Daily Search Forum Recap: August 20, 2026

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.

John Mueller from Google explained why Google announces some updates and not others. I am seeing a spike in the number of complaints on favicons disappearing from Google Search. Google Ads can now help you find sitelinks for your ad extensions. Google Ads has this new customer match option named enhanced matching. Microsoft Advertising is rolling out AI Max globally and to all advertisers. Google Posts insights, people viewed count, is returning for some. Google has released version 25.1 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with several of updates.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Why Google Announces Some Search Updates But Not All
  As you know, Google does smaller core updates and algorithm search updates all the time without announcing them. So why does Google announce some of those updates and not the others. Well, as Google told us before, Google announces the larger, more impactful updates so we know it was a Google update that impacted our site, not a technical change we made.
• Google Ads Can Find Sitelinks For You
  Google Ads can now help you find sitelinks for your ad extensions. A new feature within the Google Ads advertiser console will now suggest new sitelinks to add to your ads.
• Google Ads Enhanced Matching In Customer Match
  Google Ads seems to be rolling out a new customer match option named "enhanced matching." Google writes this allows you to "Expand your audience reach with your consented user lists." Google will then "match your consented users with publishers' consented users where available."
• Microsoft Advertising Rolling Out AI Max Globally
  Microsoft Advertising is rolling out AI Max globally and to all advertisers. If you log in to your Microsoft Advertising account, you should be able to toggle on the AI Max setting for your search campaigns.
• Google Bringing Back Google Posts Insights (People Viewed)
  In 2018, Google launched Google Posts Insights, a way to see how many views and clicks a Google Post within Google Business Profiles received. Google discontinued and sunset that feature in January 2023. Now, it seems Google is testing bringing back the view count - it now calls "people viewed."
• Spike In Complaints On Favicons Disappearing From Google Search
  In the past couple of days, I have seen a spike in the number of complaints around favicons disappearing from the Google Search result snippets. The complaints started a couple of days before Google's August 2026 spam update, so I doubt they are related to that, but they have indeed spiked. It makes me think that Google changed something on its end, versus all these site owners making a technical change.
• Google Ads API Version 25.1 Now Available
  Google has released version 25.1 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with several of updates. This update includes text disclaimer assets, AI Max tracking, Brand and Conversion Lift measurements, brand sentiment insights, and several more features and changes.
• Yahoo Door Handle Bars
  Did you know that Yahoo has its own Yahoo! styled and shaped door handles for some of his office doors? They use the Yahoo exclamation point font and style for the door handle bar.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Could be old news, but just started seeing "maximize results" bid strategies in chatgpt ads. but nah nah il be sticking to good ole manual in this new weird ad platform for now. way too many whackadoo changes here recently and i still dont trust the platform as far as i can, Anthony Higman on X
• OpenAI has added a new “Ads Controls” section on ChatGPT for iOS. @OpenAI has scheduled the launch of ChatGPT Ads in the EU for next week., Radu Oncescu on X
• Google's Merchant API design docs updated: "Content API for Shopping was sunset on August 18, 2026." The API is officially deprecated now. If you're still using it, your feeds are likely broken. Time to audit your Merchant Center data, Shauvik Kumar on X
• @kmadhavan77 @BingWMC Many thanks for responding Krishna, I can confirm it has now reverted and not blocking me anymore (was blocked for about an hour I think), Peter Mindenhall
• Is your product feed holiday ready? Getting your product data and Merchant Center settings squared for holiday campaigns can feel a bit daunting. , Ginny Marvin on LinkedIn

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google Ads API v25.1 expands measurement and insights
• Microsoft Advertising rolls out AI Max globally for Search campaigns
• Business websites dominate Gemini local AI search citations: Study
• Google Ads tests Enhanced Matching for Customer Match
• JavaScript links can make your pages invisible to AI search
• Reddit’s ChatGPT Search citations fell 86% in four days: Report
• ChatGPT Ads are expanding to 31 European countries
• Technical SEO for AI search: 4 fundamentals that matter
• Google Ads is finally building a stronger foundation for B2B lead gen
• Slop antibodies: The link between AI slop, watermarking, and commodity content

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Microsoft Seems to Be Making Sign-In Mandatory for Copilot, Windows Report
• OpenAI previews zero-retention safety system as Anthropic requires data logs, Axios
• Where do inaccurate AI claims come from?, Profound
• ChatGPT vs Perplexity Citations: A 1,750-Answer Study, RankSurf

Analytics

• Your data retention is two months long, Hop Skip Media

Industry & Business

• Google Secures $12.2 Billion Share Purchase Right in Marvell AI Chip Deal, Bloomberg
• OpenAI’s Second-Quarter Sales Show Tepid Growth Compared With Anthropic, Wall Street Journal
• OpenAI 'will be a public company in 2027' or sooner, CFO Friar tells employees, CNBC
• Brussels changes gear on Big Tech enforcement, POLITICO

Links & Content Marketing

• Brand Mentions: How to Earn and Track Them in 2026, Backlinko
• What's Next for Your Brand Website?, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Ads in Apple Maps won't hurt you & might even help you, Apple Insider
• Google Maps can't plan road trips — but this forgotten Google tool can, Make Use Of
• What AI Actually Cites: 14,000+ Local AI Gemini and ChatGPT Search Citations Analyzed, Steady Demand
• Google Photos might add a more prominent picture heat map, 9To5Google
• I gave Google Maps a ridiculous list of requirements; it actually found places, Android Police
• Waymo brings Gemini to Ojai vehicles, Google Blog
• Google Tells Android Auto Users To Update As New Version Includes Must-Have Patch, Autoevolution

Other Search

• Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold feels like the end of an era, The Verge
• The Pixel 11 isn’t the best Pixel of 2026, but it’s the smartest buy, The Verge

PPC

• Search Intent Drift: How Google’s Understanding of Queries Evolves, JumpFly
• The Fast Lane to AI Search: Why European Auto Brands Must Drive with Paid Search Data, PPC Live
• Vehicle Ads Require Key Details Without Additional Clicks, PPC News Feed
• We Tested Ads in ChatGPT: Here's What the Channel Actually Does, PPC Hero
• Google Expands View-Through Conversion Optimization for Demand Gen, PPC News Feed
• Native Commerce Attribute Help Page Released, PPC News Feed
• The Sunset of Call Ads: Preparing for Google’s Move to Call Assets, JumpFly

Search Features

• Google tests Computer Use on Gemini Desktop, Testing Catalog
• How Google Search, Lens, AI Mode can help you study, Google Blog

SEO

• Google Lighthouse Signals Where Agent Traffic Is Headed, CMSWire
• Why Your Product Data Is Costing You Visibility, Re:signal

Feedback:

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