In a recent social media update, Google’s Search Liaison clarified a common misunderstanding within the SEO community regarding the impact of author bylines on search rankings.
What is Author Bylines?
An author byline is a line of text that identifies the author of a written work, typically appearing at the beginning or end of an article, blog post, or other written content. It usually includes the author’s name and sometimes additional information such as their title or affiliation. The purpose of an author byline is to give credit to the individual who created the content and provide readers with information about the author’s background or expertise.
In the context of the previous discussion about search rankings, author bylines were suggested by some as a potential factor influencing how content is ranked on search engines like Google. However, as clarified by Google’s Search Liaison, author bylines are not directly used as ranking signals in their search algorithms. Instead, they are recommended for the benefit of readers and may be associated with other indicators of content quality.
Misunderstanding in SEO Circles
This confusion surfaced when a prominent publication implied that including author bylines could enhance a content’s visibility in Google’s search results. As per the publication, this assertion led numerous websites to modify their content strategies, believing that including author bylines would positively impact their rankings.
Google’s Search Liaison used X (previously known as Twitter) to rectify the misinformation.
In the response, the liaison mentioned:
“I know this will be a ‘simple, almost quaint answer’ but this part of the article is wrong nor cites us saying this. Google doesn’t somehow ‘check out our credentials.’”
He stressed that Google does not consider bylines as a direct factor in ranking, emphasizing the inaccuracy of the publication’s assertion.
The liaison clarified that bylines are not a mechanism for enhancing search rankings but are intended for the readers’ benefit.
He further stated:
“Author bylines aren’t something you do for Google, and they don’t help you rank better. They’re something you do for your readers — and publications doing them may exhibit the type of other characteristics our ranking systems find align with useful content.”
Additional Explanation on Author Bylines
The Search Liaison from Google proceeded with:
“Just adding a byline doesn’t give a ranking boost. Nor do we somehow read information in or near a byline and think ‘Oh, they say they’re an expert, so this must be written by an expert.’”
He observed that although having precise bylines and information might be associated with high-quality content, they do not serve as direct ranking elements. He emphasized that numerous pieces of content lacking bylines still achieve favorable rankings, underscoring that they are not obligatory for success in search rankings.
Google Forum and QA Structured Data Update Centered Around Authorship
Essential Insights for SEO Practitioners
Important considerations for SEO practitioners include:
- Google does not include author bylines as a determinant in search rankings.
- Bylines should be included for the readers’ benefit and may align with other indicators of quality.
- High-quality content has the potential to achieve favorable rankings irrespective of the presence of an author byline.
- Google intends to update its documentation to provide clearer insights into ranking factors and enhance communication with SEO professionals.
This clarification from Google’s Search Liaison underscores the importance of focusing on producing top-notch content that caters to your audience, rather than relying on strategies that do not directly impact search rankings.
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