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.
We had even stronger Google search ranking volatility over the weekend, it has not calmed down. Google Local Service Ads may charge more for message leads. Google Business Profiles attributes now shows how many users confirmed them. We have tons of slides from the three day Google Search Central live event. Google is testing swapping the three dots with a questionmark again for the about this result.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google Search Ranking Volatility Was Heated This Weekend - Reversals?
I know I just reported on the super-heated Google Search ranking volatility week we had, and how the post-core update seems more unstable than during the June 2025 core update. However, we are now seeing even more volatility over the weekend, with some reporting reversals from the events of last week. -
Google Local Service Ads Message Leads Now More Expensive?
Google has changed how much it charges for message leads within Google Local Service Ads. Previously, it was 50% of the corresponding phone lead but now, Google said it is "typically priced lower than the corresponding phone lead price, although that's not always the case." -
Google Business Profile Attributes With Confirmed By Percentages
Google seems to be rolling out a new Google local feature for Google Business Profiles that shows if the attributes listed by the business are accurate. Now, Google can show the percentage of users who confirmed the attribute actually exists at that business. -
Google Search Central Deep Dive 2025 Indexing Slides
Google had it Google Search Central Live event in the Asia-Pacific region last week. It was a three day event, as opposed to the normal half day events it has held in the past. In any event. Jason Mun was there and posted all the slides from "Indexing day" on LinkedIn. -
Google Search Swaps Three Dots With Question Mark For About This Site
Google seems to be testing replacing the three vertical dots next to the search results snippets with a question mark icon. Clicking on that triggers the about this site feature. -
Oreo Cookie On Google Wall
Here is a photo from the Google New York City office of a wall in the office that has this Oreo cookie hanging on it. Maybe this has to do with Android Oreo from 2017? I don't know.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Here is a summary of 6 things found yesterday. 1. I initially noticed that https://t.co/9Rl5QsTJd1 was showing up in auction insights for a client which made no sense. Initial post:, Nate Louis on X
- Welcome to the Relaunched Google Analytics Community!, Google Analytics Community
- Amazon has made a dramatic international exit from product advertising on Google Shopping. They are a massive source of revenue for Google parent Alphabet Inc., and also serve as a tide that lifts all boats in terms of auction prices. So this has to sting, Mike Ryan on LinkIned
- Did you notice this change? The “Edit profile” icon in Google Business Profile has changed — from a storefront to a pencil. Small update, but it caught my eye. Google loves silent tweaks like this. Have you see, Vinay Toshniwal on X
- One of the biggest HCU(X) surges I have seen so far with the June 2025 core update (and the post-core update volatility). Nearly back to where it was before the September 2023 HCU(X)., Glenn Gabe on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Amazon pulls out of Google Shopping ads
- The Great Decoupling of search and the birth of the agentic web
- How to boost local SEO: 4 AI-driven tactics that get results
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- GA4 Reports & Explorations in Seconds, KRM Digital Marketing
Industry & Business
- Our first step into long-duration energy storage with Energy Dome, Google Blog
- Google's Jeff Dean is quietly powering the AI startup ecosystem, Fortune
- The Blackbird-backed startup betting on the end of Google's search dominance, Capital Brief
- The Satya of Satya’s Layoff Memo, Om
- What publishers want to see from a Google AI licensing deal, Digiday
Links & Content Marketing
- The Long-Term Impact of Digital PR on SEO Success: +124% (+252k) Increase in Monthly Organic Sessions, Digitaloft
- Is creator-model journalism the future of news?, Coywolf
Local & Maps
- Does Google Allow Two Business Profiles at the Same Address?, Sterling Sky
- How Reviews Influence AI Overviews and Local Rankings, Local SEO Guide
- Google Maps Starts Showing Confusing Route Popups on Android and Android Auto, AutoEvolution
Mobile & Voice
- Apple Intelligence research papers on AI hallucinations, AppleInsider
- HomePod 26 public beta launches with these new features, 9to5Mac
SEO
- How can I prevent tracking parameters in Google Search results, Google Search Central YouTube
- How to calculate your brand's (or category's) total organic revenue potential, Digitaloft
- How to Fix the “Page with Redirect” Error in Google Search Console, SEO Testing
- Should We Optimize for AI Mode?, Moz
- How does adding extra keywords to title tags impact SEO?, Search Pilot
- Benchmarking SEO Product Management, Gray Dot Co
- Google Search Central Bangkok Event (some interesting slides), Gagan Ghotra
PPC
- How Small Businesses Can Compete With Big Brands In PPC, PPC Hero
- What is the difference between Conversion (Many-per-Click), Conversion (1-Per-Click) and Data-Driven Conversions?, Koozai
- 6 Multifamily PPC Pitfalls That Could Be Tanking Your Results, Pure Visibility
Search Features
Other Search
- AI referrals to top websites were up 357% year-over-year in June, reaching 1.13B, TechCrunch
- Sam Altman warns there's no legal confidentiality when using ChatGPT as a therapist, TechCrunch
- The Google Search era internet is dying. Here comes AI, QZ
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