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.
Today I reported about how the Google link spam update was suppose to roll out over two weeks, but we are now into week three, and it will likely take another week to complete. Google’s top stories stopped showing images, it was a widespread bug. Google Ads has a new label named “paid for by” for political ads. Google local is testing reviews from the web and independent sites labels. Google said it will retry redirects for years. Google said make sure to cover all your bases with your content.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google Link Spam Update Still Rolling Out Over 3 Weeks Later
Google announced on July 26, 2021, three-weeks and two days ago, that it started to roll the link spam update and that update would take about two-weeks to roll out. Well, like I said, it is three-weeks and two days and it is still not done rolling out.
Top Stories Images In Google Search Blank
Google’s top stories carousel is not loading all the images for those articles. It seems like a bug is causing some of the images to not show up as of early this morning.
Google Ads “Paid For By Label” On Political Ads
Google is now placing a label (I think it is new) named “paid for by” on some political ads. This label lets searchers click on it to learn more who is sponsoring the ad and even lets you dive into more details on the advertiser and their spend.
Google: Cover All Your Bases With Searcher Intent & Your Content
Lily Ray shared an interesting chart from Ahrefs, the SEO toolset, showing how for a single keyword phrase, there were multiple intents from searchers spike over a different time period. In which, John Mueller of Google responded that it makes sense to create content that covers “both possible intents.”
Google Local Result With Reviews From The Web & Independent Sites
Google seems to be testing a new way of showing reviews in the local listing for some businesses. Brandon Schmidt spotted Google showing not just the number of reviews with the review summary in stars, but where Google labels if the reviews are “from the web” or from “independent sites.”
Google: We Will Retry Old Redirect URLs For Years
Google’s John Mueller once again confirmed that Google will continue to retry old, redirected URLs for years and years even if the redirect remains in place for a long time. John said on Twitter “I suspect we’ll keep retrying these for years, on and off.”
Googlers Working At Google On The Staircase With Masks
Here is a recent photo of three Googlers working at the main Google headquarters, the GooglePlex, in Mountain View, California. They are sitting or standing near the trends staircase with masks on an
Other Great Search Threads:
If that link is only on your site because of a paid relationship, then yes., John Mueller on Twitter
Interested in “Discovered, not indexed”? Via @johnmu: If it’s a smaller site, then crawl budget isn’t the issue. For quality, Google does take it into account strongly for crawling & indexing. But, it’s not necessarily about th, Glenn Gabe on Twitter
The cached page was never an indication of what’s indexed. Use Search Console for diagnostics purposes instead., John Mueller on Twitter
When you test it, the system makes various assumptions about how the average user might see it (connection, processing resources, etc). It’s not just “what your browser sees” but generally includes, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Three targeting tactics that power every stage of the funnel
Traffic and rankings don’t mean a thing unless they help you convert; Tuesday’s daily brief
Retrospective competitor analysis: Reinforcing SEO strategies with historical data
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
How to Build, Deploy & Share Custom Google Data Studio Community Connectors, FAUN
See Incoming Requests in Server GTM Preview Mode Without Cookies, Analytics Mania
Industry & Business
Google Reportedly Details Pay Cuts For Permanent WFH Employees Who Relocate, CBS San Francisco
Russia fines Google for not deleting banned content, Reuters
Links & Content Marketing
Content Marketing Resilience: How To Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough(er), Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
Hiking With A GPS? Mountain Rescuers Who Might Have To Find You Say, ‘Get A Map!’, Here & Now
It might be the end of the road for Android Auto on phone screens, Android Police
Mobile & Voice
Google ‘Snapshot’ homescreen comes to life w/ new tool, 9to5Google
Google Assistant Upgrades Family Bell to Alert Mobile Devices, Voicebot
Pixel 5a with 5G Review: Uncompromised $449 value, 9to5Google
SEO
Core Web Vitals Update: Assessing the Initial Impact, Semrush
How to fix duplicate content problems, SEOprofiler Blog
Importance of SEO for eCommerce: 5 recommendations, TechBullion
Layered SEO Analysis for Happy Clients, iPullRank
Magento SEO: The Guide to Optimizing Magento Websites, Moz
SEO Testing: A Simple (But Complete) Guide, Ahrefs
PPC
Announcing v202108 of the Google Ad Manager API, Google Ads Developer Blog
How to do keyword research in a language you don’t speak, Rise at Seven
What Are Google Shopping Ads & How They Can Generate Revenue, Semrush
Search Features
Answer: What do you do to find high quality news content? (part 2), SearchReSearch
Other Search
YouTube upgrades search with chapter previews and better recommendations for translated videos, TechCrunch
Feedback:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, you can follow us on Facebook and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel or just contact us the old fashion way.
