Daily Search Forum Recap: August 20, 2025

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 Ads finally launched full placement reporting for the Search Partner Network. Google is testing a toned down clippable coupons UI in search. Google Ads has a new child abuse imagery policy update. A new tool tracks referral traffic from ChatGPT vs Google. Bing updated its Copilot answers AI box in search.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Ads Search Partner Network Full Placement Reporting Is Finaly Here
  Google Ads seems to be rolling out full placement reporting for the Search Partner Network (SPN). This is a feature advertisers have been begging and praying for, for probably 20 years now. You will be able to see exactly where your ads are appearing on with a list of all SPN sites your campaigns served on, along with impression data for each site.
• Tool Tracks Referral Traffic From ChatGPT vs Google: Can AI Catch Up?
  A new tool from Tim Souo and Ahrefs at chatgpt-vs-google.com aims to show the growth rate of ChatGPT's referral traffic compared to Google Search. Tim said the chart shows that OpenAI's ChatGPT "doesn't seem enough to catch up with Google anytime soon, given their respective traffic shares."
• Bing Updates Copilot AI Answer UX To Improve CTR?
  Microsoft has updated the Bing Search Copilot AI answer design to move the sources section under a "read more" tab, which I assume Microsoft is testing to see if it drives more or fewer clicks to publishers.
• Google Clippable Coupons Toned Down For Search Snippets
  Google seems to have launched a more toned down version of the clippable coupons within the search result snippets. Now it just says "copy code" next to the percentage off, at the bottom of the search result snippet.
• Google Ads To Update Child Sexual Abuse Imagery Policy
  Google will be updating the Google Ads Child Sexual Abuse Imagery policy (CSAI)on October 22, 2025. The update will "improve clarity and transparency," according to Google.
• Google Medieval Harry Potter House Flag Signs
  Google's office in Playa Vista has a room with these Google colored medieval flag signs of sorts. I assume it is related to YouTube gaming but I am not sure. These are Harry Potter house flags.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Ecommerce SEO Tip: Google recently introduced a 'physical stores' filter in GMC Next for organic traffic. GMC Next is notorious for not being able to filter organic traffic effectively, but the data collected under this filter is e, Brodie Clark on X
• I guess GSC data is in contrast or inaccurate?, Marshall Simmonds on LinkedIn
• Since when did these #GoogleAds salespeople start using WhatsApp as an option to connect with businesses? Seems they forgot to link the correct WhatsApp number in their email signature., Govind Singh Panwar on X
• When Amazon stopped advertising on Google, something unexpected happened..., Frederick Vallaeys on LinkedIn

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google traffic to news publishers is steady, but it isn’t traditional Search
• Google finally gives visibility into Search Partner Network placements
• Google replaces Content API for Shopping with new Merchant API
• Generative AI is changing search, but Google is still where people start: Study
• Clicks rose, ROAS fell when Amazon left Google Shopping
• 5 B2B content types AI search engines love
• A technical SEO blueprint for GEO: Optimize for AI-powered search

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

• GA4 User Lifetime Report, KRM Digital Marketing
• Stop Explaining GA4 Unassigned Traffic - Rename Confusing Channels, KP Playbook

Industry & Business

• Americans fear AI permanently displacing workers, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds, Reuters
• Google Search Isn't a "Common Carrier" (DUH)-Ohio v. Google, Eric Goldman
• Google settles YouTube children's privacy lawsuit, Reuters
• Google's Pixel 10 event will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon, 9to5Google
• News Publishers Shift AI Licensing Focus to Usage-Based Deals, The Information
• Will Google Be Broken Up? What’s at Stake in the Coming Antitrust Ruling, Bloomberg
• China's Baidu misses quarterly revenue estimates on advertising weakness, Reuters

Links & Content Marketing

• AI Blogs Are Mostly Trash (Unless You Build One Like This): How I Use AI Agents to Create Content Faster Without Losing My Voice, Seer Interactive

Local & Maps

• Google Maps vs. Waze: The final verdict, according to our readers, Tom's Guide
• How to Outrank 99% of Local Competitors - Google Business Profile Tier List, Whitespark

Mobile & Voice

• Google Offers Play Store Overhaul in Bid to Dodge Future EU Fine, Bloomberg
• People use smart assistants for weather, timers, and music — the same stuff we were doing a decade ago, Sherwood News

SEO

• Blocking LLMs, is this the next “no-follow”?, SEO for Lunch
• Keywords vs. Topics: Which is More Important for SEO & LLM Ranking?, SEO dot co
• Running Control Experiments in SEO, Sara Taher
• SaaS Technical SEO: A Complete Guide to Scaling Organic Growth, Spaceload
• Semantic Overlap vs. Density: Finding the Balance That Wins Retrieval, Duane Forrester Decodes

PPC

• Amazon’s Exit from Google Ads Triggered a Traffic Surge — But ROI Didn’t Follow, Optmyzr
• Google error - user cannot complete purchase, PPC Live
• Cart Data Diagnostics Tool Live in Google Ads, PPC News Feed

Search Features

• How AI Is Changing Search Behaviors, Nielsen Norman Group
• Social Search Is Changing Consumer Behavior, Brainlabs
• Gemini & AI Overviews: Snippet Usage Instead of Full Text, GPT Insights

Other Search

• China’s DeepSeek Releases V3.1, Boosting AI Model’s Capabilities, Bloomberg
• Ready to Escape Google? Start by Changing Your Phone's Default Search Engine, CNET
• Sam Altman on GPT-6: 'People want memory', CNBC
• We must build AI for people; not to be a person, Mustafa Suleyman
• Yandex Relaunches Internet Speed Test With New Features and Design, International Search News

Feedback:

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