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's search ranking volatility was pretty calm this weekend, which is unusual. Google has terminated its contract with Appen, one of its largest sources of Search Quality Raters. Google says its flexible sampling solution doesn't make gated content leaky. Google is testing nearby events and deals. Google News lets you filter by publisher. Google is showing phone number buttons in the search result snippets again.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google Drops Thousands Of Search Quality Raters In Latests Cuts
The big news from the weekend is that Google has terminated its contract with Appen, one of the largest sources of its third-party human search quality raters sources. Appen announced this in this PDF, saying it received notice of this on January 20th, and the contract ends on March 19, 2024. -
Google: Our Paywalled & Subscription Structured Data Method Is Not Leaky
Google's flexible sampling solution that replaced the first-click-free solution for gated, subscription or paywalled content launched in 2017. Since then, many publishers use the structured data to communicate to Google the full content that is behind the content gate. Some are calling this solution "leaky" in which Google responded saying it is not. -
Another Relatively Calm Weekend For Google Search Ranking Volatility
We have had intense Google search ranking volatility over the past few weeks over the weekends. That weekend trend kind of stopped when we had a mid-week Google update around January 9th/10th. And for the past couple of weekends, including this one, the volatility with the Google search results has been relatively calm. -
Google Search Local "Nearby Events And Deals"
For the past few weeks Google has been testing out a new local search box titled "Nearby events and deals." This box contains links to local stores and places that have events and/or deals in the area. -
Google News Filter By Publisher Option
Google News now lets you filter news by publisher for a specific news search query. I think it works the same way as a site command, which Google News has supported for at least 17 years now, but now there is a button that shows some relevant publishers for the topic. -
Google Showing New Phone Number Buttons For Some Search Results
For years now, Google has shown phone numbers on some search result snippets when Google thinks you want to call that store. We have screen captures of this from 2016 and 2014. But now Google is testing a new button that is more button-like. -
Google Brazil View (with Coffee)
Here is a photo I found from the Google office in Brazil, a roof top view of the local business district there. Looks calming but a bit hazy at the moment.
Other Great Search Threads:
- FWIW, someone needs to look into that Professional program. One of our employees took the test (and passed). They were secluded into their own room with the door closed, but the exam was not accepted because someone used the elevator once in the adjacent , Greg Finn on X
- How to know you’re a monopoly #476: Your customers who pay you to use your service have to pay to get support to use your service and then you lay off a bunch of those support people anyway cause lulz what are your customers actually going to do and wh, Kirk Williams on X
- I escalated your case and the team has been in touch to offer support via email or phone. Please follow up directly on that correspondence so they can assist you., AdsLiaison on X
- The time issue is about how it might take our systems time to recognize content as news, to show in news results. We seem to be doing that with your site. The issues you're raising seems to be what was in your other post, which I addressed here:, Google SearchLiaison on X
- The tool blocks URLs from appearing in the search results, but it doesn't change crawling, John Mueller on X
- Ever since Joy Hawkins announced that Business Hours are a ranking factor, everyone seems to be open 24 hours 😂, Darren Shaw on LinkedIn
- We didn't take any special action here. I hadn't even caught up into looking at this more when it apparently resolved itself. Rankings can change quickly; we have lots of automated systems involved., Google SearchLiaison on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- LinkedIn launches sponsored articles
- Google rolls out new Performance Max guide and updates several others
- 404 pages: Best practices and examples from 50+ brands
- The latest jobs in search marketing
- PPC outlook: How advertisers can stay ahead in 2024
- 15 SEO localization dos and don’ts: Navigating cultural sensitivity
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- How to create custom event annotations for GA4 or Google Search Console data in Looker Studio, Lazarina Stoy
- Step-by-Step Guide to Annotated Charts with Google's Algorithm Updates in SEO Looker Studio reports, Lazarina Stoy
Industry & Business
- DOJ and FTC both push to investigate Microsoft's OpenAI partnership, POLITICO
- Mourning Google, Tim Bray
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Looks to Raise Billions for Network of AI Chip Factories, Bloomberg
- Google DeepMind scientists in talks to leave and form AI startup, Reuters
- Interview With Aleyda Solis, SEOSLY
Links & Content Marketing
- 6 Reasons Your Company’s Content Engine is Stalling Out, Wellspring Digital
- Content clusters: What are they and do you need them?, Yoast
Local & Maps
- Google Lens AR search in Google Maps gets more prominent icon, 9to5Google
- Google Maps and other apps asked to restrict route options during Paris Games, Reuters
- What Are Google Local Service Ads? A Beginner's Guide to LSAs, BrightLocal
- Google Maps is matching your food pics to the menu, 9to5Google
Mobile & Voice
- Apple releases a video Guided Tour of Apple Vision Pro, AppleInsider
- Apple Shares Vision Pro Specs: Up to 1TB Storage, M2 Chip With 8-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, and More, MacRumors
- Apple Vision Pro - what vision problems it can't correct, AppleInsider
- Apple Vision Pro shipment dates slip nearly instantly, AppleInsider
- Apple Vision Pro specs - RAM, storage, screens, AppleInsider
- Apple Vision Pro storage and AppleCare prices revealed, AppleInsider
- Google says Bard Advanced provides complex, better responses, 9to5Google
- Here's how Bard will work in Google Messages, Android Police
- Pre-orders for Apple Vision Pro have begun, AppleInsider
- Apple to Developers: Heads I win, tails you lose (part 2), Mobile Dev Memo by Eric Seufert
- How to create custom voice commands for iPhone, AppleInsider
- Apple Vision Pro: Lack of Netflix, YouTube, App Store Tensions Threaten Device, Bloomberg
SEO
- Review Schema Markup: What It Is + How to Implement It in 2024, Semrush
- Why is this site getting 144% more traffic from Google in 2024?, Sterling Sky
- 14 Ways to Improve Ecommerce Product Pages for SEO, Ahrefs
- How To Be A Successful SEO Consultant (Olga Zarr & Doug Cunnington), SEOSLY
- How to Build an SEO Roadmap That Sets Strategy in Motion (Free Template!), The Gray
PPC
Search Features
Other Search
Feedback:
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