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:
Yet Another Unconfirmed Google Search Ranking Update Last Night
I know, I know, this is getting ridiculous, at what won’t do I stop reporting on all these Google algorithm updates that are unconfirmed. But the beginning of 2021 is unlike anything I’ve seen from Google in terms of how volatile the organic search results are.
Google Posts Spike In Rejection Notices
There may be a bug with the Google My Business Google Posts feature. There is a spike in the number of complaints about rejection notices for Google Posts. So when a business owner posts an update to Google Posts, those updates are more likely to be rejected now.
Microsoft Email: Use The Bing WordPress URL Submission Plugin
Microsoft sent me an email yesterday asking me to use the Bing URL Submissions Plugin for my WordPress site. No, this is not a WordPress site, but the intent was nice. Plus, this site already integrates with the URL submission API directly. So I am not sure why I received the email but hey, I am happy Bing is notifying users of Webmaster Tools of this.
Google Recipe Rich Results Images Disappearing Again From Search Results
In 2019, Google had issues with displaying images in the rich results recipe carousel for a nice number of recipe sites. The issue I think was resolved twice and ultimately fixed. But it might be happening again, in 2021.
Google Local Adds Custom Order URLs To Online Order CTA
Google has added a local restaurant or businesses online ordering forms to the call to action overlays it provides in Google Maps and the local pack. Previously, Google only showed 3rd party integrated platforms in this overlay, not the custom URL order form option.
Large Unconfirmed Google Local Search Algorithm Update Yesterday
The BrightLocal tool picked up one of the the biggest updates I’ve seen it report in a long time or maybe even ever. It normally runs at the 2.x in terms of local pack changes but yesterday, Wednesday March 11th, it showed 6.78 out of 10 in terms of fluctuations in the local search results.
Mount Fuji From Google Tokyo
Here is a view from the Google Tokyo, Japan office where you can actually see Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is one of the more famous mountains on earth and it is pretty cool how you can see it from the off
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
Focus on Local? Interesting service for local retailers from Google called Pointy (which it acquired last year). Provide a feed of your products, which will show up in your Pointy store, right in your local listing, & you can run L, Glenn Gabe on Twitter
Happy birthday to the man behind the mask: Chinese-Malaysian epidemiologist Dr. Wu Lien-teh Did you know? To combat the Manchurian plague of 1910-1911, Wu invented a mask considered the predecessor to the modern-d, Google Doodles on Twitter
Just link naturally. The placement of a link within a page doesn’t make it "safe" or "unsafe"., John Mueller on Twitter
Let’s dive into user-generated content. Join @Aurora_Morales & @g33konaut as they discuss: What is user-generated content? Different types of UGC. Best practices & recommendations …and more! Wa, Google Search Central on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google Search Console rich results report updated
Your website doesn’t need to cater to everybody — and that’s OK.
Static headlines now available for DSAs in Microsoft Advertising
Key trends in PPC, reporting and analytics in 2021 and beyond
Has automation actually changed the way you do your job?; Wednesday’s daily brief
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Beginner’s Guide to Google Tag Manager, Erudite
Google Analytics 4 is a Game Changer, Not Just an Update, Atlas by Ciceron
Industry & Business
Neeva — led by Google vets — raises $40m to build an ad-free search engine, The Hustle
Local & Maps
Apple Expands Its Google Maps Offensive to More Regions, AutoEvolution
Why Google Maps Needs Truck Navigation: Dedicated App Sees Record Downloads, AutoEvolution
SEO
Digital Marketers Should Prepare For Google’s Update, BrightEdge
How to Hire an SEO Expert Without Getting Burned: What You Need to Know, HigherVisibility
What Are Core Web Vitals?, Portent
Why Mobile-Only Indexing Will Cause the Biggest SEO Shake Up of 2021, iPullRank
Advanced SEO techniques for manufacturing companies, Vertical Leap
Common Magento 2 Crawling Issues & How To Fix Them, DeepCrawl
PPC
Google Is Retiring tCPA and tROAS Bidding Strategies, PPC Hero
Control Dynamic Search Ads with static headlines, Microsoft Advertising
Get ready for US tax season, Google AdSense Help
Search Features
Google Search stocks card gets modernized look on desktop, 9to5Google
Other Search
The science behind semantic search: How AI from Bing is powering Azure Cognitive Search, Microsoft Research