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.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
March 2019 Google Webmaster Report
We had a nice number of unconfirmed Google search ranking updates this past month including one on March 1st, February 27th, February 22nd, February 18th, February 13th and on February 7th – yea…
Don’t Rank For Your Own Brand Name In Google?
Do you not rank for your own brand name in the Google search results? So if your company name is something unique and weird, maybe like RustyBrick and you search Google for [rustybrick] do you not rank number one for your own name in Google?
Google: Multilingual Sites Using Same Image URLs Should Localize Alt Attributes
Google’s John Mueller said on Twitter that it is fine for multilingual sites to use the same image and image source URLs for translated pages but the alt attributes for those images should be localized and translated into the local language.
Google My Business Guidelines Prohibits Irrelevant Content In Business Description
Google has added a line to the business description guidelines within the Google My Business guidelines basically making it clear that they do not allow the description to contain irrelevant content.
Google Ad Grant Terms & Conditions Posts Fix?
The other week we posted about a bug with Google Ad Grants advertisers not being able to accept the terms and conditions. This has been going on for weeks and finally Google posted a possible solution or workaround for the bug. The steps are as follows:
Google NYC Scooter Rack
Most of you probably remember seeing the Google scooter parking rack in black and white from a couple of years ago. They had these racks since they opened the NYC office. It is an easy way to get aro
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
March Bing Updates, WebmasterWorld
Local SEO Tip: Is it worth posting on GMB? Do your competitors do it?Don’t forget you can see if your competitors are posting near you from your GMB dashboard, see what and when they are posting…just make sure your pos, Andy Simpson on Twitter
Alphabet’s Chronicle Launches Backstory, A Global Security Telemetry Platform, WebmasterWorld
That looks pretty amazing — love the work you’re doing to make these structured-data-based features easier to implement properly on websites!… https://t.co/RGLqfSvrZc, John Mueller on Twitter
That’s the AMP cache URL; the data in Search Console will refer to your AMP URLs, even when it’s served through the AMP cache.…, John Mueller on Twitter
This is also important for #SEO…, Martin Splitt @ on Twitter
Today is my 17th anniversary in my current job. It’s still the most fascinating thing I’ve done in my professional life. And I’m humbled to work on a product that so many people use., Paul Haahr on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
How to set up Google Search Console domain verification for site-wide reporting data
Why DuckDuckGo matters
Time’s running out! Book your SMX Advanced pass now!
Google Ads API now out of beta, v0 will sunset April 30
Google lobs invective at EU Copyright Directive
Google My Business boosts visibility of business offers in Google Posts
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Data-driven product merchandising, Think with Google
Getting Lucky with Analysis, directwest.com
Making the Most of Google Data Studio Reporting, Incentric Digital Marketing
Industry & Business
Ensuring we pay fairly and equitably, Google Blog
Google Is Still Working on China Search Engine, Employees Claim, The Intercept
Links & Promotion Building
In Search SEO Podcast 17: Syncing Your SEO & Influencer Marketing Strategies, RankRanger
Local & Maps
How my passion for ice cream became "More Than A Business", Google Blog
How Azure Maps differs from Bing Maps for developers, InfoWorld
Mobile & Voice
Apple hunts for program manager to help respond to Siri criticisms, appleinsider.com
Voices of Search Podcast: February 2019 SEO Winners and Losers, Search Metrics
SEO
Key SEO Metrics: Branded vs. Non-Branded Google Organic Search Traffic, Keylime Toolbox
March 1st Google Update: The Mysterious Case of the 19-Result SERPs, Moz
Release schedules, selling digital downloads, and some bonus links, Yoast
21 Easy to Implement SEO Actions That Can Improve Your Rankings Big Time, Cognitive SEO
Article vs. Category Page Rankings: What Should You Focus On?, Search Engine Journal
Long Tail Keywords – The Easiest Way to Grow Your Traffic, Raven Blog
Screaming Frog SEO Spider Update – Version 11.0, Screaming Frog
Weekly Wisdom with Ross Tavendale: GSC Query Tutorial, SEM Rush
PPC
Upgrade to the new Google Ads API to get the latest services, Google Ads Developer Blog
3 Reasons to Run Responsive Display Ads + New Features, PPC Hero
Get more clicks with Maximize Clicks, Bing Ads Blog
Google plans to ban political ads before Canada election, Reuters
Search Features
Google.com adds Material Theme search bar on desktop web, 9to5Google
