacations, this webmaster should be in some misery, and he’s there seeking to assist. We mentioned this a bit once I interviewed him on my vlog – test it out over right here.
In any occasion – John – thanks for the whole lot you do, and wishing you, your loved ones, and your colleagues a cheerful, wholesome, peaceable, and profitable vacation and New Yr.
Listed here are some posts from different search reps wishing everybody a cheerful holidays:
Heading off for the vacations for the subsequent few days. All the perfect to you all!
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) December 22, 2023
🎅🏼🎁Merry Christmas 🎄❄️SEOs pic.twitter.com/yRxhAHZQSd
— Fabrice Canel (@facan) December 25, 2023
I am signing off for 2023. Wishing everybody relaxation and peace this vacation season.
Thanks for all of the questions, concepts and suggestions all year long. See you in 2024!— AdsLiaison (@adsliaison) December 21, 2023
And joyful holidays to everybody on the market!
Discussion board dialogue at posts above.
