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.
Bing Chat got an upgrade that reduces the chances it won’t create something and also a reduction in disengagements. Bing also has rolled out AI stories in the search results. Google’s John Mueller posted more about using AI to write content, he doesn’t seem to be a fan. Google is testing auto-expanding maps in the search results, it is a bit weird. I posted the big Google webmaster report for April. And I am going offline for Passover tonight (Wednesday night) through Saturday night – there will be scheduled stories, newsletters and a video over the next two days but they were all pre-written/recorded.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google’s John Mueller On Using AI To Write Content…
So far, Google’s official stance on using AI to write content is just fine, assuming that content was not written to manipulate the search results. If the content is useful, helpful and quality, it doesn’t matter if a machine wrote it or a human. But John Mueller of Google doesn’t seem too positive about the current state of AI writing great content.
Bing Chat Upgrade v98 Rolling Out Reducing Refusals & Disengagements
Microsoft is rolling out version 98 of Bing Chat which some of you should start seeing later today or tomorrow. This upgrade reduces the number of times Bing Chat will refuse to create something and also a reduction of disengagements.
Google Tests Map Auto-Expansion Feature In Web Search
Google is testing having the map box automatically expand within the web search results, above or on the right side of the local pack results, when you begin to place your mouse cursor over the results.
Bing AI-Generated Stories In Search Results
A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft Bing started to roll out “stories” in the search results side panel. Those stories are AI-generated stories, created by generative AI and not by people.
April 2023 Google Webmaster Report
Last month was jammed packed with Google search news including the Google March 2023 broad core update starting on March 15th and completing on March 28th. We had the end of the February 2023 product reviews update. Google Bard started to roll out, many are not impressed.
Google Skills Food Cart On Wheels
Here is a photo shared by Michelle Donelan, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the United Kingdom, from Chippenham of a food cart with a Google logo.
Programming Note: Offline For Thursday & Friday
This is a programming note that I will be completely offline on Thursday and Friday (also Saturday) of Passover, from Wednesday night April 5th through Saturday night April 8th. Any stories and videos published here will be scheduled, written beforehand…
Other Great Search Threads:
It sounds like you have a lot of questions about internationalization for SEO. This *is* a difficult topic, with, John Mueller on Twitter
maybe it was there? maybe there’s a hack on the site hiding it? maybe it’s redirecting to a different version of the site? I’d recommend starting a help forum thread with all the details, like, John Mueller on Twitter
Sounds like you have internal links going to that page, if our systems think that it’s an important one. If you don’t want something indexed, make sure to use noindex and not robots.txt, John Mueller on Twitter
That would not be due to 302 vs 301. I’d look further., John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Study: 31% of international websites contain hreflang errors
5 mobile B2B advertising mistakes and how to correct them
Microsoft Advertising professional service ads go global, broad match modifier changes rolling out and more
What ChatGPT means for your search campaigns
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
ChatGPT wrong on more than half of Google Analytics 4 FAQs , Marketing Communication News
Google Analytics 4: How brands can prepare for this complex and potent, Fast Company
Industry & Business
Biden eyes AI dangers, says tech companies must make sure products are safe, Reuters
Google workers in London stage walkout over job cuts, Reuters
SEO Podcast #37: Interview With With George Nguyen, SEOSLY
Links & Content Marketing
In a Pioneering Move, Botify Integrates ChatGPT to Enhance Existing Core AI Capabilities, Botify
Take This Step To Get Over Your Fear of Content Collaboration [Rose-Colored Glasses], Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
Apple Car’s dashboard may look different to driver & passenger, AppleInsider
Waze adds new theme presets in ‘Customize Your Drive’ update, 9to5Google
Mobile & Voice
AI Face Off – Siri vs Cortana vs Google Assistant vs Alexa, Mobile App Daily
If Android moves from Assistant to Bard, I’m opting out. Here’s why, ZDNET
SEO
2023 SEO Strategies for Enterprise Companies to Implement, seoClarity
Content Gap Analysis: Find and Fix Your SEO Gaps in 5 Steps, Keyword Insights
In times of E-E-A-T: Why simple SEO is no longer enough, Oncrawl
The 2023 SEO Guide To Successful Website Migration, iPullRank
The basics of crawling, indexing, and ranking for SEO, Wix SEO Hub
PPC
127: Image Optimization, Algorithmic Biases, ADHD & SEO w/Myriam Jessier, Evolving SEO
Boost Your Google Ads Performance with Google Ads Preview, PPC Expo
How to Improve Quality Score in 2023, Go Fish Digital
How to Scale Success in Google Ads (& More Importantly, When), WordStream
Other Search
An LLM doesn’t know its own mind about using multiple languages, SearchReSearch
ChatGPT Has a Big Privacy Problem, Wired
Expedia is adding GPT-4 chatbot for travel planning, 9to5Google
Feedback:
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