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.
Many Google reviews go missing for a ton of local businesses. We now have more details on Google's new AI Mode test. Google said author bios for SEO are easy to spot. Google Ads keyword planner added auto-organize new keywords. Google Business Profiles updated its reinstatement process again. Google added a new document on using Google Analytics and Search Console data together. Plus, I posted the weekly SEO video recap.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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More Details & Screenshots Of Google's AI Mode
In December, we reported that Google was experimenting with something they call AI Mode. Well, now, we have more details and even screenshots of AI Mode in Google Search. -
Google Local Reviews Decreasing Over Past 24 Hours
I am seeing a ton of complaints in the Google Business Profiles forums about reviews going missing. A lot of people are saying the review counts have dropped from one number to a lower number. -
New Google Doc On Using Google Analytics & Search Console Data Together
Google added a new developer document and video explanation on how to use Google Analytics data and Google Search Console data together. One of the biggest confusions I see is when people try to compare the data between those two analytics tools - they measure different things in different ways. -
Google Says People Know When Author Bios Are For SEO Purposes
John Mueller from Google wrote on Bluesky, "and let's be honest, people can tell when author bios are used purely as an SEO tactic. It's kinda awkward, not reassuring." This was in response to a post from Nikki Pilkington who said "Stop treating author bios as an SEO tactic and start treating them as what they are '" a tool for building trust with your actual human readers." -
Google Ads Keyword Planner New Auto-Organize Keywords To Ad Groups
Google Ads has a new feature in the keyword planner tool that will auto-organize new keywords into ad groups for you. This feature will take your new keywords and auto-organize them into keyword ideas in ad groups. -
Google Business Profiles Reinstatements Now Include Case & 5 Upload Documents
Google has updated its Google Business Profiles reinstatement emails to now include the case number on the first appeal email. Plus, Google added five proof upload boxes to upload more evidence for Google to review. -
Oversized Google Room (Bit Creepy)
This room at Google's office, the GooglePlex, seems a bit creepy to me. With the style, the oversized fake flowers and the lamps. Maybe it is just me but it really caught my attention. -
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Volatility, Google Ads Quality Update, Google AI Overviews Updates & Other Search Engines
Yep, we are seeing more Google search ranking volatility mid-week. I posted the monthly Google webmaster report for February. Google Ads has a new quality update that accounts for user navigation experience...
Other Great Search Threads:
- Fun update for anyone using dark mode on iOS: we just launched “auto dark mode” for the Google app. When you turn it on, sites you visit will show up dark to match your device settings., Rajan Patel on X
- I'm so glad to see these resources live! It was a fun project to go back to GA and play with it. You'll find some good advice to understand discrepancies and to make GA and GSC work well for you. Check out, Daniel Waisberg on X
- Make search great again, Sam Altman on X
- We just increased the memory limit in ChatGPT for Plus, Pro, and Team users by 25%., OpenAI on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google Search testing ‘AI Mode’
- AI search is gaining traction, but it isn’t replacing Google: Survey
- Is rank tracking dead? Why Google’s new rules are changing the game
- New Google Ads prediction model scores landing page navigation
- Google Ads optimization: What to stop, start, and continue in 2025
- What is ChatGPT and why SEOs should care
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Monitoring organic Google Search traffic in Looker Studio, Google Search Central YouTube
Industry & Business
- Google Tweaks Super Bowl Ad With AI Giving Wrong Cheese Stat, Business Insider
- Build a personal brand to grow thought leadership in 8 steps, Wix SEO Hub
- Client Renewals 2025: Celebrating Long-Term Organic Growth, Builtvisible
- Google remakes Super Bowl ad after AI cheese gaffe, BBC
- Our progress to accelerate carbon removal solutions, Google Blog
- Watch Google ad “Dream Job” featuring Pixel 9 and Gemini Live, Google Blog
Links & Content Marketing
- Here’s Why Your AI Content Sucks (And What You Can Do!)., SuccessWorks
- How To Sell Your Biggest, Bravest Ideas — Lessons From a ‘Marketing Baddie’, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- 20 years of discovery with Maps: Food, fun and lots of photos, Google Blog
- Google Maps celebrates 20 years with 20 favorite features, Google Blog
- I switched from Google Maps to Waze, and I'm never going back, Android Police
- Why does this silly Google Maps custom routes limitation still exist?, Android Authority
Mobile & Voice
SEO
- 63% of Websites Receive AI Traffic (New Study of 3,000 Sites), Ahrefs
- Elevate Your Brand with Strategic Local and Global SEO Tactics, Wellspring Digital
- Google's JavaScript SERPs Impact Trackers, AI, Practical Ecommerce
- IndexWatch: SEO Losers in Google US Search 2024, SISTRIX
- SEO forecasting for agencies: Close deals & get buy-in, Wix SEO Hub
- Setting Up Agency Processes to Deliver Local SEO More Effectively, BrightLocal
- Why You Can't Just SEO One Page Of Your Website, Nikki Pilkington
PPC
- How Ramp Spends Over $400,000/Month on PPC – And What You Can Learn From It, Foundation Inc
- Partner Spotlight: Assembly’s story and success with Microsoft Advertising, MIcrosoft Advertising
Search Features
- Google is adding AI watermarks to photos manipulated by Magic Editor, The Verge
- Microsoft's Copilot Voice AI is expanding beyond English to take on ChatGPT, Gemini, Windows Latest
Other Search
- Celebrating Gumbo Doodle, Google Doodles
Feedback:
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