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.
There is another unconfirmed Google search ranking algorithm update to report on over the past few days. Google Ads had a spooky ads disapproval and suspension bug last night that actually happened exactly a year ago today. Did you know Microsoft Bing's AI bot is named Sydney? Microsoft Bing has new terms of service goes a bit too far. Google's legacy Google My Business insights API is fully going offline Monday.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Another Unconfirmed Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update Around February 14th
Here we go again; yet another Google search ranking algorithm update seems to have touched down on February 14th, maybe as early as February 13th, and seems to be continuing to shake things up throughout today. We previously covered unconfirmed updates on the 8th/9th and also the 4th. - Swarm Of Google Ads Campaign Ad Disapprovals & Suspensions
Last night, Google Ads started to suspend and mass disapprove Google Ads and Google Merchant Center campaigns. There are numerous reports of this issue starting around 4 pm ET on Tuesday, February 14th. - Microsoft Bing AI Codename: Sydney
The other week I spotted this Twitter thread where someone was able to ask Microsoft Bing AI chat what its codename is. In short, Bing AI responded that it was "Sydney." The back-and-forth interaction is very Westworld interaction-like, which is funny. - PSA: Legacy Google My Business Insights API Going Offline Monday, February 20th
Just a PSA, Google is fully deprecating the legacy Google My Business API on February 20, 2023 - this coming Monday. This is not new, most of those using the old API had most of its features deprecated now and we reported about this last year. But now the remainder of the features are fully going offline this coming Monday. - Does Microsoft Bing's New Terms Of Service Go Too Far?
When the new Microsoft Bing AI copilot was announced, and I reported about the changes to the Bing webmaster guidelines, Glenn Gabe also picked up on some potentially problematic language in the new Bing terms of service. - Google Mini Bus Inside
Here is another vehicle retrofitted to go inside a Google office. This is one of those old buggy mini buses that now works as office decor and utility for the Google Brazil office.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Bing seems to be introducing with their new search box is the use of the "Tab" key to fill in the first autosuggest, Frank Sandtmann on Mastodon
- Look at this BEAUTY of a review justification! 💡New tactic idea: encourage customers to use emojis in their review., Darren Shaw on Twitter
- I am not amused by this change on Search Partners and Search with Display Select...(thread), Navah Hopkins on Twitter
- Links to 404 or noindex pages are basically dropped automatically, we need a source & destination for a link to "work". It sounds like a pretty useless attack., John Mueller on Mastodon
- Somewhat ironic that SEOs were all into using AI to mass produce content, now that Google and Bing announce their AI content efforts, it is unfair. I like to just sit back and watch..., Barry Schwartz on Twitter
- The new AI bing is heavily cached so the response is at least 2x faster than ChatGPT. For creative tasks, it might last behind but for the 80% of search use cases. It is mind blown, Dominic Nguyen on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- PPC prioritization: Knowing where to focus efforts to make the biggest impact
- AI generates article with ‘serious’ YMYL content issues
- Content creators are concerned with the new AI features in Bing and Google
- Level up your search skills without leaving your desk
- How to build a better website architecture
- Podcasts: A content guide for beginners
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Introducing Traffic Mix Analysis: Analyze How SEO Stacks Up Against All Other Channels, seoClarity
- Optimizely and Google Expand Strategic Partnership to Collaborate on Google Analytics 4, Yahoo Finance
Industry & Business
- German Publishers Demand Royalties for Chatbots in Google and Bing, WinBuzzer
- Microsoft doesn't need to catch up to Google to make billions in search, Windows Central
- Om Malik Says It Might Be Time for Google's Pichai to Step Down, Business Insider
- Sergey Brin appears to make first request in years to access Google code as AI battle heats up, report says, Yahoo News
- WTF is the Justice Department’s ad tech antitrust case against Google?, Digiday
Links & Content Marketing
- Content Creation 101: The Complete Content Development Guide, Level343
- The Ethical Marketer: Interview with Content Marketing Strategist Rebekah Mays, Matt Tutt
Local & Maps
- Android Auto Coolwalk Removes a Key Feature, Google Trying to Bring It Back, AutoEvolution
- Survey Finds Businesses Still Offering Incentives for Reviews, Street Fight
Mobile & Voice
SEO
- AI in Search Results: How Marketers Should Plan for AI's Impact, Amsive Digital
- How Much Does An SEO Audit Cost?, SEOSLY
- The Google “Code Red” That Triggered Thousands of “Code Reds” at Publishers: Bard, Bing Chat, And The Potential Impact of AI in the Search Results, GSQI
- What Do SEO Agencies Do? (And Tips for Choosing One), Ahrefs
PPC
- Image and Location Auto-migrations in Google Ads API, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Partner Awards 2023: Europe finalists, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
- Bing AI Can't Be Trusted, DKB Blog
Other Search
- As ChatGPT hype hits fever pitch, Neeva launches its generative AI search engine internationally, TechCrunch
- Google to expand misinformation “prebunking” in Europe, The Hill
- Valentine's Day search trends on date night ideas, Galentine's Day and more, Google Blog
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