Google reveals 3 key tips to fix technical issues
In the ever-evolving field of SEO optimization, Google is positioning itself as a reliable guide with the recent release of three essential tips.
These tips aim to diagnose and resolve technical issues that may be hindering the indexing and ranking of a website.
In this article, we will explore in detail the three tips that Google recently shared through this informative video.
1. Is the URL indexable?
One of the first key considerations is to check whether the URL is indexable. Google suggests using the URL inspection tool in Search Console to get detailed information about the status of a page.
This tool not only provides confirmation of whether a page has been indexed, but also provides clear explanations if there are any issues that might prevent indexing.
The date of the last crawl provides an indication of Google’s interest in the page. If the page doesn’t tend to change often, Googlebot may decide to crawl it less.
2. Duplicates and canonical pages
Google recommends that you carefully examine whether a page is a duplicate or whether another page has been designated as canonical.
The clarity provided in the video indicates that even if another page has been designated as canonical, this is generally acceptable.
“The next thing to check after crawling is if it was ignored as a duplicate and the canonical URL is somewhere else, most of the time it’s fine.
While this may not be the expected canonical URL, the content is indexed and will be able to show up in search results, so it’s usually fine.”
Google
The important thing is that the content is still indexed and can appear in search results. The bonus here is a warning against using cache or the site:search operator for diagnostic purposes, as they may lead to misleading results.
The site search operator, like all other site operators, is completely disconnected from the search index. It has always been this way, even when there was a site search operator to show backlinks.
“Do not use operators and search features in the cache or site because they are not intended for debugging purposes and may provide misleading results when attempting to use them in debugging.”
Google
3. Anomalies in rendered HTML
The third tip focuses on examining the rendered HTML for any code issues, especially those related to JavaScript.
The difference between the source code and the rendered HTML is crucial to understanding what the HTML looks like after all the JavaScript has run.
This is a critical step in finding and resolving errors, error messages, and glitches on the server or in the application code.
“…check the rendered HTML and HTTP response to see if there is anything you don’t expect.
For example, a rambling error message or missing content due to some technical issue on the server or in the application code.”
Google
How to implement Google recommendations
To put these tips into practice, you can use Google Search Console to inspect URLs and view rendered HTML.
Alternatively, Chrome Developer Tools offers a “Show Rendering” mode to analyze rendered HTML directly in your browser.
“Inspect the URL, either by entering it directly into the URL Inspection tool or by clicking an inspection link next to a URL shown in most Search Console reports.
Click Test Live URL > View Tested Page.
The HTML tab shows the rendered HTML for the page.”
Google Support
By following these three key tips, you can address technical issues that impact indexing and improve your site’s search engine rankings. Be proactive in implementing these strategies, ensuring your online presence is optimized and easily discoverable.
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