Changes Made to Google’s Webmaster Guidelines

A few quiet changes have been happening over at Google this month, specifically within the Webmaster Guidelines. Unlike the speculation that surrounded the recent changes to Google’s core algorithm, these updates have slipped under the radar, but they are still important for anyone managing a website.

Changes to Google’s Webmaster Guidelines

The Webmaster Guidelines are one of the few official sources where Google outlines best practices for websites, providing webmasters with valuable insight into what Google considers important when ranking sites. While it’s not uncommon for these documents to be updated periodically, these recent changes have been made without the usual fanfare or announcements via a blog post.

What Has Changed?

The updates mainly focus on the General Guidelines section, which serves as a framework for what constitutes a strong webpage from Google’s perspective. This section gives clear advice on essential factors like visitor satisfaction, content categorisation and ensuring pages are easy for Google to index.

“Following the General Guidelines below will help Google find, index, and rank your site.”

While the changes appear substantial at first glance—mainly due to the amount of text that has been altered, added or removed—the fundamental guidelines themselves remain largely intact. The key difference lies in the clarification of existing guidelines, with added resources and links to support Google’s original advice. A few new elements have also been introduced, helping webmasters adapt to current best practices in SEO.

Key Additions to the Guidelines

Here are some examples of the new additions and clarifications made to the Webmaster Guidelines:

• HTTPS Encryption:
  “If possible, secure your site’s connections with HTTPS. Encrypting interactions between the user and your website is a good practice for communication on the web.”
  Google has been advocating for more secure connections for a while now and this addition emphasises the importance of securing your website, especially when handling sensitive data. HTTPS encryption is increasingly seen as a ranking factor and a necessity for gaining user trust.
• Mobile Optimisation:
  “Design your site for all device types and sizes, including desktops, tablets and smartphones. Use the mobile-friendly testing tool to test how well your pages work on mobile devices and get feedback on what needs to be fixed.”
  With mobile traffic overtaking desktop usage, Google continues to stress the need for mobile optimisation. This addition reinforces the importance of creating a seamless user experience across all devices. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool is a great resource to help webmasters ensure their sites meet mobile usability standards.
• Content Visibility:
  “Make your site’s important content visible by default. Google is able to crawl HTML content hidden inside navigational elements such as tabs or expanding sections; however, we consider this content less accessible to users and believe that you should make your most important information visible in the default page view.”
  This update stresses that while Google can crawl hidden content, the most important information should be easily accessible without additional clicks or interactions. This not only improves the user experience but also makes your valuable content more prominent in Google’s indexing process.

The Bigger Picture

Google’s recent changes focus more on improving the clarity and accessibility of the guidelines rather than introducing entirely new concepts. By providing better explanations and linking to relevant resources, Google is making it easier for webmasters to understand what’s expected of them. A detailed breakdown of all the revisions and additions has been compiled by The SEM Post for those who want to dive deeper into the specifics.

What to Expect Going Forward

These updates, alongside recent changes to Google’s Webmaster Portal, suggest that more adjustments could be coming over the next few months. As Google refines its approach to website management and search rankings, staying informed and adapting your site accordingly will help you maintain a competitive edge.

For businesses and webmasters alike, these changes present an opportunity to revisit your website’s compliance with Google’s best practices, ensuring that your content remains accessible, secure and optimised for the modern web.

At The Last Hurdle, we keep an eye on the latest trends and updates in digital marketing and SEO. If you need help optimising your website or understanding these new guidelines, don’t hesitate to reach out.