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 is testing alternatives to “people also ask.” Google Explore adds local listings. Google Datasets adds a more button. Google says hyphens in domain names are not considered low quality. Google Business Profile products can now show up in Google Shopping search results. Oh and the February product reviews update is done rolling out; more on that tomorrow.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google Business Profile Products Show In Google Shopping Results
Google is now showing products that businesses add through the Google Business Profile manager directly in Google Shopping search results. I was not sure if this is new, but it seems most local SEOs think it is, so I am sharing it here.
Google Search Tests More To Ask & Other Alternatives Of People Also Ask?
Google may be testing replacing the “people also ask” with a “more to ask” box. I am unsure if this is just a headline change or if there is any functional difference.
Google Explore In Search Adds Local Results
Google Explore is that weird feature you get when you keep scrolling and scrolling through the search results. Then Google hits you with this explore feature to expand your query in a very visual way. Well, it seems like Google added local listings to the Google Explore section.
Google Datasets Search Results Now With More Button
Google announced last week that Google Search “now makes it easier to search for datasets” by showing “more datasets” and explore more features for datasets within Google Search.
Google: Hyphens In Domain Names Not Considered Low Quality
Google’s John Mueller was asked if having hyphens in your domain name, like www.my-site-goes-here.com, can cause ranking issues in Google Search. John Mueller said no, domains with hyphens are not seen as low quality by Google algorithms.
Googley Sofa
Here is a photo from the Google Atlanta office of a cool looking room with a retro looking sofa. Of course, the sofa is in Googley colors.
Other Great Search Threads:
Yes, that’s correct. Currently, you need to be at the “All campaigns” level to add account-level negative keywords. Agree this is a bit confusing and could be clearer in the HC article. I’ll pass th, AdsLiaison on Twitter
Usually (I didn’t check these) these are due to mismatches across structured data & recognizable dates on the article., John Mueller on Mastodon
We’re exploring asset generation techniques using other pages on the same domain to source ad content from pages that are relevant to the Final URL when appropriate. The aim will be to improve the ad-to-LP con, AdsLiaison on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Code-free custom conversion, and 5 other new Microsoft Ads updates
This day in search marketing history: March 7
Twitter services are offline, including clicking on links, viewing images and more
Google: ‘Bard is not Search’
Google featured snippets gain blue highlighted text
‘Link in bio’ platforms: Which is best for SEO?
How to document your content strategy
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
How Has Google Analytics Evolved?, Rank Ranger
Norway On the Verge of Banning Google Analytics, WebProNews
Industry & Business
Google Loses Appeal Over Texas Court’s Blocked Patent Suit Move, Bloomberg
Google: Fewer employees to get senior promotions to senior roles, CNBC
Retail, search and Amazon’s $40bn ‘advertising’ business, Benedict Evans
Yandex Announces Changes to The Board of Directors, Yandex
Links & Content Marketing
How AI content creation has the potential to change SEO, Analytics Insight
What Does B2B Content Marketing Look Like in 2023?, Online Marketing Blog
Level Up Your Business Writing Skills: 9 Tips + a Checklist, Semrush
Local & Maps
10 things you didn’t know Google Maps could do, TechRadar
All-in-One Google Maps Alternative Gets a Ton of New Features on iPhone and CarPlay, AutoEvolution
Mobile & Voice
Apple First to Capture 8 Spots in List for Global Top 10 Smartphones, Counterpoint Research
Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, and Cortana ‘Dumb as a Rock’, Says Microsoft CEO, iPhone in Canada Blog
We asked, you told us: You’d ditch Google Assistant for Bing Chat, Android Authority
SEO
Google Explore – The sneaky mobile content feed that’s displacing rankings in mobile search and could be eating clicks and impressions, GSQI
Proactive security fixes in Yoast SEO (update to v20.2.1), Yoast
Study: What Does It Take to Rank, Semrush
Top 12 Most Underrated Ranking Factors For 2023, Koozai
How To Check If Google Is Indexing JavaScript Content Correctly, SEOSLY
PPC
How To Audit Your Google Ads Account, Go Fish Digital
Conversion setup wizard and other product updates for March, Microsoft Advertising
Insurer Says Ohio Agent Used Google Ads To Steal Clients, Law360
Search Features
Secret Bing AI Feature Allows It to Impersonate Celebrities, Futurism
The news Google is hiding from your searches, The Globe and Mail
Other Search
90 Million DMCA Takedowns in 90 Days: MindGeek’s $32m Piracy ‘Win’ Meets Reality, TorrentFreak
ChatGPT’s API Is Here. Let the AI Gold Rush Begin, WIRED
International Women’s Day 2023, Google Doodle
NEW: Custom Search & Custom Audiences Offer Incredible New Ways to Use SparkToro, SparkToro
The Mozbot Mashup: Roger Explores the World of Generative AI Imagery, Moz
Will Generative AI Create a New Era of Search Competition?, MIT
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