Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Google explained why the LCP numbers in Search Console is not wrong. Google is testing reviews labeled with "incentivized." Google is testing light gray titles links on hover. Google Merchant Center Next has rolled out its new menu bar. Microsoft is testing large impacts in Bing Copilot ads. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google AI Mode Visual Update, Ads Reporting Updates, ChatGPT Instant Checkout and More
This week we covered the Google AI Mode news that it is more visual for many queries, including shopping queries. Google AI Mode agentic capabilities can now be opted into. Google AI Overviews... -
Why Google Search Console LCP Is Not Wrong, According To Google
Barry Pollard from Google did a long explanation on Bluesky on why Google Search Console says an LCP is bad but the individual URLs are fine. I don't want to mess it up, so I will copy what Barry wrote. -
Google Reviews Labeled Incentivized
Did you know Google can label some of the reviews in the product reviews section as "incentivized"? I am not sure I've seen this before, have you? -
Google Tests Light Gray Title Links On Hover
Google is testing another variation to the title links in the Google Search results - a light gray effect. So when you hover your mouse cursor over the snippet, the title link turns grayed and washed out. -
Google Merchant Center Next New Compact Menu Bar
Google has rolled out the new, more compact, menu bar for Google Merchant Center Next. This was part of a slew of user interface updates that Google has been slowly rolling out for Merchant Center Next over the past several months. -
Microsoft Tests Large Images In Bing Search Copilot Ads
Microsoft is testing using really large images in the Bing Search Copilot ads. I don't believe I've seen such large ads in this ad unit before, so it seems new to me. -
Dark-Sided Flycatcher At GooglePlex
Supposedly this bird, the Dark-sided Flycatcher, drew a crowd to the GooglePlex, the Google office in Mountain View, California. Like other flycatchers, its feeding technique is to perch on an exposed branch and wait. When an insect flies past, the bird dashes out to snatch it. It is not common to see this bird in this area of the world.
Other Great Search Threads:
- More about ChatGPT's Instant Checkout. Like others, I've been reading through the documentation for Instant Checkout, the product feed, the agentic checkout spec, etc. Regarding rankings, I feel like there are contradictory statemen, Glenn Gabe on X
- Making a search engine will definitely give you better understanding of some of the core challenges. How hard could it be to vibe code? ;-), John Mueller on Bluesky
- There are some sharing about ChatGPT's special "operators" you can use to tailor the response. The problem? Those aren't operators. ChatGPT is just using the text to understand what you are looking…, Glenn Gabe on LinkedIn
- We will remove this legacy support article. Pubhub is deprecated https://t.co/OqW0VauYiv. Best practices for news content is to submit it via https://t.co/0IKLye4AoV see also, Fabrice Canel on X
- Yesterday Google announced some changes coming to the channel report & asset report. Notably "ROI" columns for the channel report (ROAS + CPA) They DIDN'T mention new attributes incl. campaign type (!) which all but confirms this rep, Mike Ryan on X
- New Google Finance is live on mobile for Labs users! Track everything happening today in the market and get AI-powered insights, even while you’re on the go., Rose Yao on X
- AdSense Earnings and Observations - October 2025, WebmasterWorld
- Here's a statement from Alphabet on this: Verily is an innovative precision health company that is on a journey to greater independence. Alphabet plans to remain a significant shareholder while creating capacity for V, News from Google on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Meta unveils Business AI and new generative tools
- Spotify opens ad inventory to Amazon and Yahoo buyers
- Meta: AI interactions will shape content and ad recommendations
- ChatGPT Shopping is here – and it’s changing ecommerce SEO rules
- How to create product demos that convert and differentiate your brand
- Google sends 831x more visitors than AI systems: Report
- What you need to know about Responsive Search Ads
- Google Ads to enforce new requirements for Message assets
- LinkedIn Ads retargeting: How to reach prospects at every funnel stage
- Organizing content for AI search: A 3-level framework
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- Google launches Gemini for Home for smart home products, Google Blog
- Google launches new Google Home app, redesigned for Gemini, Google Blog
- The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 smart glasses have twice the battery life, The Verge
- Perplexity Makes $200 AI Browser Free to Battle 'AI Slop', Business Insider
Analytics
- GA4 Five Years Later: The Current State Of Marketing Analytics, Search Engine Journal
- How to Implement Consent Mode V2 for Apps, Measure Minds Group
Industry & Business
- Google Hired Lazard for Potential Ad Exchange Sale in 2020, Bloomberg
- Alphabet Plans Sale, Spinoff of Verily Unit, Executive Says, Bloomberg
- OpenAI Completes Share Sale at Record $500 Billion Valuation, Bloomberg
- We’re scaling quantum computing even faster with Atlantic Quantum., Google Blog
- Ad Tech Judge Sees 'Tension' In Google's Economist, Law360
Links & Content Marketing
- How To Make Your Brand Unforgettable, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Google Maps for Android shrinks FABs, updates location button, 9to5Google
- Upcoming potential Google Maps update introduces Aerial button to Street View, Mashable
- 18 Local Developments You Need to Know About from Q3 2025, Whitespark
- The Shocking Truth About Local SEO Costs, Sterling Sky
SEO
- Cloudflare’s Content Signals: The Right Problem, An Unlikely Solution, Search Engine World
- How To Create A Keyword Universe With Ahrefs + Claude, Nectiv
- What the Recent Chrome Updates Mean for Organic Search, Blue Array SEO
- 5 Ways to Optimize Content for Perplexity AI, Semrush
- Freelancing Q&A round up from Women In Tech SEO, Alice Rowan
- Google's Product Reviews Updates: Signals in the Google Content Warehouse API Leak, Hobo
- Is Google Killing PLPs? Ecommerce SEO lessons from Demetria Spinrad on crowded SERPs, Search Pilot
- SEO for Growth: Revolutionizing a Saturated Market, Sitebulb
- IIS Servers Compromised by Chinese Hackers for SEO Manipulation, GB Hackers
PPC
- 2025 Partner Awards: North America finalists announced, Microsoft Advertising
- How Ads on your site Kill Your Google Rankings - Evidence From Google Leak, Hobo
- Update to Gambling and Games Policy: Nigeria (October 2025), Google Advertising Policies Help
- Why Ad Extensions Can Transform Your Google Ads Performance, PPC Live
- Correction of an error in the BudgetPerDayMinimumErrorDetails message, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Rethinking Paid Search: Diversification as the Future of Fair Advertising, PPC Hero
Search Features
- Apple Shelves Vision Headset Revamp to Prioritize Meta-Like AI Smart Glasses, Bloomberg
- Google launches its latest Nest Cams, a new Google Home speaker and more, Google Blog
- Google Begins Locking People out of Services Because of Age, Search Engine World
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