Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

This week we covered Google's March 2025 core update being released. Google responded to some complaints or concerns about Google’s new AI Mode. A study showed Google grew 22% over the past year, in terms of search volume. Another study said that AI search engines are confidently wrong way too often. Google’s John Mueller said image hotlinking protection is fine. Google Ads will be coming to AI mode. Google is testing expandable shopping ad carousels. Google is testing price at checkout labels in the shopping results. Google Ads updated its documentation to say it uses both AI and humans for policy reviews. Google Ads increased the negative keywords for PMax to 10,000 keywords. Google Ads Editor version 2.9 is now out. Google Ads Search Max was spotted again. Google Ads can suggest experiments when dismissing a recommendation. Google changed how Tag Manager loads and some advertisers are skeptical. Google Knowledge Panels are testing expandable places maps. Google has this get tailored recommendations quiz. Bing is testing a new Copilot Answer interface. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.Sponsored by Similarweb, Similarweb created an SEO benchmark report, analyzing organic traffic of 10,000 websites in 10 industries to help brands understand what 'good' looks like in their industry. The key metrics include (1) monthly visits (2) Website engagement metrics and (3) SERP metrics including AI Overview presence, zero-click searches, and organic difficulty. Also, well known SEOs such as Aleyda Solís, Barry Adams, Sophie Brannon and Fabrizio Ballarinis contributed to the report. I linked to the report in the description below at https://bit.ly/4h4v4ZP0:00 - Introduction1:14 - Google March 2025 Core Update Is Rolling Out : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-march-2025-core-update-39060.html2:37 - Google Responds To Publishers Concerns On AI Mode : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-response-concerns-ai-mode-39028.html3:31 - Data: Google Search Had 22% Growth In Searches Year Over Year : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-growth-39040.html4:05 - Study: AI Search Engines Are Confidently Wrong Too Often : https://www.seroundtable.com/ai-search-engines-wrong-39038.html5:12 - Google: Hotlink Protection Carve Outs For Search Engines Are Fine : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-hotlink-protection-39054.html5:21 - Google AI Mode Ads Will Be Coming : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-ai-mode-39026.html5:40 - Google Tests Expandable Shopping Ad Carousel : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-expandable-shopping-ad-carousel-39031.html5:55 - Google Shopping Results: Price At Checkout Label : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-shopping-results-price-at-checkout-39034.html6:14 - Google Ads Review Process Uses AI & Human Evaluation For Policy Violations : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-review-violations-ai-human-evaluation-39048.html6:36 - Google Ads Increases Negative Keywords For PMax Campaigns To 10,000 : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-negative-keywords-10000-39044.html6:53 - Google Ads Editor Version 2.9 Is Now Out : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-editor-version-2-9-39049.html6:59 - Google Ads Search Max Spotted Again : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-search-max-spotted-39050.html7:17 - Google Ads Now Suggests Experiments When Dismissing Recommendations : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-experiments-dismiss-recommendations-39042.html7:33 - Advertisers Skeptical About Google Tag Manager Changes : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-tag-manager-loading-changes-39037.html8:05 - Google Knowledge Panel With Expandable Places Map : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-knowledge-panel-expandable-places-39020.html8:21 - Google Get Tailored Recommendations Quiz : https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-get-tailored-recommendations-39032.html8:38 - Bing Tests New Copilot Answer Interface8:49 - Conclusion

Today we discussed the Search Max beta feature in Google Ads, Google Ads experiment to test PMax with assets.  Google Merchant Center bulk review disputes.  And SEO with hotlinking protection. 

0:00 - Introduction

0:50 - Google Ads Search Max

2:58 - Google Ads experiment to test PMax with assets

4:28 - Google Merchant Center bulk review disputes

5:35 - SEO for hotlinking protection

7:30 - 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 discussed how Google uses AI and human evaluators for policy enforcement. Google expanded its negative keywords for PMax from 100 to 10,000 keywords.  Google Ads Editor version 2.9 is out.  Google is using paperclip icons to let you share search results.

0:00 - Introduction

0:31 - Google Ads AI policy enforcement

2:37 - Google expanded negative keywords caps for PMax

4:00 - Google Ads Editor version 2.9 is out

5:12 - Google paperclips to share search results 

6:53 - 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 discussed a study on how AI search engines are often super wrong, even if they act confident. New data shows Google has grown 22%.  Google Marketing Live is May 21st. Google brings message assets to PMax. Google is testing new dynamic shopping ads.  Google is also testing price at checkout labels for shopping ads.

0:00 - Introduction

0:49 - AI search engines are wrong too often

4:15 - Google Search has grown about 22%

5:42 - Google Marketing Live is May 21st

6:41 - Google message assets for PMax

7:32 - Google tests new shopping ad formats 

10:14 - Google Shopping Ads with price at checkout label

11:37 - 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 discussed the ads coming to Google’s AI Mode and how Google responded to publisher concerns over AI mode.  Google has dropped page annotations, good riddance.  Bing is showing “Why this ad” on some of its ads.  Plus, Google has a number of UI tests.

0:00 - Introduction

0:53 - Google responds to publisher concerns over AI mode

5:13 - Google AI Mode Ads

6:24 - Google page annotations is gone

8:08 - Google UI tests

9:58 - Bing why this ad feature 

12:37 - 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.

Google released its much anticipated AI Mode, which is in beta now, but it super cool. Google AI Overviews are now powered by Gemini 2.0. Google had more search ranking volatility this week. Google said they answered over 5 trillion searches per year. Google said 10% of younger searchers start with Circle to Search. Sparktoro report shows a lot of searchers don’t search all that much. I posted the monthly Google webmaster report this week. Google thankfully killed of the page annotations feature. Google local reviews gain expressive reactions. Google Business Profiles and Local Service Ads are now associated, reviews only go on GBP going forward. Google Ads had a bug on March 1st where ads were not serving for a full two days. Google Ads has this mystery shopping rating. Google Ads may be triple-serving ads. Google to bring channel reporting to Performance Max campaigns. Google Merchant Center has a bug with the step for setting shipping ratings. Bing Ads is testing auto expanding sitelinks. Bing shows how ads are chosen in search. Google Search Liaison may be getting an assist from Rajan Patel. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Sponsor: BruceClay one of the founding fathers of the SEO space, doing search marketing optimization since 1996. Bruce Clay is big into SEO training, check out seotraining.com to learn more and check them out at bruceclay.com. Also, check out their new product, Prewriter.ai - this tool empowers writers to write better and more efficiently, so check it out.

0:00 - Introduction

0:50 - Google AI Mode - It's Here - Here Is How To Access It

2:25 - Official: Google AI Overviews Powered By Gemini 2.0

2:52 - Early March Google Search Ranking Volatility

3:23 - Google Answers Over 5 Trillion Searches Per Year

3:51 - Google: 10% Of Younger Google Searches Start With Circle To Search

4:30 - Report: 1/3rd Don't Use Google Search (Web) All That Much

5:05 - March 2025 Google Webmaster Report

5:16 - Google Drops The Horrid Page Annotations Feature

5:42 - Google Business Reviews Gain Expressive Reactions

6:00 - Google Business Profile Now Associated With Local Service Ads

6:14 - Many Google Ads Accounts Not Serving Or Delivering Ads Since March 1 (Confirmed & Fixed)

6:55 - Google Ads Mystery Shopping Rating - What?

7:36 - Google Ads Triple Serving Ads On Same Search Results Page

8:00 - Google Ads May Get Channel Reporting For PMax Campaigns

8:17 - Google Merchant Center Shipping Rates Bug Ongoing

8:34  - Bing Ads Auto Expanding Sitelinks

8:48 - Microsoft Shows How Ads Are Chosen In Bing Search

9:05 - Google Search Liaison Gets An Assist

9:36 - Conclusion

Today we discussed the new Google AI Mode, it is a big deal and we go into it.  Google AI Overviews are now powered by Gemini 2.0.  Bing is testing auto expanding sitelinks for its ads.  Microsoft Copilot adds showroom ads and dynamic filters. And the Google Search Liaison gets an assist. 

0:00 - Introduction

1:10 - Google AI Mode

4:55 - Google AI Overviews Gemini 2.0

6:23 - Microsoft Copilot showroom ads and dynamic filters

7:37 - Bing auto expanding sitelink ads

8:06 - Google Search Liaison gets an assist

10:20 - 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 discussed how Google launched new Shopping AI features including vision match, try out new looks and try on expanded.  YouTube has new mid-roll ads options.  Google Search has AI Overviews for movies.  Google product results top insights uses generative AI. Google reviews now have expressive reactions.  We are seeing more Google search ranking volatility this week.  

0:00 - Introduction

0:57 - Google Shopping AI features

4:02 - YouTube mid-roll ads updates

5:48 - AI Overviews for movies

7:05 - Product top insights with generative-AI

7:52 - Google reviews expressive reactions

8:55 - Google search ranking volatility

10:20 - 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 discussed how Google posted they are now seeing over 5 trillion searches per day. Rand Fishkin shared new data showing how people search and 1/3rd don’t search Google that much.  10% of searches from younger people start with Circle to Search. Google Merchant Center Next has new product analytics and renamed conversion settings to key events. We also spoke about the creator partnership in Google Ads.  

0:00 - Introduction

0:29 - Google handles over 5 trillion searches

3:04 - New data on how people use Google Search

4:50 - 10% of searches from younger people start with Circle to Search

6:59 - Google Merchant Center product analytics and key events

8:39 - Creator Partnerships in Google Ads

10:07 - Google review QR codes

10:26 - 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 discussed how Google Ads stopped serving ads for a lot of advertisers over the weekend. Google Ads was caught triple serving ads.  Google Ads has this weird mystery shopper rating.  Google now accepts RVs and campers in Vehicle Ads.  Google is testing expanding AI Overviews in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Happy birthday Mordy! Plus more…

0:00 - Introduction

2:33 - Google Ads serving bug

4:34 - Google Merchant Center Shopping rates bug

4:52 - Google Ads triple serving ads

6:43 - Google master shopper rating

8:48 - Google Ads RVs and campers

9:37 - Google AI Overviews expansion test

10:48 - Google March webmaster report

11:03 - 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.