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 Console has a new query grouping report, which looks excellent. Google Business Profiles What's Happening feature expanded. Google Ads now shows phone call lead data. Google Ads show map pin clicks data as well. Google's John Mueller commented on the best content management system for SEO - there is none.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Query Groups Report Comes To Google Search Console Insights
Google added a very useful feature to the Google Search Console Insights report named query groups. It does what it is named, it groups similar queries together as one, so you can see how your site is performing for that specific topic, instead of individual queries. -
Google Business Profiles What's Happening Feature Expands
Google has expanded access to the Google Business Profiles' what's happening feature to multi-location restaurants and bars in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. When it launched in May it was only available for single-location restaurants. -
Google Ads Interface Gains Local Service Ads Phone Call Leads
Google Ads has supposedly added more integration between the main Google Ads platform and reporting and the niche Local Service Ads platform. Some can now see conversion tracking actions in the Google Ads interface. -
Google Ads Showing Maps Pin Clicks In Reports
Google is rolling out map pin clicks in the Google Ads and Google Local Service Ads reporting. This can be found under Campaigns view, then under Segment, and then under Click Type. -
Google's John Mueller On Best CMSs For SEO
Google's John Mueller was asked what is the best CMS, content management system, is for SEO and ranking well on Google Search. John replied that all the modern CMS platforms are fine and there are no big differences, SEO-wise, between any of them. -
Google Hay Bale Seating
Here is a photo from the Google office, where there is outdoor seating for some event. The seating is made up of hay bales. It caught my eye. I found this on Instagram.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Google.com/ai or http://google.ai both work — whatever is easier to remember, Robby Stein on X
- Testing titles on Google Discover feeds. On YouTube videos, the title appears at the top of the Discover card, just below the site name. And on other cards, the title appears directly on the image, not below it, Damien (andell) on X
- A lot of SEO involves understanding the website that you're working on. Crawling it yourself (with permission, of course), keeping track of data, and monitoring for changes is a big part of this. Here's a set of slides from the recent BrightonSEO event., John Mueller on Bluesky
- Was honored to host Research@ our Mountain View HQ last week. Over the past two weeks, we've seen a flurry of new results from Google Research, from genomics to quantum computing to geospatial understanding. Research is our chance, Yossi Matias on X
- Search Central Live is coming back to Tel Aviv in November! If you're based in the region, and you're interested in Search, join us for a day focused on Search Console, Google Trends, and other Search best practices., Google Search Central on LinkedIn
Search Engine Land Stories:
- The future of SEO teams is human-led and agent-powered
- Google Search Console adds Query groups
- Search Engine Land Awards 2025: And the winners are…
- Why a lower CTR can be better for your PPC campaigns
- The agentic web is here: Why NLWeb makes schema your greatest SEO asset
Other Great Search Stories:
AI & LLMs
- A Growing Rift Between Microsoft, OpenAI This Time Centers over 'Sexbot', Techstrong
- AI Search Trends for 2026 & How You Can Adapt to Them, Semrush
- Cloudflare's Matthew Prince wants Google to play ball with AI rivals., Digiday
- E-Commerce in the Age of AI and Omnichannel Search | Marco Loguercio, Advanced Web Ranking
- Study: ChatGPT sales referrals still trail traditional digital channels, Digital Commerce 360
- The AI Wildfire Is Coming. It's Going to be Very Painful and Incredibly Healthy., Dion Lim
Analytics
- GA4 Views vs. Sessions, KRM Digital Marketing
- What Are GA4 Content Groups? (And How to Set Them Up), KRM Digital Marketing
Industry & Business
- Uncertainty Grows Around Google’s $19 Billion Downtown West Project in San Jose, Realtor
- A Second Home in San Francisco, Profound
- Alphabet's Page, Brin Are $50B Richer in 3 Months, Only Trail Ellison, Business Insider
- Microsoft Needs to Open Up More About Its OpenAI Dealings, Wall Street Journal
- NextEra Energy partners with Google to restart Iowa nuclear plant, Reuters
- OpenAI says U.S. needs more power to stay ahead of China in AI, CNBC
Links & Content Marketing
- Thought Leadership as a Platform for B2B Marketing ROI, TopRank
- Why AI Thought Leadership Hurts Content Teams, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Ford Bronco Helps Bring TransAmerica Trail to Google Street View, Motor1
- Google Maps Is The Best Software Included With Samsung Galaxy XR, UploadVR
- Tourist falls into Venice canal when following Google Maps in viral video, Fox News
SEO
- AEO Orgless SEO: Digital Steganography, SEO Lady
- Google AI Mode = Zero-Clickpocalypse? How to Adapt Your SEO in 2025, SEO Sherpa
- Google Discover Just Got a Glow-Up: Follow Buttons and Social Posts Are Here, SEO Sherpa
- How Google Discover REALLY Works, Leadership SEO
PPC
- October 2025 update to Display & Video 360 API, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Verisign clarifies how Google Adsense for Domains changes could affect its business, Domain Name Wire
- Personalize Your Merchant Center Promotions with Audience Targeting, PPC News Feed
Search Features
- Chrome’s New Tab Page adds AI Mode and a + button to ask with context in Canary, Windows Report
- Strengthening ChatGPT’s responses in sensitive conversations, OpenAI
Feedback:
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