This week in search, we are seeing yet again more Google search ranking volatility. Google sent out notifications about back button hijacking penalties to those sites that have the problem. Google AdSense vignette ads may trigger the penalty, so be careful. Bing Webmaster Tools teased new AI reporting features but no ETA on when it will launch. Google may be deindexing pages at a higher rate says many SEOs, but Google’s John Mueller says no. Google AI Overviews tests a sticky Ask Anything box. A new report says the click-through rates from AI Overviews are improving. Google’s preferred sources now works in all languages. I posted a two month Google Webmaster report. Bing is testing less clickable links in its Copilot results. Google local panel has a show more action button. Google in Germany can show how many reviews were removed. Google now lets you edit your videos in the mobile app for your Business Profile. Google Ads has new AI reporting features like AI brief, text disclaimers and expansion with AI Max for Shopping and Travel. Google tests AI labels on its search ads. Google Ads has this preview impact of negative keywords. Google reported earnings and so did Microsoft, we got the ad numbers for you. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
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Search Topics of Discussion:
- 0:00 - Introduction
- 0:50 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heating Up April 27th & 28th
- 1:17 - Google Sends Warning Notices On Back Button Hijacking Spam Penalty
- 1:54 - Google AdSense Vignette Ads Setting May Trigger Back Button Hijack Penalty
- 3:07 - Bing Webmaster Tools New AI Reporting Features
- 3:46 - Google Search May Be Deindexing URLs At Higher Rates
- 4:24 - Google AI Overview Ask Anything Box Sticks As You Scroll
- 4:43 - Google Click Through Rates Improving For Organic Results With AI Overviews
- 5:17 - Google Preferred Sources Now Available For All Languages Globally
- 5:38 - April & May 2026 Google Webmaster Report
- 5:59 - Bing Tests Less Clickable Links In Copilot Search Results
- 6:22 - Google Local Panel With Show More Action Buttons
- 6:52 - Google Showing How Many Reviews Were Deleted
- 7:15 - Google Maps Video Editing Within Google App
- 7:53 - Google Ads AI Max: AI Brief, Text Disclaimers & Shopping & Travel Expansion
- 8:20 - Google Tests AI Label On Search Ads
- 8:40 - Google Ads Preview Impact Of Negative Keywords (& More)
- 9:03 - Google Ad Revenue Up 15.5% With Overall Revenue Up 22%
- 9:38 - Bing Ads Revenue Up 12% - 1 Billion Monthly Action Users Milestone
- 10:02 - Conclusion
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