100+ SEO interview questions and answers | 2025 Super Guide

Are you preparing for an SEO interview in 2025? As the digital marketing landscape in India continues to evolve at lightning speed, staying ahead of the curve has never been more important. Whether you’re an experienced SEO professional looking to advance your career or a fresher hoping to break into this dynamic field, mastering interview questions is essential to stand out in India’s competitive job market.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve compiled over 100 up-to-date SEO interview questions and answers that reflect the latest developments in search engine algorithms, technical SEO practices, and content strategies. From fundamental concepts to advanced tactics being implemented by leading Indian brands, this resource covers everything you need to ace your next interview.

With India’s digital economy booming and businesses increasingly recognising the importance of strong online visibility, SEO professionals are in high demand across industries—from e-commerce giants in Mumbai to tech startups in Bangalore and digital agencies in Delhi NCR.

But with great opportunity comes great competition. Our SEO interview questions and answers guide will help you speak confidently about both timeless SEO principles and cutting-edge strategies that matter in the Indian context.

Let’s dive into these essential questions that will prepare you to impress even the most knowledgeable interviewer in 2025!

Most Useful SEO Interview Questions And Answers

1. Why is SEO so important to businesses?

SEO is crucial for businesses wanting to increase sales without high marketing costs. In today’s digital world, even traditional businesses are establishing online presences for greater visibility. When websites are properly optimised, businesses appear in top search results when potential customers search for relevant products. This visibility builds trust, as appearing in top results signals credibility to buyers. Click-through rates decrease with each position drop in search rankings. A well-optimised website is essential for online success. One significant advantage of SEO over PPC is that even if you pause SEO activities today, results won’t disappear immediately, unlike with PPC.

2. What are the most important Google Ranking Factors?

There’s no definitive answer as Google doesn’t officially disclose all ranking factors. Our knowledge is based on experiments and industry best practices. The most important Google Ranking Factors include: content quality, keywords, backlinks, organic clicks, and page loading speed.

3. What is an organic result?

Organic results are unpaid search results, also called ‘free results’ or ‘natural results’. Their ranking is based on various factors, and they typically appear below paid results. You cannot manipulate organic results by paying Google. They can only be improved through high-quality content and enhanced user experience.

4. What is the difference between paid and organic results?

Search results come in two types—paid and organic—shown on search engine results pages (SERPs) based on relevance and query quality. Organic results are non-paid, and ranking highly organically requires proper SEO implementation. Paid results involve bidding on keywords, with placement above organic results dependent on maximum cost per click (CPC) and quality score. Higher quality scores mean lower costs for the advertiser.

5. What are meta descriptions?

Meta descriptions are HTML attributes that describe a webpage’s content to both search engines and users. They appear beneath the page title in search results. Meta descriptions are important SEO elements where keyword optimisation is recommended. Well-crafted meta descriptions encourage users to click through to your page, improving click-through rates.

6. What is a do-follow link?

Do-follow is the default hyperlink type. When search engines find a do-follow link, they crawl the page and pass authority (also called link juice) from one website to another. More do-follow links from high-authority sites increase the likelihood of better SERP rankings, as backlinks remain an important ranking factor.

Example of a do-follow link: <a href="https://www.upgrad.com">Do-follow link Example</a>

7. What is a long-tail keyword?

Long-tail keywords are phrases with more than four words that are very specific. Unlike broad keywords, long-tail keywords reveal the intention and nature of the search, potentially generating better conversion rates when targeted appropriately. Blogs are ideal for utilising long-tail keywords. While individual long-tail keywords have lower search volumes, combining multiple long-tail keywords can generate significant traffic with high conversion rates.

8. What is bounce rate in SEO?

Bounce rate is the percentage of website visitors who leave after viewing only the landing page without exploring other pages or taking specific actions. According to Google, bounce rate equals single-page sessions divided by all sessions, or the percentage of sessions where users viewed only a single page and triggered only a single Analytics server request. To reduce bounce rate, increase page engagement through internal links and CTAs, improve page speed, and enhance user experience. Bounce rate benchmarks vary by genre and industry—blogs typically have higher bounce rates than B2B sites.

9. What is an anchor text? Why is anchor text important to SEO?

Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink. It helps users understand the linked page’s content and carries SEO value when keywords are appropriately implemented. However, over-optimisation might trigger Google penalties. Anchor text should be natural with diverse variations including branded, long tail, image links, and partial and exact matches. Search engines use anchor text to understand the context of the linked page, providing SEO value for understanding search intent.

10. What are header tags?

Header tags are the heading elements on your webpage, ranging from <h1> to <h6>, with H1 being the largest and H6 the smallest. H1 and H2 tags are considered most important for SEO. It’s recommended to incorporate secondary keywords in header tags where they fit naturally.

11. What is Googlebot?

Googlebot is Google’s web crawler that finds, crawls, and indexes web pages. Googlebot and Google web crawler are the same thing. There are two types of crawlers: Desktop Crawler (simulates desktop environments) and Mobile Crawler (simulates mobile devices).

12. What is the ALT Tag, and what is its importance in SEO?

Alt tag is an HTML attribute that describes images on your website. If an image can’t display in a browser, users can read the alt tags to understand what the image relates to. Alt tags help search engines understand images, which improves their understanding of the page content. They can also increase image rankings in search engines’ image searches.

13. What is Google Autocomplete?

Google Autocomplete is a function in Google and other search engines that suggests search queries as users type in the search box. It helps users complete searches with less effort, especially on mobile devices. Suggestions are based on popular searches and the user’s search history. According to Backlinko’s study, searchers use autocomplete suggestions 23% of the time.

14. What is page speed, and why is it important?

Page speed is the time a website takes to load for users. Search engines consider this when ranking websites because faster loading correlates with better user experience. Page speed can be improved by reducing redirects, optimising images, removing render-blocking elements, improving server response time, and optimising code.

15. What are the 4 stages of SEO?

SEO is a structured process involving four key stages:

1. Technical SEO – Optimises the backend for search engines, including site speed, mobile-friendliness, XML sitemaps, and structured data.
2. On-Page SEO – Enhances individual pages with high-quality content, meta tags, internal linking, and image optimisation.
3. Off-Page SEO – Builds authority through backlinks, social signals, and influencer outreach.
4. Content & UX Optimisation – Focuses on user intent, engagement, dwell time, and clear navigation for better experience.

16. What are the types of SEO?

SEO is broadly categorised into four key types:

1. On-Page SEO – Focuses on optimising elements within your website, including content, meta tags, headers, internal linking, and keyword usage.
2. Off-Page SEO – Enhances website authority through backlinks, social media engagement, influencer outreach, and brand mentions.
3. Technical SEO – Ensures website functionality by optimising site speed, mobile-friendliness, structured data, XML sitemaps, and crawlability.
4. Local SEO – Targets location-based searches, helping businesses appear in Google My Business listings, local citations, and map results.

17. What is indexing in SEO?

Indexing in SEO refers to the process by which search engines store and organise web pages in their database after crawling them. Once indexed, a page becomes eligible to appear in search results for relevant queries. Search engines use bots to analyse website content and determine its relevance. Proper indexing depends on structured data, internal linking, mobile-friendliness, and XML sitemaps. If a page isn’t indexed, it won’t appear in search results.

18. What is a keyword in SEO?

A keyword in SEO is a specific word or phrase that users enter into search engines to find relevant information. Keywords help search engines understand webpage context and match it with user queries. They can be short-tail (one or two words) or long-tail (three or more words), with long-tail keywords typically having lower competition but higher conversion potential. Keywords should be strategically placed in titles, meta descriptions, headers, URLs, and throughout content while maintaining natural readability. Keyword stuffing can harm rankings.

19. Differentiate between on-page SEO and off-page SEO.

On-page SEO involves optimisation efforts directly within a website to improve search rankings. This includes content quality, keywords, meta tags, headings, internal linking, user experience, images, URL structure, and mobile responsiveness.

Off-page SEO focuses on external factors influencing rankings, such as building backlinks, social media marketing, influencer collaborations, and online reputation management. Off-page SEO enhances website authority, trustworthiness, and popularity, driving more traffic and improving rankings.

20. What is an HTML Sitemap?

An HTML sitemap is a webpage where users can access a structured list of pages, organised for easy site navigation. It’s not necessary for small websites with few pages, but it’s particularly useful for larger websites. HTML sitemaps help users understand and navigate complex site structures.

21. What is XML Sitemap?

XML (Extensible Markup Language) sitemaps are designed specifically for search engines, not users. They list webpages and their update frequencies, along with modification timestamps. An XML sitemap asks search engines to crawl and index important pages frequently. It’s often one of the first elements search engines look for when discovering a website.

22. Differentiate between do-follow and no-follow backlinks.

A do-follow backlink passes link equity from one site to another, improving the linked site’s search rankings. Search engines follow these links and use them as ranking signals.

A no-follow backlink includes an attribute telling search engines not to follow the link or pass link equity. While no-follow links don’t directly affect rankings, they can still drive traffic, provide social proof, and improve brand visibility.

23. What is inbound link and outbound link? How can you distinguish between them?

An inbound link is a hyperlink from an external website pointing to your site. Inbound links are crucial for SEO as they build authority and trust, improving search rankings.

An outbound link is a hyperlink from your website to an external site. While outbound links don’t directly impact your SEO rankings, they establish relevance and credibility by linking to authoritative sources. A healthy link profile requires balance between inbound and outbound links.

24. What is the relation between SEO and SEM?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing) are closely related strategies for improving website visibility in search engines. The key difference is that SEO is free while SEM is paid.

SEO focuses on organic optimisation through keyword research, content creation, and technical improvements to rank higher in search results.

SEM involves paid advertising, such as Google Ads, to appear at the top of search results. Both strategies work together to increase traffic, with SEO providing long-term results and SEM driving immediate visibility.

25. What is web crawling? Why is it important?

Web crawling is the process where search engine bots (spiders) crawl websites for indexing. Crawlers use hyperlinks to visit pages and documents, bringing information back to web servers for indexing. When a crawler visits a page, it creates a copy and adds its URLs to the indexing queue.

Fresh content increases crawl frequency. Crawling is essential because pages that aren’t crawled can’t be indexed, and unindexed pages won’t appear in search results.

26. What is Google Sandbox?

Google Sandbox Effect is a theory suggesting new websites enter a probation period (sandbox) where they can’t rank well for important keywords. The theory states Google needs time to observe sites before removing them from this imaginary area. It may result from building too many links too quickly.

Though never officially announced, it’s been referenced when Google discusses ranking processes. It’s like an imaginary filter Google applies, limiting new websites’ visibility during probation. To reduce sandbox effects, focus on quality content, proper indexing, strategic keyword usage, and driving social media traffic.

27. What is a 301 redirect?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect method that sends users and search engines from an old URL to a new one. When webmasters need to redirect one URL to another, 301 is considered best practice as it passes most link equity from the old page to the new one. For SEO purposes, 301 redirects are better than 302 redirects or JavaScript redirects for preserving authority and value.

28. What is robots.txt and why is it useful in SEO?

Robots.txt is a text file containing rules that instruct search engine crawlers about indexing and caching webpages, files, directories, or domains. It’s useful in SEO because without it, you lose control over what search engine crawlers can access. It helps manage which parts of your site should or shouldn’t be crawled and indexed.

29. What is a Canonical URL?

A canonical URL tells search engines which specific URL is the original version that should be listed in search results. Canonical URLs help websites avoid duplicate content issues, which can occur with different dynamic parameters of the same page, print versions, and more. Cross-domain canonical URLs make content syndication possible by identifying the original version while treating others as variations rather than duplicates.

30. How can you decrease the load time of your websites?

Website loading time can be decreased through:

• Optimising CSS delivery to reduce HTTP requests
• Using external style sheets
• Compressing images without compromising quality
• Minifying code
• Enabling browser caching
• Using CSS sprites to reduce HTTP requests
• Limiting self-hosted videos

31. What is Cloaking?

Cloaking is a black hat SEO technique where users see different web page content than what search engines see. It involves tricking search engines by indexing keyword-stuffed pages while displaying different content to users. This black hat technique can harm rankings as Google identifies it through user behaviour analysis.

32. What are Doorway Pages?

Doorway pages are pages users first visit after clicking a search result before being redirected to the actual landing page. They’re a black hat method that should be avoided. Doorway pages are optimised for search engines, but when users visit them, they’re automatically redirected to the real destination page.

33. How does HTTPS affect SEO and why is it important?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is crucial for SEO because it signals trust and security to both search engines and users. Google has confirmed HTTPS as a ranking factor, meaning secure websites tend to rank higher than non-secure ones.

HTTPS protects user data by encrypting browser-server communications, especially important for websites handling sensitive information like login credentials or payment details. Search engines prioritise this secure environment, valuing user safety and privacy.

HTTPS improves SEO and enhances user experience by ensuring visitors feel confident browsing your site, contributing to better user retention and conversion rates.

34. What is AMP?

AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) is an open-source project helping publishers increase page speed and improve readability on mobile devices. Google, WordPress, Adobe, and other companies collaborated to create this initiative that optimises mobile content delivery.

35. What are the steps to conduct a technical SEO audit?

A technical SEO audit examines a website’s technical aspects to ensure optimisation for search engines and user experience. The audit identifies issues affecting site performance, ranking, and accessibility. Steps include:

• Crawling the website to identify errors
• Checking site speed and page loading time
• Ensuring mobile responsiveness
• Reviewing internal linking and URL structure
• Examining on-page SEO elements like titles, meta descriptions, and headers
• Evaluating browser and site security
• Fixing broken or redirect links
• Using canonical tags and addressing duplicate content

36. What is the Disavow Tool?

The Disavow Tool is a Google Search Console feature allowing publishers to tell Google which links from other domains should be ignored. It helps websites avoid penalties from bad links. However, the tool should be used carefully, as improper use can harm website performance in search results.

37. What is Schema Markup?

Schema Markup is structured data implemented on websites to help search engines better understand content and provide additional information to users on SERPs. While it doesn’t directly improve rankings, the resulting rich snippets improve click-through rates, which can enhance rankings over time.

38. How can we increase the frequency of crawling by search engines?

To increase crawling frequency:

• Update pages regularly and add new content
• Ensure server uptime
• Update sitemaps
• Remove unnecessary pages
• Improve quality backlinks
• Decrease website loading time

39. How to optimise a website with millions of pages?

Optimising a website with millions of pages requires a strategic approach, focusing on:

• Prioritising high-value pages like top-performing content or key product pages
• Creating dynamic meta tags
• Ensuring pages are optimised for speed, mobile-friendliness, and user experience
• Implementing dynamic XML sitemaps
• Developing strong internal navigation structure

40. What do you understand about Google Core Web Vitals?

Google Core Web Vitals are user experience metrics used to assess website performance quality. These metrics impact SEO rankings by focusing on user experience factors affecting page load speed, interactivity, and visual stability.

Core Web Vitals include:

• Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures loading performance, specifically how quickly the largest visible content element loads
• First Input Delay (FID): Measures how long the website takes to respond to initial user interaction
• Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures visual stability by quantifying content layout shifts during loading

41. How will you handle website migration to a new domain? Elaborate with the steps you will take to undertake this task. Website migration to a new domain requires transferring content, structure, and URLs while maintaining or improving SEO rankings. This complex process must be handled carefully to prevent traffic and ranking losses.

Steps include:

1. Auditing the existing site to document current rankings, traffic, and backlinks
2. Setting up the new domain with proper hosting, security (SSL), and technical configurations
3. Creating comprehensive URL mapping between old and new domain URLs
4. Implementing 301 redirects from old to new domain URLs
5. Updating all internal links to point to the new domain
6. Adding and verifying the new domain in Google Search Console
7. Using the “Change of Address” tool in Google Search Console
8. Updating and submitting the new XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools

42. What is DA? How is DA important?

DA (Domain Authority) is a metric developed by MOZ ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores being better. Sites with higher DA have better ranking potential. Scores between 40-50 are considered average, 50-60 good, and above 60 excellent.

DA is an important SEO metric for quickly understanding website quality and comparing multiple sites based on their authority.

43. What are the popular SEO tools available in the market?

Popular SEO tools include Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner, Bing Webmaster Tools, Ahrefs, SEMRush, Alexa, Moz, and Screaming Frog.

Free tools:

• Google Search Console: Essential for checking website health from Google’s perspective and analysing performance
• Google Analytics: Sufficient for mid-level websites to understand performance, visitor behaviour, and conversion optimisation

Notable paid tools:

• Moz: Helps analyse website insights and competitor performance
• Ahrefs: Excellent for checking backlinks for your site and competitors
• SEMRush: Analyses backlink health, keyword positions, and website errors
• Screaming Frog: Crawls websites to list key elements like links, titles, descriptions, and HTTP status codes

44. What are the various aspects of keywords in SEO? Define them.

Keyword aspects in SEO include:

1. Keyword frequency: The number of times a keyword appears on a page. Too many occurrences can constitute keyword stuffing.
2. Keyword Difficulty: A metric measuring how difficult it is to rank for a specific keyword based on popularity and competition. Higher difficulty requires more time or backlinks.
3. Keyword Proximity: The distance between keywords on a webpage, important for search engine analysis of content relevance and natural placement.
4. Keyword Density: The percentage of times a keyword appears on a webpage. Recommended density is 3-4% to avoid keyword stuffing penalties.
5. Keyword Stuffing: A black hat method of artificially increasing keyword density to manipulate rankings. Not recommended since Google’s Panda update.
6. Keyword Stemming: Identifying a keyword’s root and creating variations with suffixes, prefixes, and pluralisation. Helps standardise word variations for search engines.
7. Keyword Prominence: Where keywords appear on a webpage. Keywords in titles, headers, first 100 words, and meta descriptions signal importance to search engines.

45. What are the different types of keywords in SEO?

SEO keyword types include:

• Primary Keywords: Main keywords representing a page’s central theme, highly relevant to content and most targeted in SEO strategies (e.g., “android mobile phones”)
• Short-tail Keywords: Broad terms with high search volume but lower conversion rates (e.g., “mobile phones”)
• Long-tail Keywords: Longer phrases with lower search volume but higher conversion rates (e.g., “best mobile phones for gaming”)
• Transactional Keywords: Indicating purchase intent (e.g., “buy mobile phones online”)
• Informational Keywords: Used when searching for information or solutions (e.g., “how to choose the best gaming mobile phones”)
• Local Keywords: Targeting specific locations (e.g., “gaming mobile phones shops near me”)

46. What factors will you consider to measure SEO success rate?

Factors measuring SEO success include organic traffic, keyword rankings, CTR, bounce rate, time on page, returning visitors, and domain authority.

Key assessment factors:

• Increased organic traffic: Growing organic traffic indicates effective SEO strategies
• Better natural backlinks: High-quality, natural backlinks suggest search engines recognise your content as trustworthy and valuable
• Low bounce rate: High bounce rates indicate content may not be engaging or informative, suggesting strategy adjustments

47. What is the difference between TLD and ccTLD?

TLD refers to “top level domain” appearing at the end of a website URL, such as .com, .edu, .gov, or .org.

ccTLD refers to “country code top-level domain,” targeting specific geographical areas or countries. As a subset of TLDs, ccTLDs help users identify a website’s regional origin, such as .in (India), .uk (United Kingdom), and .fr (France).

48. What do you mean by rich snippets and how are they important from an SEO point of view?

Rich snippets are enhanced search results providing additional details based on search queries, such as ratings, nearby events, or other useful information. While they don’t directly improve page rankings, rich snippets significantly impact SEO by improving click-through rates.

49. What steps do you follow for competitive analysis?

Competitive analysis steps for SEO include:

1. Identifying competitors
2. Assessing keyword usage, content relevance, backlink profiles, and on-page optimisation
3. Using collected information to identify keyword and content gaps
4. Developing strategies for new keyword incorporation and opportunities

50. Can you point out some common SEO mistakes that can prove detrimental to your website or business?

Common SEO mistakes include:

• Ignoring mobile optimisation
• Neglecting high-quality content
• Keyword stuffing
• Failing to optimise meta tags
• Undermining page load speed importance
• Lacking clear URL structure or internal linking strategy
• Overlooking technical SEO aspects like broken links, improper redirects, and missing alt text

51. What is the importance of identifying duplicate content in SEO? How can you fix duplicate content?

Duplicate content confuses search engines and hinders rankings. Search engines may struggle to determine which version to index, potentially resulting in penalties or lower rankings.

To fix duplicate content:

• Use canonical tags to identify the original version
• Implement 301 redirects where appropriate
• Regularly audit your site for duplications
• Rewrite or consolidate similar content

52. What is meant by conversions and how will you track conversions through Google Analytics?

Conversions occur when predefined Google Analytics goals are accomplished, generating ROI. Examples include users taking desired actions like completing forms, subscribing to newsletters, or showing high engagement. Goals in Google Analytics can track these conversion events.

A conversion is any completed user activity important to your business—essentially, the successful accomplishment of a predefined goal.

53. What do you mean by E-A-T and E-E-A-T?

• E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authority & Trustworthiness—Google’s approach for assessing web page content quality and relevance.
• E-E-A-T adds “Experience” to create Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.

These frameworks are part of Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines, helping determine which websites deserve higher rankings based on content credibility and value. Content quality and relevance are highly significant for page ranking.

54. What do you know about Panda and Penguin Google algorithm updates?

The Panda update (2011) targeted low-quality content, penalising websites with thin, duplicate, or spammy content while rewarding valuable, original content with improved visibility and rankings.

Penguin (2012) focused on penalising unnatural backlinks, particularly those with excessive keyword-based anchor texts. Both updates emphasised high-quality content and natural link-building practices, encouraging websites to prioritise user experience and ethical SEO.

55. What was the impact of the Google Hummingbird update?

The Google Hummingbird update (2013) enhanced Google’s ability to understand search query meanings, focusing on user intent rather than individual keywords. It promoted conversational search results, especially for long-tail and natural language queries, encouraging content creators to answer questions comprehensively and contextually. Websites providing valuable, well-structured answers saw improved rankings, while keyword-stuffed content was deprioritised.

56. How do you optimise a website for mobile-first indexing?

To optimise for mobile-first indexing:

• Ensure your site adapts to all screen sizes
• Focus on fast, user-friendly experiences (Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites)
• Ensure identical content and meta tags across mobile and desktop versions
• Optimise images for mobile speed
• Use mobile-friendly navigation
• Improve load times
• Maintain consistent structured data across versions
• Use Google Search Console to monitor indexing status

57. What role does content freshness play in your SEO strategy?

Content freshness indicates how current and updated your website content is. Google prioritises up-to-date, relevant content to ensure users receive accurate and timely information.

Regular content updates, especially in rapidly changing niches, help maintain rankings. Fresh content increases engagement as users prefer sites with the latest insights. Updating old articles with new data improves their relevance, potentially improving search rankings and user retention.

58. What best practices would you use for optimising images for SEO?

Image optimisation best practices include:

• Using descriptive, keyword-rich filenames reflecting image content
• Including alt text describing the image
• Compressing images to reduce file size without quality loss
• Ensuring fast page load speeds
• Using responsive images for proper display across devices
• Implementing structured data and appropriate image formats for faster loading

59. What is the impact of user experience (UX) on SEO?

User experience significantly impacts SEO by directly affecting engagement metrics like time on site, bounce rate, and conversion rates. Good UX—including easy navigation, fast loading times, and mobile-friendliness—is valued by Google when ranking sites.

Positive UX encourages longer visits and greater content interaction, signalling value to search engines. Poor UX leads to higher bounce rates, lower dwell time, and potential penalties, negatively affecting SEO rankings.

60. How would you tackle the issue of high bounce rate for your website?

To address high bounce rates:

• Improve user experience by enhancing page load speed
• Ensure mobile responsiveness
• Simplify navigation
• Create relevant, engaging content matching search intent
• Include clear calls to action (CTAs)
• Implement logical site structure
• Optimise landing pages with eye-catching visuals
• Reduce intrusive pop-ups or ads

61. What are thin content and its implications for SEO?

Thin content refers to pages with minimal value, offering insufficient depth or substance. It leads to lower rankings as Google prioritises valuable, informative content. Examples include short, keyword-stuffed articles or duplicate content.

Implications for SEO include reduced visibility, poor user engagement, and potential penalties. To avoid this, create comprehensive, unique content addressing user questions and needs in-depth.

62. How do you optimise for the Google Discover feed?

To optimise for Google Discover:

• Create high-quality, engaging content aligned with trending topics and user interests
• Ensure mobile-friendliness, as most discovery traffic comes from mobile devices
• Use compelling visuals (images or videos)
• Update content regularly
• Optimise for search intent, emphasising freshness and relevance
• Maintain a strong presence in Google Search Console to monitor content visibility and performance

63. Explain what is content clustering and how it impacts SEO.

Content clustering organises related content into groups around central topic or pillar pages. Pillar pages provide broad topic coverage, while cluster pages explore specific aspects. This strategy improves SEO by establishing topic authority and helping search engines understand content context and relevance. It encourages internal linking, improving site structure and navigation while enhancing user experience and rankings through increased content visibility and relevance.

64. How would you differentiate between black hat SEO and white hat SEO?

Black hat SEO uses unethical techniques violating search engine guidelines to manipulate rankings, including keyword stuffing, cloaking, link farming, and hidden text or links. These tactics may yield quick results but often lead to penalties or bans once discovered.

White hat SEO involves ethical, legitimate methods to improve rankings, focusing on high-quality content, optimised user experience, natural backlinks, and adherence to search engine guidelines. White hat SEO is sustainable and ensures long-term success without penalty risks.

65. What is the importance of URL optimisation in SEO?

URL optimisation is significant in SEO because search engines use URLs to understand webpage content and context. Optimised URLs should be short, descriptive, and include relevant keywords reflecting page content. Clean URLs are easier for users and search engines to read.

Complex URLs with unnecessary characters can negatively impact rankings and user experience. Structured URLs aid indexing and crawling, potentially improving rankings.

66. How do you think the use of content marketing has impacted SEO strategies?

Content marketing has transformed SEO strategies by shifting focus from keyword-heavy optimisation to value-driven content. The emphasis now lies on creating engaging, informative, and relevant content answering user queries. This approach attracts organic traffic, builds authority, and fosters engagement.

As search engines prioritise content matching user intent, content marketing has become integral to improving rankings, acquiring backlinks, and driving conversions. Content marketing supports ongoing SEO through continuous content refreshment and expansion.

67. How do you identify and fix content gaps on a website from an SEO perspective?

To identify content gaps:

• Analyse competitor websites for topics they cover that your site doesn’t
• Use keyword research tools like SEMrush and Google Search Console to identify untargeted relevant keywords

To fix content gaps:

• Create new content around missing topics
• Expand existing content to cover broader aspects
• Use user feedback and search intent analysis to guide content creation

Addressing these gaps satisfies user needs, improves search rankings, and increases website traffic.

68. What do you think is an important component of SEO content?

An important component of SEO content is relevance. Content must align with user search intent and provide valuable, well-researched information. It should include naturally integrated targeted keywords in titles, headings, and body text to enhance search visibility.

User engagement is equally important—content should be compelling and readable, encouraging longer site visits. Incorporating internal and external links strengthens content credibility and relevance, improving SEO performance.

69. What do you know about YMYL?

YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) refers to content significantly impacting health, finances, or well-being. Google scrutinises YMYL pages carefully because inaccurate information can harm users. Examples include medical advice, financial tips, and legal guidance.

Websites providing YMYL content must prioritise E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) to ensure reliable, accurate information.

70. What is Rankbrain?

RankBrain is part of Google’s Hummingbird algorithm—an AI system processing pages to understand and deliver relevant results for specific new queries. It helps Google understand search query intent and learn new patterns to find quality results.

While there’s no direct way to optimise for RankBrain, focusing on quality content is recommended since RankBrain evaluates content quality rather than just keywords.

71. What is BERT algorithm?

BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) is a deep learning algorithm for natural language processing that helps Google understand context. It considers full sentence context, including relationships between words, helping Google interpret language more like humans do.

BERT enhances relevance in long-tail, conversational searches by interpreting ambiguous queries more accurately. It also improves voice search optimisation by effectively processing natural language queries.

72. Explain what is an SEO Audit.

An SEO audit evaluates website health across multiple sections including on-page, off-page, and technical SEO. It identifies issues needing resolution to improve rankings, user experience, and conversions.

Primary audit aspects include indexability, on-page elements, content quality, technical SEO, navigation, website speed, website structure, anchor texts, off-page factors, referring domain-backlink ratio, metadata, referring domain quality, and competitive analysis.

73. What is a link audit?

A link audit analyses a website’s backlink profile to identify harmful or low-quality links that could negatively affect search rankings. The goal is detecting and disavowing toxic backlinks to ensure a healthy, authoritative profile.

Tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush help evaluate backlinks, check for spammy sources, and determine which links should be removed or disavowed to prevent penalties.

74. What is Google’s Rich Answer Box?

Google’s Rich Answer Box (also called “featured snippets”) helps users find answers without clicking any website. These appear for queries like weather reports, distances, sports scores, unit conversions, calculations, and text-based questions.

These boxes provide quick, relevant information pulled from webpage content, potentially including paragraphs, lists, tables, or videos. Optimising content to answer specific questions clearly and using structured data can improve chances of featured snippet inclusion.

75. What is “(Not Provided)” data in Keyword Reports?

This is a common question in Google Analytics interviews. To properly answer, you need to understand Google’s reasoning.

In October 2011, Google altered its data collection methods for searches to enhance user privacy. Here’s how you can address this issue:

• Utilise traffic sources data from the query report
• Examine Google Ads data
• Leverage the search console’s search query data

76. How do you believe Artificial Intelligence will influence SEO?

As Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into modern technical and business requirements, it’s poised to transform the SEO landscape. AI is expected to impact SEO by automating tasks, enhancing personalisation, and improving decision-making processes.

Existing AI algorithms, such as Google’s RankBrain and BERT, are already enhancing search result relevance by better understanding user intent and context. As AI evolves, it will enable more sophisticated content creation, advanced keyword research, and personalised user experiences.

Here are several ways AI can influence SEO:

• AI will enable the creation of high-quality, relevant content at scale
• AI-driven personalisation will help improve user experience
• AI can automate repetitive SEO tasks like keyword analysis and backlink audits

77. What is your approach to SEO A/B testing, and how do you measure the impact of changes you make to a website on its rankings and traffic?

An effective approach to SEO A/B testing involves selecting a specific element to test, such as page titles, meta descriptions, content structure, or internal links.

Here’s a step-by-step approach to SEO A/B testing:

• Define clear goals and KPIs (e.g., increased CTR, improved rankings, or reduced bounce rate)
• Create two versions of the page (A and B) and run the test with a statistically significant sample size
• Track performance with tools like Google Optimize and Google Search Console
• Compare pre-test and post-test data to measure the impact
• Focus on organic traffic, keyword rankings, and user behaviour
• Analyse results and implement the better-performing version to improve SEO performance

78. How does Google decide the ranking of websites using SEO?

Google determines website rankings by evaluating multiple factors that contribute to delivering the most relevant and high-quality results for users. The search engine uses algorithms like RankBrain, BERT, and Core Web Vitals to assess how well a page matches user intent.

The key factors deciding website ranking are as follows:

• Relevance to search query and user intent
• Quality, original content that provides value
• Backlinks from authoritative websites
• Page speed and mobile-friendliness
• Proper site structure and easy navigation
• Technical SEO components (like site security and crawlability)

79. Apart from mastering technical tools and skills, what do you think are some additional abilities that you need for an SEO role?

Beyond mastering technical skills and tools, an SEO role requires proficiency in crucial soft skills such as effective communication, adaptability and problem-solving, among others.

As SEO professionals work with various departments and clients, it’s important to communicate clearly with other teams and clients to enable a smoother flow of ideas and inputs. Adaptability is perhaps the most important skill required in SEO as one continuously adapts to changing trends and Google algorithms.

Lastly, the ability to tackle different problems and issues with a strategic and efficient approach requires vital problem-solving skills.

80. How often should a backlink audit be performed?

Link auditing can be a lengthy and tedious process. If you actively build links, you should perform audits frequently. However, a comprehensive link audit should be conducted at least quarterly or bi-annually, depending on your website’s size and competitive landscape.

Regular audits ensure that your backlink profile remains clean and current, especially since new backlinks are constantly being created and existing ones may become toxic or irrelevant over time. Frequent audits help identify issues such as spammy backlinks, unnatural anchor texts, or toxic link sources, which can negatively impact SEO rankings.

Moreover, ongoing backlink audits allow you to assess new link-building efforts, analyse competitor strategies, and ensure that high-quality links are maintained. This approach ensures that your backlink profile supports a strong SEO strategy.

81. Why is it necessary to know about a competitor’s website backlinks?

It’s important to analyse a competitor’s backlinks to develop a digital strategy for your website, allowing you to measure the industry’s competitiveness. By doing so, you understand how well your competitors perform and establish measures to compete against them.

Understanding your competitors’ backlinks is crucial because it provides insight into their SEO strategy and helps identify opportunities for improving your own website’s rankings. Competitor backlink analysis allows you to:

• Discover High-Quality Link Sources: By reviewing where your competitors obtain their backlinks, you can identify authoritative sites and relevant directories to target for your link-building efforts
• Find Gaps: Competitor analysis reveals content or backlink gaps. If they have backlinks from specific domains or content types that you don’t, it presents a clear opportunity to create similar content or acquire similar links
• Identify Link-building Strategies: By analysing the tactics competitors use, such as guest posts, partnerships, or influencer outreach, you can refine your approach to gain relevant backlinks
• Stay Ahead in Search Rankings: By monitoring competitor backlinks, you can adapt your strategy to counter their SEO efforts and potentially overtake them in rankings

82. How would you tackle a Google penalty on your website?

To handle Google penalties, you need to identify the cause, address the issue, and recover rankings. There are two types of penalties: manual and algorithmic. A manual penalty can be checked in Google Search Console under the “Manual Actions” section. If the penalty relates to backlinks, disavow harmful links and request reconsideration once the issue is resolved.

For an algorithmic penalty, analyse potential causes, such as poor content quality, keyword stuffing, or thin content. You can tackle these issues by improving content quality, ensuring proper keyword usage, and fixing technical SEO issues like broken links or slow page load speeds.

Google penalties can be tackled by following these measures:

• Regularly monitor Google’s core updates and adjust your strategy accordingly
• Conduct site audits to help spot and resolve any SEO violations, such as duplicate content or over-optimisation
• Re-submit your site after fixing all issues and wait for recovery
• Regularly monitor rankings post-recovery to check for improvement

83. What do you understand about international SEO? How would you go about strategising for the implementation of international SEO?

International SEO refers to the process of optimising a website to rank in search engines across multiple countries and languages. Through international SEO, the target audiences are in various geographical regions worldwide.

It involves making the website accessible and relevant to users in different locations while ensuring that content is properly localised for their language, culture, and search behaviours.

Here is how you can approach international SEO:

• Identify target countries, languages, and search engines for regional SEO
• Choose a suitable URL structure for each market
• Implement hreflang tags and geotargeting to ensure correct regional and language targeting
• Localise your content with culturally relevant translations and region-specific keywords
• Optimise for mobile and fast loading to improve user experience internationally
• Build region-specific backlinks to boost local authority and rankings
• Monitor and adjust strategies regularly based on performance and analytics

84. How do you stay updated with the constantly changing SEO landscape and ensure that your strategies are always aligned with current best practices?

SEO evolves and changes continuously. Hence, staying updated with the constantly changing SEO landscape is all the more important for long-term success. They also change as search engine algorithms update and new technologies emerge, so continuous adaptation is key to sustainable success.

We can undertake these measures to stay updated and follow best practices in SEO:

• Follow Industry Blogs and Websites: Regularly read official SEO sources like Moz and Google’s Webmaster Central Blog to keep up with the latest trends and algorithm updates. You may also subscribe to newsletters for news updates
• Participate in Webinars and Conferences: Attend SEO webinars, conferences, and workshops to gain insights from industry leaders and network with people from your industry
• Network in the SEO Community: Join forums, social media groups, or online communities like Reddit’s SEO subreddit or Twitter to stay informed about recent developments and discuss tactics with other professionals
• Use Analytics Tools: Monitor website performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console, and adjust strategies based on data-driven insights
• Keep learning and adapting: Experiment with new techniques and strategies on your website, measuring the impact of changes and adjusting based on results

85. How did you start your journey in SEO? What was your driving factor to pursue this field and establish expertise in SEO?

This question is very subjective and will require you to provide a structured answer from your personal experience. However, you must ensure that you present your answer well, concisely, and clearly. Doing so would also require you to think quickly and effectively communicate your ideas. Moreover, you need to make sure that you do not make a mistake here.

Make sure that you do not include negative remarks or experiences, nor should you become extremely personal. Be professional at all costs!

Here is a sample answer that you can give when posed with such questions:

“I started my journey with content marketing and copywriting and used to work closely with the SEO department of my former organisation. However, upon continuous collaboration with them, I became highly interested in learning more about SEO and how it works. This led me to pursue some additional courses, and I slowly began to transition to an SEO role. I started with a trainee role and adapted myself to build more expertise over the years.

One of the driving factors for me to pursue a career in SEO was how challenging it seemed initially. I think it remains challenging due to the constant and unprecedented changes and updates in the algorithm. Another crucial factor for me was how I could strike the right balance between technical expertise and creativity.”

86. Give an example of a challenge you faced in SEO and how you overcame it.

This question is again subjective in nature and attempts to evaluate your performance as well as your field knowledge. For such questions, it is best to ensure prior preparation of key points that you can include as you frame your answer.

Doing so would require you to have your notable achievements along with measurable impact at your fingertips!

Here is a sample answer for you; customise it according to your role, impact, and learning:

“In my previous role, I faced a challenging task wherein our main website had developed major technical issues as a result of a sudden change in Google’s algorithm. This negatively impacted us as we faced the challenge of dealing with broken links as well as traffic loss.

This seemed like a mammoth task then, but I approached it with strategic and sound composure. I took charge of resolving server issues, fixing broken links, and performing a complete evaluation of content and links. With comprehensive auditing and optimisation, we were gradually able to rectify the issues. This experience made me realise the importance of regularly monitoring and following industry updates.”

87. How does data analysis improve SEO performance?

Data analysis plays a crucial role in improving SEO performance as it guides decision-making and optimises website performance. By examining key metrics, businesses can improve their online visibility and ensure a better user experience.

Here’s how data analysis plays an important role in SEO:

• Keyword Performance: Analysing keyword rankings, search volume, and competition helps identify opportunities for content optimisation and keyword targeting
• Traffic Analysis: Monitoring traffic sources (organic, referral, direct) allows SEO professionals to understand which channels are driving the most visits and how to improve them
• Analysing User Behaviour: Tools like Google Analytics provide insights into bounce rates, time spent on site, and page views, helping assess content effectiveness
• Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO): Data analysis helps identify areas for improving conversion rates by studying user flows and drop-off points
• Competitor Analysis: Analysing competitors’ traffic and keyword rankings provides valuable insights into market trends and opportunities

88. What is Local SEO, and why is it important?

Local SEO aims to optimise your website to appear in searches for a specific location or region. You must have used the “near me” option in your Google search. It is in search results like these that local SEO is important, as it highlights and aims to attract specific geographical regions’ SEO.

With local SEO, the reach and visibility of local and small businesses can be improved with targeted keywords and location result optimisation.

89. How does Google My Business (GMB) impact Local SEO rankings?

Google My Business (GMB) plays a crucial role in Local SEO by helping businesses appear in Google Search and Maps. Optimising a GMB profile improves local visibility and increases the chances of ranking in the Local Pack (the top 3 map results).

A well-optimised GMB profile ensures businesses reach potential customers searching for local services. Here are the key factors that impact GMB rankings:

• Business Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) Consistency
• Relevant Business Categories and Attributes
• High-Quality Images and Updated Information
• Customer Reviews and Engagement (Responding to Reviews)
• Regular Posts and Updates on GMB

90. What are NAP citations, and why are they important for Local SEO?

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone Number, and citations refer to mentions of this information across online directories, websites, and social media platforms.

Importance of NAP Citations:

• Consistency builds trust – Search engines rely on accurate NAP details to verify a business’s legitimacy
• Improves local rankings – Citations from high-authority sites (like Yelp, Yellow Pages) boost credibility
• Enhances user experience – Customers find businesses easily when information is uniform across platforms

Inconsistent NAP details can hurt rankings and confuse customers, so businesses must ensure uniformity across all listings.

91. What role do online reviews and ratings play in Local SEO?

Online reviews and ratings significantly influence local search rankings, customer trust, and conversion rates. Positive reviews signal credibility, while negative ones (if unaddressed) can harm a business’s reputation.

Google considers review quantity, quality, and recency in rankings. Businesses with more positive reviews tend to appear higher in local search results. Responding to reviews (both positive and negative) improves engagement and brand perception. Reviews with relevant keywords can boost search visibility. Encouraging happy customers to leave genuine feedback can enhance credibility and increase foot traffic.

92. How can businesses optimise for “near me” searches?

“Near me” searches have surged as users look for immediate, local solutions. Businesses can optimise for these searches by:

• Optimising Google My Business (GMB) with accurate location details and categories
• Using location-based keywords like “best coffee shop in Delhi” in website content, meta descriptions, and headers
• Building local citations in directories like Justdial, Yelp, and TripAdvisor
• Encouraging customer reviews to build trust and improve rankings
• Implementing structured data markup (Schema) to help search engines understand location details

93. What do you think is the role of social media within SEO?

In the era of prominent social networking sites, social media plays a crucial role in SEO by driving traffic to your website, increasing brand visibility, and enhancing user engagement. Various social signals such as likes, shares, and comments may indirectly influence rankings by increasing the likelihood of backlinks and overall online presence.

Active social media accounts can indirectly help build brand authority, attract a larger audience, and ultimately contribute to higher search engine visibility.

94. What is Press Release Submission in SEO? What is the value of press releases?

Press release submission is a process of writing newsworthy content like new releases, partnerships, new hires, etc., and submitting them to popular PR sites for link building and to increase the visibility of the website.

However, to ensure publication, the content must be interesting and important. We can derive value from press releases only when we earn new links from third-party websites. As it costs money to publish press releases, it’s very important to make sure the story is interesting enough to earn quality backlinks.

95. What is Guest Posting?

Guest posting is one of the best link-building activities where you contact a relevant and quality website and offer to write for them and get a contextual link back to your page. Some websites allow links only in the author bio, while others permit in-body links for a small fee.

Guest posting increases the visibility of your website among your targeted customers, drives potential traffic to your website, and improves the authority of your website.

96. How does user engagement on social media impact SEO?

Engagement metrics such as likes, shares, comments, and clicks indicate how valuable and relevant your content is to users. While these signals do not directly influence rankings, they contribute to:

• Increased visibility – More engagement leads to more exposure and traffic
• Higher credibility – Active engagement can position your brand as an authority
• Improved dwell time – Users who engage with your content are more likely to visit your website and stay longer

97. How can social media help with link building for SEO?

Social media can be a powerful tool for earning backlinks, which are crucial for SEO. While social media links themselves may not directly impact rankings, they can drive significant traffic and exposure to your content, increasing the chances of earning natural backlinks.

When content is shared widely on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook, it attracts more visibility. Journalists, bloggers, and industry experts may discover and link to your content. Social shares can contribute to referral traffic, which search engines consider a positive signal.

98. How do hashtags impact social media SEO?

Hashtags help categorise content on social platforms, making it more discoverable to a broader audience. They do not directly influence search engine rankings, but they enhance engagement and visibility.

Using relevant industry-related hashtags increases content reach and engagement. Hashtags on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn help in content discovery and trend association. Trending or branded hashtags can boost brand awareness and indirectly contribute to website traffic.

Question 99: How can you use SEO for videos?

Videos are growing in popularity exponentially. People generally use YouTube to search for any video. The basic SEO for YouTube videos is to include popular keywords in the meta descriptions, titles, or tags.

To optimise videos for SEO, you can do the following:

• Use Relevant Keywords: Incorporate popular keywords in titles, meta descriptions, and tags to improve discoverability
• Leverage Text Data: Since search engines cannot “watch” videos, they rely on text-based elements like: a) Closed captions b) Transcripts c) Subtitles
• Optimise Engagement Metrics: Improving user engagement through likes, comments, and shares can boost rankings
• Enhance Watch Time: Longer watch durations signal high-quality content to YouTube’s algorithm

100. What are the best practices for optimising YouTube videos for SEO?

Optimizing YouTube videos requires a combination of keyword strategy, visual appeal, and audience engagement techniques. By following these best practices, you can improve discoverability, boost rankings, and increase viewer retention.

1. Keyword Optimisation
   • Use targeted keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags
   • Conduct keyword research using: a) Google Keyword Planner b) TubeBuddy c) VidIQ
2. High-Quality Thumbnails
   • Use eye-catching, high-resolution thumbnails with: a) Text overlays b) Contrasting colours
3. Use Engaging Descriptions & Tags
   • Write compelling, keyword-rich descriptions with timestamps for easy navigation
   • Add relevant hashtags to increase searchability
4. Encourage Engagement
   • Ask viewers to: a) Like, comment, share, and subscribe b) Engage with comments to boost interaction
5. Use Playlists
   • Group similar videos in playlists to keep viewers engaged for longer
6. Make Use of End Screens & Cards
   • Use these features to promote other videos, playlists, or external links

101. How does YouTube’s algorithm determine video rankings?

YouTube’s algorithm is designed to surface the most relevant and engaging videos to users. It evaluates multiple factors, such as watch time, engagement, and freshness to determine rankings and recommend content.

1. Relevance: Keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags
2. Engagement Metrics
   • Number of: a) Likes, shares, and comments b) Click-through rate (CTR) from search results
3. Watch Time a) Total time users spend watching a video b) Percentage of the video watched to analyse audience retention
4. Session Duration: Whether viewers continue watching other videos after yours
5. Freshness: New and trending content gets higher visibility

102. How do tags, descriptions, and thumbnails impact YouTube SEO?

Tags, descriptions, and thumbnails play a crucial role in optimising YouTube videos for search visibility and engagement. These elements help YouTube’s algorithm understand video content while also influencing user behaviour, ultimately impacting rankings.

1. Tags
   • Help YouTube understand video content and categorise it correctly
   • Improve discoverability when users search for related topics
2. Descriptions
   • Provide detailed context about the video
   • Help with keyword optimisation and ranking
   • Include timestamps to improve user experience
3. Thumbnails
   • Impact click-through rate (CTR)—attractive thumbnails encourage more clicks
   • A higher CTR boosts rankings as YouTube sees the video as relevant

103. How does watch time affect YouTube SEO rankings?

Watch time is one of the strongest ranking factors on YouTube.

1. Higher Watch Time = Higher Rankings
   • Videos with longer watch durations are seen as valuable and rank better
2. Boosts Suggested Video Placement
   • Higher watch time increases the chances of appearing in YouTube’s “Suggested Videos”
3. Audience Retention Matters
   • Videos that keep viewers engaged for at least 50 to 60% of their duration perform better
4. Strategies to Improve Watch Time a) Hook viewers in the first 10 seconds b) Use engaging visuals, storytelling, and structured content c) Add chapters and timestamps to improve navigation d) Encourage binge-watching by linking to related videos

Conclusion

The above SEO interview questions and answers will definitely help you get a rough idea of what to expect in an SEO interview. There is so much more to it that you will need to learn

The important thing to remember about SEO is that it’s a constantly evolving field. You’ll always be learning, and that’s part of what makes it so exciting! The right answer today might be different than the right answer tomorrow, so keep your eyes open and stay flexible.

Every Google update will bring something new to implement and change. AI is affecting a wide variety of activities, so you have to be mindful of them as well. So, keep learning and start preparing for your next SEO interview.