Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

I drove out to see David Iwanow at the Reckitt offices in New Jersey to chat SEO. David is the Head of Search at Reckitt, he is based in Amsterdam but came in to do some SEO training for his teams there. David has been in SEO since 2007 and we talk about how we have aged so much in this industry.

We are now the old folks in the industry, when we use to be the young ones. David said you need to keep reinventing yourself in this space to stay relevant. Even more so with all the AI stuff and ChatGPT and so on.

Of course we talk about some of the earlier days in SEO, including building links and it being considered white hat links. We spoke a bit about how the nofollow attribute was introduced in 2005 and how I refused for years to add it to my links. I also got hit by a Panda penalty back in the days.

He started in SEO after building a site for friends/family and found it interesting and looked at how search engines worked. And he followed the right people through the right path and found the right mentors and so forth. He said he was lucky and followed that right path. But also, doing the wrong things can teach you a lesson and you learn from it.

You can follow David Iwanow on Twitter @davidiwanow.

This week, I posted the big Google Webmaster Report - I hope it is helpful. The Google August 2023 core update finished rolling out last night and that core update had volatility earlier in the week, we reported on it early but it seemed to be correct. Google Search updated its language-matching system a couple of weeks ago. Google fixed an ongoing canonical bug within Google Search Console. Google said you should self-assess your content and remove unhelpful content. Google said content quality is not about typos. Google said scrolljacking is not a direct ranking issue. Site names now work in all languages within Google Search. Google Search Console uses bloom filters and that is why some filtered data may not match unfiltered data. Google explained why you may see a spike in indexed pages in Search Console. A survey says that most SEOs won’t use AI to translate sites. Some are updating their negative local reviews on Google to ensure they stay at the top of the Google local listing. Google Search Console Insights tips are not SEO recommendations. Google Ads to require election ads to disclose the use of AI. Google Ads clarified its cryptocurrency policy for NFTs in games. Google Ads emails now have the customer IDs. Google News is testing author names, I also posted a bunch of Google UI tests. 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 Rank Ranger, the all-in-one- professional SEO software. Rank Ranger is a comprehensive SEO platform that allows you to grow your business with data and analytics. It offers valuable insights through advanced rank tracking, including above-the-fold tracking, Organic Share of Voice reporting, actionable SERP feature data, and SERP analysis tools.

In part one, we learned about Jamie Reedy and Jordan Mazza from Amsive Digital and then spoke a bit about e-commerce SEO. In this next part, we talk about publisher and content SEO. Jordan explained they have their own internal ranking signals for content development. Jordan said they look a lot at the new E in E-E-A-T for experience and also around user-generated reviews.

E-E-A-T, expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness are something the team at Amsive works a lot on. Jordan said they work nicely with their clients to help them leverage their experience and expertise in their content, and he helps them go about that.

I then brought up the topic of AI content and Google’s who, how and why for your content. Jordan spoke about some of the questions about using AI to help build content. Do you list AI as the author and some other questions around that?

Jordan then spoke about how you can word answers in your content around how a person experiences something. Jordan said AI cannot experience things but then I questioned that, why can’t they on some level? Jamie said when it comes to messaging for their clients around using AI, make sure to write your content for people. Jamie doesn’t think AI bots can write for people, as well as people, can.

I went back in history to the old Panda days, and I relate it to what changes we are seeing now with SEO and content development. We spoke about old fashion programmatic spam SEO from the early 2000s. I then discussed how HJ Kim at Google and what drives him to build algorithms that rank pages that help, not hurt, people. So Google is not too worried about AI content overrunning the web because they’ve been through this before.

Jamie said it all comes back to creating brand affinity with your customers through search.

You can learn more about Jamie Reedy on LinkedIn and Jordan Mazza on LinkedIn or on Twitter @JordanMazzaTV.

This week, we continue to track the Google August 2023 core update, where we saw volatility last weekend and mid-week. Google Search Generative Experience gained links, expanded to India and Japan, added listen features, and shared some early feedback. Google said core updates do not impact the autocomplete search suggestions. Google Search Console added News Showcase filters, and we have some screenshots. I posted a reminder not to email Google about your undetectable links for sale. Google said if a page is indexed, that means it was rendered. Google’s Gary Illyes explained how 304 server status codes can hurt you. Google’s John Mueller said that the word location in a URL doesn’t matter for SEO. Google Search is testing a “mentioned in” search snippet feature. Google is testing clickable links within search description snippets. Google is also testing a new shopping icon label. Bing Chat is testing third-party plugins in the wild. Bing said it releases features globally. Google Ads has a new “limited ad serving” policy where they limit your ads until Google gets to know the advertiser. Google Ads setting for one-click target ROAS on Shopping campaigns is available. 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.

0:00 - Introduction

0:56 - Google August 2023 Core Update Hit Hard Around August 25th For Some Sites

1:18 - Google August 2023 Core Update Volatility Continues Over Past Few Days

2:15 - Official: Google Search Generative Experience Gets Links

2:55 - Google Shares Early Feedback On SGE, Expands To Japan & India

3:22 - Google: Core Updates Do Not Impact Autocomplete Search Predictions

3:39 - Screenshots Of Google Search Console News Showcase Filters & Reports

4:11 - Reminder: Stop Emailing Google With Your Undetectable Links You Buy & Sell

4:58 - Google: If A Page Is Indexed Then It Was Rendered By Google (Even Refreshes)

5:28 - Google Explains How 304 (Not Modified) HTTP Status Codes Can Go Very Wrong

6:01 - Google: Word Location In URLs Does Not Matter For SEO

6:14 - Google Search Snippet "Mentioned In" Carousel Feature

6:41 - Google Tests Clickable Links Within The Search Result Description

6:55 - Google Tests Google Shopping Label On Search Result Snippets

7:02 - Bing Chat Third-Party Plugins In The Wild

7:25 - Bing: We Release Search Features Globally (We Don't Discriminate)

7:42 - The Google Ads Sandbox: New Limited Ad Serving Policy

8:26 - Google Ads One-Click Target ROAS Shopping Campaigns Setting

8:38 - Conclusion

Jamie Reedy and Jordan Mazza from Amsive Digital stopped by to chat about SEO and all things search. Jamie is a Senior SEO Specialist and Jordan is an SEO and Communications Specialist at the company, Jordan used to be a TV news reporter (the guys you see on TV reporting on hurricanes and other events).

We spoke about how they both got into SEO and what they do in SEO today while at Amsive Digital.

E-Commerce SEO:

We then dove into e-commerce SEO. Jamie explained a lot of the strategy is around making sure your products show up where people are searching for them. This comes across both technical SEO and also Merchant Center and other methods. We then touched on social ads and social commerce, which I downplayed a bit. The Google search results interface has changed a lot over the past few years around e-commerce, between the filters, carousels, and other search features - and these are opportunities. Jamie said how these experiences help improve the users' affinity with the brand.

Jamie then spoke about the usability site of e-commerce, not just the user interface but the reviews on those products on the page.

You can learn more about Jamie Reedy on LinkedIn and Jordan Mazza on LinkedIn or on Twitter @JordanMazzaTV.

This week I broadcast from Chicago where I cover the latest confirmed Google update, the Google August 2023 core update that rolled out a few days after that big unconfirmed update from the weekend. Google said a page does not need to be in the top ten results to be a featured snippet. Google said internal links from the same page aren’t more helpful. Google is surveying searchers to see if they like the traditional search results versus the SGE results. Bing Chat data is still not in Bing Webmaster Tools, it should have been in May. Microsoft said Bing Chat usage is way up in the past few weeks despite reports showing Bing did not gain any marketshare from Bing Chat. Bing Chat is testing nosearch with Bing disabled in the wild. Bing Chat has improved memory, coding and more character support coming. Bing Image Creator should support better text generation soon. Bing is promoting Bing Chat in Bing Search a lot. Bing is testing official site badges and verified labels. Google is rolling out the local pack auto expanding map interface. Google Local Service ads stops accepting anonymous reviews today. Google Ads clarified the PMax brand safety controls and reporting. Google Ads will soon migrate vehicle ads to Performance Max. Google Ads has issues with reporting on recent data over the past day or so. 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. DudaCon is coming up in a few weeks, I am on a panel named “Is SEO Dead? What AI Means for Client SEO Strategy” check it out at https://bit.ly/DudaCon3BS.

0:00 - Introduction

1:10 - Google August 2023 Broad Core Update Is Live - What We Are Seeing Now

2:14 - Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update - August 18-19 (Unconfirmed)

2:41 - Google: A Page Doesn't Have To Be In The Top 10 Results To Be A Featured Snippet

3:03 - Google: Internal Links Pointing To Itself Don't Add More Information Than Other Links

3:31 - CSV Files Added To List Of File Types Indexable By Google

3:54 - Google Surveying Searchers If SGE Is More Helpful Than Traditional Search

4:35 - Bing Chat Data Still Not In Bing Webmaster Tools

5:38 - Bing Chat NoSearch With Bing Disabled In The Wild

6:07 - New Bing Chat Features Coming: Memory, Code Improvements & More Characters

6:26 - Bing Image Creator To Support Accurate Text Generation Soon

6:47 - Bing Promoting Bing Chat In Autocomplete Bar, Pagination Bar & More

6:58 - Bing Search Tests Green Official Site Label/Badge

7:14 - Bing Search Tests Verified Label

7:32 - Google Local Pack Map Auto Expand Is Now Live

7:50 - Google Local Service Ads Anonymous Reviews Stops On August 25th

8:09 - Google Ads PMax Brand Safety Controls & Reporting Clarifications

8:24 - Google Ads To Migrate Vehicle Ads From Smart Shopping To Performance Max Next Month

8:44 - Google Ads Advertiser Console Recent Data Unaccessible, Google Says

9:03 - Conclusion

In part one with Lance Bachmann, we spoke a lot about business, growing a business and his passion for his employees. Then in part two we spoke about local SEO and how to get new customers, the right customers. Then in part three, we go more into how local search and search is changing.

We spoke about multisearch, and how Google is bridging your devices with your location and more. He compared those advancements to voice search. He said while voice search has grown, it has not taken over search. And he thinks this will be the same thing, it will not overtake search. He does not think search behavior in this area will change much.

Lance sends video text messages to people. He doesn’t like sending text messages because they can be misunderstood.

Apple Business Connect and Microsoft Bing Places are a small percentage of their business because you want your clients and businesses where people are and people are on Google. Lance explained they are a Yelp preferred agency and Yelp is struggling big time.

We then jumped into the recession talk and said when it comes to great businesses, those businesses thrive during these bad times. Lance said it is no longer an employees' market, it is now an employers' market, which is good for businesses but not good for employees.

Lance said scared money doesn’t make money and you need to go all in, even during the recession.

You can learn more about Lance Bachmann at Lance Bachmann Capital and 1SEO Digital Agency.

Google launched some new Search Generative Experience features, like SGE while browsing and definitions in the SGE answers. Google seems to have stopped testing displaying links in SGE AI-generated answers. Google said navigational queries shouldn't trigger an SGE answer. Google said if you are using AI to write your content, you are basically rehashing what other sites wrote. Google said CNET's content pruning approach was not bad but the SEO impact would be unnoticeable. Google said a domain would never make or break your SEO. Bing Chat’s new infrastructure update is 99% done. Microsoft said Bing Chat outperforms GPT-4, but it is expensive. Google Merchant Center has a 3D model link using a virtual model link attribute. Google Business Profiles adds a way to manage your social media links. There is a spike in complaints about reviews missing from Google local listings. Google Ads is testing paid customer support for smaller advertisers. Google Ads is testing AI-generated help guides. Google Ads Shopping campaigns is deprecating enhanced CPC. Microsoft Advertising relaxed its advertiser identity verification requirements. Google may be testing a new logo after several years with the current one. 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 Studio launched some new features at wix.com/studio/features including AI responsive design tools and the ability to manage your CSS in Wix, plus much more, so check it out at wix.com/studio/features.

In part one with Lance Bachmann, we spoke a lot about business, growing a business and his passion for his employees. In part two, we dig more into marketing. When it comes to local search he said most companies miss the mark by not focusing on Google Business Profiles and reviews.

When you look at a business listing on Google for a business, you need to make sure the photos for that business represent the business professionally. You also need to make sure your reviews say good things about the business. Using local ads for Google Maps is important.

He said he practices what he preaches, and his businesses do digital marketing, SEO, local SEO, social media, etc to drive business to his businesses.

He finds it sad that so many small businesses are not willing to spend money on their websites. You need to earn your business, you need to keep your business, and you need to get customers to trust you. Lance said it is very little about having the best prices, he isn’t doing business at the lowest price. He beats through the best products and customer services.

Lance said even with 600 customers, they still vet customers and turn customers away. Again, this comes from his passion for caring deeply about his employees.

It’s a hustle business, he said, like any business, his businesses are a hustle business. We spoke about what he means by hustle and what he means by that. He spends a ton of his time mostly on the higher level side, he is not in the day to day of operations for any of his companies.

You can learn more about Lance Bachmann at Lance Bachmann Capital and 1SEO Digital Agency.

Google has a bug with the Google News Publisher Center where some publishers' feeds were days behind, and it seems fixed now. Google said the visibility for HowTo and FAQ rich results would drop significantly for most publishers. Google said don’t delete old content because you think it will help with SEO, especially if that content is helpful. Google said when it comes to AI-generated content, human oversight is important. Google said you might want to make sure your AI chatbot output is not being indexed by Google. Google has a new “from publishers you follow” section. Google Search is testing a “star store” badge. Google images now show the site name, favicon, and a second-page title line. Google is also testing colorizing the topic refinement bubbles. Bing Search lets you select text from the search results to trigger a Bing Chat session. Google Business Profiles now has an attribute for pet friendly. Google Local Service Ads has new photo guidelines. Google Ads has a new responsive search ads PDF guide. Google Ads has new ads and reporting insights for the holidays. Google Ads API version 14.1 is now out. Google Ads tests scan to call via a QR code. A survey showed that 75% of SEOs don’t like GA4. OpenAI has a new web crawler named GPTbot, which respects robots.txt rules. 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 Rank Ranger, the all-in-one- professional SEO software. Rank Ranger is a comprehensive SEO platform that allows you to grow your business with data and analytics. It offers valuable insights through advanced rank tracking, including above-the-fold tracking, Organic Share of Voice reporting, actionable SERP feature data, and SERP analysis tools.