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 Ranking Update Fluctuations Continue (3/29-4/1)
These fluctuations won’t die down, it seems like we’ve been reporting these tremors and fluctuations a lot since the beginning of the year and even more so since the release of the March 12th core update. We are seeing more chatter around these fluctuations from around March 29th through today, April 1st – and no, this is no April Fools joke.
Google: Links Not Shown In Search Console Are Generally Irrelevant
Google’s John Mueller was answering questions around an old topic of Google showing only a sample of links in the link report in Google Search Console. He said that generally if the links are not shown in the tool then they are “pretty irrelevant overall.”
You Got Work To Do If Robotted Out Pages Is Out Ranking Your Content In Google
Google’s John Mueller said on Twitter that if your content on your site is being outranked by robotted out pages, then you got work to do. In short, if you have a page on your site that you used the robots.txt file to tell Google not to crawl and it still outranks other relevant content on your site for a query in Google – that is an issue.
Is Google Showing Knowledge Panel In Featured Snippet?
Dan Shure noticed Google showing a knowledge panel on the left side, where it looks like it is in the featured snippet box area. It almost seems like a bug or photoshopped but I can personally replicate this myself for the query – [radio history].
Google Webmaster Team Ends The Google+ Community
As you know, Google+ is closing down tomorrow, April 2nd – this is no April Fools joke. And one of the more active communities on Google+ for SEOs was the Google Webmasters community. The other day they posted a goodbye to Google+ and asked you follow them on Twitter instead.
Climbing The Ladder At Google
Here is a photo of someone climbing up the ladder at the Google NYC office. I showed you the view from the bottom of the ladder. Here is the view of someone climbing up it, despite it being only avail
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
Those are probably all ignored, we have a lot of practice with basic link spam like that, so I wouldn’t waste too much time with that.… https://t.co/rNca8ki2G9, John Mueller on Twitter
If you changed your site, sometimes it takes time to settle down — that’s normal.…, John Mueller on Twitter
Microsoft Releases Windows 10 V1809 For Broad Release, WebmasterWorld
What SEO advice would you give for a new website launch?, WebmasterWorld
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google brings search to podcasts through automatic transcription
All Google Ads attribution reports will soon include cross-device conversion data
Why SEOs should get to know Karen Spärck Jones, originator of search engine algorithms
How to stop underspending your free ad grant budget with a script
Other Great Search Stories:
April Fools
Google has acquired the majority share of Burning Man, Mixmag
Sssnakes on a map, Google Blog
All of Google’s jokes for April Fools’ Day 2019, VentureBeat
An Idiot’s Guide to SEO, MintTwist
Announcing FutureRank, Dejan SEO
Can’t mess with this: new Screen Cleaner in the Files app, Google Blog
Grown in the Netherlands, Google Tulip communicates with plants, Google Blog
Search Engine Journal Announces New Search Engine, Search Engine Journal
Analytics
An Efficient Approach to Google Tag Manager Implementation, Thunder Tech
Measuring the Performance of Your Videos in Google Analytics, Basetwo Media
Industry & Business
How a Google side project evolved into a $4B company, TechCrunch
Google Can’t Please Everyone, Wall Street Journal
Google should publicly address position on China, GOP lawmaker says, The Verge
Links & Promotion Building
Topical SEO: 7 Advanced Concepts of Link Relevance & Google Rankings, Moz
Local & Maps
Google and NASA Haughton-Mars Project Partner On Moon/Mars Exploration Prep, SETI Institute
Google Maps Removes Speed Camera Reporting Function In India, The Quint
Mobile & Voice
Android Security & Privacy Year in Review 2018: Keeping two billion users, and their data, safe and sound, Google Online Security Blog
What’s new in AMP, Q1 2019: Improvements to consent, videos, forms and lists, AMPHTML Blog
When it comes to disclosing sponsors, your Google Assistant may be mute, KFGO
SEO
5 Enlightened Ways To Use Google Trends for Keyword Research, BruceClay
What is the future of SEO and mobile optimization?, Search Metrics
March 12, 2019 SEO Algorithm Update, BrightEdge SEO Blog
5 Big SEO Mistakes Developers Make, Sunhouse Marketing
From Zero-Click SERPs to Rabbit-Hole SERPs, Street Fight
Guide to SERP features on Google: How to optimise and boost traffic, Accuranker
User Needs Analysis for Better SEO, Stone Temple
PPC
3 Step DIY PPC Budget Pacing Tool, PPC Hero
Vote for the 2019 Most Influential PPC Expert [+Some Changes!], PPC Hero
Search Features
Google’s link shortener is officially dead, Android Police
Other Search
Gmail turns 15, Google Blog