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.
Despite all the third-party studies, Google says clicks to websites from Google Search are "relatively stable" since AI Overviews rolled out - most do not believe Google. Google Ads API version 21 is now out. Google added the AI Mode button to the search app. Bing Webmaster Tools added device and country lists to the performance report. Bing is testing moving the search tools bar by the search box. Apple Business Connect now supports UTM parameters for action links.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google: Clicks To Websites Relatively Stable With AI Overviews (Is It Flawed?)
Google's Liz Reid, in response to all the third-party studies, wrote on the Google blog, "Overall, total organic click volume from Google Search to websites has been relatively stable year-over-year." There was no specific data shared, Google did not offer up Search Console data, Google didn't show a chart - they just wrote clicks are "relatively stable." -
Bing Webmaster Tools Performance Report Adds List By Device & Country
Microsoft has added two new options to the Bing Webmaster Tools Search Performance report. There is a new list by for "device" and for "country," which was added to the existing "keywords" and "pages" options. -
Google Ads API Version 21 Now Available
Google has released version 21 of the Google Ads API, this is a major release with dozens of updates. Updates include AI Max for Search campaigns, PMax changes, reporting updates and much more. -
Google AI Mode Button Now In Search App
Google has added the AI Mode button to the Google Search App. I am not sure if this is super new, as I don't use the Google app all that often. -
Apple Business Connect Supports UTM Parameters For Action Links
Apple sent out an email update to some of those using Apple Business Connect to announce that it now supports UTM parameters for action links. This means you can more accurately track and report on clicks from Apple Maps to your business and the subsequent conversions. -
Bing Search Tests Moving Search Tools By Search Box
Microsoft is testing moving the search tools links that is typically below the search box, to above the search box. At least I think that is where Bing places those search tools. -
Googlely Floor Signs
Here is the 9th floor of the Google London office and you can see, the floor signs are super Googlely. They are made up of the Google logo colors, red, blue, green and yellow.
Other Great Search Threads:
- @adsliaison a heads up, for the 4th time in 4 weeks, I have been getting emails from the Google Ads Experts wanting to have meetings for CID's that are not & never have been associated with me or my org. And it is getting really h, Jon Kagan on X
- Ecommerce SEO: within the AI Search era, there are crucial insights that can be gleaned from the constant evolution of search results. The latest evolution has seen Google's Sales Assistant chat window roll out more broadly for var, Brodie Clark on X
- And I know, I know, SEOs do a lot of useful and important things. Most of that is under the covers, and unnoticed. However, when it is visible, it's usually visible in a bad way -- not just the effects of their "work", but also the celebration of how they, John Mueller on Bluesky
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google to restrict political ads in the EU under new policy
- Sitelinks now factor into Google Performance Max ad strength
- Google rolls out AI-powered asset optimization for Demand Gen ads
- ChatGPT is using Google Search, multiple tests suggest
- Google says AI is boosting Search. Yes, but…
- Google Ads Callouts & Structured Snippets: Bigger ads, better results?
- What to do when Google Ads performance declines
- The web is multilingual – so why does search still speak just a few languages?
- Yelp launches Co-branded Ads to help national brands go local
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Industry & Business
- Google commits $1 billion for AI training at US universities, Reuters
- Google says hackers stole its customers' data in a breach of its Salesforce database, TechCrunch
- How SEOs Are Managing Burnout Amid Constant Industry Changes, Search' n Stuff
- Microsoft Bing Market Share Grows As Google's Slightly Declines, MediaPost
- Microsoft Raids Google’s DeepMind AI Unit With Promise of Less Bureaucracy, Wall Street Journal
- OpenAI offers 20 million user chats in ChatGPT lawsuit. NYT wants 120 million., Ars Technica
- OpenAI Offers ChatGPT for $1 a Year to US Federal Employees, Bloomberg
- Semrush Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results, Semrush
Links & Content Marketing
- How to Use AI for Website Content and Still Appear Human, JDSupra
- 5 Ways To Be a Better Content Team Leader, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Google Maps shares the most popular U.S. state parks this summer., Google Blog
- Yelp announces Local Co-branded Showcase Ads, giving national brands a platform to spotlight local businesses, Yelp - Official Blog
Mobile & Voice
- Google finally brings AI Mode to Android tablets, 9to5Google
- How Meta could challenge Apple and Google for AI on our devices, CNBC
SEO
- 7 SEO Trends & Predictions for the Rest of 2025, WordStream
- ChatGPT Using Google’s Index: SEO Is Back :))), Ann Smarty
- Ecommerce Shake-Up: AIOs Surge, Product Listings Down [Webinar], seoClarity
- Show up better in Google and AI search with content chunking, SearchLab Digital
- What NOT to do in SEO Pt. 817, Optimisey
- Why Semantic HTML matters for SEO and AI, SEO for Google News
- You Need To Be Clear About Publisher Intent For SEO, SEO Theory
PPC
- Conversational AI redefines audience engagement, Microsoft Advertising
- Media Update: Amazon Abruptly Exits Google Shopping Auctions, Tinuiti
Search Features
- Bing Image Creator adds GPT-4o alongside DALL-E3 for even more free..., Bing Search Blog
- Create AI storybooks with illustrations in the Gemini app, Google Blog
- Google’s best AI tools for college students for free, Google Blog
Other Search
- ChatGPT Is Using Google Search – We Tested It, Backlinko
- Gemini CLI GitHub Actions: AI coding made for collaboration, Google Blog
- No Evidence to Support OpenAI is Using Google for General Search, Search Engine World
- Qwant and Ecosia debut Staan, a European search index that aims to take on Big Tech, TechCrunch
- Threat Actors Poison Bing Search Results to Distribute Bumblebee Malware via 'ManageEngine OpManager' Queries, GB Hackers
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