PDF files can appear in Google search results, meaning you can optimize PDFs to move them higher in search engine results pages to bring in more organic traffic PDF SEO: 6 Tips to Optimize It for Google.
But when it comes to understanding how Google handles PDFs, there are a lot of questions, such as how does Google organize PDFs? What about the images inside those files? How do links work, and can website owners determine how they appear?
This article will answer all your questions about how to make PDFs look better in search engines. In this PDF SEO guide, I will share six essential tips to improve the visibility of your PDF files in Google and other search engines.
Does Google Crawl PDFs?
Yes, Google does crawl and index PDFs. Google started indexing PDF files in 2001, and today, it has an index that includes hundreds of millions of PDFs.
When Googlebot, the search engine’s web crawling bot, encounters a PDF file while crawling a website, it processes the content in the PDF to understand its relevance and index it appropriately.
Here’s an example of the search query “ beginner’s guide to SEO ,” where Google returns a PDF in the organic search results:
Here is a PDF from Academia.edu , which has been successfully indexed and ranked:
However, it’s important to note that not all PDFs are treated the same—Google primarily indexes text content in PDFs.
If the text is embedded as an image, Google may use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) algorithms to extract and include the text in the index.
For example, in the image below, the OCR algorithm will extract individual words and their bounding boxes.Image source: Google
How to Optimize PDF for SEO
Performing search engine optimization on PDF files involves several key steps to ensure that your PDF files are easy to find and rank well in search engine results.
Here are the steps to successfully optimize PDF files for SEO:
Write Keyword Rich Titles
Use relevant keywords in the PDF title to list to data ensure search engines and users can clearly understand your PDF. Communicate the main theme or topic of your PDF in the title and choose keywords that directly relate to the content of the document.
For better SEO scores, place your most important keywords at the beginning of the title and use actionable terms like “guide,” “tips,” “best practices,” or “strategies” to convey that the PDF provides practical insights. (Tip: Use the SEOptimer keyword research tool to find the best keywords for your PDF.)
If your PDF is about healthy cooking recipes make sure the title includes key terms like “ Healthy Recipes, ” “ Cooking Tips ” or the name of a specific dish.
For example, We Energies has named their collection of cookie recipes in PDF “ The Cookie Book. ”
Add Links to Relevant Web Pages
Add internal links in your PDF to relevant web pages to enhance the user journey and provide additional information. Connecting readers to relevant web pages improves navigation within the document and establishes contextual relationships between pieces of content.
These links contribute to improved SEO by signaling the relevance of your PDF to search engines and encouraging user engagement.
For example, if your PDF discusses digital video in whatsapp mass mailing marketing trends, include hyperlinks to related blog posts, case studies, or relevant pages on your website.
Including links encourages a more interactive and informed audience, allowing readers to explore related topics and additional materials, ultimately increasing the overall value and connectivity of your PDF within the broader digital landscape.
Use Header Tags to Separate Content
Using different header tags in your content increases its visual appeal and makes it more SEO friendly.
Headings create a structured hierarchy that fax database helps readers and search engines understand the organization of your information. This improves the overall readability of your content and signals to search engines about the importance and relationships between different sections.
For example, if your PDF is “ A Beginner’s Guide to Photography ,” use H1 tags for main headings and H2 tags for subsections like “ Camera Basics ,” “ Composition Tips ,” and “ Editing Techniques. ”
This photography guide from Carleton University uses different heading tags appropriately to present the information contained in the PDF.
