Standards should make our lives easier. But what if they’re actually slowing down your SEO progress?

Google’s Search Relations team recently dropped some truth bombs about web standards that most SEO professionals are completely missing. On their Search Off the Record podcast, Martin Splitt and Gary Illyes revealed how Google actually decides which protocols deserve standardization, and why the process takes years rather than months.

The standardization of robots.txt offers a perfect case study. While many platforms implement this protocol inconsistently, Google’s move to standardize it provides several advantages: consistent implementation across platforms, open-source resources for developers, and simplified technical SEO work.

But here’s what should worry you: these standards aren’t created overnight. They undergo years of development through open processes to ensure security, clear language, and broad compatibility. While this thoroughness protects users, it creates a massive gap between cutting-edge SEO techniques and officially sanctioned practices.

This revelation exposes an uncomfortable truth. If you’re waiting for official standards before implementing new SEO strategies, you’re likely falling behind competitors who are willing to experiment with emerging protocols before they receive the “official” stamp of approval.

The most successful SEO professionals balance adherence to established standards with calculated risks on promising new approaches. They recognize that today’s experimental protocol could become tomorrow’s standard, giving early adopters a significant competitive advantage.

Smart SEO isn’t about blindly following standards. It’s about understanding which emerging practices are worth the risk and which established standards truly deserve your attention. The question isn’t whether you should follow web standards, but rather which ones actually matter for your specific business goals.