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.
Bing Chat is now appearing in the Bing Search answers box section, as expected. Some are complaining that Bing Chat is showing paywalled content. Google says keyword stuffing alone won’t make a page not helpful. Google is testing one-star icons in the local pack. Google Local Service ads updated the industry and services selector.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Bing Chat Answers Now In Bing Search Results
If you do some queries in Bing Search, you may get the Bing Chat box and a brief answer from Bing Chat at the top. We knew this was coming, Mikhail Parakhin, the CEO of Microsoft Bing said it would a week or so ago and now it seems to be here.
Bing Chat Access Content Behind Paywalls?
There is some concern and speculation on the internet that Microsoft Bing is feeding in content behind paywall and using such content to provide answers in Bing Chat. I asked Bing Chat if it can give answers based on content behind paywalls and it said no, it cannot.
Google: Keyword Stuffing Alone Does Not Make A Page Unhelpful
Google’s John Mueller said that keyword stuffing alone would not make a page be deemed unhelpful. John added that Google is good at ignoring tactics like keyword stuffing, so that alone likely won’t be the reason for ranking issues in Google Search.
Google Tests Only One Star Icon In Local Pack Results
Google is testing showing only one star in the local pack in the search results. This is instead of showing five stars with some of those stars filled in with yellow. I am not seeing the single star partially filled up, but all those businesses may have 5-star reviews and not 3 out of 5 stars.
Google Local Services Ads Updated The Industry & Services Selector
Google has updated the industry and services selector or picker tool within the Google Local Service Ads interface. This makes it a bit faster to find and activate your business’s services and industries.
Google Futuristic Flower Pots
Here is a photo from the Google Dublin office of some new flower or plant pots that have a futuristic look to them. I found them on Instagram.
Other Great Search Threads:
Moving to a subdomain to improve your SEO – this must be a trap :-). I’m a fan of having fewer sites, but ultimately that’s up to you too decide. It feels more like a business decision to me., John Mueller on Twitter
Seeing an "about" and "reviews" tab on Google Maps that looks similar to the mobile experience. Only seeing this while logged in and not on every listing., Joy Hawkins on Twitter
Fellow SEOs, I am very curious. Are you an early bird or a night owl?, Olga Zarr SEO on Twitter
You wouldn’t be the first to put that word into your metatags. Alas, we don’t have an overall SEO score though., John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Bing adds Bing Chat answers to search results
PPC is a tough game – you have to accept it
8 important content strategy goals to consider
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Complete Tutorial on Tracking Site Search in GA4, Online Metrics
How to Avoid Duplicate Conversions and Recreating the Conversion Funnel for GA4, Moz
Industry & Business
Google denies destroying ‘chat’ evidence in U.S. antitrust lawsuit, Reuters
Links & Content Marketing
AI for SEO: Opportunities & Limitations for Marketers [2023], Tinuiti
Will the Rise of AI-Generated Content Impact Your Business?, DAGMAR
How to Find Your Competitors’ Backlinks (And Get Them for Yourself), Ahrefs
Why Remarkable Content Originates From an Unremarkable Process, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
Google Maps Immersive View finally appears to be rolling out, 9to5Google
Local Rank Tracker 2.0 is here!, BrightLocal
Mobile & Voice
Google Is Giving Early Access To Its AI Assistant To Pixel Superfans, Mashable
I really want a ChatGPT-like voice assistant in my Google Nest speakers, Android Authority
SEO
How To Detect & Fix Keyword Cannibalization, SEOSLY
SEO metrics that matter, WTF is SEO?
Technical SEO Best Practices: How To Improve Your Website’s Architecture And Performance, I Love SEO
PPC
PPC Campaign Testing: The Dos & Don’ts to Turn Risks into Rewards, WordStream
Global Product Champion Award: Wriggle Marketing, Microsoft Advertising
Partner Awards 2022: Europe winners, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
Google is giving some Pixel Superfans early access to Bard, 9to5Google
Other Search
ChatGPT would probably fail a CFA exam, Financial Times
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says AI will reshape society, acknowledges risks: ‘A little bit scared of this’, ABC News
OpenAI: ChatGPT Could Disrupt 19% of US Jobs, Is Yours on the List?, PC Magazine
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