Video Credit: Google Search Central
Wondering if those third-party SEO tools have the final say on whether your article becomes a search engine superstar? Well, here's the scoop: those tools don't actually call the shots on how your article performs in search engine rankings. And guess who spilled the beans? None other than Google's Search Advocate, John Mueller. So, if these tools don't impact search engine performance, what exactly are they useful for? Keep on reading to find out!
Mueller outlined the company's position on rankings from third-party SEO tools in a recent episode of "#askgooglebot." When determining how to rank a page in search results, Google doesn't take authority or spam ratings from external SEO tools into account. Search rankings are determined by Google's algorithms and evaluations, not by ratings from outside sources.
“No, Google does not use scores from third-party SEO tools or services. It doesn’t matter whether it’s about a website’s authority or a rating about spamminess, Google doesn’t use these scores at all,” clarified Mueller.
But, Does This Mean SEO Tools Are Useless?
No. As we look into Mueller's suggestions, keep in mind that even if Google may not employ exact scores, the information from SEO tools may still be used to enhance both on-page and off-page optimization.
Mueller goes on to explain:
“Transparently calculated scores can be useful to estimate your website’s standing or to point out actual issues. They could help with the next steps or perhaps even qualify the work that was done.”
Mueller points out that, despite the fact that Google doesn't take into account the results of third-party SEO tools, these ratings can give a general picture of how well a site adheres to SEO recommended practices.
Beyond what Google offers, the ratings provide extra information about how well-optimized a site is for search engines.
Mueller emphasized the need of comprehending the mechanics of the scoring system in order to assess the tool's applicability to your needs.
Google Recommends: Chrome’s Lighthouse
While third-party SEO ratings may not have an influence on search rankings, the video emphasizes the necessity of clearly computed scores. Google Chrome's Lighthouse feature is mentioned in the video as an example.
Lighthouse ratings are generated through a set of tests that offer useful information about a website's performance, even though Google does not utilize them for search ranking. These ratings are useful for discovering usability problems and other elements that influence user experience and search engine exposure.
Scores that have been transparently determined are useful for identifying possible issues that could otherwise go undiscovered. For instance, the video stresses that a poor rating in a category like anchor text may draw attention to usability issues that have an effect on both users and search engines.
Website owners may take proactive measures to solve problems and improve their website's overall performance by knowing the significance of these ratings.
Final Words
Bottom line is, while third-party scores may not have an impact on search results, transparent scores enable website owners to make educated decisions.
Quoting Mueller directly:
“Once again, no, Google does not use scores from third-party SEO tools for search. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re all useless.”
His final suggestion involves comprehending the scoring mechanism and utilizing the tools to enhance performance and user experience, focusing on improvement rather than using them as a direct strategy to elevate search rankings.
SO, WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS PARTNER?
Well, aren’t we glad you asked! We at DigiCom are obsessive data-driven marketers pulling from multi-disciplinary strategies to unlock scale. We buy media across all platforms and placements and provide creative solutions alongside content creation, and conversion rate optimizations. We pride ourselves on your successes and will stop at nothing to help you grow.