Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

This past weekend (a week ago) we saw the first ranking volatility likely from the Google March 2024 core update. We also some saw possible reversals or recoveries a few days later. Then today, Friday, March 15th, I am seeing more ranking volatility likely related to the core and spam updates. Google posted its official FAQs for pure spam manual actions. Google has clarified its page experience and core web vitals help documentation and how it relates to rankings. Google has replaced FID with INP as a core web vital metric, as expected. Google said sites use AI for some articles but don’t specify which are the lowest quality pages. Google explains that double down on AI content may be a bad idea now. John Mueller’s site dropped out of the Google index this week, no joke. Bing Webmaster Tools may provide up to 24 months of data. Bing Webmaster Tools’s new top SEO insights report can tell you if you have inadequate links. Bingbot now supports Brotli compression. Google Top Stories has this “more context” section written by AI. Google image search is testing like buttons. Google Local panels are testing numerous interface changes. Google local reviews can show photos related to reviews and related photos to photos. Google is testing placing website links next to hotels and restaurants. Google Business Profiles shows services with book now buttons. Google Merchant Center Product Studio released themed templates, with the first being for St. Patrick’s Day. Microsoft Advertising is testing a new advertising console. Microsoft Copilot is now using GPT-4 Turbo. Copilot is now in that Microsoft Advertising console. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: Wix Studio lets digital marketing agencies get all of the benefits Wix has to offer from best-in-class SEO capabilities to 99% up-time with the added value of an extensive client and team management system baked right into the platform.

0:00 - Introduction

0:49 - Google March 2024 Core Update Ranking Changes Have Begun

1:14 - Google March 2024 Core/Spam Update Early Reversals (It's Far From Done...)

2:00 - Google March 2024 Core & Spam Update Movement Today

2:34 - Google Official FAQ On Pure Spam Manual Action

3:00 - Google Clarifies Page Experience & Core Web Vitals Related To Search Rankings

4:14 - Reminder: Google Core Web Vitals Replaces FID With INP Tomorrow (March 12)

4:49 - Google: Sites Using AI For Some Articles But Don't Specify Which Is Lowest Quality Pages

5:27 - Google Explains Doubling Down On AI Content Now May Be A Bad Idea

6:06 - John Mueller's Site Dropped From Google Search

6:58 - Bing Webmaster Tools May Provide Up 24 Months Of Data

7:12 - Bing Webmaster Tools Tells You When Your Inbound Links Are Inadequate

7:41 - Bingbot Supports Brotli Compression

8:16 - Google Top Stories More Context Section Is Generated By AI

8:34 - Google Image Search Results Testing Like Button

8:52 - Numerous Google Local Panel User Interface Updates

9:30 - Google Local Reviews Related To Photos In Local Panel (& Related Photos)

9:53 - Google Hotel & Restaurant Search Listings Tests Adding Website Link

10:05 - Google Business Profiles With Bookable Services

10:21 - Google Merchant Center Product Studio With Themed Templates Including St. Patricks Day

10:45 - New Interface For Microsoft Advertising Console

11:00 - Microsoft Copilot Now Using GPT-4 Turbo

11:21 - Copilot Now In Microsoft Advertising Console

11:31 - Conclusion

It was a busy week between Google releasing the Google March 2024 core update, which is supposed to be one of the largest core updates Google has ever released. Google also released a March 2024 spam update. Google updates a number of its spam policies while dishing out tons of manual actions. Google also updated its search quality raters guidelines. Google said it still tries to avoid overlapping these Google algorithm updates. Most SEOs feel these updates won’t result in big changes to search quality, but Google believes it will. I also posted the monthly Google Webmaster Report for March. Google spoke about reliable information and if it knows what it is or not. Microsoft announced IndexNow Insights and a new top SEO insights report in Bing Webmaster Tools. Google Search Console updated its recipe rich results report. Google Search Console also said event rich results stopped showing up in search. Google has shut down the Google Business Profile websites. A few Google Business Profiles tools went down Thursday night. Bing Deep Search is live again after a horrid first launch. Bing added new Copilot settings. Google Ads will automatically pause inactive ad groups. Google Ads officially launched the Solutions tool. Google Local Service Ads will get new verification requirements. Google Ads Editor seemed to launch version 2.6 this week. Microsoft Advertising rolled out Performance Max globally. Google AdSense for Search site to require new verification as well. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. 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

1:17 - Google March 2024 Core Update Rolling Out - It's A Big Core Update

4:22 - Google March 2024 Spam Updates Rolling Out - Scaled Content, Expired Domain & Site Reputation Abuse

6:24 - Google Unleashes Manual Actions Galore After Search Spam Policy Updates

8:26 - Google: We Still Try To Avoid Overlapping Algorithmic Updates

9:32 - Google Search Quality Raters Guidelines Untrustworthy Pages Section Updated

10:19 - ~80% Feel Google's March Core & Spam Updates Won't Reduce Low-Quality Search Results

10:54 - March 2024 Google Webmaster Report

11:11 - Does Google Search Know What Is Reliable Information

12:05 - New Bing Webmaster Tools IndexNow Insights & Top SEO Insights

12:35 - Google Search Console Recipe Rich Results Report Updated

13:13 - Search Console: Google Search Changes How Event Rich Results Appear

13:41 - Google Shut Down Google Business Profiles Websites This Morning

14:11 - Some Google Business Profiles Tools Are Not Working

14:40 - Bing Deep Search Now Live Again

15:11 - New Copilot Settings Now In Bing Search

15:29 - Google Ads To Automatically Pause Inactive Ad Groups

15:54 - Google Ads Solutions Tool Now Officially Live

16:18 - Report: Google Local Service Ads To Gain New Verification Process

16:43 - Google Ads Editor Version 2.6 Is Now Out

17:06 - Microsoft Advertising Performance Max Globally Available Today

17:17 - New Site Level Approvals For AdSense for Search (AFS) Sites

17:29 - Conclusion

We had two periods of Google Search ranking volatility this week, one last weekend and one on Thursday or so. Google court documents say search quality has improved and not degraded. Google dropped the see more results in the local panel this week for a period of time until it fixed that bug. Google also removed the news tab but that seemed like a bug also and was fixed. Google has a bug with the European hotel/travel results being hijacked. Google also broke the filetype search operator for a while. Google Analytics is seeing a lot of referral spam from Poland. There is new structured data carousel beta details. Google is testing a most-read articles carousel in the search results. Google is also testing popular opinions carousels. Google local panels is testing expandable menus. Google has this reviews disclaimer for “people like.” Google Analytics added new default Google Ads reports. Google Ads Performance Max placement reports to show the search partner network. Google Ads is testing limited by budget status color coding. Google Ads support reps may use Google Translate to chat with advertisers. Microsoft said it will bring back testing of Bing Deep Search. Google said that Microsoft tried selling Bing to Apple but Apple didn’t want it due to quality issues. A survey shows SEOs dislike Google more now than ever. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Sponsored by BruceClay, who has been doing search marketing optimization since 1996 and also has an amazing SEO training platform.

0:00 - Introduction

1:03 - Massive Volatility Reported - Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update?

2:23 - Early Signs: Google Search Ranking Update On February 28 & 29th

3:09 - Google Court Document Says Search Quality Continues To Improve

3:48 - Google Drops Link To See More Local Results From Search Results (It's Back)

4:16 - Did Google Test Removing The News Tab Or Was It A Bug?

5:22 - Google Europe Search Hijacking Bug With TripAdvisor, Booking, Hotel.com & More

6:08 - Google Search Filetype Operator For Site Commands Broken; Filetype Does Work

6:20 - Google Analytics Referral Spam From Poland - Complaints

6:59 - Google Structured Data Carousels Beta Documentation Added

7:45 - Google Most-Read Articles Search Carousel

8:13 - Google Popular Opinions Search Carousel

8:22 - Google Local Panels Design With Expandable Menus

8:53 - Google Reviews Disclaimer For Beta Questions

9:29 - Google Local Pack People Like Justifications

9:45 - Google Analytics Adds New Default Google Ads Report

10:15 - Google Ads PMax Placement Report To Show Search Partner Network Sites

11:09 - Google Ads Limited By Budget Status Now Color Coded

11:23 - Google Ads Support Chat Reps May Be Using Google Translate

11:42 - Bing Deep Search To Start Testing Again This Week

12:36 - Report: Microsoft Tried Selling Bing To Apple But Search Quality Issues Held It Back

13:30 - Survey Says Most SEOs Dislike Google Now More Than Before

14:48 - Conclusion

Google spoke more about the time it takes to recover from a helpful content update and then said it is up to you to decide ice what old content is helpful or not. Google said it wants to reward the best content no matter the site size. Meanwhile, Google will now pay Reddit $60 million annually for faster access to that content - I am not kidding. Google Search now supports new product variant structured data. Google said many of those using the Indexing API wrong are spammy and low-quality sites. Google has a but with negative search operators in shopping. Google’s Shop with AI seems live. Google Ad Strength formula to weight assets quantity and variety more with AI expansions. Google Merchant Center updated how it estimates delivery times. Google Merchant Center now requires images made with AI to be labeled as such. Google is pushing Google Ads ads in Gmail. Google Ads prohibits using famous people or companies to entice people to part ways with money or information. Google Ads API version 16 is out. Google Search is testing a new search bar design. Google Search is testing having forums in the search bar filters. Google is testing fading in the search result text. Bing Search has sub and expandable sitelinks. Bing is testing a next page and refresh page button for pagination. Google local packs tests showing pricing. Gartner predicts search volume will drop 25% by 2026, and only 20% of SEOs think search volume won’t change. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. 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. Also, here is the charity event.

0:00 - Introduction

0:59 - More From Google On Helpful Content Update Recovery Time

2:48 - Google: You Decide What Old Content Is Helpful Or Not

3:19 - Google: We Want To Reward The Best Content No Matter Site Size

5:35 - No Joke: Google Is Paying Reddit For More Content, More Often

6:35 - New Google Search Support For Product Variant Structured Data

7:20 - Google: Sites Wrongfully Using The Google Indexing API Often Are Spammy & Low Quality

7:50 - Bug With Google Shopping Exclude Search Operator

8:10 - Google Search Shop With Google AI Live

8:49 - Google Merchant Center Updates Estimated Delivery Times Calculation

9:10 - Google Merchant Center Requires Meta Labels On AI Generated Images

9:37 - Google Ad Strength For PMAX To Weigh Assets Quantity & Variety More As AI Expands

10:24 - Google Pushing Google Ads Consults In Gmail Accounts Pop Ups

10:44 - Google Ads To Prohibit Using Famous People Or Brands To Part With Money Or Information

11:06 - Google Ads API Version 16 Now Available

11:15 - Google Search Tests New Search Bar Design

11:35 - Google Search Tests Forums In Search Bar Menu

11:51 - Google Fading In Text Of Search Result Snippets On Scroll

12:09 - Bing Search Sub-Sitelinks (Expandable Sitelinks)

12:26 - Bing Tests Next Page & Refresh In Place Of Normal Pagination

12:42 - Google Local Pack Tests Restaurant Price Ranges

12:00 - Only 20% Of SEOs Think Search Volume Won't Change By 2026

13:43 - Conclusion 

This week, we covered another unconfirmed Google search ranking update that hit on February 14th and 15th. Google has some bugs or changes that really hurt recipe bloggers big time right before the Super Bowl. Google’s featured snippets disappeared for a couple of hours on Thursday. Google’s local pack and map search results stopped working for a couple of hours on Wednesday. Google spoke about timing to recover from a helpful content update. Google said not all sites that think they were hit by the helpful content update were. Google said EEAT isn’t a factor that factors into other ranking factors. Google said it will clarify the use of AI content in search at some point. Google has updated its canonical documentation. Google said your rankings won’t return by disavowing toxic links. Google Search C console launched a new interface for its filters and box overlays. Google Search Console has no plans for a mobile app. Google launched some new DMA rich results, aggregator units, refinement chips and flight results. Google is testing new hotel search pack layouts. Google top stories have new stories since you last searched. Google is testing animated highlighted texts for featured snippets. Google is testing removing the side carousel cards in SGE. Google Maps said it blocked 45% more fake reviews with a new spam-fighting algorithm. Google Ads fully launched generative AI for ACAs in English in the US and UK. Google is rolling out new branded Local Service Ads with controversy. Google has new partner performance guide emails. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: Wix - Wix is sponsoring a SEOFOMO Meetup in NYC run by Aleyda Solis on April 16th. You can learn more over here - hope to see you there.

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update Hits On February 14 & 15 (Unconfirmed)

1:30 - Google Search Recipe Carousel Dropped Many Recipe Sites This Week

2:15 - Google Search Featured Snippets Have Gone Missing (Now Back)

2:45 - Bug: Google Local Pack Not Showing In Search Results

3:14 - Google: Timing For Recovery For Helpful Content Update

4:47 - Google: Not All Sites That Think They Were Hit By Helpful Content Issues Actually Were

5:45 - Google: EEAT Isn't A Ranking Factor Nor A Thing That Factors Into Other Factors

6:07 - Google Will Clarify Use Of AI To Generate Content For SEO Purposes

6:43 - Google Updates Canonical Docs Explaining Which Attributes Break The Canonicalization

7:04 - Google: You Won't Get Your Rankings Back By Disavowing Toxic Links

7:26 - Google Search Console Launches User Interface Changes

8:00 - Google Search Console Has No Immediate Plans For A Mobile App

8:20 - New Google Search DMA Rich Results, Aggregator Units & Refinement Chips

9:27 - Google Testing New Layouts For Hotel Search Pack Results

9:51 - Google Top Stories - New Stories Since You Last Searched

10:10 - Google Tests Animated Highlighting Text In Featured Snippets

10:22 - Google SGE Tests Removing Side Carousels

10:55 - Google Maps Blocked 45% More Fake Reviews In 2023 With New Algorithm

11:33 - Google Ads Generative AI For Automatically Created Assets Fully Live In English US/UK

11:54 - Google Rolling Out Branded Local Services Ads (Opt Out Coming...)

13:12 - Google Partners Performance Guide - Email Series

13:31 - Conclusion 

This week we covered a new possible Google search ranking update that started brewing on Wednesday, February 7. Google’s Danny Sullivan said again, search quality improvements are coming in the near future. Google said it will clarify E-E-A-T and its search quality raters. Google explained the differences between ranking systems, ranking factors and ranking signals. Google said core web vitals are not a ranking factor. Google no longer shows Web Stories in image search. Google has a popular product spam issue in search. A blogger said a legit guest blog post was penalized by Google. Google revised its SEO starter guide, as expected. Google said its dynamic search ad crawler crawls less frequently now. Google may have a Sitemaps bug with hyphenated sitemap file names. Sullivan and Mueller both have internal newsletters they write for Google. Google is testing a “web results” button in the search menu. I saw Bing’s Deep Search in the wild, and it was blah, and shortly later, Microsoft pulled back testing Deep Search. Copilot got an upgrade code-named Deucalion. Google is testing an up-and-coming store carousel in search. Google Business Profiles has new activities and event forms. Google Business Profiles can be wiped out through a Local Services Ads loophole. Google Ads has a bug with confusing text and updating credit cards. Google Ads to drop its support for commission bidding for hotel ads. Microsoft Advertising expanded enhanced conversions, updated RSA, and much more. Google AdSense seems to be switching all publishers to CPM bidding. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. 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

1:20 - Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update Brewing February 7th and 8th

2:00 - Google: Search Quality Improvements Coming In Near Future

2:24 - Google To Clarify E-E-A-T & Quality Rater Guidelines Documentation

2:56 - Google Explains Systems Are Machines That Use Ranking Signals & Factors Which Are Fuel

3:20 - Google: We Don't Say Core Web Vitals Are A Ranking Factor

4:08 - Google Drops Web Stories From Images & Updates Search Feature Availability

4:33 - Google Popular Product Spam Search Listings

4:59 - Legit Guest Blog Post Leads To Google Manual Action, Says Site Owner

5:47 - Google's Revised SEO Starter Guide Is Out - Here's What SEOs Think

6:07 - Google Slows Dynamic Search Ad Crawler To Every 3 Weeks vs 2 Weeks

6:27 - Google Sitemaps Bug With Hyphenated File Names

6:53 - Danny Sullivan & John Mueller Send Internal Newsletters For Google Staff

7:26 - Google Tests Adding Web Results To Search Menu (Return Of Ten Blue Links)

7:48 - I Saw Bing Deep Search In The Wild

8:15 - Microsoft Pulls Back Flighting Deep Search

8:57 - Microsoft Copilot (Bing Chat) Upgrade Named Deucalion Being Tested

9:20 - Google Search Carousel: Up-And-Coming Stores

9:35 - Google Business Profiles Activities & Events In Dashboard

9:48 - Google Business Profiles Nuked Through Local Service Ads Loophole

10:35 - Google Ads Bugs With Confusing Text In Ads & Updating Credit Cards

10:59 - Google Ads To Drop Support For Commissions Bidding For Hotel Ads

11:07 - Microsoft Advertising Enhanced Conversions Expansion, RSA Updates & More

11:30 - Google AdSense Publishers CPM Bidding Hitting Close To 100%

11:40 - Conclusion

11:56 - Bonus Clip

This week, we covered another Google Search indexing issue, plus this ongoing issue with recipes in the Google Search results. I suspect we will soon have a very big Google Search ranking update - a storm is coming. The cache link is gone, and Google told us yesterday that the cache functionality will fully disappear soon. Google announced that International to Next Paint (INP) will replace First Input Delay (FID) on March 12. Google may consolidate ranking signals to canonical partners even if they are not the original source. Google offers feedback on why a specific article is not helpful. Google Search is testing a new shopping menu. Google Search may have launched more fully clippable coupons. Google Business Profiles may be influenced by custom services. Google Business Profiles now lets you add products with barcode scanners. Google Business Profiles makes it easier to manage menu details. Google launched new hotel results in Europe with the new Digital Markets Act. Google is using generative AI for local guide questions. Google Search has related categories nearby. Google is also testing results from the web, and I don’t know why. Google Ads moved reports to a new location. Google made three changes to the responsive search ads. Google Ads has a new bulk action named Solutions. Google Local Service Ads has a highly rated label. Google Ads is testing new shaded cards. Bing is testing ads on the left sidebar. Google is putting “add note” in the URL bar and in SGE while browsing. Google and Microsoft both reported earnings, and ad revenue was up for both. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Sponsored by BruceClay, who has been doing search marketing optimization since 1996 and also has an amazing SEO training platform.

0:00 - Introduction

1:42 - Google Search Working On Fixing Indexing Issue

2:33 - Google Search Also Having Issues With Recipe Sites

3:03 - Storm Coming: Next Confirmed Google Search Ranking Algorithm Coming Soon?

3:41 - Google Search Drops Cache Link From Search Results (How To See The Cache)

4:22 - March 12 Interaction to Next Paint Will Become A Google Core Web Vital

4:49 - Google May Consolidate Ranking Signals To Canonical Partner URL Even If It's Not The Source

5:57 - Google Offers Specific Feedback On Why An Article Might Not Be Helpful

6:31 - Google Search Tests Shopping Menu For Home, Orders, Settings & More

6:47 - Google Clippable Coupons Live (Again?) - Discount Rich Results

6:55 - Report: Custom Google Business Profile Services Impact Rankings Too

7:12 - Google Business Profiles: Add Products With Barcode Scanner

7:31  - Google Business Profile Restaurants Menu Highlights - Make Corrections

7:42 - The New Google Hotel Results In EU With Digital Markets Act

8:08 - Google Maps Tests AI Generated Answers For Local Questions With Local Guides

8:37 - Google Search Related Categories Nearby For Shopping Local Push

8:52 - Google Search (More) Results From The Web

9:07 - Google Ads Reports Moving To New Location

9:27 - Google Responsive Search Ads Updates

9:53 - New Google Ads Bulk Actions Solutions Option

10:15 - Google Local Service Ads "Highly Rated" Label

10:29 - Google Ads Tests New Card Shaded Format

10:37 - Bing Testing Microsoft Ads On Left Side Panel

10:54 - Google Puts "Add Note" In URL Bar & SGE While Browsing

11:19 - Google Ad Revenue Up 11% & Bing Ads Revenue Up 8%

11:49 - Conclusion

Google has confirmed that issue where sites would rank during the week and then not rank on the weekends - just wild. We had an unconfirmed Google ranking update this week after having a calm weekend. Google has dropped Appen, one of its largest sources for search quality raters. Google’s SEO starter guide is getting a huge trim. Google said its flexible sampling solution is not leaky. Google said it wants to improve the Google News publisher acceptance process. Google updated the job listing and details metrics in Google Search Console performance reports. Google may penalize recipe collection pages for using recipe structured data. Google said HTML structure doesn’t matter much for rankings. 60% of SEOs are worried about the impact of Google SGE. Google Ads conversational AI tool is now going live for English users. Google Ads threatens to suspend those over consent banner issues. Google Search has dropped the cache link from the search results. Google News added a filter by publisher option. Google is testing a new local business profile design. Google tests nearby events and deals. Google tests chat with a live agent for search results. Google is testing videos on the right side of the search results. Bing is testing bubble menus and bulleted sitelinks. Bing is testing swapping out the Bing logo for the Copilot logo. Google Business Profiles will show fewer directions in the performance reports, but the opposite happened. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. 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 

1:00 - Google Ranking Teetering In & Out Over Weekends - Confirmed Bug

2:26 - A Google Search Ranking Update Brewing Around January 23rd & 24th?

3:15 - Another Relatively Calm Weekend For Google Search Ranking Volatility

3:28 - Google Drops Thousands Of Search Quality Raters In Latest Cuts

5:05 - Google SEO Starter Guide To Be Cut In Half

6:10 - Google: Our Paywalled & Subscription Structured Data Method Is Not Leaky

6:50 - Will Google Improve The Google News Publisher Acceptance Process?

7:51 - Google Performance Reports Changes Job Listing & Detail Pages Evaluation

8:18 - Google May Penalize Recipe Collection Pages Using Recipe Structured Data

8:50 - Google: HTML Structure Doesn't Matter Much For Ranking

9:26 - Poll: 60% Of SEOs Are Worried About The Impact Of Google SGE

10:12 - Google Ads AI Conversational Experience Now Available To Globally In English

10:41 - Google Ads Sends Suspension Email Threats For Non-Compliant GDPR Consent Banners

11:23 - Google Search Drops Cache Link From Search Results (How To See The Cache)

11:54 - Google News Filter By Publisher Option

12:12 - Google Testing New Local Business Profile Designs With Icons

12:24 - Google Search Local "Nearby Events And Deals"

12:37 - Google Search Snippet "Chat With A Live Agent"

12:48 - Google Tests Videos On Right Side Of Search Results Page, Again

13:04 - Bing Tests Bubble Style Search Bar Menu & Bullets For Sitelinks

13:28 - Bing Home Page Swapping Out Bing Logo With Copilot Logo

13:41 - Google Business Profiles Performance Driving Directions Report To Show Less Data

14:00 - Huge Increase In Google Business Profiles Driving Directions

14:25 - Conclusion 

This week, I reported about a weird ranking pattern that has been emerging with these weekend ranking Google updates. Google Search Console shows a spike in 404 errors for URLs ending in /1000. Google launched Circle to Search and a new AI-powered multisearch. A new German study looks to see if Google Search is getting worse. Google responded to claims that Google News boosts garbage AI-written content. Bing’s market share has not grown more than 1% since it launched Bing Chat a year ago. Google Search will show more third-party comparison sites in European search results. Google is testing product snippet listings and local image variations. Google is also testing five lines of products instead of four. Google said changing from www to non-www won’t change much for rankings. Google URL inspection tool referring page may show unlinked sources. Google Search is not showing news boxes for some election queries. Advertisers and agencies are beyond frustrated with the degradation of Google Ads support, and now Google laid off more ad reps. Google Ads has a new campaign level headlines and descriptions. Google has a new feature for hotels named view market comparison. Bing is unchanged with the release of Copilot Pro. Did you know you can search both Google and Bing at the same time using Edge. A large SEO Reddit community was taken over by new moderators And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: Wix - This week Wix launched a new SEO resource center that has productivity cheatsheets, checklists, templates and toolkits to make your job easier. Check it out at https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/assets.

0:00 - Introduction

1:10 - Google Ranking Teetering In & Out Over Weekends - Bug Or Edge Of Quality?

3:26 - Google Search Console 404 Error Report For /1000 URLs Spike

4:07 - Google Circle To Search & Upgraded AI-Powered Multisearch

4:59 - Is Google Search Is Getting Worse? German Study Published Says Kinda

6:10 - Google Responds To Claims Of Google News Boosting Garbage AI Content

7:47 - Report: Bing Gained Less Than 1% Market Share Since Adding Bing Chat

8:39 - Google Search To Show More Third-Party Comparison Websites In Europe

9:19 - Google Tests Search Result Snippet Product Listings & Local Images

9:38 - Google Tests 5 Product Results Instead Of 4 In Shopping Grid

9:50 - Google: Changing WWW to Non-WWW Doesn't Change Much (For Ranking)

10:09 - Google URL Inspection Tool Referring Page Returns Non-Linked URLs?

11:00 - Google Search Not Showing News Boxes For Some Election Queries

11:33 - Advertisers & Agencies Frustrated With Lack Of Google Ads Support

12:18 - Google Ads Gains New Campaign Level Headlines & Descriptions Options

12:50 - Google Hotels View Market Comparison Pricing Feature

13:12 - Bing Unchanged Despite Copilot Pro Paid Release

13:55 - Search Bing & Google At Same Time With Microsoft Edge

14:08 - Large SEO Reddit Community Taken Over By New Moderators

14:41 - Conclusion 

We reported on three different Google algorithm updates this week, a bug one on January 9th and 10th, another one on January 5th and 6th, and also a local search ranking update on January 4th. Google reiterates that more changes are coming to deal with the search spam you see in Google’s search results. Google has dropped the FAQ and how-to rich results in the search results again. Google said there is no such thing as a perfect formula for search rankings. Google also said author bylines don’t help you rank better in search. Google said the primary source for your snippets are from the page content. Google said it does not use GA for ranking even within Search Console. Google is still working on site name issues. Google Search Console’s crawl rate setting is gone. Google sitemaps ping endpoints no longer work. We have some data on the Google Perspectives feature. Google talked about the Japanese keyword hack. Google Assistant is dropping a ton of features, does this help us with Google Search. Microsoft may extend Bing Chat’s memory beyond 90 days. Bing Search is testing replacing the Chat menu item with Chat w/GPt-4 and Copilot. Google Ads updated the auction insights box. Google LSAs has a new direct business search feature. Google has updated its sensitive event policy. Microsoft Advertising is moving Hotel Center to Lodging campaigns. Google is shutting down Websites made from Google Business Profiles. Google Search has a bug for zip code searches. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. 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

1:01 - Mid-Week Google Search Algorithm Ranking Volatility January 9th & 10th

1:54 - Google Search Algorithmic Volatility Friday On January 5th & Saturday 6th

2:07 - Google Local Ranking Algorithm Update On January 4th (Unconfirmed)

2:34 - Google Reiterates: We Have Changes Coming To Deal With Search Spam

3:03 - Google Search FAQ Rich Results Drop Out Again

3:29 - Google How-To Rich Results Dropping Out Of Search Results Again

3:48 - Google: No Such Thing As Perfect Formula For Ranking

4:48 - Google: Author Bylines Don't Help You Rank Better; Google Doesn't Check Credentials

5:56 - Google Says Search Result Snippets Generated Primarily From Page Content

6:27 - Google: We Don't Use Google Analytics Data For Ranking Even When In Search Console

6:44 - Google Still Working On Site Name Issues Within Google Search

7:14 - Google Search Console Crawl Rate Setting Is Officially Gone

7:23 - Google Sitemaps Ping Endpoints Officially No Longer Work

7:38 - Report: Google Perspectives Dominated By Twitter, YouTube & Reddit

8:16 - Google On The Japanese Keyword Hack

8:44 - Did Search Win With The Google Assistant Feature Loss

9:24 - Microsoft May Extend Bing Chat's History Beyond 90 Days

9:55 - Bing Search Menu Tests Chat Button That Says Chat w/GPT-4 & Copilot

10:21 - Google Ads PMax Auction Insights Box Adds Competitive Data

10:39 - Google Local Services Ads Direct Business Search Shows Your Ad On Branded Queries

11:06 - What's Google Ads Sensitive Event Policy

12:11 - Microsoft Advertising Dropping Hotel Center Accounts For Lodging Campaigns On Feb 6

12:27 - Google Shutting Down Google Business Profiles Websites - Redirects Only A Few Months

13:09 - Google Search Bug Returns Products For Zip Code Searches

13:28 - Conclusion