Google Updates Guidance on Third-Party SEO Tools and Services

Google has released new guidance on the use of third-party SEO tools, emphasizing critical evaluation and updates to existing documentation.

3 min readSEO

Recently, Google introduced a new help document titled 'Google Search’s Guidance on Using Third-Party SEO Tools, Services, and Advice.' This document aims to provide clarity on how to assess third-party SEO resources, particularly in light of the rise of generative AI. The updates also include revisions to the existing document 'Do You Need an SEO?' to reflect current practices. Google emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing external SEO advice against its official guidelines. Users are encouraged to think critically about the tools and services they employ, especially those that claim to enhance content ranking or generate optimized material. Google explicitly states that it does not endorse any third-party tools and warns users about the limitations of such services, noting that they lack access to Google's internal ranking data. The company advocates for the use of Google Search Console as a reliable source of data. Additionally, the updated document advises caution when hiring SEO professionals, suggesting that users should verify claims and ensure that any audits conducted are based on realistic expectations.

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