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.
The Google spam update was released yesterday but so far, it did not seem to have a huge impact on most of you all - we are still digging in. Google has a single place to see all of its content policies. Google is doing some local pack testing and new refinements, plus more.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Confirmed Google Search Spam Algorithm Update On June 23rd
Google has confirmed that on June 23, 2021 it has released a search "spam update." The update started and completed on a single day, June 23rd. Google did not say exactly what type of spam it targeted with this update but just linked to its general spam prevention notices. - All Of Google Search Content Policies In One Place
Google has created a single page where you can find all of the Google Search content policies. This includes Google Search's overall content policies, search feature policies and feature specific policies. You can find them all in this one document here. - No, Google Search Algorithm Updates Don't Impact Your Direct Traffic
Google's John Mueller had to tell an individual that when Google makes changes to its search algorithms, those changes should have zero impact on your direct traffic. Yes, they can have a big impact on your organic traffic, but not your direct traffic. - Google Local Pack Review Filters Smiley Faces
Google seems to be testing adding smiley faces to the local pack reviews filter options. So in the "people often mention" keyword filters, instead of it just saying the words like care, food, products, quality, etc, it may add a smiley face to some of those words to express higher satisfaction from customers in those areas. - Google Local Pack Sections Buttons Triggers Query Refinements
This is a weird one... Claire Carlile noticed Google testing where if you click on the section buttons or local listing labels in the local listing on mobile, it will refine your search query in the main search box. This is not how this has worked in the past, Google would just show you the reviews, updates, photos of that business, but the query would not change. - Google Tests Search Refinement With Brand Filters
Google seems to be testing a new set of search refinements that let you filter by the brand or specific store you want to filter your results by. So a search for a [camo backpack] has search refinements for colors and size and type but also to let you filter by results on Amazon and Walmart, for example. - Stan The Google Dinosaur Dressed Up For Pride Month
If you visit the GooglePlex, the main Google headquarters, you may notice that Stan, the Google dinosaur is dressed up in its rainbow gear. This includes a rainbow jacket, scarf, headwear, sunglassse
Other Great Search Threads:
- My Site does not appear in the news tab, even though it was previously displayed, why?, Google Publisher Center Community
- FWIW it might also just be that some links tools are now covering more of Blogspot., John Mueller on Twitter
- Google Search News: June ep is here!📰 @JohnMu covers the latest such as: ⏱️ Core Web Vitals & page experience 🔎 Search Console Insights & negative regex ✅ RSS-based Follow button in Chrome ...and mor, Google Search Central on Twitter
- I don't think you'd see a noticable difference in search, tbh. It's a good practice, it can help users when they see URLs, but who looks at URLs nowadays? I'd still do it if it's trivial, but not lose any sleep ove, John Mueller on Twitter
- Chrome extension that allows you to analyze GMB reviews and other information on Google Maps, Local Search Forum
- I initially thought the Spam Update yesterday could be in response to the massive PDF spam situation that's been written about heavily. But checking those rankings/sites, some still rank well. So not sure it was targeting that, Glenn Gabe on Twitter
- That looks good! Keep in mind that for Core Web Vitals we don't just the general pagespeed score, we measure the individual metrics. Also, we use the data that users see (field data), n, John Mueller on Twitter
- That would require stack-ranking all elements of SEO first, which imo never does anything justice. Rewritten, flat URL structures have come & gone over the years. They can work for SEO. I like struct, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Core Web Vitals: Google is not backing down in the fight against the slow web
- Google Search releases spam update on June 23
- Ask the expert – Your top FLoC questions answered: How Google is testing cohorts, what FLoC means for B2B and how it works with cross-device browsing
- Google rankings, quality and relevancy; Wednesday’s daily brief
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- How to successfully transition to GA4, Cardinal Path
- How to Use The Pages and Screens Report in Google Analytics 4, Data Driven U
Industry & Business
- Google drops engineering residency after protests over ‘inequities’, CNBC
- Antitrust Overhaul Passes Its First Tests. Now, the Hard Parts., New York Times
- Google will let more video, music and book apps evade its 30 percent cut, The Verge
- Thomas Heatherwick: Meet the man designing Google’s new headquarters, CNBC
- We’re expanding our support of news in Canada, Google Blog
Links & Content Marketing
- Content Marketing Mistakes Every Business Must Avoid, Programming Insider
Local & Maps
- Apple Maps doesn't collect data that can identify you on the iPhone like Google Maps does, PhoneArena
- Google Maps Go passes 500 million Play Store installs, Android Police
- iOS 15 Apple Maps: 7 best features coming to your iPhone, Tom's Guide
Mobile & Voice
- 'Hey Google, where do babies come from?', Android Police
- Google Assistant test makes it easier to scan or read the screen aloud, XDA Developers
- Here's how offline Siri works on iPhone in iOS 15, 9to5Mac
SEO
- Rich Snippets, including review, how-to, and faq snippets can be impacted by Google's broad core updates (and other major algorithm updates), GSQI
- How to Optimize for The Page Experience Update, OnCrawl
- How to Rank Great Video Content - Aleyda Solis, Optimisey
- SEO Content Strategies: Hub and Spoke Model, Botify
- SEO Terminologies Every Marketer Should Know, Go Fish Digital
- WordPress Title Tags: from Poetry to Plugins, Leverable SEO
- How to add video schema markup via tag manager, Hallam
- Why SEO Does Not Work for You & Your Website, Cognitive SEO
PPC
- 1 Month & 36% Increase in ROAS: Atrantil Case Study, Go Inflow
- 19 Pesky Google Ads Disapprovals and How to Fix Them, WordStream
- Filtering Non-video Resources from Video Reports in the Google Ads API, Google Ads Developer Blog
- SEO or PPC: Understanding What's Best for Your Business, DAGMAR
- How truthful is your brand?, Microsoft Advertising
Other Search
- Google Launches a New Medical App—Outside the US, Wired
- LinkedIn’s job-matching AI was biased. The company’s solution? More AI., MIT Technology Review
Feedback:
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