Recent Comments on Search Engine Roundtable

John A. User commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Looking at your two comments below, I theorize that it's because you don't paragraph everything and therefore thinks it's spammy. Next time you write something, break it up into paragraphs, that might do the trick.

Comment ID #6834018205 02/05/2026 12:54 pm

MrSEO commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

I thought it might be general core + extra emphasis on discover as discover gets it's signals fromt he same core updates anyhow?

Comment ID #6834018057 02/05/2026 12:54 pm

John A. User commented on Alphabet Google Ad Revenue Up 14%

Fair point, probably won't help those whose livelihoods depends on them but for hobbyists probably like me. Look to be doing something but don'thave impact.

Comment ID #6834013372 02/05/2026 12:45 pm

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

doesnt seem so - posted more at <a href="https://www.seroundtable.com/google-february-2026-discover-core-update-40887.html">https://www.seroundtable.com/google-february-2026-discover-core-update-40887.html</a>

Comment ID #6834012415 02/05/2026 12:43 pm

MrSEO commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Will this also affect non discover sites? like a general core update also?

Comment ID #6834009878 02/05/2026 12:38 pm

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Discover core update announced <a href="https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2026/02/discover-core-update">https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2026/02/discover-core-update</a>

Comment ID #6833994984 02/05/2026 12:09 pm

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

I don’t know, found them and approved them.

Comment ID #6833994446 02/05/2026 12:08 pm

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

I will see you in 3 years on here and were see. A company can't spend $185billion a year - and continue to spend like that without ROI from advertisors. No clicks mean no ads.

Comment ID #6833987545 02/05/2026 11:54 am

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Yep its all a knock on effect - less spend as well for the consumer

Comment ID #6833985941 02/05/2026 11:51 am

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Why are my comments marked as spam barry

Comment ID #6833985256 02/05/2026 11:49 am

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

ok I can see I have been mentioned here about my rollback prediction. I still think March we are goiing to see something. Soft rollback but returning 10 blue links with the insane amount of spend is unlikely. Last year they had about $165B cash coming in and spent about $91B building stuff. Fine. This year they want to spend about $180B building stuff. If the cash coming in doesn’t jump a lot, this then puts them into negative. That’s why investors freaked out when the capex number came in. We have France saying they will do their own search, UK CMA happening. Honestly, I think there is so many AI employees now they seem to think more searches in AI means more money but that is not how it works. The whole culture of Google has changed, and AI just does not pay right now - and won't pay as people won't buy from robotos. Simple as that. Do I think we will get our money back, probablly in the end things will change...we just need patience. Let it all just rollout and be.

Comment ID #6833984371 02/05/2026 11:47 am

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

ok I can see I have been mentioned here about my rollback prediction. I still think March we are goiing to see something happen. I think there will be a Soft rollback but returning 10 blue links with the insane amount of spend is unlikely. I honestly think they don't know what's going on with the ad revenue and PMAX and all that is now not converting as it did. Last year they had about $165B cash coming in and spent about $91B building stuff. Fine. This year they want to spend about $180B building stuff. If the cash coming in doesn’t jump a lot, the “money left over” puts them into negative. That’s why investors freaked out when the capex number came in. They have France saying they will do their own search, UK CMA happening, I can see Yahoo, Bing and DDG on the invite list. Honestly, I think there is so many AI employees now they seem to think more searches in AI means more money but that is not how it works. The whole behavior has changed, and AI just does not pay and won't pay as people won't buy from robotos. Simple as that. Do I think we will get our money back, probablly in the end things will change...we just need patience.

Comment ID #6833983943 02/05/2026 11:46 am

Mumuu commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

100% agree with your above and I feel similar about everyone here. I just can't stand when I see naives (sorry to call it out like this, but it is what it is) some expecting Google will roll back to pre HCU and all sorts. It makes no sense. I personally posted here less and less for over a year now, and did it probably less than 10-15 times during 2025. I came back a bit in the last 30 days a bit to try wake up those still believing Google will change course. Other than that I am planning to stop commenting here entirely. We planned on cashing out as much as we can for time being (we still do some decent numbers albeit ever increasing pressure, but that is mostly due to our custom strategy which doesn't rely on Google alone anymore) and take it from there. Will just sit on the sideline and thumb up some of these comments when I feel so, other than that sadly I will stop posting here. Wishing @everyone here all the best in their future endeavours!

Comment ID #6833978913 02/05/2026 11:37 am

Larrian commented on Alphabet Google Ad Revenue Up 14%

I can't help but think of the ending of The Night Manager....made me sick but its reality. Evil does win out more than you think.

Comment ID #6833959944 02/05/2026 10:59 am

Dimitris Abrazis commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Showed up in Adsense too earning some money. The past 7 days he got about 100K views

Comment ID #6833923065 02/05/2026 09:44 am

SpXmtdd commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

probably just bots scraping pre-AI content

Comment ID #6833909734 02/05/2026 09:14 am

Dimitris Abrazis commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

That site was great but 7 years ago. Now they just keep the domain and they own the server, so it is still online

Comment ID #6833907607 02/05/2026 09:09 am

Rowan commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Exactly… I must also clarify that I don’t mean to mock or be rude to anyone (especially Sam). You all are good folks, and I love you all. I can tell every single one of you are very nice person. I just hate to see you all still clinging to a sinking ship. It is akin to seeing a good person being stuck in an abusive relationship and you just feel for them too. Don’t forget, some regulars here have shared that they’ve been waiting since 2022, some even said they waited as far back as 2019! Anyway, I promise to post fewer such ‘downer’ posts from hereonout. I don’t want to seem like a naggy, pessimistic person. "I've said my piece, Chrissy. "

Comment ID #6833905988 02/05/2026 09:06 am

No Couch Potato commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Not that I can see into the future but don't be surprised if one day the entire front page is one big AIO window integrated with ads and designed to keep the user trapped within the AIO. Anything organic would only exist from the second page of results onward.

Comment ID #6833904736 02/05/2026 09:03 am

actualart commented on Alphabet Google Ad Revenue Up 14%

Microsoft is only talking about doing it and it won't make publishing viable anyway. It will be massive ripoff.

Comment ID #6833896262 02/05/2026 08:41 am

Mumuu commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Precisely! That is a gentle wake up call to reality for @disqus_tcrypv6vxh:disqus I wait for the day when Google rolls back to the old 10 blue links and throws the AI crap in the bin. Q: Will it come? A: No, not in a million years! If is for Google to loose all of their revenue due to AI, sadly there still is no turning back point!

Comment ID #6833895497 02/05/2026 08:39 am

actualart commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

The crappier the site and more irrelevant to search query, the higher it ranks.

Comment ID #6833894104 02/05/2026 08:36 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Google is draining the life out of the web which is also harming the broader internet connected economy. Data coming in shows some very bad signs including layoffs that match that of the Great Recession and bursting housing bubble. It's a double whammy for us getting the shaft by Google and also many people losing their jobs/income. <b>Layoffs in January were the highest to start a year since 2009, Challenger says</b> - <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/05/layoff-and-hiring-announcements-hit-their-worst-january-levels-since-2009-challenger-says.html?msockid=28a62e58fd576e73089a38affc806fb8">https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/05/layoff-and-hiring-announcements-hit-their-worst-january-levels-since-2009-challenger-says.html?msockid=28a62e58fd576e73089a38affc806fb8</a> <blockquote>U.S. employers announced 108,435 layoffs for the month, up 118% from the same period a year ago and 205% from December 2025. The total marked the highest for any January since 2009, while the economy was in the final months of its steepest downturn since the Great Depression.</blockquote>

Comment ID #6833885129 02/05/2026 08:12 am

Bender G commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

I've been here for three hours, no inquiries, no orders, just bots.

Comment ID #6833871121 02/05/2026 07:31 am

Mr Bob commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Google found a way!

Comment ID #6833867896 02/05/2026 07:20 am

Rowan commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

Just want to share my opinion… If you’re thinking of relying on Bing traffic, don’t. As Barry has shared, Bing’s ad revenue has been dropping every quarter. They will be pressured to find ways to increase their ad revenue. There’s no better way than relying on enshittification. They will definitely follow what Google is doing. I wouldn’t be surprised if their Co-pilot Search follows Google’s AI Overviews where users will be redirected to AI Mode. Believe me, it will happen. Why do you think Microsoft suddenly proposed compensation plans for publishers? edit: Barry also just posted this: <a href="https://www.seroundtable.com/microsoft-ads-magazine-answer-card-format-40874.html">https://www.seroundtable.com/microsoft-ads-magazine-answer-card-format-40874.html</a> If you're still relying on SEO and "Search Engine Traffic" despite all these warnings, then I honestly don't know what else to say. I'm sorry if I sound harsh and f**k up, but it's a fact.

Comment ID #6833867629 02/05/2026 07:19 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Fixing Bug With AI Overviews Not Showing Links

Looks like Google is starting to go after ChatGPT users by making it easier for them to switch to Gemini. Imported data from the migration process will also feed Gemini with more data used for training. <b>Google will make it easier to import ChatGPT conversations to Gemini</b> - <a href="https://www.testingcatalog.com/google-will-make-it-easier-to-import-chatgpt-conversations-to-gemini/">https://www.testingcatalog.com/google-will-make-it-easier-to-import-chatgpt-conversations-to-gemini/</a> <blockquote>Google is preparing several new additions for Gemini, aimed at expanding its capabilities for both current and migrating users. The “import AI chats” feature, labeled as beta, is set to appear in the attachment menu. This option is designed to let users upload conversations exported from other AI platforms, allowing continued usage and context preservation within Gemini. For users switching from competing solutions, this approach may address a major pain point: loss of accumulated conversational history. All imported and continued chats are stored in the user's activity, and the data will also contribute to further training of Google’s models, making data privacy an important consideration.</blockquote>

Comment ID #6833867471 02/05/2026 07:19 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

<blockquote>I don't know what they will train on going forward when were not around.</blockquote>I don't know either. Google could end up scraping multiple layers of AI to generate AI which is highly inaccurate, have topic voids or just make things up on the fly. Nothing good will come from Google de-humanizing/controlling the free flow information, and I can't help but to think the world is headed toward Orwell's 1984.

Comment ID #6833861192 02/05/2026 06:57 am

Dimitris Abrazis commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Very Heated February 2

this is unbelievable. Was talking to a collegue of mine and a good friend one of his sites about tech news that is inactive since 2019 and not posting content, today has more views than my site and his site combined. These two sites are fully active for more than 14 years and the past days we are posting around 30 pieces each. How can a tech website with outdated articles from 7 years ago has more views?

Comment ID #6833847926 02/05/2026 06:08 am

Sam commented on Alphabet Google Ad Revenue Up 14%

I literally cried when I saw the results, I just kept thinking of everyone on here who can't buy food for their children. Honestly, the karma is so bad. $185 billion is insane amount of spending, I wonder how they plan to turn AI into profit.

Comment ID #6833844576 02/05/2026 05:54 am

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