Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

This week, we covered the ongoing Google search volatility, which cooled for a bit and then got heated again. Google’s Liz Reid said that website clicks from Google are relatively stable since launching AI Overviews, but no one believes them. Google did not confirm that it uses MUVERA in Google Search. I posted the Google Webmaster report for August. Bing Webmaster Tools search performance report gained 24 months of historical data and added device and country lists. Microsoft Copilot is using OpenAI’s GPT-5 now. Google is rolling out a sticky search header bar. Google tests AI Mode tab icon and divider. Google is pitching AI Mode ads to advertisers. Google released a number of Performance Max updates. Google Ads sitelinks do impact performance max ad strength. Google Ads on training smart bidding with negative keywords. Google Ads API version 21 is now out. Google Ads updated its EU political content policy. Microsoft Advertising updated Audience Planner and website exclusions. Google refreshed the Google Posts creation tool. Apple Business Connect supports UTM parameters for action links. And Danny Sullivan is no longer the Search Liaison; he has moved into a different role within the Google Search team. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

1:43 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Calmed For Just A Second & Heated Again

2:30 - Google: Clicks To Websites Relatively Stable With AI Overviews (Is It Flawed?)

4:10 - Google: We Did Not Confirm We Use MUVERA

4:46 - August 2025 Google Webmaster Report

5:00 - Bing Webmaster Tools Performance Report Gains 24 Months Of Data & More

5:20 - Bing Webmaster Tools Performance Report Adds List By Device & Country

5:38 - Microsoft Copilot Now Using OpenAI's GPT-5

6:26 - Google Search Rolling Out Sticky Search Bar As You Scroll

6:42 - Google Tests AI Mode Tab Icon With Divider

6:57 - Google Pitching AI Mode Ads To Advertisers

7:30 - Google Ads For Performance Max Gains New Controls & Reporting

7:46 - Google Ads Sitelinks Impact Performance Max Ad Strength

8:11 - Google Ads On If Negative Keywords Train Smart Bidding

9:01 - Google Ads API Version 21 Now Available

9:17 - Google Ads Updates EU Political Content Policy For September 2025

9:29 - Microsoft Advertising Audience Planner Updated

9:49 - Microsoft Advertising Website Exclusions Updated

10:07 - Google Posts Creation Tool Refresh Now Live

10:24 - Apple Business Connect Supports UTM Parameters For Action Links

10:40 - Danny Sullivan Steps Away From Google Search Liaison Role

11:15 - Conclusion 

Today we covered how Google’s Liz Reid said clicks to websites are “relatively stable” since AI Overviews were added, but no one believes Google.   Bing Webmaster Tools adds device and country lists to performance report. Google Ads has new PMax targeting options in the Google Ads API, and released the new Ads API

0:00 - Introduction

0:56 - Google says clicks to websites stable since AI Overviews

6:28 - Bing Webmaster Tools adds device and country lists to performance report.  

7:12 - Google Ads PMax targeting updates in the new Google Ads API version 21

8:54 - 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 and Mordy Oberstein of Unify Brand Marketing with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered how the Google search volatility first calmed for a day and then spiked back up, all with the SEO chatter. Google seems to be rolling out a sticky search bar header.  Google Ads negative keywords are used to train its smart bidding. Google Ads updated its EU political content policy. 

0:00 - Introduction

1:16 - Google ranking volatility cooled and now heats up again

3:25 - Google Search rolls out a sticky search bar header

5:14 - Google Ads negative keywords is used for training smart bidding

7:27 - Google Ads updated its EU political content policy

8:45 - 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 and Mordy Oberstein of Unify Brand Marketing with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered  how Google Search is indexing and ranking Google Maps results. Google said it did not confirm it uses MUVERA in Search. Google AI Overviews can show more AI Overviews, and maybe play AI Catch Up.  Google Ads sitelinks are used for ad strength.  Google AI Max experiments are now in the wild.

0:00 - Introduction

1:05 - Google indexing and ranking Google Maps search results

2:55 - Google did not confirm it uses MUVERA

5:21 - Google AI Overviews with AI Overviews

6:37 - Google AI Catch Up

8:15  - Google Ads sitelinks as ad strength

10:04 - AI Max experiments in Google Ads

10:59 - 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 and Mordy Oberstein of Unify Brand Marketing with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered the Google ranking volatility that may just be cooling since the weekend, maybe.  Danny Sullivan is no longer the Google Search Liaison. Google is pushing AI Mode ads on advertisers.  Google Ads added location of interest targeting to AI Max for Search.

0:00 - Introduction

0:54 - Danny Sullivan no longer the Google Search Liaison

6:53 - Google Search ranking volatility cooling?

7:43 - Google AI Mode ads being pushed on advertisers

11:00 - Google Ads location of interest targeting

13:22 - 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 and Mordy Oberstein of Unify Brand Marketing with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Google’s search ranking volatility continues and continues, it is weird at this point. Google Search Live with video is finally rolling out. Google AI Mode added file uploads, canvas planner and search while browsing. Google is testing help me shop in AI Mode. Google AI Mode is expanding to the UK. Google Search Central had a Deep Dive three-day event and we posted some of the slides from that event. Fabrice Canel from Microsoft Bing said normal SEO works for AI search. Google is testing Posts on Reddit section. Google merchant knowledge panels deals were updated from promotions. Google Ads ad group setting of AI Max is in beta. Google Local Service Ads message leads are likely more expensive now. Google Ads may be turning off conversion tracking, remarketing, and personalization for some advertisers. Google to use machine learning to determine user ages for ad privacy controls. Google Business Profiles attributes are being confirmed with percentages. Google is testing AI-generated Business Profile restaurant menus. Microsoft Advertising revenue was up 21% for the third time in a row. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

0:51 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated Yet Again : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-heated-39865.html

1:25 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Was Heated This Weekend - Reversals? : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-heated-weekend-39834.html

1:40 - Google Search Live With Video Rolling Out : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-live-with-video-39839.html

2:06 - Google AI Mode Gains Upload Files, Canvas Planner & Search While Browsing : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-updates-39840.html

2:55 - Google Search: Help Me Shop In AI Mode : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-help-me-shop-in-ai-mode-39806.html

3:23 - Google AI Mode Expands To The UK : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-uk-39842.html

4:06 - Google Search Central Deep Dive 2025 Indexing Slides : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-central-indexing-slides-39833.html

4:33 - Bing: Optimize For AI Search By Following SEO Guidelines : https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-ai-search-seo-guidelines-39866.html

5:35 - Google Search Posts On Reddit Section Replacing Discussion and Forums? : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-posts-on-reddit-section-39861.html

6:19 - Google Merchant Knowledge Panel Deals Section Update : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-merchant-knowledge-panel-deals-update-39863.html

6:36 - Google Ads Ad Group Settings For Al Max : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-al-max-ad-groups-39851.html

6:58 - Google Local Service Ads Message Leads Now More Expensive? : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-service-ads-message-leads-price-change-39831.html

7:29 - Google Ads Turns Of Personalization, Remarketing & Conversion Tracking : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-personalization-remarketing-conversion-consent-39841.html

8:13 - Google To Use Machine Learning To Determine Age For Ads & More : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-ml-age-detection-39859.html

8:47 - Google Business Profile Attributes With Confirmed By Percentages : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profile-attributes-confirmed-by-39835.html

9:10 - AI Generated Google Business Profiles Menus : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profiles-menu-ai-summaries-39838.html

9:33 - Microsoft Bing Advertising Revenue Up 21% Yet Again : https://www.seroundtable.com/microsoft-advertising-bing-earnings-39857.html

10:10 - Conclusion 

Today we covered Google rolling out Search Live with video support. Google also released a number of new AI Mode features, like Canvas.  Google Ads rolls out search term categories insights for responsive search ads. Google Ads assets links with different shapes and colors. Google is also testing AI Max ads. Google Ads grouping favicons.

0:00 - Introduction

0:39 - Google Search Live with video

1:53 - Google AI Mode Canvas is here

4:55 - Google Ads search term insights for RSA

5:50 - Google Ads sitelinks with different colored and shapes

7:00 - Google Ads AI Max search ad

8:00 - Google Ads favicon groupings 

8:18 - 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 and Mordy Oberstein of Unify Brand Marketing with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered that Google Ads disabled conversion tracking, personalization and remarketing for some advertisers. Google AI Mode expanded to the UK.  Google AI Mode to help you shop.  Google AI generated menu summaries.

0:00 - Introduction

0:52 - Google Ads disables conversion tracking, personalization and more

2:36 - Google AI Mode expands to the UK

3:52 - Google - help me shop in AI Mode

6:46 - Google AI generated menu summaries

8:37 - 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 and Mordy Oberstein of Unify Brand Marketing with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered  that Amazon seems to have stopped using Google Shopping Ads. Google Ads is adding click and conversions data to RSAs. Google Local Service Ads may be charging more for message leads. There is ongoing post-Google core update volatility won’t calm down. Google Business Profiles shows how many confirmed the attributes. Google about this site tries a question mark again.  

0:00 - Introduction

0:30 - Amazon drops Google Shopping Ads

2:24 - Google Ads RSAs with click and conversion data

4:08 - Google Local Service Ads message leads to cost more

4:34 - Google ranking volatility so so heated

6:12 - Google Business Profiles confirming your attributes

8:58 - Google About this site with question marks, again

9:46 - 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 and Mordy Oberstein of Unify Brand Marketing with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

This week we covered the strong search ranking volatility post Google June 2025 core update and it continued through the week, with a spike on Thursday. A Pew Research study on AI Overviews shows clicks significantly drop when AI Overviews are on the page, Google disputes this. OpenAI may be crawling the LLMS.txt file but Google says they won’t. Google says it even makes sense to noindex the LLMS.txt file. Is OpenAI stealing Google’s search results? Google says normal SEO works for AI Overviews. Google Search doesn’t support product pricing by state. Google spoke about CSS and SEO. Google also spoke about SEO for show pages. Google announced the Google Trends API, it is an alpha. Google Search Console has a new logo. Google Web Guide is a new labs feature or organize your web results. Google Search tests replacing the more tab with more filters, show more and more options. Google is testing a see more link and other snippet hyperlinks. Google launched its virtual try on and also custom price alert triggers. Bing is testing borders around its search results. Google dropped the sponsored label from the find related products and services query expansion. Google Ads optimization score is column tips. Google Ads competitive aware recommendations are rolling out. Google Ad negative keyword lists for PMax campaigns are coming. Google Ads brand inclusions and exclusions are now just for AI Max. Google Ads RSAs added click and conversion detail data. Jordi Ribas from Microsoft compared Copilot to Google AI Mode. Google reported its earnings and ad revenue continues to climb.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

0:39 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated Days After Core Update Completed

1:04 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Spiking Thursday

1:37 - Pew: Searchers Less Likely To Click On Links In Google Search With AI Overviews

3:08 - Is ChatGPT Using Google Search Results?

4:23 - Google: It Makes Sense To Noindex LLMs.txt

4:41 - Is OpenAI Crawling LLMs.txt Files? Google Says It Won't.

5:11 - Google: Normal SEO Works To Get Into AI Overviews

5:30 - Google Search Doesn't Support Different Product Pricing By States

6:01 - Google On CSS & SEO

6:17 - Google On Show Webpage SEO

6:54 - Google Announces Google Trends API

7:30 - Google Search Console Has A New Logo

7:40 - Google Web Guide Uses Gemini To Organize Your Web Results

8:07 - Google Search Tests Replacing More With More Filters & Show More

8:22 - Google Search Result Snippets With See More & Other Hyperlinks

8:45 - Google Virtual Try-On & Customized Price Alerts Now Live

9:10 - Bing Tests Borders Around Search Results

9:18 - Google Drops Sponsored Label For Find Related Products & Services Ads

9:56 - Google Ads Optimization Score Column Tips

10:15 - Google Ads Competitive-Aware Recommendations

10:32 - Google Ads Negative Keyword Lists For Performance Max Campaigns - Maybe?

10:48 - Google Ads Brand Inclusions & Exclusions In AI Max

11:06 - Google Ads RSAs Adding Click & Conversion Data

11:19 - Microsoft's Jordi Ribas Compares Copilot To Google AI Mode

11:40 - Google Ad Revenue Up 10.4% & Overall Revenue Up 14%

12:16 - Conclusion