Google said URL length is not a ranking factor and there’s a claim my business option despite having already claimed the Google My Business listing? The start of February sees some pretty confusing news, so let’s get into it.
Google Announcements
5/2/2020 – URL Length is not a Ranking Factor?
Google’s John Mueller has said on Twitter that URL length is not a ranking fraction. This is his exact tweet and it was a response to a user’s concern about CMS autogenerate URL often being longer than what is recommended for SEO.
@JohnMu A lot of our automatically generated URLs are longer than most SEOs recommend. It only applies to not very important pages, but I wonder how bad this is in Google's eyes all the same.
— Per-Erik Skramstad (@perskram) February 5, 2020
Yes, Google can handle URLs as long as 2000 characters or so, but it’s pretty obvious that Google prefers short URLs when it comes to ranking. Besides, keeping your URL short and sweet can only create positive impact as fewer words will make it more specifically relevant. Seems we are not on the same boat with John this time.
SERP Updates
6/2/2020 – Is Google Testing a New Open Design?
Since Google reported that it will be doing some tests to the search results page in the upcoming weeks, some people have spotted what seems like Google’s new test of a more open-style search results page design. In fact, the new SERP listing follows a design similar to AMP articles. Here’s a screenshot
The new SERP listing follows a design similar to AMP articles. Here’s a screenshot
Local SEO Updates
6/2/2020 – New Google My Business Feature: Own This Business? Claim It Now
Users have spotted Google launched a new feature (or it could still be in its testing phase) a new feature to help business owners reclaim and login to their Google My Business listing.
The confusing thing about this is that it shows up even if the listing has already been claimed ?! Krystal Taing went to Twitter to explain that this function is intended to be an easier path to begin claiming process for users that have mislocated their account info.
For anyone beginning to see this on your listings, it is a new #GMB feature. It does not mean your listing is unclaimed but is intended as an easier path to begin the claiming process for users that may have mislocated their account info. https://t.co/eyYxjfEAOw
— Krystal Taing (@krystal_taing) January 30, 2020