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 said it is working on surfacing more heartful helpful content, after no sites seemed to have recovered from the last helpful content update. Danny Sullivan said he speaks directly to engineers working on Google Search. Google doesn’t let you turn off AI Overviews, but Bing lets you turn off its AI responses. Google Notes says it is ending the labs feature soon but Google may bring comments to notes.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google Working On Surfacing More Content That Comes From The Heart
Last week we reported how Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, said how they are looking for ways to better promote sites that were hit by that helpful content update in September. Now, over the weekend, John Mueller from Google added, “the team working on this is explictly evaluating how sites can / will improve in Search for the next update.”
Bing Lets You Turn Off AI Responses But Google Doesn’t Let You Turn Off AI Overviews
Google has been rolling out AI Overviews in its search results since last week and more and more searchers are super unhappy that there is no way to turn off the AI Overviews. Michael Schechter, a Vice President at Microsoft, shared a screenshot in Bing, on how you can turn off Copilot responses in Bing Search with the click of a button.
Danny Sullivan: We Speak Directly To Engineers Working On Google Ranking Systems
Google was asked where Google’s Danny Sullivan and John Mueller get their information from when responding to search and ranking-related questions. Sullivan responded directly to the engineers who code those ranking systems at Google.
Google Says Notes On Search Now Ends Soon
Google has updated the Google Search Labs to say that Notes on Search now “ends soon.” As a reminder, last November Google rolled out as a labs the Notes feature in Google Search and Google Discover.
Comments To Notes In Google Search?
Google may be bringing comments to the Notes on Google Search (and Discover) feature. Notes on Search came last November as a labs feature in Google Search and Google Discover. Google recently tested a new button for the notes feature in Search. Now Google may be testing comments on Notes.
NYC Bring Your Child To Work Day At Google NYC
Google held its annual bring your child to work day at the Google New York City office. This was back in late April and I found some cute photos of kids at Google doing face painting, gaming, balloons and more.
Other Great Search Threads:
OpenAI has added a ‘make this chat discoverable’ option, letting users decide if their chats should appear in search engines. That’s cool! (cont..), Shameem Adhikarath on X
Yesterday was my last day as head of alignment, superalignment lead, and executive @OpenAI, Jan Leike on X
AI Overviews aren’t just good. They’re necessary for the long-term health of the web. It is time for a thread about AI, search and really the (nearish) future of publishing and the web. (and plz subscribe to the podcast at the end i, Bryan Casey on X
Google has launched a small update for Search Knowledge Panels, specifically now displaying in this case the total numbers of teams managed by Josep Guardiola and Arne Slot starting with the last one (current or former)., Radu Oncescu on X
Google! I have used your weapons against you! You have been cursed by The Smiling Man!, Ed Zitron on X
Search engines and users don’t see what you did before you show the images to them., John Mueller on X
I just left Google last month. The “AI Projects” I was working on were poorly motivated and driven by this mindless panic that as long as it had “AI” in it, it would be great., Scott Jenson On LinkedIn
Search Engine Land Stories:
Why advertisers can no longer trust Google
TikTok now testing 60-minute video uploads
Navigating the AI wars: Winning SEO strategies for brands
How to archive your Universal Analytics historical data
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
The Complete Guide to Google Analytics Direct Traffic, Semrush
A Beginner’s Guide to Implementing gtag.js with Google Tag Manager, Hopskip Media
Don’t Be Distracted By Cookie Drama. Google’s Search Changes Are The Real Existential Threat, AdExchanger
Industry & Business
How Google’s AI could accelerate the Web’s decline, Axios
How to write a successful industry awards entry, according to the judges, Wix SEO Hub
Microsoft warned it could be fined billions by EU over missing GenAI risk info, TechCrunch
OpenAI’s Long-Term AI Risk Team Has Disbanded, WIRED
Yandex N.V. announces successful initial closing of the divestment of its Russia-based businesses, Yandex
U.S. Fears Undersea Cables Are Vulnerable to Espionage From Chinese Repair Ships, Wall Street Journal
This Year’s Google I/O Was the Most Boring Ever, Gizmodo
Links & Content Marketing
Link Rot and Digital Decay on Government, News and Other Webpages, Pew Research Center
8 Content Marketing Trends You Need to Know in 2023, Influencer Marketing Hub
Content Marketing: A Guide to What It Is and How To Succeed (2024), Shopify
Why Originality Is The New Golden Rule In B2B Content Marketing, Forbes
Local & Maps
Rivian uses Android Automotive OS to build its software, 9to5Google
Simplified Google Maps bottom bar rolling out on Android, 9to5Google
Why You Want to Blur Your Home in Google Maps Street View and How to Do it, CNET
Mobile & Voice
Apple Plans a Thinner iPhone in 2025, The Information
OpenAI and Google are all-in on AI assistants, The Verge
OpenAI and Google Differ on How AI Assistants Should Behave, Bloomberg
8 Years Ago, Google Beat Alexa. Then It Just Let the Assistant Waste Away, Inverse
OpenAI to Pull Johansson Soundalike Sky’s Voice From ChatGPT, Bloomberg
SEO
Content MVP Framework: Create & rank on any budget, Wix SEO Hub
Google AI Overviews and Organized Results: About the Release, Tools & More, Aleyda Solis
Personal Branding for SEO Professionals, Women in Tech SEO
The SEO pro’s guide to handling Google algorithm updates, Funnel
Why a Personal Website Is The Best Thing for Your SEO Career, Sitebulb
Alternatives to Hreflang Attribute, Bill Hunt
Yandex Behavioral Ranking Factors, Russian Search News
Yandex Enhances Search Quality with New Algorithms and Neural Networks, Russian Search News
PPC
This not-for-profit is revolutionising Google Ads and SEO for suicide prevention, Mumbrella
Search Features
How I Made Google’s “Web” View My Default Search, Tedium
Optimisey Search | Simplify Your Search Results, Optimisey
Google’s AI Overviews Will Change the Whole Internet — Again, NY Mag
How often will you actually see AI in Google Search?, 9to5Google
Other Search
Google Delists Sites Providing DIY Hormone Therapy at Behest of UK Government, 404 Media
As clicks dry up for news sites, could Apple News be a lifeline?, Semafor
Feedback:
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