Phase Two Of The Google September 2026 Spam Update Hits On 9/30
Google announced the Google September 2026 spam update a week ago today on September 24th. We most likely saw the first wave of sites getting hit on September 25th, 26th and into the 27th. Then things cooled a bit but it all heated back up yesterday, September 30th. September 30th may have been the second wave, the second phase of this Google spam update.
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Daily Search Forum Recap: October 1, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...
Google Local Service Ads Bug Serving Wrong Locations
There seems to be a bug with Google Local Service Ads showing ads from advertisers who are not targeting specific locations. With Local Service Ads, an advertiser can say they serve a specific city or location, but Google seems to be showing ads from advertisers who do not serve in those locations.
Search Video Recaps
October 2026 Google Webmaster Report
Here is the big Google webmaster report for October 2026, where I recap the most important organic and webmaster-focused Google Search news for the past month. Clearly, the Google September 2026 spam update, which started off strong and is still rolling out, is the big ticker. But we also have other unconfirmed Google updates to cover.
Google AI Overviews Invade Team Rosters
Google seems to be going after team rosters with the latest Google AI Overview to overtake website content for its own AI-generated version of that content. If you search for certain team rosters, Google will generate an AI answer, an AI Overview, with the answer.
Microsoft Advertising Optimization Experiments Now Generally Available
Microsoft Advertising announced that optimization experiments is now generally available for Search, Shopping, Audience, and Performance Max campaigns. An Optimization experiment measures the impact of a campaign change through a controlled A/B test, Microsoft's help center explains.
Google Tests Dropping I'm Feeling Lucky Button From Search Bar
Google seems to be testing dropping the historic I'm feeling lucky button for the main Google Search bar. It is totally gone for some searchers when you start to type your query, and in other cases, it is supplemented with AI buttons.
Google Search Tests 3 Products In Grid That Expands To More
Google is testing showing three products in the more products grid within Google Search. In some tests, the grid can expand to show four or five or so products across or downsize to only show three.
Archives
Google Ads: Have At Least One Asset Group To Avoid Invalid Final URL Error
Oct 1, 2026Google AI Overviews Return For Many Large Brand Names
Sep 30, 2026OpenAI ChatGPT Ads Gains Bulk Product Creation, Product Review Status & More
Sep 30, 2026Daily Search Forum Recap: September 30, 2026
Sep 30, 2026Google Maps Now Requires Sign In To Read All Reviews & More
Sep 30, 2026Google Paying ~100 Publishers 0.1% Of Ad Revenue In AI Contribution Pilot
Sep 30, 2026Google Tests Sponsored Products Grid That Looks Like The Organic Product Grid
Sep 30, 2026Picture of the Day
