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:
Google Search Algorithm Update Fluctuations From March 20th to 22nd
As you know, we had a pretty big Google update that Google confirmed as a core update on March 12th. Around March 20th, 21st and 22nd, I saw the forum chatter spike back up a bit and the tools light up – but it wasn’t as huge as that last update and we were busy with the rel=prev/next thing.
Google’s rel=prev/next Messaging: Nothing Has Changed
Google keeps saying the same thing over and over again regarding their communication around the rel=prev/next blunder. Simply that nothing has changed, to do pagination just like you always have been doing and that is it.
An Active XML Sitemap That Errors Out Won’t Slow Google’s Crawl
Martin MacDonald asked Google’s John Mueller if Google’s crawl behavior might change if an active XML sitemap begins to error out. John said it shouldn’t.
Gary Illyes The Googler Who Discovered rel=prev/next Was Not Being Honored
Want to know which Googler found out that Google was no longer honoring the rel=prev/next? It seems it was Gary Illyes, a Google webmaster trends analyst who we often cover over here, was the individual who noticed this and escalated it to the public.
Google Image Search Tests Article Slide In Feature
Here is a new test spotted by Jose Varghese on Twitter where Google Image search is letting you drag up the article an image is sourced from. As you can see from the GIF or video below, Google lets you drag up the Verge article from the bottom of the image preview screen.
Nice Interior Photo Of Google NYC Office
Ryan Warrender, a Googler and also a UX guy, snapped this photo of the Google New York City office and posted it on Instagram. People are really liking it. You can see the greenery within the NYC off
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
Google algorithm updates were found in Pinterest’s S-1 filing -> Google Search Moves Hurt Pinterest’s Growth, IPO Filing Shows Pinterest got hammered by the March 2018 update (one year ago). Seems Google started deindexing “keyword, Glenn Gabe on Twitter
Facebook Stored Millions of Unencrypted Passwords, WebmasterWorld
site: is usually the best approach.…, John Mueller on Twitter
Does anyone fear a link buying apocolypse?, BlackHatWorld
Microsoft and the @ad_association partnered for a fantastic lunch and panel on the industry’s need to develop domestic talent in the face of Brexit. Read the highlights from the discussion: https://t.co/Uk3twpIS6D #AWEurope, Bing Ads on Twitter
Thank you for building a webmaster community with us here on G+! In the com…, Google+
Search Engine Land Stories:
TravelTime maps API lets users search by time rather than distance
SEOs frustrated by Google’s belated pagination announcement
New personalized, Shopping Actions-enabled Google Shopping debuts in France
Google apologizes for rel=next/prev mixup
The rise (and further rise) of Google My Business spam
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
The Most Important Google Analytics Reports You Can Track, GetUplift
Industry & Business
Starting my own SEO Consultancy; a (short) story from employee to business owner, Brodie’s Blog
Links & Promotion Building
3 Powerful Ways To Get More From Your Link Building Efforts, Entrepreneur
Local & Maps
A new app to map and monitor the world’s freshwater supply, Google Blog
Google launches hotel search site: “This could undermine OTAs”, Hospitality Net
Rove around “Mars on Earth” in Street View, Google Blog
Mobile & Voice
Here’s how Google Assistant can help you get a Play Store refund, Android Police
How to make the most of Roku voice controls, TechHive
How to Use Siri to Control Your HomeKit Devices, MacRumors
SEO
The March 12, 2019 Google Core Algorithm Update – A Softer Side of Medic, Trust And The Link Graph, Quality Still Matters, and The Importance Of The “Kitchen Sink”, GSQI
Enough is Enough: SEO is Not Optional, Friday Blog
Google says it doesn’t use rel=prev/next for pagination, Yoast
Local SEO for Multi-Location Businesses: How to Guide, HigherVisibility
Optimizing for Searcher Intent Explained in 7 Visuals, Moz
PPC
Ad quality year in review 2018, Bing Ads Blog
Analyzing the Impact of Multi-Brand Shared Keywords, PPC Hero
Pitch deck: How Google’s Waze sells ads, Digiday
Ranking Content Quality Analysis (RCQA) for Better Keyword Research, Stone Temple
Other Search
Chrome 74 beta: reducing unwanted motion, private class fields, and feature policy API, Chromium Blog
