Google launched a new YouTube series, ‘The Non-Canonical Cabinet,’ Thursday to provide official guidance on complex technical search engine optimization (SEO) questions not typically covered in standard documentation.
The series, hosted by Google analysts Gary Illyes and Cherry Prommawin, addresses specific edge-case issues relevant to search and generative artificial intelligence, offering insights beyond frequently asked questions.
The inaugural episode focused on domain names and URL paths, clarifying Google’s stance on elements such as emojis and keywords within web addresses. Google confirmed that emojis are not permitted in domain names, a restriction set by organizations like ICANN and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), but they can be processed if used in URL paths.
Regarding keywords in URLs, Illyes stated that they constitute an “incredibly small signal” for ranking purposes, becoming relevant only when a page lacks other discernible content. He also recommended the use of hyphens over underscores as word separators in URLs for optimal processing.
The show adopts a sitcom-style comedy format, a departure from Google’s more traditional technical presentations. This approach is intended to make discussions on intricate topics more accessible to a wider audience of web developers and SEO professionals.
The series fills a gap by tackling questions that Senior Google Search Analyst John Mueller previously indicated were too niche for broader communication. These types of queries often arise from specific implementation challenges faced by webmasters.
The next installment of ‘The Non-Canonical Cabinet’ is slated to cover robots.txt, a file that instructs search engine crawlers on which parts of a website to access or ignore.
Source: Search Engine Journal
