Don’t worry about SEO Tool Scores – Google doesn’t consider them significant. This insight comes from John Mueller, a Google Search Advocate, in a recent #AskGooglebot video.
Why this matters:
Despite Google’s repeated statements that scores from SEO tools (like Domain Authority) hold no sway in rankings, a persistent misconception remains.
Tool scores aren’t pivotal for SEO success. Your focus should be optimizing for Google and search engines, not third-party SEO tool metrics.
Absolutely not. Take Google Chrome’s Lighthouse tool as an example. It offers performance scores, but much like third-party SEO tools, Google Search doesn’t factor in Lighthouse scores when ranking.
According to John Mueller, “No, Google doesn’t incorporate scores from third-party SEO tools or services. Whether it’s about a site’s authority or spam rating, Google simply doesn’t use these scores.”
However, there’s a twist: While SEO scores don’t impact rankings, Mueller suggests they could be helpful in identifying real issues.
“They might guide your next steps or even validate the work you’ve done. Understanding the context of these scores is crucial in deciding their relevance to your efforts.”
Google’s Chrome Lighthouse tool
John Mueller referred to Google’s Chrome Lighthouse tool as an illustrative example. He emphasized that while Lighthouse offers valuable insights, it doesn’t directly influence a website’s rankings in search results.
Lighthouse generates performance scores for websites, but these scores are not employed by Google to determine search result rankings.
Nonetheless, Mueller highlighted the potential usefulness of Lighthouse’s performance scores:
“The score is generated through transparent testing procedures, which are open for your examination. By considering the overall score, you can gauge the effectiveness of your website’s performance in relation to those specific tests.”
The Real Issue
Even though SEO tools scores don’t directly affect how high your website appears in search results, Mueller wants you to know they can be really helpful. These evaluations act like useful guides. They help find hidden problems on your website and show you what things you can make better.
Being good at figuring out and understanding SEO metrics is really important. It helps you see if your efforts to make your website better are working. By using these evaluations, you can understand better what you’ve done and see which parts need more work.
To sum it up, Google Search Advocate John Mueller has made it clear that the idea of SEO tool ratings directly changing your website’s place in search results is not true. These ratings do help find problems and see how well you’re doing with making things better, but they can’t decide where your website shows up in search results.
For people who own websites and digital marketers, it’s more important to focus on making your website good for search engines than to worry too much about tool scores. Doing things the right way and following Google’s advice is what really helps your website get noticed more and get more people visiting it.
Remember, SEO is a big and always-changing thing. To do well, it’s important to know about the newest ideas and strategies. Don’t let old ideas confuse your efforts to make things better. Instead, trust sources you know are good and listen to experts in the field to understand SEO’s changing world.
Keep in mind that SEO is something that takes time, and your success isn’t only about tool scores. By always making good stuff for people, improving your website step by step, and keeping up with what’s important in your industry, you can make your website strong and attract the right visitors.
In Conclusion
Although Google doesn’t consider third-party SEO tool scores for ranking purposes, Mueller recognizes the advantages these tools offer.
These scores provide website owners with insights into their site’s position, identify potential areas for improvement, and facilitate the assessment of past SEO efforts.
