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 provided more detailed advice on its stance with AI-generated content and search – it is worth a read. Google Merchant Center has a quick snapshot view in search. Google Hotel search results is now testing a carousel at the top. GoogleProber and GoogleProducer bots are confirmed by John Mueller. Many SEOs don’t find the Yandex source code leaks important for SEO.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google On AI Content: Think About The Who, How, and Why For Your Content
Google’s Danny Sullivan reiterated that when it comes to AI content, Google is fine with it, as long as the content is useful and written for people. If you are using AI to write spam, then that is against Google’s guidelines. But Google also added a new section to the people-first content section on “who, how and why” with your content.
Google Merchant Center View Products Search Dashboard
Google now can show you a Merchant Center with Google Business Profile status dashboard in the search results. This is similar to how Google shows your local business profile in search, also similar to the Search Console dashboard and Google Ads summary box in search.
Google Hotel Search Results Carousel At Top
Google Search now shows a carousel at the top of the search results for hotel results. Previously, Google showed a list view and only showed the carousel inside the hotel pack.
GoogleProber – Confirmed Google User Agent
Google’s John Mueller confirmed that the GoogleProber and the GoogleProducer (which we covered here) are both legit Googlebot user agents and crawlers. “These are official Google requests with a user-agent specific to the Google News config in Publisher Center so if they are blocked the feeds you set up may not work properly,” John added.
Poll: How Important Is The Yandex Search Ranking Factors Leak?
Chris Long asked a poll on LinkedIn, asking “How important is the Yandex leak for SEO?” He had 517 responses and by the responses, it seems like most SEOs don’t find the leak too important. Only 11% said it is “extremely important” and 16% said it is “important.”
Google Swanky Rooms
Here are some photos I found on Instagram of some of the swanky, highly stylish, rooms at the Google Dublin office.
Other Great Search Threads:
I wouldn’t worry about it. Changing your product number would probably make metrics tracking for you easier., John Mueller on Twitter
New to me: ability to select specific assets to preview when building an ad, Greg on Twitter
Now in 22 languages! Check out the Google Analytics 4 training program and certification on Skillshop → Scroll to the footer and select ‘locale’ to browse available languages., Google Analytics on Twitter
Will SEO be dead in 2 years? The world of the web is in flux. There are so many search engines now, and they’re all doing search differently than last year. (And I don’t have anything to sha, John Mueller on Twitter
Generally: The simpler the setup, the more robust the outcome, so unless you have reasons to do CSR, don’t do it for the sake of doing it. Do it with purpose. Crawling / indexing isn’t affected eithe, Martin Splitt on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Test driving the new Bing
Master the CX trifecta: Data, content and tech
Missing links: Where are sources in Google’s AI search results?
Will the new Bing create more opportunities for advertisers? Maybe
The new Bing: Microsoft unveils its ChatGPT-like, AI-powered search engine
Mastodon shows declined growth, despite concerns with Twitter
Understanding and resolving ‘Discovered – currently not indexed’
Google Search podcast carousel going away on February 13
Microsoft Ads in 2023: Key areas to leverage, test and optimize
Conductor acquires Searchmetrics in big enterprise SEO merger
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Google’s Ready to Configure GA4 For You: Here’s What You Should Know, Adswerve
Freshpaint Announces Easy Way to Make Google Analytics and Ad Platforms HIPAA-Compliant, Business Wire
Industry & Business
Google’s Parent Alphabet to Spend $500M Cutting Office Space This Quarter, Commercial Observer
Links & Content Marketing
How a Dr. Seuss Story Can Help You Not Be Afraid of ChatGPT, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
Maximize Your Video Reach: Do You Really Need to Embed from YouTube?, Sterling Sky Inc
Mobile & Voice
4 ways Google Assistant helps me manage sensory overload, Google Blog
Future HomeKit could track you through your house and predict your needs, AppleInsider
SEO
Google’s Featured Snippets: All You Need to Know to Get Them, Ahrefs
January 2023 Rich Results Weather Report Update, Schema App
8 Reasons to target low search volume keywords, Oncrawl
SEO troubleshooting with Browser Devtools, Google Search Central YouTube
The New “E” in Google’s E-E-A-T: Why Experience Matters for SEO Content, Lumar
To Categorize Or Not, SEO Theory
How to pick the right SEO tool for you, SERP’s Up SEO Podcast
PPC
The Ads Privacy Hub helps you measure performance more effectively, Google Ads Help
The new Bing: creating new value for advertisers, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
4 ways Google’s Shopping Graph helps you find what you want, Google Blog
Google will soon blur explicit images by default in search results, The Verge
Reinventing search with a new AI-powered Microsoft Bing and Edge, your copilot for the web, The Official Microsoft Blog
Other Search
Yoast SEO 20.1: Mastodon and inclusive language improvements, Yoast
Feedback:
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