In a recent episode of “Off-Log Search,” the Google Search Relations team provided information on upcoming changes to Google’s SEO Getting Started Guide.
The team, consisting of John Mueller, Lizzie Harvey and Gary Illyes, say the guide maintains a user satisfaction rating of 91%. However, they believe an overhaul is needed to streamline outdated advice and better serve their core beginner audience.
Here are some of the more notable changes discussed during the podcast.
HTML structure and search rankings
The team discussed the role of HTML structure in search engine rankings. They explained that proper use of HTML elements such as titles can help rankings, but it doesn’t affect rankings as much as some might think.
“Using headings and a good title element and having paragraphs, yes, of course. That’s all great. But other than that, it’s pretty useless to think about how the page is structured…or how the HTML,” Ilyes mentioned, debunking common misconceptions in the SEO community.
Domain Names: Brand vs. Keywords
The team discussed the ongoing debate about whether domain names affect SEO.
They recommended prioritizing branding over keyword inclusion when choosing a domain name. His view was that establishing a memorable brand should take priority over trying to optimize domain names for search engines.
This tip reflects a trend toward brand-focused domain name selection in SEO strategies.
Meta tags: to include or not to include?
The team deliberated whether meta tags should be discussed as meta keywords in the revised SEO Starter Guide. The team was inclined to exclude this issue to avoid unnecessary worry for site owners because meta keywords have minimal influence on Google Search rankings.
“I feel very conflicted about documenting anti patterns because we might also give ideas about new concerns for site owners to think about,” Gary explained, emphasizing his cautious approach.
Finally, it was decided to focus the guide on the optimization of factors with a more significant impact.
Address misconceptions head on
The conversation explored ways for the team to correct common SEO misconceptions, specifically the idea that using Google products improves search rankings.
The team agreed that the SEO Starter Guide should address these inaccurate beliefs to prevent the spread of misinformation.
To sum up
As the Google Search Relations team prepares to release the updated SEO Getting Started Guide, this recent podcast episode gave the SEO community a sneak peek of upcoming changes.
They want to simplify and modernize the guide and debunk common SEO myths.
The goal is to provide useful and practical SEO tips for people who are both beginners and experienced professionals.
For more information on updates to the Google SEO Starter Guide, see:
Featured image: Sadi-Santos/Shutterstock
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