Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

This week, Google announced yet another spam update, the fourth of the year, the September 2026 Google spam update. Prior to that, we reported on more Google Search ranking volatility. Google Search Console released multimodal search filters in the performance reports. Google’s page experience document added CrUX ad metrics, but it’s not a ranking factor. Google will be forced by UK’s CMA to make it easier to switch default search providers on Android and Chrome. Google Discover is testing a Dive deeper feature that takes traffic away from publishers. Google AI Overviews reportedly added more external links. But AI Overviews links are also pushing you into AI Mode. Google is testing Local Service Ads redesign with larger images and a highlights box. Google Ads has new AI Max reporting and expands access to AI Briefs. Google Ads budget recommendations with the change feature for forecasting was spotted. Google Ads is testing sitelinks that shows the advertiser name and favicon. Google Ads will test gun accessories ads in the US. Google Ads API version 25.2 is out with new features. Google Merchant Center updates its requirements for Store Ratings. Google Business Profiles gives businesses four days to reject user edits. Google Business Profiles will also email you if it sees a spike in spammy reviews. Google AdSense lowers the identity verification threshold to $0. Bing test expandable sitelinks interface and favicons on shopping carousel ads. Bing is testing using AI Mode in its search tabs, instead of Copilot. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: This week's video recap is sponsored by Duda, the Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own.

0:00 - Introduction

0:40 - Google September 2026 Spam Update Has Been Unleashed

1:49 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Hits September 23rd & 24th

2:31 - Multimodal Search Type Filter In Google Search Console Performance Report

3:45 - Google Page Experience Docs Adds CrUX Ad Metrics

4:51 - CMA: Google Should Make It Easier To Choose Other Search Engine On Android & Chrome

5:30 - Google Discover Tests Dive Deeper Feature

7:06 - Google AI Overviews With Way More External Links; Report

7:32 - Google AI Overview Links Pushing You To AI Mode Over Web Pages

7:49 - Google Tests Local Service Ads With Larger Image & Highlight Box

8:07 - Google Ads New AI Max Reporting & AI Brief Expands To More Countries

8:35 - Google Ads Budget Recommendation Change With Forecast

8:58 - Google Sponsored Results Sitelinks Tests More From Advertiser Name Title

9:15 - Google Ads To Run Gun Accessory 6-Month Pilot

9:37 - Google Ads API Version 25.2 Now Available

9:55 - Google Merchant Center Auto Enables Native Checkout: Buy On AI Mode & Gemini

10:42 - Google Merchant Center Updates Requirements For Google Store Ratings

11:05 - Google Business Profiles Gives You Four Days To Reject User Edits

11:42 - Google Business Profiles Email: Detected A Spike In Spam Reviews

12:04 - Google AdSense Drops Identity Verification Threshold To $0

12:20 - Bing Tests Another Expandable Sitelinks Interface

12:34 - Bing Tests Favicons On Shopping Ads Carousel

12:45 - Bing Tests Replacing Copilot With AI Mode In Search Tabs

13:06 - Conclusion

Today we covered the new multimodal filter within the Google Search Console performance report. Google may be pushing out another unconfirmed Google Search ranking update. Google Ads is showing some advertisers not just a recommendation with the ability to make a change on that recommendation based on forecasts. Google is testing a redesigned Local Service Ads format.

0:00 - Introduction

1:20 - Google Search Console performance report with new multimodal filters

2:49 - Google unconfirmed search ranking update

3:16 - Google Ads Budget Recommendation Change With Forecast

5:15 - Google Local Service Ads redesign

6:48 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered Google adding the CrUX ad metrics to page experience help documentation. A report says there are more links in AI Overviews.  UK’s CMA wants Google to make it easier to pick a competing search engine in Android and Chrome.  Google Merchant Center is opting retailers into native checkout, UCP.  Google AI Max reporting is updated and AI Briefs expanded to more countries. Google Business Profiles gives you only four days to decline a suggested user edit.

0:00 - Introduction

1:18 - Google page experience with CrUX ad metrics

5:34 - Google AI Overviews showing more links, says report

6:39 - CMA wants Google to make it easier to pick alternative search engines on Chrome and Android

7:50 - Google Merchant Center native checkout by default (UCP)

9:52 - Google AI Max reporting and AI Briefs expand

12:43 - Google Business Profiles gives you four days to decline user edits

13:25 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered how AI Overview links are now pushing you to AI Mode and not websites. Google is testing a Dive deeper feature in Discover that pushes you away from publishers. Google may be more successfully blocking scrapers and tracking tools. Google sponsored results tests adding advertiser names and favicons to sitelinks.  Google Merchant Center updated its requirements for store ratings.  Google Ads now lets offline uploads to fill the gaps in tag-based conversions. 

0:00 - Introduction

1:07 - Google AI Overview Links Pushing You To AI Mode Over Web Pages

2:22 - Google Discover Tests Dive Deeper Feature

6:17 - Google May Be More Successful In Blocking Scrapers & Tracking Tools

8:10 - Google Merchant Center Updates Requirements For Google Store Ratings

9:23 - Google Sponsored Results Sitelinks Tests More From Advertiser Name Title

10:28 - Google Ads lets offline uploads fill gaps in tag-based conversions

13:40 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

This week we covered the first week or so of Google’s unusual ranking volatility only to see things spike up in a big way this week as well - something is up. Google’s remedies are out for its ad tech monopoly ruling.  Google has an AI contribution pilot for paying publishers for using its content in Gemini, AI Mode and AI Overviews.  Google Search Live is powered by the new Gemini 3.8 Live.  Google Search profiles has a new design, easier account management, reduced follower requirement and new badges.  Google local knowledge panels are turning into AI Overviews.  Google updated its Chrome user experience report to add four ad metrics.  Google Search Console’s page indexing report is missing a chunk of data.  Google Search Console position reporting in the performance report may evolve over time. Google supports local business queries in the aggregator and supplier units. Google says e-commerce sites need to label adult products in its feeds. Whatever happened with Google Discover not showing on desktop.  Google Ads has a new spend benchmark report to compare you to competitors. Google Ads has product value optimization beta. Google AI Mode is testing text link ads.  Google product listings are linking directly to the merchant’s site in a new test. Google Merchant Center’s AI performance report is live, easier UCP integration was announced and more.  Google Ads August 17th bidding update finished on August 27th and we have some data from Mike Ryan. OpenAI is teasing Sponsored Agents ads on ChatGPT.  Bing is testing a shopping filter on the left side. And there are now dashboards for Google Analytics. That was this past week in search at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

1:14 - Google Search Update September 4th That Reverted September 13th?

1:51 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up This Morning - September 15th

2:58 - Google Ad Tech Monopoly Remedies: Behavioral Changes With Oversight

3:58 - Google Al Contribution Pilot - Paying Publishers For Use Of Content In AI

5:12 - Google Search Live Now Powered By Gemini 3.8 Live

5:41 - Google Search Profiles Article Design, Less Followers & Easier Login

6:05 - Google Search Profile Badge - How To Add It To Your Site

6:18 - Google Local Knowledge Panel As An AI Overview

6:55 - Google Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) With Ad Metrics

7:46 - Google Search Console Indexing Report Missing Old June Data

8:10 - Google: Google Search Console AI Position Reporting Will Evolve Over Time

8:51 - Google Supports Local Business Queries In Aggregator & Supplier Search Units

9:04 - Google Now Requires You Label Adult Products In Ecommerce Feeds

9:22 - What Ever Happened To Google Discover On Desktop

9:50 - Google Ads Spend Benchmarks Report Compares Your Competitors

10:16 - Google Ads Product Value Optimization Beta

10:43 - Google AI Mode Tests Text Link Ads

11:10 - Google Search Product Listings Tests Linking Directly To Merchant Site

11:38 - Google Merchant Center AI Reports Live, Easier UCP & UCP Analytics

12:06 - Google Ads August 17 Target-Based Bidding Update Finished August 27

12:28 - Early Data On Google Ads August 17 Bidding Update

12:59 - OpenAI Testing Sponsored Agents For ChatGPT Ads

13:13 - Bing Tests Shopping Filters On Left Sidebar

13:21 - Dashboards Available In Google Analytics

13:33 - Conclusion

Today we covered the Google ad tech monopoly remedies after being told it won’t be broken up. Google Search profiles get a new article design, fewer followers are required, easier login management and new badges.  OpenAI is testing new ChatGPT ads named Sponsored Agents.

0:00 - Introduction

0:28 - Google ad tech monopoly remedies

4:05 - Google Search Profiles get updates

6:13 - OpenAI Testing Sponsored Agent Ads in ChatGPT

9:08 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein o

Today we covered Google Ads updated its benchmark report to compare you to your competitors. Google Ad has a new multi-source conversion document. Google Chrome user experience report has added new ad metrics. Gemini 3.8 Live now powers Google Search Live.  Google Search Console’s position reporting will evolve over time.

0:00 - Introduction

1:11 - Google Ads Spend Benchmarks Report Compares Your Competitors

5:42 - Google Ads Multi-Source Conversion

6:59 - Google Chrome User Experience Report New Ad Metrics

10:35 - Google Search Live powered by Gemini 3.8 Live

12:44 - Google Search Console Position Reporting Will Evolve

14:35 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered the heated Google ranking volatility we saw this morning, it might be big. Google is testing text link ads in AI Mode.  Google Ads August 17th bidding update finished on August 27th. We have data from Mike Ryan on the August 17th bidding update. Microsoft Advertising publishes its AI content transparency rules. Google’s EU ecosystem carousel is now live.

0:00 - Introduction

0:55 - Google rank volatility this morning

1:53 - Google AI Mode text link ads

3:58 - Google bidding update completed Aug 27

4:59 - Google Aug bidding update data

6:40 - Microsoft Advertising Publishes AI Content Transparency Rules

10:00 - Google EU’s ecosystem carousel is live 

11:33 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered how Google’s AI contribution report in Search Console is actually Google paying publishers for using its content in AI Overviews, AI Mode and Gemini.  Google Search had an unconfirmed update around September 4th that reversed on September 13th. Google page indexing report in Search Console is missing a chunk of data. Google Ads has Product value optimization beta. There are new dashboards in Google Analytics.

0:00 - Introduction

0:59 - Google paying publishers for their content used in AI Search

5:51 - Google Search update on 9/4 that reverts 9/13

7:31 - Google page indexing report missing a lot of data

8:48 - Google Ads Product value optimization beta

11:00 - Lawnmower haircut 💇

11:40 - Dashboards in Google Analytics 

13:52 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

This week we covered how Google said it launched its biggest reduction in search quality in Europe over the DMA laws. Google also posted a document on the regional differences with the Google Search experiences. Google confirmed there was a temporary indexing reporting bug in Search Console. Google can lose faith in your website when you use programmatic SEO. Google said there is no absolute right when it comes to SEO. Google said the old position of 1 through 10 is hard to map for site owners. We have a new Google ranking factors survey from the industry. Almost 100% of the people also ask results are powered by AI Overviews. Google is testing thinner citation panels for AI Overviews. Google AI Overviews gets a character counter tool. Google Ads is offering ad credits, then revoked them only after the credits are spent. Google Ads is rolling out the new AI dashboard for some advertisers. Google is testing serving ads with restrictive match types in AI Mode. Google Ads added local customer optimization and store sales in data manager. Google Ads beta for budget oe bidding targets for search campaigns. Google Shopping Ads is showing the number of sold last week label and X days left on the sale label. Google Shopping Ads may have a reverse crocodile effect for AI Overviews. Google Merchant Center AI Performance report gets AI search intent, terms and attribution. Google Maps phone number scams seem scary. Google Business Profiles is missing data from September, so far. Apple said Siri handles 2.5 billion requests daily. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Sponsor: This video is sponsored by Ahrefs. Ahrefs Custom Prompts lets you track the exact questions you care about - daily, across AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot –and see whether you get mentioned, or your competitor does. It's included in Ahrefs Lite and up, make sure to check it out.

0:00 - Introduction

1:08 - Google: EU DMA Changes Resulted In Largest Reduction In Search Quality

2:37 - Regional Differences In Google Search Experience Documentation

3:10 - Google Confirmed Indexing Reporting Bug From Yesterday As Short Blip

3:46 - Google Can Lose Faith In Sites Based On Low Value Programmatic SEO

4:32 - Google: Sometimes There Is No Absolute Right Answer For SEO

5:09 - Google: The Old Position 1-10 Is Hard To Map For Site Owners

5:48 - Google Ranking Factors Survey: Content & Backlinks Most Important

6:34 - Almost 100% Of People Also Ask Results Are Answered By Google AI Overviews

7:06 - Google Tests Thinner AI Overview Citations Panel

7:30 - Google AI Overviews Get A Character Counter Tool

8:28 - Bait & Switch: Google Ads Revoking Credits After Advertisers Spend Them

9:33 - Google Ads AI Dashboards Live For Some Advertisers

9:46 - Google Ads Tests Serving Search Ads With Restrictive Match Types In AI Mode

10:17 - Google Ads Local Customer Optimization & Store Sales In Data Manager

10:43 - Google Ads Beta Experiment: Budget Or Bidding Targets For Search Campaigns

11:11 - Google Shopping Ads With Number Sold Last Week

11:29 - Google Shopping Ads X Days Left Attribute On Sponsored Ads

11:42 - Google Shopping Ads Have A Reverse Crocodile Effect With AI Overviews

12:28 - Google Merchant Center AI Performance: AI Search Intent, Terms & Attribution

12:45 - Google Maps Phone Number in Photo Scam

14 00 - September Data In Google Business Profiles Insights Missing

14:11 - Apple: 2.5 Billion Siri Requests Every Day

15:05 - Conclusion