Google’s Crawling Decisions and Their Impact on URL Subfolders

When it comes to optimizing your website for Google search, understanding how Google's crawler interacts with your site is essential. During the August 2024 episode of Google SEO Office Hours, John Mueller, from Google's search team, addressed an interesting question about how Google handles subfolders in a URL path that don't actually contain pages. This topic may seem trivial, but it has implications for how you structure your site and how Google perceives it.

Key Concepts: Understanding Google's Crawling Behavior

Before diving into the specifics of John Mueller's response, it's important to grasp some fundamental concepts about how Google crawls and indexes websites:

URL Structure: A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) often includes a path that can be broken down into subfolders. For example, in the URL www.example.com/blog/2024/, "blog" and "2024" are considered subfolders.
Crawling vs. Indexing: Crawling is the process by which Googlebot (Google's web crawler) discovers new and updated pages on the web. Indexing, on the other hand, is when Google stores and organizes the information found during crawling to serve it in search results.
404 Errors: A 404 error occurs when a user (or Googlebot) tries to access a page that does not exist on the server. These errors are common and expected when pages or paths are incorrectly linked or have been removed.

Original Question and Answer

This question was addressed by John Mueller, a member of Google's search team, during the August 2024 episode of Google SEO Office Hours.

Question: Does Google crawl subfolders in a URL path which don't have pages? Would it be a problem?

Answer: John Mueller responded: "Great question, I've seen variations of this over time. It's common to have URLs with paths that don't actually exist. Google's systems generally don't just try variations of URLs out, they rely on links to discover new URLs. This means that unless you're linking to those subdirectories, most likely Google wouldn't learn about them and try them. That said, even if Google were to try them and they return a 404, that's totally fine! Having pages on your site return 404 when they're not used is expected, and not a sign of a problem."

Analyzing John Mueller's Answer

John Mueller's response sheds light on how Google approaches subfolders that don't contain actual pages. He explains that Google’s systems typically don’t "try out" random variations of URLs. Instead, they rely on links to discover new URLs. This means that if you're not linking to certain subdirectories, Google is unlikely to stumble upon them.

Here’s a key quote from Mueller's response:

"Google's systems generally don't just try variations of URLs out, they rely on links to discover new URLs. This means that unless you're linking to those subdirectories, most likely Google wouldn't learn about them and try them."

This insight highlights that Google's crawling process is highly dependent on the link structure of your website. If a subfolder in your URL path isn't linked to from anywhere on your site, Googlebot is unlikely to find or crawl it.

However, Mueller also reassures webmasters that even if Googlebot does attempt to crawl a non-existent subfolder and encounters a 404 error, it's not a cause for concern. He states:

"Even if Google were to try them and they return a 404, that's totally fine! Having pages on your site return 404 when they're not used is expected, and not a sign of a problem."

Practical Implications and Best Practices

Understanding this aspect of Google’s crawling behavior can help you make informed decisions about your website’s structure:

Internal Linking Strategy: Ensure that all important pages on your site are linked appropriately. This increases the chances of Google discovering and indexing those pages. Avoid leaving important subfolders or pages orphaned, meaning they are not linked from anywhere on the site.
Handling 404 Errors: Don't worry too much about occasional 404 errors due to Googlebot trying to access non-existent paths. However, if you notice a significant number of 404 errors, it might be worth checking your internal linking or sitemap to ensure there aren't broken links pointing to these paths.
URL Structure Management: While it's not necessary to go out of your way to block Google from accessing non-existent subfolders (since Google won’t usually try them), maintaining a clean URL structure can improve both user experience and crawl efficiency. Tools like Google's Search Console can help you monitor any crawling issues.

Conclusion:

The main takeaway from John Mueller's response is that Google relies heavily on internal links to discover new pages, rather than trying out random URL variations. Subfolders in your URL path that aren’t linked to won't generally be crawled. And if Googlebot does encounter a 404 error when attempting to access these paths, it's nothing to worry about—it's a normal part of the web crawling process.

By focusing on a robust internal linking strategy and not stressing over occasional 404 errors, you can ensure that your site remains crawl-friendly while avoiding unnecessary complications. These insights emphasize the importance of structured and well-thought-out website architecture, benefiting both search engines and users alike.

Acknowledgment

This article is based on insights shared during the August episode of SEO office hours by Google Search Central. You can watch the full episode of Google's SEO office hours with this particular question starting at the 9:50 minute mark, on their official video.

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Google's Take on Nofollow and Noindex Tags: No Impact on Site Quality Signals

Webmasters and content creators are always looking for clarity on how their technical choices affect their site's performance in search engines. A recent question raised during Google's SEO office hours highlights a common concern: Does the extensive use of nofollow or noindex tags indicate to Google that a site has many low-quality pages?

Understanding Nofollow and Noindex Tags

Before diving into Google's response, it's essential to understand what nofollow and noindex tags are and their intended purposes:

Nofollow: A rel attribute used on links to tell search engines not to pass link equity (also known as "link juice") to the linked page. It's commonly used for user-generated content, paid links, or when linking to untrusted sources.

Example: <a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example Link</a>

Noindex: A meta tag or HTTP response header used to prevent search engines from indexing a specific page.

Example (HTML): <meta name="robots" content="noindex">

Example (HTTP Header): X-Robots-Tag: noindex

Google's Official Stance

During the August episode of Google's SEO office hours, a question was posed about the potential impact of using numerous nofollow or noindex tags. The response from Google's search team was clear and reassuring, indicating that these tags do not signal low-quality content to the search engine.

The Question and Google's Response

The specific question addressed was:

Can using a lot of nofollow or noindex tags signal to Google that the site has many low quality pages?

Martin Splitt, a member of Google's search team, provided this response:

"No, it doesn't signal low-quality content to us, just that you have links you're not willing to be associated with. That might have many reasons - you're not sure where the link goes, because it is user-generated content (in which case consider using rel=ugc instead of rel=nofollow) or you don't know what the site you're linking to is going to do in a couple of years or so, so you mark them as rel=nofollow."

This clear and concise answer provides valuable insights into how Google interprets the use of nofollow and noindex tags.

Decoding Google's Stance: What It Really Means

Splitt's answer provides several key insights:

No Quality Penalty: Using nofollow or noindex tags does not inherently suggest to Google that your content is of low quality. This should alleviate concerns about potential negative impacts on site rankings.
Legitimate Use Cases: Splitt acknowledges that there are many valid reasons for using these tags. He specifically mentions:
- Uncertainty about the link destination
- User-generated content
- Future-proofing against potential changes in linked content
Alternative for User-Generated Content: Interestingly, Splitt suggests using rel=ugc instead of rel=nofollow for user-generated content. This highlights Google's evolving approach to link attributes and their desire for more nuanced signaling from webmasters.
Example: <a href="https://example.com" rel="ugc">User-Generated Content Link</a>

From Theory to Practice: Actionable SEO Insights

Given this clarification from Google, website owners and SEO professionals can feel more confident in their use of nofollow and noindex tags. Here are some practical takeaways:

Use Tags Strategically: Don't hesitate to use nofollow or noindex when appropriate. They serve important functions in managing your site's relationship with search engines.
Example (Nofollow Link): <a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example Link</a>
Example (Noindex Meta Tag): <meta name="robots" content="noindex">
Consider UGC Attribute: For user-generated content, consider implementing the rel=ugc attribute as suggested by Splitt. This provides more specific information to search engines about the nature of the link.
Example: <a href="https://example.com" rel="ugc">User-Generated Content Link</a>
Focus on Content Quality: Rather than worrying about the number of nofollow or noindex tags, concentrate on creating high-quality, valuable content for your users.
Regular Audit: Periodically review your use of these tags to ensure they're still serving their intended purpose. Pages or links that were once untrusted might become valuable over time.
Balanced Approach: While these tags won't signal low quality, an overreliance on them might prevent search engines from fully understanding your site's structure and content. Use them judiciously.

Conclusion

Google's clarification on the impact of nofollow and noindex tags provides valuable guidance for the SEO community. These tags do not signal low-quality content to Google; rather, they are tools for webmasters to manage how search engines interact with their sites. By understanding and appropriately implementing these tags, website owners can better control their site's presence in search results without fear of unintended negative consequences. As always in SEO, the focus should remain on creating high-quality, user-centric content while using technical tools like nofollow and noindex tags to support overall site strategy.

Acknowledgment

You can watch the full episode of Google's SEO office hours with this particular question starting at the 1:17 minute mark, on their official video.

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Google's Policy for Crawling Hacked or Deleted Pages

Sometimes, you clean up your website by removing hacked or outdated pages and make sure they return a 404 error so that Google removes those pages from its index. But what happens is that Google still keeps crawling those pages even after a year? Why is this happening? Recently, Martin Splitt from Google Search shed some light on this curious situation.

What Are Hacked Pages and 404 Errors?

First, let’s clarify what we mean by hacked pages and 404 errors. Hacked pages are web pages that have been compromised by malicious actors. These pages often contain harmful content like spam, phishing scams, or malware, which can harm your site’s reputation and security. When such pages are discovered, it's crucial to remove them promptly to protect your visitors and restore your site’s integrity.

Once a page is deleted, it’s common practice to return a 404 error, which is a standard HTTP response code indicating that the page is no longer available. The 404 status tells search engines like Google that the page has been permanently removed and should be dropped from their index.

Understanding Google’s Persistent Crawling Behavior

However, even after you’ve removed these pages and ensured they return a 404 error, Googlebot—the web crawler responsible for indexing pages—might continue to crawl them. This can be puzzling and frustrating for website owners who believe these pages should be long gone from Google’s radar.

Martin Splitt explains that Googlebot doesn’t immediately give up on these pages because the web is a dynamic place. Pages can be mistakenly deleted or restored with legitimate content, and Googlebot wants to make sure it doesn’t miss any important updates. Additionally, there may still be links pointing to these deleted pages from other websites, which could keep them on Googlebot’s crawling schedule.

Analyzing Martin Splitt's Explanation

The question discussed during the August episode of Google SEO Office Hours was direct:

“Why does Google crawl our hacked pages after a year, where those pages are 404 and deleted?”

Martin Splitt responded with reassuring clarity:

"Well, it takes a while until Googlebot will give up. Sometimes people remove pages by mistake, sometimes hacked pages come back with legitimate content after a while. Googlebot does not want to miss out on that - and who knows - maybe there are links somewhere on the internet pointing at these pages, too. The good news is that this doesn't hurt your site in Google Search and eventually Googlebot will move on."

This explanation highlights Googlebot’s thoroughness. The web is constantly changing, and Google’s crawling process is designed to accommodate that fluidity. By continuing to crawl even those pages marked as 404, Googlebot is ensuring that it doesn’t overlook any content that might resurface.

Practical Implications for Website Owners

So, what does this mean for you as a website owner? First, it’s important to know that Google’s persistence in crawling these pages won’t negatively impact your site’s performance in search results. Googlebot will eventually stop crawling these deleted pages, but it’s a process that takes time.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Regularly Monitor Your Site: Use Google Search Console to keep an eye on any lingering issues with deleted or hacked pages.
Utilize the Removal Tool: If necessary, expedite the removal of a page from Google’s index using the Removal Tool in Search Console.
Ensure Proper 404 Configuration: Confirm that your deleted pages correctly return a 404 status, signaling to Google that these pages are permanently gone.

Key Takeaways

While it might be frustrating to see Google still crawling your deleted or hacked pages, it’s part of a broader effort to maintain the integrity of search results. Eventually, Googlebot will move on, and this activity won’t negatively impact your site’s ranking.

Acknowledgment

The full discussion, with this particular question starting at the 10:36 minute mark, can be watched on the official video of Google Search Central here.