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 now says page experience is a ranking signal but not a ranking system. Google Analytics now says we can access and export Universal Analytics 3 until July 1, 2024. Google Ads to prohibit ads for products that carry an imminent, proven, and unresolved risk of death or grievous bodily harm. Google is testing a new “more” button interface in search. SEOs are worried about their jobs with the new AI revolution. Plus I posted a SEO video recap, you may want to watch it.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google: Page Experience Is A Ranking Signal, Not A Ranking System
Google is now saying that page experience, mobile-friendliness, page speed, and secure site are ranking “signals” but were never ranking “systems.” “It just meant these weren’t ranking *systems* but instead signals used by other systems,” Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison said this morning on Twitter.
Google Analytics To Show UA3 Data For A Year After It Stops Collecting Data On July 1, 2023
Google has shared more details on its upcoming deadline for when Universal Analytics 3 will be turning down. The new information is that you will be able to access, report and export your historical data in UA3 for a year after Google stops collecting data in that platform, so until July 1, 2024.
Google To Prohibit Ads Have An Imminent, Proven & Unresolved Risk Of Death Or Grievous Bodily Harm
Starting on July 3, 2023, Google will prohibit ads for products that carry an imminent, proven, and unresolved risk of death or grievous bodily harm that has been the subject of a consumer advisory or product recalls. This will update the Google Ads Dangerous products and services policy.
Google Search Tests New Simple “More” Results Buttons
Google is testing a new version of the “more” results button to make it look more basic and simple. Instead of the larger more results button, Google is testing a simple link.
Many SEOs Are Worried About Their Jobs Since Generative AI & AI Search
With generative AI and the new AI search features, we are not only able to use some generative AI tools to create excellent content, but how searchers access information is on the verge of changing. This is causing some concern and fear within the SEO industry.
Google Recording Sessions For Upcoming Google I/O
Google has begun recording sessions for the big Google I/O event that kicks off on May 10th. Here is a photo from the Firebase team showing off the recording studio and here is another shot from Paige
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Reviews Update Done, Page Experience, Site Name Fixes, Google Texting Businesses & Google / Microsoft Ad Revenues
This week, we had the Google April 2023 reviews update finish rolling out after 13 days. That update was pretty heated toward the last week of the rollout. Google clarified that page experience is a ranking signal but not a ranking system. Google asked you to submit…
Other Great Search Threads:
Google clarifying policy on Local Services Ads Reviews!!! Thank you! This is a welcome change that we have all been begging for!! Hopefully this will shut down a lot of the spam!, Anthony Higman on Twitter
HeadlessNexus It runs GPT-4 internally, but it is much more sophisticated than just calling the model: it has to call model several times and call Search, so, necessarily slower., Mikhail Parakhin on Twitter
Meta Reports Q1 2023, Revenue up 3pct to $28,645 bln, WebmasterWorld
Seeing as many as 20 additional local pack listings throughout organic., Brandon on Twitter
You can also be proactive about this by using something like Google Alerts (which you can also use for common hacked-content words, if you use WordPress or otherwise host a site yourself), John Mueller on Twitter
I don’t think anyone on here thinks that some technical element is the only thing that matters on the web. Otherwise, why even publish content?, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Pinterest and Amazon team up for multi-year ads partnership
Google UA historical data will be available until July 1, 2024
New update to Google’s Dangerous products or services policy
Google’s April 2023 reviews update was more volatile than the previous product reviews update, data providers say
5 new changes to the Google Ads API
Where traditional search and AI chatbots excel: A closer look
A quick guide to managing your online reputation
Meta’s ad revenue is up 4.3% in Q1
TikTok Shop launches in Beta
Google Ads is testing a gold verification badge
The SEO hierarchy of needs for local businesses on a budget
Google updates site names in search results after numerous complaints
Google now supports 25 more countries with new return policy structured data
How to uncover the root cause of PPC performance changes
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
GA4 Custom Reports – Shortcut to Data You Really Need, Data Driven U
Industry & Business
Apple’s Siri Chief Struggles With Turf Wars as New AI Era Begins, The Information
Get ready for Google I/O, Google Developers Blog
Google cuts 350 affordable units from North Bayshore project in Mountain View, Mountain View Online
Google Fights Uphill To Ax Suit Over Free Software Promises, Law360
Google, Salesforce workers returning to office amid layoffs, NY Post
Amazon, Google Defeat Surveillance Patent Infringement Claims, Bloomberg
Yahoo’s Readiness To Transform Business Tested By Acquisitions, Partnerships, MediaPost
Links & Content Marketing
The 13 rules to producing fail-safe AI content, Hallam
How Content Is Evolving Thanks to AI — Whiteboard Friday, Moz
Local & Maps
A New Google Maps Alternative Launches on Android Auto With Massive Update, AutoEvolution
Mariupol before and after: updated Google maps reveal destruction in Ukraine city, The Guardian
Mobile & Voice
How we fought bad apps and bad actors in 2022, Google Online Security Blog
How to Turn Off Google Assistant (and “Hey Google”), How To Geek
SEO
Google’s Newest Reviews Update Elevates Real-Life Experience, Amsive Digital
How to do keyword research for local SEO, Wix SEO Hub
How to Use BigQuery with Google Search Console, Go Fish Digital
SEO Split Test Result: ChatGPT-Generated FAQs Enriched with FAQPage Schema, Semrush
Site Explorer PDF Reports, Majestic
Examine SEO Case Study: 7 Lessons to 1 Million Monthly Visits, Ahrefs
What Is White Label SEO? A complete guide to SEO Outsourcing, Semrush
PPC
Deprecating Audience Composition Reports in Bid Manager API on June 8, 2023, Google Ads Developer Blog
Google Ads Discovery Campaigns, Browser Media
Other Search
New Research: Dark Social Falsely Attributes Significant Percentages of Web Traffic as “Direct”, SparkToro
Brave Search doesn’t use Bing’s index anymore, TechCrunch
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