Google completed the December 2025 core update this week and it hit some news publishers incredibly hard. I posted the annual Google algorithm update infographic. Google’s Frankenstein AI-recipes are a complete horror. Google questioned the need for ccTLDs for international SEO. Do not create multiple Business Profiles for each department listing on Google. Google AI Overviews is testing speaker icons in the US. Chrome is testing replacing the Gemini button with alternatives. Bing is testing expanding the people also ask on click. Microsoft Advertising added custom columns for advanced reporting and also added an all accounts tab. I posted the top contributors and the most commented on stories of 2025 to the Search Engine Roundtable. Google’s New Year’s Eve Doodle was still live on New Year’s Day. John Mueller and other Googlers were out there on New Year’s Day supporting SEOs. John Mueller posted his annual Mueller report of SEO memes. And sadly, we lost an experienced and friendly SEO, Andy Drinkwater. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
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Search Topics of Discussion:
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 0:58 - Google December 2025 Core Update Has Finished Rolling Out
- 2:03 - Some News Publishers Saw Big Declines With The Google Core Update
- 2:43 - Google Algorithm Updates 2025 Infographics
- 3:27 - Google's AI Frankenstein Recipes Are A Horror
- 4:35 - Google Questions Need For ccTLDs For Some International Websites
- 5:16 - John Mueller (Personally) On If Schema Helps With LLMs & Google
- 5:52 - Google: Why 404s Don't Matter For SEO
- 6:05 - Google Search Tests Blue Send Button In Query Box
- 6:23 - Google AI Overviews Tests Speaker Play Button In US
- 6:44 - Google Chrome Tests Replacing Gemini Button With Browse With AI Button
- 7:10 - Bing Tests Expanding People Also Ask
- 7:26 - Microsoft Advertising Adds Custom Columns For Advanced Reporting
- 7:42 - Microsoft Advertising With All Accounts Tab
- 7:58 - Top Contributors To The Search Engine Roundtable In 2025
- 8:40 - Most Commented Search Engine Roundtable Articles - 2025 Edition
- 9:00 - Google Displays New Year's Eve Doodle On New Year's Day
- 9:50 - (John) Mueller Report Of SEO Memes (2025 Edition)
- 10:08 - Google's John Mueller Working On New Year's Day (2026 Edition)
- 10:38 - The Industry Mourns The Loss Of Andy Drinkwater - Experience & Friendly SEO
- 11:02 - Conclusion
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