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 changes how it handles soft 404 detection and now does it based on device type, so you may see weirdness in Search Console there from about a month ago. Google will use your HTTPS ranking boost independently of the other page experience update signals. Google Merchant Center will relax its contact information requirements next month. And more including my weekly recap video. Have a great and safe weekend all!
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Customer Support Scams, How Google Ranks, Machine Learning Spam & Bing Multimedia Ads
We had a bit of a breather this week with the July 4th weekend and a bit of a slower news week. I did post a recap of the past month of Google SEO and webmaster topics, it was a big month…
Google Changed How It Handles Soft 404s Detection – Mobile vs Desktop
John Mueller said in this morning’s video that Google has changed how it handles soft 404 detection saying it looks at desktop vs mobile differently but in Search Console only reports what it shows in mobile and not on desktop. So if Google sees your mobile site showing a soft 404 for a specific page, it will label it as such but the desktop site might still show up in the search results for that page. John said this is new and kind of surprised him when he heard it.
Google Tests Again Removing Full URLs and Breadcrumbs From Snippets
Google is once again testing just showing the domain name of the search result snippet and not the full URL or breadcrumb of that snippet. I saw several people notice this test this week notice this both on the mobile and desktop search results. Google has tested this in the past.
Google: HTTPS Ranking Boost Even With Other Poor Page Experience Signals
Darcy Burk asked John Mueller of Google if you still get the HTTPS ranking boost if you have HTTPS, but all your other page experience signals are poor. So your core web vitals are horrid but your URLs are over HTTPS, do you lose out on the HTTPS ranking boost which is part of the page experience update?
Some SEOs Disavow The Disavow Tool
Google has a disavow tool, a tool that reluctantly launched in 2012 that lets you tell Google which links you don’t want them to count that are pointing to your site. It turns out, there are a number of SEOs that end up disavowing their disavow tool – which has no impact on anything – but it is done.
Google Shopping Now Only Requires One Form Of Contact Information
Google said that starting in August 2021 it will change its insufficient contact information policy in the Google Merchant Center guidelines from having two forms of contact information, to only one form of contact information on your site.
Doogler Bandana
A couple of years ago I posted a photo of a Google dog, a Doogler, wearing a Doogler bandana. Well, I found a new Doogler bandana on Instagram the other day.
Other Great Search Threads:
At risk of a permanent removal 🟥? Or just a temporary time-out 🟨? @Aurora_Morales and her two co-hosts discuss how to get back in the game ⚽️ if your site encounters: 🟡 manual actions 🔴 policy violati, Google Search Central on Twitter
I don’t think we specifically announced anything in that regard (as with most changes in search), but in practice when we find signals that improve what we were originally trying to do, we replace them, John Mueller on Twitter
I’m sure I’m not the first one to make the joke but I’m still quite satisfied with the intro of our upcoming blog post. ✒️ "Transformer-based deep learning models are the darlings of the ML world. Attention is all th, Frédéric Dubut on Twitter
It was quite common in the early days of the european cookie directives (I forgot the name). Super annoying. Also, teaches you quickly to just ignore certain sites. There’s enough other stuff to check out online, John Mueller on Twitter
Personal news! Today’s my last day at Google. My "shields down" moment was the firing of @timnitGebru, then @mmitchell_ai, and all the constant gaslighting since then. I will not be taking f, Ted On Twitter
We can’t all be @ScrippsBee #SpellingBee finalists.🏆🐝 But Search can help you spell like a champion. Search can translate your typos and help you find what you’re looking for → https://t.co/o2ERTBe04j https://t.co/zcqq, Google on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google’s Pandu Nayak shares his roadmap for MUM and how it can help the company handle more complex queries
Creative ways to source content ideas from UGC for SEO
This is your last chance to save big on Search Engine Land Awards entries
Why it’s important to educate your friends and family about search; Thursday’s daily brief
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
GA4’s Benefits to Improve Conversions for Marketing Campaigns, ClickInsight
How to Use The Monetization Report in Google Analytics 4, Data Driven U
Plug Google Analytics Into Your WordPress Website With Site Kit, Make Use Of
Industry & Business
A lawsuit that ignores choice on Android and Google Play, Google Blog
Google feared Samsung Galaxy Store and tried to quash it, lawsuit alleges, The Verge
Google to roll out fintech services in Japan, Nikkei Asia
Google’s ‘hypocritical’ remote work policies anger employees, CNET
Suchi Reddy builds the world’s first Google store in New York, Architectural Digest India
Links & Content Marketing
Content Marketing and Its Power Through Storytelling, BBN Times
Local & Maps
What We’re Seeing From the June & July Core Updates [Case Study], Sterling Sky
Ask a Googler: Mike, Local Guides Connect
Shoehorning Cities into the Address Field of a Google My Business Page, Local Visibility System
Mobile & Voice
4 Google Assistant actions you want to set up right away, Commentary Box Sports
SEO
Fulfill Untapped Customer Demands Through Your Faceted Navigation, Moz
How to Convince Your Boss to Invest in SEO, Ahrefs
Landing Page Tips for SEO and PPC That Improve Your User Experience, Business 2 Community
Tested: Is WordPress Good For SEO In 2021?, Seobility Blog
The State of Statistical SEO Split-Testing in 2021 [Research], SEM Rush
What E-Commerce CMOs Need To Know About SEO, Botify
CWV Rollout? Page Experience Update — Jordan Koene, Searchmetrics
Google MUM Update: How new Google AI technology will change the face of SEO, Search Metrics
PPC
Expanding Top-of-Funnel Travel Customers Post-Lockdown, PPC Hero
Watch The Download, Episode 8: Retail, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
Chrome tests new feature to help you quickly switch between search results, XDA Developers
Feedback:
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