Daily Search Forum Recap: May 22, 2023

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 has done its last and final batch for mobile-first indexing switchover today, yes, it is over six years since Google started this process. Google Search Console may have a bug with the AMP report, it is showing crawl errors across all sites. Google says having an incorrect date in the HTTP header last modification date does not hurt your SEO. Google is testing 3D images on desktop search. Bing Chat increased the chat character limit by 2X. And I published the final interview with Glenn Gabe today, check it out.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Bulk Mobile-First Indexing Switch Batch Today - Last Batch Done
  I am hearing reports from SEOs that Google did another batch switchover from desktop-first indexing to mobile-first indexing for many sites. As you know, Google started the mobile-first indexing over six years ago but told us earlier this month that the process might be done in the coming months. This was indeed the last batch, John Mueller confirmed.
• Unusual AMP Crawl Issues Reported In Google Search Console Starting May 12th
  If you still use AMP on your site, then go to the AMP enhancements report in Google Search Console and filter by "crawl issues." You may see a spike in the number of crawl issues reported on and going forward from May 12th.
• Google 3D / AR Images On The Desktop Search Interface
  Google is now testing displaying the 3D/AR or 360 product images on desktop. This was live for mobile search for a while but not Google is testing it on the desktop interface.
• Google: Incorrect Last Modification Date In HTTP Header Does Not Hurt Your SEO
  Google's John Mueller felt the need to post a PSA that said having an incorrect date set in your last modification date within your HTTP header won't hurt your SEO. He said on Mastodon, having an incorrect date set there "won't negatively affect your site's overall SEO if used wrongly."
• Bing Chat Doubles Character Chat Limit
  Microsoft has doubled the character limit of Bing Chat from 2,000 characters to now 4,000 characters. This is still rolling out for some users, but I personally see it in creative and precise mode, not in the standard balanced mode.
• Vlog #224: Glenn Gabe On Fixing Sites Hit By Google Core Updates, Links & Disavow
  In part one with Glenn Gabe, we talk about Bing chat and Google Bard and also the use of AI-generated content, in part two we dig more into E-E-A-T and how AI tools may replace us all...
• Google Branded Host Interview Cards
  I am honestly not sure what these cards are called but you see them on TV and at some conferences where hosts or interviewers hold them so they have their notes on what to ask the other person. Well,

Other Great Search Threads:

• Thanks for your feedback during testing of our Chat History feature — it's one of my favorites. We’re finally rolling it out, so nearly all of you should see it now. You can return to previous conversations and easily delete, rename, share or export t, Jordi Ribas on Twitter
• We are shutting down @neeva's consumer search engine. This was a very tough decision that took into account lots of things: our business progress so far, the current funding environment and our ability to continue to grow quickly, sridhar on Twitter
• Generally, no. They can only affect your SEO if those 404 errors prevent your pages from loading or displaying content properly that you want to have indexed (because if we can't see it, we can't index it). If it's just a random embedded URL that 404s, th, John Mueller on Mastodon
• Honestly, none of that says much of anything -- none of those metrics are "ranking metrics" (to make up a name). Imagine you're describing a book: 500 pages, it has a new name, and it's not well-placed in the NY Times list -- would that be useful to give , John Mueller on Mastodon

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Nearly 30% of Instacart’s revenue is from advertising
• YouTube to offer unskippable 30-second ads on connected TV
• OpenAI launches ChatGPT iOS app
• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Keyword difficulty in SEO guide: Everything you need to know
• What is content readability and how to make your content easier to read

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

• A Step-By-Step Guide To Creating Segments And Audiences In GA4 With Examples, Search Engine Journal

Industry & Business

• Apple is on the hunt for generative AI talent, TechCrunch
• Google Is Spared a Search-Engine Switch by a Major Partner, Wall Street Journal
• London court throws out lawsuit against Google over medical records, Reuters
• Next Steps for Neeva, Neeva
• ‘There was all sorts of toxic behaviour’: Timnit Gebru on her sacking by Google, AI’s dangers and big tech’s biases, The Guardian

Links & Content Marketing

• Must-Have Checklist to Creating Valuable Content, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Google Business Profile: 'Image Not Approved,' Bug or Feature?, Near Media
• Google Maps Previews Aerial View API, Infoq
• Why You Need A Text Button On Your Website, Sterling Sky Inc

Mobile & Voice

• Google Employees Want to Know What's Happening With Assistant and Nest, Business Insider
• The Key Apple Executives Behind the Mixed-Reality Headset Coming at WWDC, Bloomberg
• Apple VR headset trademark filing for 'xrProOS' surfaces, AppleInsider

SEO

• The SEO Performance Funnel: From Data to Insights, seoClarity
• Linktree SEO Case Study: The Rise, Fall, & Future, Ahrefs
• Local SEO Ranking Factors in 2023: Are You Missing Out?, Level343

PPC

• 3 tips for marketing in economic uncertainty, Microsoft Advertising

Other Search

• Chat History, Charts, Export, and more, Bing Search Blog
• Google Is Spared a Search-Engine Switch by a Major Partner, Wall Street Journal
• The Hidden Dangers of the Decentralized Web, Wired
• CNET Workers Unionize as ‘Automated Technology Threatens Our Jobs’, VICE
• Supercharge Your ChatGPT Prompts With Auto-GPT, Wired
• Google’s Photo App Still Can’t Find Gorillas. And Neither Can Apple’s., New York Times

Feedback:

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