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It is another week and more Google Search ranking volatility but this was a weird one. Google launched Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app and it is coming to AI Mode in Google Search. Google AI Mode new ad format called Direct Offer ads and also a new Universal Commerce Protocol launched. Google Merchant Center announced business agents, branded AI agents. Apple picked Google Gemini to power Apple Intelligence and Siri. Google does integrate core search signals into its AI experiences. Google will adjust its algorithm to remove prediction news content from showing in search. Google prohibits showing different prices in AI Mode UCP versus what is in search and what is on your website. Google AI Overviews are killing local packs and local SEO. Google’s John Mueller said UCP won’t kill SEO. John Mueller also said core updates don’t impact the display of favicons in search. John also said linking brand websites together at a reasonable scale is okay. Google Trends launched a new Explore page with Gemini features. Google AI Mode has new ads named explore guides and articles. Google Ads released campaign total budgets as an open beta to all. Google Ads allows for faster account setup. Google Ads is testing A/B testing for PMax assets and Shopping Ads titles and images. Google Ads has a new way to select manual CPC bidding. Google Ads brand linking experiment is visible for some. Google AdSense earnings were a wreck this week, it may be a bug. Microsoft Advertising announced new customer acquisition goals as an open beta, Share of voice (SOV) metrics, Asset group-level URL options and tracking templates, increased Search Theme limit, enhanced asset group import, Content Targeting now generally available, Location targeting improvements and Autogenerated assets in Responsive Search ads. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
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Search Topics of Discussion:
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 1:03 - Possible Google Search Ranking Volatility Around January 12
- 1:47 - Personal Intelligence In Gemini & Soon In Google Search AI Mode
- 2:47 - Google AI Mode Direct Offers Ads & Universal Commerce Protocol
- 4:00 - Google Merchant Center Business Agent - Branded AI Agents
- 4:38 - Official: Apple Intelligence & Siri To Be Powered By Google Gemini
- 5:39 - Google Integrates Core Search Signals Into AI Experiences
- 6:12 - Google To Prioritize Removing Prediction News Content From Search & News
- 7:13 - Google: We Prohibit Showing Different Prices In Search/AI Mode vs Website
- 8:08 - Google AI Overview Local Pack Leading To Huge Drops In Visibility
- 8:41 - Google's John Mueller Says Universal Commerce Protocol Won't Kill SEO
- 9:13 - Google: Favicons In Search Not Impacted By Google Core Updates
- 9:29 - Google: Linking Brand Websites Together At Reasonable Scale Is Fine
- 9:47 - Google Trends Explore Page Adds Gemini
- 10:07 - New Google AI Mode Ads: Explore Guides and Articles
- 10:27 - Google Ads Campaign Total Budgets Live As An Open Beta
- 10:46 - Google Ads Faster Account Set Up With Campaigns
- 11:02 - Google Ads Performance Max A/B Testing Assets
- 11:20 - Google Ads A/B Tests Product Titles & Images For Shopping Ads
- 11:29 - Google Ads Manual CPC Bid Selection Streamlined
- 11:42 - Google Ads Brand Linking Experiment
- 11:55 - Google AdSense Earnings Dropping Again eCPM/RPM - Complaints
- 12:28 - Microsoft Advertising Adds Share Of Voice Metrics, Asset Group-Level URL Options, Customer Acquisition Goals...
- 12:53 - Conclusion
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