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’s March 2023 core update started to roll out yesterday, this one touched down fast and hit hard within the first 24 hours. Google Business Profiles has a bug where it says customers cannot see your business listing. Google AdSense auto ads updated its user experience. Google said you should ignore referral spam, at least for SEO reasons. Microsoft Advertising’s broad match modifier keywords are now being served as broad match keywords instead of phrase match on Bing Search.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google March 2023 Broad Core Update Is Live – What We Are Seeing Now
Google Search has started to roll out the first broad core update of the 2023 year, and this one is named the March 2023 broad core update. It started on March 15, 2023, at about 10:30 am ET and can take about two weeks to roll out. This update touched down fast and hard – it is a big one…
Google Business Profile Bug: Your Business Is Not Visible To Customers
Google may have a bug, it is a confirmed bug according to some local SEOs, where a bunch of businesses are seeing a notice in Google Search that “your business is not visible to customers” in Google Search or Google Maps.
Google’s John Mueller: Ignore Spammy Referral Traffic
Google’s John Mueller said when it comes to spammy referral traffic, you can ignore it and not worry about it regarding SEO. John said on Twitter, “I’d ignore it,” when asked about it.
Microsoft Advertising Broad Match Modifier Now Use Broad Match Instead Of Phrase Match On Bing
Microsoft Advertising’s broad match modifier keywords are now being served as broad match keywords instead of phrase match on Bing Search. This is effective as of yesterday, March 15, 2023.
Google Updates AdSense Auto Ads Publisher Interface
Google has updated the interface and user experience for Auto ads within the AdSense console. Google said, “To make it easier to navigate and understand the differences between Auto ads formats, we’ve made the following updates to the Auto ads settings panel.”
2006: Googlebots Playing Soccer At The GooglePlex
Here is a photo I took back in 2006 that I recently stumbled upon when looking for another photo. It is from August 2006 at the old Google Dance event, you can see old Googlebots controlled by Googers
Other Great Search Threads:
I can’t imagine the product reviews update affecting reviews left in google business profiles — they’re very different things (despite both using, John Mueller on Twitter
if you’re seeing bigger differences between lab-tests & field data (in search console), it might be that your users see things differently than the lab tests predict. I’d try to reproduce, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Twitter launches new ‘Unskippable’ video marketing series
The new Bing: No more waiting list?
Microsoft Ads broad match modifier keywords now serving ad broad match
Google releases March 2023 broad core update
New Google Analytics custom channel groups
Andi Search adds Generated Content feature
How to deploy advanced schema at scale
SEO product management: Key framework and fundamentals
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Google Tag Manager vs Google Analytics – Which Tool to Use?, Data Driven U
How to compare hourly sessions in Google Analytics 4 to track the impact from major Google algorithm updates (like broad core updates), GSQI
Industry & Business
Apple, Amazon, Google will likely get a reprieve from GOP-controlled House on antitrust legislation, CNBC
Search Engine Doctor AI Chatbot Medical Care Legal Implications, National Law Review
Swiss Google workers stage walkout as job cuts hit Europe, Yahoo Finance
Venkat’s Blog Post Unjustly Removed from Google Search Results Due to EU RTBF Takedown, Eric Goldman
Yandex receives notice of delisting from Nasdaq and intends to appeal, Yandex
OpenAI co-founder on company’s past approach to openly sharing research: ‘We were wrong’, The Verge
Links & Content Marketing
Marketing Content to Gen Z? You Better Play by Their Rules, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
Google’s Travel website to stop creating trip summaries, 9to5Google
How to Get Found Online: Our Top 9 Tips for Local Service Businesses, WordStream
Why Your Listing Info Changes and What to do About it, BrightLocal
Mobile & Voice
6 ways Google AI is helping you sleep better, Google Blog
Google has discontinued the Glass Enterprise Edition, 9to5Google
SEO
Monitoring Search Console data in Looker Studio – Google Search Console Training, Google Search Central YouTube
Schema Improvements Show Deliberate SEO Now Activity, BrightEdge
What is Search Intent and Why Is It Fundamental to SEO?, Online Marketing Blog
10 Websites That Tried to Fool Google (And Failed), Ahrefs
PPC
The Curious Case of Editing & Deleted Products, Are Edits Gone Forever In Google Merchant Center?, FeedArmy
Understaffed media agencies turn to Google, Criteo and other tech platforms for help, Ad Age
Search Features
It appears anyone can now sign up for the new Bing, no waiting required, Windows Central
ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat: which is the best AI chatbot?, Digital Trends
Other Search
Google publishes its Generative AI prohibited use policy, 9to5Google
Interview with OpenAI’s Greg Brockman: GPT-4 isn’t perfect, but neither are you, TechCrunch
The ChatGPT episode, SERP’s Up SEO Podcast
Baidu Dives After Pre-Recorded Demo of AI Chatbot Disappoints, Bloomberg
OpenAI checked to see whether GPT-4 could take over the world, Ars Technica
Requiem for Google Reader, gone but not forgotten, The Register
The “can my parents use this thing right now” test, GarbageDay
Feedback:
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