Google Rel=Agent Replaces Authorship: Maybe Google Testing SEOs

Sep 12, 2014 - 8:06 am 14 by

Some savvy webmasters were inspecting the HTML markup behind the last Google Webmaster Blog post and noticed the markup used on the posted by John Mueller hyperlink had a bit of extra code for rel=agent. Here is a screen shot of the code:

Google Rel-Agent

Paul Shaprio asked about it on Twitter after noticing it, saying "Weird, probably insignificant observation... JohnMu is tagged with ?rel=agent." Indeed.

Often Googlers, especially on the webmaster blog, add markup to see if we are looking. It is Google humor, that is how Googlers have fun.

John replied:

Yea right, a typo. :)

As you know, Google has destroyed authorship so it would have said rel=author but John changed it to rel=agent to mess with us.

Love this stuff.

Forum discussion at Twitter.

Update: Now John changed it to google.com/+johnmueller?rel=AUTHOR

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Follow

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: March 28, 2024

Mar 28, 2024 - 4:00 pm
Google Ads

Google Ads Suspended 90% More Advertisers This Year & Removed 5.5 Billion Ads

Mar 28, 2024 - 7:51 am
Google Ads

Google Updates Its Definition Of Top Ads; They May Not Be At The Top

Mar 28, 2024 - 7:41 am
Google Ads

Google Ads Adds Share Ad Preview For Performance Max

Mar 28, 2024 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Can Search For Your Blockchain Wallet Addresses (Bitcoin & More)

Mar 28, 2024 - 7:21 am
Google Maps

New Google Shopping & Maps Search Features

Mar 28, 2024 - 7:11 am
Previous Story: Google: Penguin 3.0 Will Most Likely Launch In 2014