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 Search volatility is heating up between these two big Google search algorithm updates. Google SGE will use your content even if you say not to with the new Google-Extended robots.txt directive. Google people also ask has card carousels. Google local results has an expandable refinement option.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Google Search Volatility Heats Up As Core Update & Spam Update Rollout
We are now a few days into the two October Google Search updates, the October 2023 spam update and the October 2023 core update and the Google search results are getting heated. The tracking tools are finally all showing large volatility and the chatter has been heated with both of these updates. - Google-Extended Robots Directive Does Not Work For Search Generative Experience
A couple of weeks ago Google released a new robots.txt directive to tell Google not to use your content for Bard or other AI Google projects. The Google Search Generative Experience does not currently use Google-Extended, Google told me. That means SGE's AI-generated answers can and will continue to show unless you block Googlebot fully. - Google Lens Can Trigger Search Generative Experience AI Answers
Did you know that a search through Google Lens can trigger an AI-generated response in the Search Generative Experience? I guess it makes sense, Lens is generally just triggering a query and if you are in the SGE beta, why wouldn't it show an SGE response in that case? - Google People Also Ask Card Carousels
Google Search's people also ask is now showing cards in carousels. This has been going on for several weeks, I believe, but I never covered it. - Google Search Local Results Expandable Refinement Feature
Google can show local pack results in the mobile interface with these expandable refinements section. So if Google is not sure if you want one type of business category, it might show two or more for you to click on and reveal matching local businesses. - White YouTube Jump Suits
YouTube had some event at the Google Pier 57 NYC offices and they had some staff in YouTube branded white jumpsuits. It reminds me of the Google looking jumpsuits from some time ago.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Google demanded Wired take down my op-ed, pointing to a single page I saw in court for only a few seconds. Wired sent it to me, and I said I needed to see all the pages shown in open court. Google didn't send. Without speaking wit, Megan Gray on X
- I don't mute you because of the issues, it's usually the perceived yelling :-). Being passionate is great, it's clear you care deeply about sites & the web, but I also like reading calm feedback & posts., John Mueller on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google-Extended does not stop Google Search Generative Experience from using your site’s content
- Google testing more subtle Search Generative Experience design
- X (Twitter) users report new ad format that can’t be blocked or reported
- Overstock’s Bed Bath & Beyond rebrand: The SEO impact
- 9 salary negotiation tips for search marketers
- How the Google antitrust lawsuit can impact advertisers
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Complete Reporting Identity Feature Guide in Google Analytics 4, Online Metrics
Industry & Business
- Google Antitrust Case Is About Search Engine Monopoly and AI, Bloomberg
- Google wins reprieve from $32.5 mln verdict in Sonos patent fight, Reuters
- Emails Show Google Ads, Search, Chrome Execs Plotting To Boost Revenue, MediaPost
- Google details its employee, product response to attacks in Israel, 9to5Google
- Google Is Going To Court For The First Time Over Alleged Pay Discrimination, Forbes
- Won’t someone think of the Bing!? Microsoft laughably accuses Google of monopoly, Salon
Links & Content Marketing
- Controversial Content Framework, Content Marketing Institute
- How Digital PRs Can Find Calm Among the Headlines, Screaming Frog
Local & Maps
- How Google AI helps combat wildfires, floods, and extreme heat, Google Blog
- Maps: Where the Attacks Are Happening in Israel and Gaza, New York Times
- New ways Google is helping reduce transportation and energy emissions, Google Blog
- You Probably Forgot This Google Maps Alternative Existed, But It Just Got a Huge Update, AutoEvolution
Mobile & Voice
- Apple Vision Pro displays capable of 100Hz refresh rate, AppleInsider
- Google Assistant is having a Windows Copilot moment, and it's all thanks to AI, ZDNET
SEO
- Programmatic SEO: Create Thousands of Web Pages That Convert, Semrush
- Social Media SEO: How to Rank Higher on Social Media & Google, Semrush
PPC
- 11 Google Ads Hacks That Can Take Your Campaigns to the Next Level, Entrepreneur
- The US accuses Google of unfair pricing of online ad placements, Marketing-Interactive
- Your ultimate advertising playbook for Holiday 2023, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
Other Search
- Google announces new generative AI search capabilities for doctors, CNBC
- Global PC Shipments Decline Again in the Third Quarter of 2023 Amid Signs of Market Improvement, According to IDC Tracker, IDC
Feedback:
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