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 updated its search quality raters guidelines to add examples on AI Overviews and update some of the definitions on YMYL. Google may be doing away with the ability to see 100 results on a search results page. Google Merchant Center pricing policies were updated. Google AI Overviews can show for currency exchange rates. Bing is testing three dots by sponsored URLs. And I posted my weekly SEO video recap.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google Search Quality Raters Guidelines Gains AI Overview & YMYL Definitions
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, Google updated its search quality raters guidelines PDF document. The last time Google updated this document was on January 23, 2025, over seven months ago. This update gives minor clarification as it relates to rating YMYL content and adds a handful of additional examples for rating newer features like AI Overviews. Google also posted fixes for typos and other minor clarifications. -
Google Search Tests Dropping 100 Search Results Parameter
Google Search seems to be testing dropping the ability to see 100 search results on a single page. When you add the results parameter to the end of your search results URL string, i.e. &num=100, it works about half the time. -
Google Updated The Merchant Center Pricing Policies
Google has updated the Google Merchant Center pricing policies for September. The changes include updates in the merchant fees, government charges, import and export costs, regional and installment pricing, price mismatches and automated updates. -
Bing Tests Microsoft Sponsored Ads With Three Dots By URL
Microsoft Advertising is testing using three dots, instead of the arrow down, for the sponsored ads URL in the Bing search results. We've seen Bing test three dots before but they were horizontal, the new test are vertical three dots. -
Google Shows AI Overviews For Currency Exchange Rates
Google may be starting to show AI Overviews when you ask for a currency exchange. I can't seem to fully replicate this but others are starting to see this. -
Google Colored Floor Tile
In the Google office in Brazil, one of the hallways has these Google colored titles on the floor. I found this on Instagram. -
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Heated Spam Update, Web Declines, AI Mode Updates, AI Max Rolls Out & More
This week, I covered the ongoing Google August 2025 spam update and how it heated up this week. Google got into hot water over saying the web is rapidly declining. Google AI Mode also said AI Mode would be the default...
Other Great Search Threads:
- The SEO Anomaly network, which flooded your Ahrefs and Semrush backlink reports with link-building spam, has clarified that their links won't negatively affect your rankings! The following is a translated message from them on Teleg, Mike Blazer on X
- AI Overviews in Google Discover Desktop Mode. Here you can see a video preview of AI Overviews in Google Discover Desktop, which offers a slightly different user experience than the mobile version., Damien (andell) on X
- Google is testing its “Web Guide” feature for Google Search in the European Union. (Chrome for Android, Romania). Google Search Labs coming soon as well in the EU?, Radu Oncescu on X
- I have some big personal news: Detailed has been acquired by Ahrefs. I'm also super excited to be joining the company to work on marketing and product. A few months ago Tim Soulo invited me to speak at their upcoming con, Glen Allsopp on X
- NEW in Google Tag Manager Ads / Floodlight tags: Event parameters, Simo Ahava on LinkedIn
- New PMAx budget error is causing confusion, Thomas Eccel on LinkedIn
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Meta expands Reels, Threads, and AI tools to boost brand-building
- AI search optimization? GEO? SEOs don’t agree on a name: Survey
- Google updates search quality raters guidelines adding AI Overview examples & YMYL definitions
- Google Tag Manager adds event parameters to Ads and Floodlight tags
- TikTok touts 2x purchase lift with Search Ads
- Marketers aren’t ready for GEO: Survey
- ChatGPT traffic rivals organic search engagement: Data
- Optimizing for AI: How search engines power ChatGPT, Gemini and more
- How to produce a better PPC QBR for your stakeholders
Other Great Search Stories:
Industry & Business
- Ahrefs Acquires Detailed.com & SEO Extension; Founder Joins Company, Search Engine Journal
- AI’s $344 Billion ‘Language Model’ Bet Looks Fragile, Bloomberg
- Encyclopedia Britannica sues Perplexity over AI 'answer engine', Reuters
- Google Wins Partial Victory in AI Training Copyright Lawsuit, Bloomberg
- Google, Meta, OpenAI Face FTC Inquiry on Chatbot Impact on Kids, Bloomberg
- Microsoft CEO Nadella says company must rebuild trust with employees, CNBC
- OpenAI and Microsoft reach tentative deal to revise partnership, Axios
- OpenAI says nonprofit parent to own stake in company over $100 billion, CNBC
- OpenAI’s $350 Billion Computing Cost Problem, The Information
- Search Central Live Tokyo: The 2025 Return, Google Search Central Blog
Links & Content Marketing
- 5 Campaigns That Captured Hearts, Headlines, and Awards, Content Marketing Institute
- Content Strategy Deep-Dive: NinjaOne’s 900+ Blog Post Year, Foundation Inc
- Don't Get Technical: What Link Building is REALLY All About, The Upper Ranks
Local & Maps
- GBP Ranking Factors for Local SEO: Proximity, Reviews, Relevance, Search Atlas
- Gemini Live camera share could soon display Google Maps info cards, Android Authority
- Google Wants Google Maps To Be Smarter, and This Feature Makes Perfect Sense, AutoEvolution
- It’s not just you: Google Maps is down in major outage, 9to5Google
- Small businesses hit by global scam of fake negative Google reviews, Consumer Affairs
- Google Maps Rival Makes a Good Case for Not Using Free Navigation Apps, AutoEvolution
Mobile & Voice
- Apple's new iPhone 17 devices don't have an AI-powered Siri yet. It doesn't matter., TechCrunch
- ChatGPT Voice as a Siri replacement? Sam Altman’s on board – and so am I, TechRadar
- Peter Andersen Slams Apple's Siri And AI Strategy, Investor Warns iPhone 17 Updates No Substitute For Real Innovation: 'An Embarrassment', Benzinga
SEO
- FastSearch, MAGIT and everything else we learned about Google’s AI from the DOJ trial, Marie Haynes
- Google Quality Raters now rate AI Overviews, Marie Haynes
- Massive Parasite SEO Attack Hits .gov & .edu Sites, Ilias Ism
- The State of AI Search Optimization - 2025 Edition, SEOFOMO
- Google Product Grids and AI Mode: The Ecommerce SEO Playbook with Brodie Clark, Search Pilot
- How do you generate prompts for tracking LLM performance?, Semrush
- SERP Volatility - What It Is And When To Worry, Nikki Pilkington
- Web Publishers Should Block AI Bots. Here’s Why & How., Travel Lemming
PPC
- How to Win in Google’s Product Listings: Why Testing is the Only Way to Keep Up, Search Pilot
- Journey Aware Bidding: Everything we know so far, Jyll Saskin Gales
- TikTok Search Ads Campaign: Unlocking Incremental Growth In The Future Of Search, TikTok For Business Blog
- Google Releases Comprehensive Guide on Shopping Ads Pricing, PPC News Feed
Search Features
- 'Clone' websites catch out Australian customers as online shopping scams become 'alarmingly' common, ABC News
- New purchase tracking and promotions in Gmail, Google Blog
Feedback:
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