Google Clarifies: Unanswered Comments Won’t Harm Your SEO

Google’s search algorithm doesn’t consider whether your website comments are answered or not. This means that leaving comments unanswered won’t negatively impact your search rankings.

This clarification came from Martin Splitt, a representative from Google, during an SEO office hours session. The question addressed the potential SEO consequences of having unanswered comments under blog posts.

Splitt emphasized that the content of the comments themselves, not whether they are answered, is what matters to Google’s search algorithm. He explained that the presence of text on your website, regardless of its content, is what affects your SEO.

While Splitt personally makes an effort to reply to comments, he acknowledged that it’s not always feasible due to the volume of comments received. His motivation for responding is primarily driven by his appreciation for the SEO community, even those who may not always be constructive.