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 publishes a new help document on how to optimize for generative AI and the SEO community goes wild. Two-thirds of SEOs say AI Mode won't replace Google Search. Google Search is testing live results updated by AI. Google Ads primary conversion actions may be used for enhanced conversions. Google AI Mode is testing an animated edit and copy button.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google Search On How To Optimize For Generative AI With Myth-Busting
On Friday, Google published a new help document named Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search. This document covers much of what Googlers have said over the years, including a myth-busting section that will trigger some in the industry. -
66% Of SEOs Say AI Mode Won't Replace Google Search
I asked the SEO community if they think AI Mode will replace Google Search. With Google I/O coming up this Tuesday, there is a lot of speculation around this. And with over 1,000 poll results in, I wanted to share that most of you think AI Mode will not replace Google Search. -
Google Search Live Results Updated By AI X Minutes Ago Label
Google Search is sometimes showing a label under the Live search results named "Updated by AI 1 minute ago." So Google is labeling what content was updated using AI, which seems new to me. -
Google Ads Primary Conversion Actions May Be Used For Enhance Predictions
Google updated a number of its Google Ads help documentation to say "Primary conversion actions not used for optimization may be used to enhance predictions." It is not clear if this is a change in what is actually happening or just a clarification to the Google help documentation about what was happening already. -
Google AI Mode Animated Invisible Edit & Copy Buttons
Google AI Mode is now showing an edit and copy button when you mouse your cursor near the search term or prompt. Otheriwse, the edit and copy button go hidden. Copy, copies the prompt and edit lets you edit the prompt. -
Google Mother's Day Event Cookies
Here is a photo from the Google office in Sunnyvale, California of cookies and stuff packaged up for some of the mothers at Google. There are more photos on Instagram.
Other Great Search Threads:
- As you know, I keep saying "authenticity" is important - meaning "authentic for people" but sometimes it is conflated with "authentic for AI"., Krishna Madhavan on LinkedIn
- Google is showing a new pop-up for AI Mode in the SERP today., Sachin Patel on X
- If you use Bing Image Creator, you may have noticed that DALL·E 3 will be retiring in the coming weeks. We shipped the first version of this model in Bing three years ago. It was the first free image gen model shipped in a product, Jordi Ribas on X
- One more small new feature in this new Google News Showcase format on Google Discover: We have sources in the card header, with two sources displayed here, similar to the AI Summary cards. Clicking opens a viewer with a m, Damien (andell) on X
- Step right up and give AI Max a try! You too could have the headline "An error occurred" show in your clients ads!, Darcy Burk on X
- Xero's CEO made an interesting comment on their content strategy yesterday. (Not SEO advice — just notable as it's not something brands typically share.), Glen Allsopp on X
- Now spotted UCP showing for Etsy for the first time also! Etsy is using the same method that Wayfair and The Home Depot use with Google Pay, whereas Target have a deeper account linking method., SERP Alert on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Dean Kadi talks clients ignoring performance data
- The latest jobs in search marketing
- Google publishes guide on optimizing for generative AI features
- Google is moving offline conversion imports out of the Google Ads API
- How custom visuals boosted organic traffic by up to 110%
- Microsoft Clarity citations dashboard rolls out
- Google’s product packs are now a primary sales channel. Here’s what the data shows
- Why now is the time to prepare for WebMCP
- The future of law firm SEO depends on authority, not volume
- How to model non-linear SEO seasonality with Prophet
- Google confirms spam policies apply to AI Overviews and AI Mode
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- Personal finances in ChatGPT, ChatGPT Release Notes
- Anthropic and OpenAI’s Share of AI Startup Revenues Rises to 89%, The Information
- iOS 27: Siri App to Have Auto-Deleting Chats; Siri May Be a ‘Beta’; Genmoji, Bloomberg
Analytics
Industry & Business
- Greg Brockman Officially Takes Control of OpenAI’s Products in Latest Shakeup, Wired
- OpenAI Bought Company That Offered A.I. Tools for Cloning Voices, New York Times
- I Quit Google After 18 Years. I Felt Pressured to Adopt AI Too Quickly, Business Insider
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
- Local SEO 101: An introduction | Krystal Taing, Wix SEO Hub
- My 4 favorite Android Auto settings are seriously useful - but hidden by default, ZDNET
- Why MULO Brands Lose Visibility in AI Search, Street Fight
SEO
- Agency, In-House, or Freelance? How to Choose the Right SEO Career for You, Women in Tech SEO
- AI Agents for SEO: What They Are, How They Work, and How to Build One, Ahrefs
- From Verbatim Search to a Query Fan-out Rabbit Hole, Momentic
- I Ran an AI-Bot-Only Log Pipeline on My Sites for 30 Days. The Numbers Didn’t Match My SEO Tools, HackerNoon
- LLM-as-a-Judge: How to Become a Preferred Content Source for AI Answers, Lumar
- The Shift From AI SEO Tactics to Knowledge Infrastructure, Schema App
- LLM Guidance Doesn’t Port the Way SEO Guidance Did, Duane Forrester Decodes
- Mt stupid Has a Pricing Page, The Inference
- No, AI Search is Not "Surpassing" Google, SEO Savvy Agent
PPC
- Changes to Offline Click Conversion Import Support in the Google Ads API, Google Ads Developer Blog
- How to Improve Google Ads Product Feed Titles (and Why It Matters), PPC Live
- Microsoft Allows Ads for Prediction Sites, PPC News Feed
- Yet more Google Ads (adwords) Account Takeovers Happening now, Search Engine World
- Phishing Email Claims Google Ads Synchronization Error, PPC News Feed
Search Features
- Google expands Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) to more retailers with new account linking, SERP Lens
- Gemini app rolling out ‘Extended’ thinking level, 9to5Google
Other Search
- Google has ever so slightly tweaked the Gemini app icon, 9to5Google
- How YouTube auto dubbing helps creators reach global audiences, YouTube Blog
- Why Is Google Getting Rid Of Assistant?, BGR
Feedback:
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