Google’s John Mueller mentioned it’s positive to publish some content material in each PDF and HTML codecs. He mentioned each “might be proven independently within the search outcomes.” If Google sees them as duplicates, in some instances, Google could present the HTML model in its search outcomes.
He posted this Q&A in a AskGooglebot video.
The query was from Corina Burri, “Can my web site publish content material in each HTML and PDF?”
13 years in the past John Mueller from Google mentioned it could possibly deal with it in the case of each PDF and HTML variations. In 2106, Gary Illyes mentioned you need not fear about it and John mentioned it is no drawback.
Right here is the video embed:
Right here is the transcript:
Right now’s query comes from Karina who asks if it is okay to publish content material twice as soon as in HTML and as soon as as a downloadable PDF file?
It is completely positive to do that.
On the whole Google programs can discover each sorts of pages and index them individually even when the phrases in them are technically duplicates. They are often proven independently within the search outcomes. You might have controls to handle this if you wish to.
For instance, you can use a no index HTTP header or robots meta tag to dam indexing of 1 or use the rel canonical hyperlink component to inform us about your desire.
In observe, typically content material is obtainable in only one format or the opposite just because that is what your viewers needs. when you have a restaurant menu people will need to take a look at it on their telephones so a traditional HTML web page is greatest. However, when you have a particular kind to fill out as a tough copy then utilizing a PDF file could make sense. And a few sorts of content material may work nicely in each codecs, akin to a guidebook or case examine out there to evaluation in paper kind.
If our programs see these as duplicates they will often defer to the HTML web page model.
It is value mentioning in the case of PDFs it is a good observe to incorporate a hyperlink to your web site within the PDF so that folk can discover their method again.
Discussion board dialogue at X.
