Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

This week I covered how the third-party search rank checking tools seem to have cooled, but the chatter is still pretty heated. Maybe Google is blocking these tools, as I covered. Google still shows sites in AI Overviews even if they have manual actions. Google updated its manual actions for News and Discover policy violations. Google says it selects third-party review boxes algorithmically. Google prefers review ratings to contain the author's name and comments. Google Maps pin attack exploit seems to be fixed. Google Search people also search for is testing using AI, and so is What People Are Saying. Google Search video tab has continuous scroll. Google is testing a zoom animation for going to the next page of the search results. There is this scary Google Ads phishing scam going around. Google Ads Search Max may be coming soon. Google updated its hotel policies. Bing updated its AI answers to be more publisher friendly. Bing is testing bolding the sponsored label in its search results. Bing Ads is testing see more links. Google partnered with the Associated Press for more real time news. We posted some search market share numbers, but can you trust them. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

1:03 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Tools Cool Down

1:31 - Google Search Ranking Volatility (Chatter High / Tools Low) - Mid-January

1:53 - Is Google Blocking SEO Rank Checking Tools As Search Volatility Continues

2:44 - Google Can Show Sites With Manual Actions In AI Overviews

3:34 - Google Manual Actions For News & Discover Policy Violations Updated

4:07 - Google Third-Party Review Boxes Algorithmically Selected

4:40 - Google Prefers Review Ratings To Contain Author Name & Comments

5:09 - Google Map Pin Attack Exploit Fixed

5:37 - Google Search Generative AI For People Also Search For

5:52 - Google Testing AI Generated What People Are Saying

6:10 - Google Search Video Tab With Continuous Scroll

6:28 - Google Tests Search Results Zooming In To Next Page Of Search Results

6:45 - Scary Google Ads Phishing Scam

7:42 - Google Ads Search Max Coming Soon?

7:58 - Google Hotel Policies Updated On Availability & Rates

8:32 - Bing Tests Updated AI Copilot Answer Which Is More Publisher Friendly

8:47 - Bing Testing Bold Sponsored Labels

9:01 - Bing Ads - See More Links (Sitelinks)

9:15 - Google Partners With The AP To Gain Real Time Data

9:39 - Google & Bing Search Engine Market Share Data Over The Year

10:33 - Conclusion

This week we talk about authorship and why you need to include name & contents. A new deal between the AP and Gemini. Chat being more promintently featured in Google Ads, new Ads rules for Children & Teens on Google as well as some fancy new swipe and zoom features in Google.

Google Search ranking volatility may be cooling a bit.  Google fixed the maps pin attack exploit.  Google updated its manual actions for Google News and Google Discover.  Google has these search result snipper related reviews carousel.  Bing is testing new AI answers that are more publisher friendly.  Bing is testing bolding sponsored labels. 

0:00 - Introduction

1:48 - Google Search volatility cooling

2:44 - Google patching the maps pin exploit attack 

3:57 - Google updated its manual actions for Google News & Google Discover

6:33 - Bing is testing more publisher friendly AI answers

8:32 - Bing is testing bolding sponsored labels

9:50 - Google related review carousels in snippets 

10:50 - 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 Crystal Carter and Mordy Oberstein of Wix with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

More specifics will be posted later at https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-01-13-2025-38731.html 

We had this weird Google local ranking bug that seemed to happen over last weekend but resolved itself by around Tuesday. Then, the other day, we noticed that Reddit may be seeing a decline in Google Search traffic and visibility, but it might be too early to tell. Microsoft is tricking its searchers to thinking they are using Google and not Bing. Google Search Console performance reports can now be exported to show hourly data. Google core updates do not impact site names in Google Search. Google said using generative AI to create content for links is against its spam policies. Google said SEOs overestimate links. Google said the Search Console validate fix does not expedite fixes. A blank screenshot in the Google Search Console URL inspection tool is fine. Google Ad scheduling help document update caused a lot of confusion. Google Ads PMax bug around asset group conversions also caused confusion. Google’s search partner network has a 37% lower ROAS than Google search ads. Google is testing local packs without review stars. Google Business Profiles gained add to menu options. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Sponsored by Similarweb, the all-in-one- strategic SEO software. Get clarity of the SEO landscape through competitor analysis, keyword research, rank tracking, SERP insights and more. With industry-leading traffic and keyword data, based on real user journeys, Similarweb gives SEO professionals the whole picture so they can strategize smartly and drive sustainable business growth.

0:00 - Introduction

1:03 - January 2025 Google Local Ranking Update (Unconfirmed Bug)

1:53 - Reddit Not Ranking As Well In Google Suddenly?

2:37 - Microsoft Tricking Bing Users To Thinking They Are On Google

3:55 - Google Search Console Performance Reports Now Exports Hourly Data

4:24 - Google: Core Updates Do Not Impact Site Name Changes

4:46 - Google: Using Generative AI To Create Content For Links Against Spam Policies

5:01 - Google On Losing Lots Of Links Fast: SEOs Often Overestimate Links

5:21 - Google Search Console Validate Fix Does Not Expedite Fixes

6:00 - Blank Screenshot In Google Search Console URL Inspection Tool May Be Fine

6:24 - Google: URLs Provide Minimal Additional Signals For Search Engines

6:44 - Screenshot: Google Ads Negative Keywords In Performance Max

7:12 - Google Ad Scheduling & Smart Bidding Campaigns Doc Update Confuses

7:47 - Google Ads PMax Pause/Enable/Remove Conversion Actions On Asset Group Level

8:21 - Report: Google SPN Placement Have A 37% Lower ROAS vs Google Search

9:04 - Google Tests Local Pack Ads Without Review Stars

9:16 - Google Business Profiles Gains Add To Menu Option

9:33 - Conclusion 

Reddit is realizing a noticeable drop in Google Search in the past couple of days.  Google Ads negative keywords for Performance Max was seen in thew wild.  A Google doc changes confused about ad scheduling with smart bidding campaigns.  A Google Ads bug also confuses on pausing/removing conversion actions on asset group levels.  Google Discover gets an audio version with the Daily Listen. And more SEO tidbits…

0:00 - Introduction

2:31 - Reddit Google rankings dropping

5:28 - Google Ads bug with asset group conversions 

7:07 - Google Ads help document changes confuses

8:22 - Google Ads PMax negative keywords in the wild 

8:50 - Google’s Daily Listen

12:20 - SEO tidbits from Google’s John Mueller

15:54 - 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 Crystal Carter and Mordy Oberstein of Wix with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

More specifics will be posted later at https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-01-09-2025-38709.html 

Microsoft is trying to trick Bing users to thinking they are using Google. Google Search Console's 24 hour view now is exportable, by hour, for the last 24-hours.  Google Search Partner Network have a 37% lower ROAS than normal Google Search Ads. We have new attributes for Google vehicle ads.  And more search banter…

0:00 - Introduction

0:51 - Bing Tricks Google Users

5:02 - Google Search Partner Network vs Google Ads 

6:50 - First Registered Attribute For Google Vehicle Ads

8:05 - Google People Also Ask Refinements

10:12 - Google Search Console 24 Hour Export

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 Crystal Carter and Mordy Oberstein of Wix with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

More specifics will be posted later at https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-01-07-2025-38694.html

We may have seen a Google local search ranking update this weekend, it is not confirmed by Google.  Google said you don’t need a blog for a startup, which caused a whole stir in the community. Google said URLs provide minimal additional signals for SEO and rankings. Google Discover updates the feed to show more sources and much more…

0:00 - Introduction

0:40 - Google Local Update

1:51 - Blogging In 2025

5:20 - URLs for SEO

9:07 - Google Discover Sources

9:47 - 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 Crystal Carter and Mordy Oberstein of Wix with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

More specifics will be posted later at hhttps://www.seroundtable.com/recap-01-06-2025-38686.html

It's the new year and why should that mean that Google Search calm down at all, in fact, it has been heated all holiday season, through New Years. I posted the 2024 Google algorithm update infographic. I also posted the January 2025 Google webmaster report, what an insane month. Google wants to scale Gemini to consumers in 2025, in a big way. Google Search Console screenshot tool is what Googlebot sees. Google is testing a new AI Overviews animation. Google is testing AI-generated things to know. Google Local has places people are talking about section. Google what people are saying creature has expandable carousels. Google Ads asset library now lets you edit images with AI. Google Ads has leads from messages beta. Google Ads has new find related products and services. Google and Bing's teams were active during the New Year. I posted the most commented-on articles in 2024 and the top contributors of 2024 to the Search Engine Roundtable. 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

0:54 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated Into New Years 2025

1:25 - Google Algorithm Updates 2024 Infographic

1:56 - January 2025 Google Webmaster Report

2:35 - Google: Scaling Gemini For Consumers Biggest Focus Of 2025

3:20 - Google Search Console Screenshot Is What Google Search Sees

3:46 - Google Testing AI Overview Rendering Animation

4:04 - Google Search Tests AI Generated Things to Know

4:15 - Google Local: Places People Are Talking About

4:39 - Google What People Are Saying Expandable Carousels

4:49 - Edit Images With AI In Google Ads Asset Library

5:15 - Google Ads Leads From Messages Beta Conversion Goals

5:37 - Google Search Ads Titled Find Related Products & Services

5:54 - Google & Bing Search Team Activity On New Years 2025

6:19 - Most Commented Search Engine Roundtable Articles - 2024 Edition

7:01 - Top Contributors To The Search Engine Roundtable In 2024

7:40 - Conclusion 

Last month in the Google SEO world was insane, I have a recap for you all.  Google Local has this places people are talking about section.  Google Ads asset library now lets you edit images with AI.  And more banter…

0:00 - Introduction

1:30 - Google Madness

4:15 - Google Local Places People Are Talking About

5:51 - Edit Images With AI In Google Ads Asset Library

9:05 - 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 Crystal Carter and Mordy Oberstein of Wix with Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

More specifics will be posted later at https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-01-02-2025-38670.html