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’s local pack dropped the ability to see more results, for 16+ hours. Google Search’s travel/hotel listings are being hijacked in the EU regions. Google Analytics 4 now has a new default Google Ads report. Google Ads now color codes the limited by budget status. Microsoft wanted to sell Bing Search to Apple but Apple said it had quality issues, Google said.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google Drops Link To See More Local Results From Search Results
Google has dropped the “more places,” “view all” and links to see more local results from the local pack, the places box, in the Google Search results. This happened last night around 5 pm ET, and I thought it was a bug, but so far, Google has not yet fixed the issue.
Google Europe Search Hijacking Bug With TripAdvisor, Booking, Hotel.com & More
Google Search may have a bug in the European regions with hotel listings being hijacked by spammy sites. Google will show TripAdvisor, Hotels.com, Booking.com and other legit sites in its search results but when you click on those listings, you’re taken to a different site, a spammy site.
Report: Microsoft Tried Selling Bing To Apple But Search Quality Issues Held It Back
According to a court filing by Google, Microsoft tried to sell Bing, its search engine, to Apple but Apple did not want it because of search quality issues and lack of investment. Plus, Microsoft pitched Apple to make Bing the default search engine but that was rejected as well.
Google Analytics Adds New Default Google Ads Report
Google Analytics seems to have added a new default Google Ads report to the performance reporting section. This is if you have linked your Google Analytics 4 profile with your Google Ads account.
Google Ads Limited By Budget Status Now Color Coded
Google Ads now will use colors, like yellow and red background highlights, for the “limited by budget” status column. I assume a yellow indicator color is not as limited as a red indicator color.
Here is an old photo I just recently found on Instagram but is from way back in 2015. It is of a fancy looking waffle in a Google Photos box, it looks delicious but by now I am sure it is pretty hard to eat.
Other Great Search Threads:
Hi All, This is a bug (and it was thought to be a non-brand query) — a fix is underway., AdsLiaison on X
Google’s “hot commands” vs “hot words” -> Google wants to patent a way to predict automated assistant interactions using “a fusion of visual and audio input” “In place of needing to say specific hot words or wake words like “h, Glenn Gabe on X
I’m done with @Google. I know many good individuals working there, but as a company they’ve irrevocably lost my trust. I’m “moving out”. Here’s why: I’ve been reading Google’s Gemini damage control posts. I think they’re simply not, Mario Juric on X
The irony of irrelevant, old Reddit posts outranking Google’s official announcement here, Lily Ray on X
We’ve rolled out a few Copilot GPTs in Microsoft Copilot. They can help create designs, plan your next vacation, learn to cook a new recipe, or create a custom workout plan. GPTs leverage contextual instructions in the prompt and do, Jordi Ribas on X
Yes, it was an edge case that affected this query., AdsLiaison on X
I introduced for Bing in 2012 the clean-parameter as a hint in robots.txt file to allow webmasters to specify which URL parameters can be safely ignored by web crawlers. We removed documentation on it whe, Fabrice Canel on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google: Apple rejected Microsoft Bing deal over quality and advertising worries
How SMBs are approaching digital marketing in 2024
How to make your AI-generated content sound more human
A technical guide to video SEO
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
The GA4 Conversions Report – Detect Your Business Boosters, Data Driven U
The problem with Google Analytics has been resolved, Google
Industry & Business
Alphabet Drops During Renewed Fears About Google’s AI Offerings, Bloomberg
Exclusive: Google steps up Microsoft criticism, warns of rival’s monopoly in cloud, Reuters
Google court filing reveals new business details of DuckDuckGo and Neeva, TechCrunch
Google Play Judge Calls $700 Million Settlement Bad for Consumers, Bloomberg
Links & Content Marketing
How To Use the Canonical Link Element for Duplicate Content, BruceClay
Attention vs.Trust: Which Should Content Marketers Prioritize?, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
Create a GBP Video with Canva, Moz
Google Maps Fail Led to Grueling Trek Through Wilderness for Days: Tourists, Business Insider
How to Make Google Maps Load Faster on Android, AutoEvolution
Mobile & Voice
Apple’s ‘Ask’ project may be far more than just an AI-assisted support tool, AppleInsider
Meta Aiming to Reveal First AR Glasses During Fall Connect Conference, Business Insider
SEO
10 of the Best SEO APIs for Enterprises, seoClarity
5 ways that Google’s helpful content system could evolve based on the evolution of previous punitive algorithm updates like Panda and Penguin, GSQI
INP (Interaction to Next Paint): The New Core Web Vitals Metric SEOs Should Know, Lumar
SEO in 2023: Winners, Losers, and Overall Trends, Amsive
SEO is not DEAD, HackerNoon
SEOs, Are You Using These 6 Mental Models?, Ahrefs
Find Your Difficulty Benchmark – Next Level, Moz
SEO Framework – the Execution (EP8), Compass Digital Strategies
PPC
Google gives advertisers more visibility, control over search following Adalytics report, Ad Age
Google lets brands audit GSP ads after Check My Ads reports, Check My Ads
Seasonal Spotlights: Home and Garden Advertising in the spring Season, Microsoft Advertising
Celebrating our partner: Blastness, Microsoft Advertising
Policy update: Teeth whitening products, Google Merchant Center Help
Search Features
Google Shopping: See what’s trending for spring in the Try Guide, Google Blog
Other Search
62% of People Now Use ChatGPT or Google Gemini To Find A Product or Service, Why This Will Change Marketing, Ignite Visibility
Gemini and Google’s Culture, Stratechery by Ben Thompson
The Deeper Problem With Google’s Racially Diverse Nazis, The Atlantic
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