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 is testing removing its cache link from the search results, like Google did. Bing is also testing from sources across the web. Google said if you disallow internal links, you will regret it. Google is testing sponsored sticky labels in the search results. The Google shop all deals shows for 40-50% of search results. And Google had its solar eclipse Doodle today.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Bing Tests Removing Cache Link From Search Results
Bing is testing removing the cache link from its search results. This is something Google tested for a few months prior to officially dropping the cache link from its search results back in January. Now Microsoft is making the same move with its search engine, Bing.
Bing Search Tests From Sources Across The Web
Bing is testing showing what Google calls from sources across the web in its Bing Search results. Bing shows a listing of the various options based on your query and says it was “generated using AI.”
Google Tests Sticky Sponsored Label As You Scroll Down Search Ads
Google is testing a sticky sponsored label in the Google Search results as you scroll down the search results and scroll past various Google Ads. The sponsored labels disappear as you get to the organic/free listings and then reappear when you go back to those Google Ads.
Google Search Shop All Deals Banner Shows On 40-50% Of Search Results
Since before last year’s holiday season, we have been seeing a “Shop All Deals” banner-like ad in the Google Search results for e-commerce and other queries. Boyd Norwood from nozzle.io looked at their data and found that this banner shows up 40-50% of the time over the last four or so months.
Google: Don’t Disallow Internal Footer Links
Google’s John Mueller recommended that you do not disallow your internal footer links. A Reddit thread asked, “Should I disallow some pages that are in footer?” John replied, “If you do this, future-you will be annoyed by the problems current-you is creating.”
Google’s Total Eclipse 2024 Doodle
Today is the total solar eclipse and while we know about the neat Google Search solar eclipse easter egg, today, Google has a special Doodle for the total eclipse of 2024.
Here is a photo I found on Instagram from a Google event at the New York City office. It looks like they took out the big white plush and shaggy carpet for the event.
Other Great Search Threads:
Noticed a shift in Google Knowledge Panel layout: social profiles now displayed above text content and highlights, whereas previously they were below, Shameem Adhikarath on X
Interesting that Google News Showcase in Discover just enables you to like the entire module versus each article w/in the module. I don’t see Showcase that often, but it’s hard to miss when you do. It takes up the entire viewport an, Glenn Gabe on X
This is more a creator / site owner question, and the team that deals with that is @googlesearchc — that’s why I’m not really answering this type of stuff so much now. It’s not the primary focus of my work, Google SearchLiaison on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google explains why Ad Strength is ‘so important’ as it addresses industry concerns
Bing Search tests removing cache link
The latest jobs in search marketing
6 reasons why SEO audits seem like a waste and how to fix them
10 non-marketing books every SEO should read
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
All Universal Analytics services cease to function starting July 1, 2024, Capricorn Enterprise
Industry & Business
How Google lost ground in the AI race, Financial Times (Sub)
Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s AI Device Startup in Funding Talks With Emerson, Thrive, The Information
OpenAI ChatGPT Enterprise Sees Surging Demand Despite Competition, COO Says, Bloomberg
Will Search Be Generative AI or Blue Links? Actually, It’s Both., Big Technology
Will Google Parent Alphabet Acquire HubSpot? Not So Fast., Yahoo Finance
Links & Content Marketing
5 Content Marketing Ideas for May 2024, Practical Ecommerce
The unseen cost: How brands are mismanaging millions in content, The Drum
Local & Maps
In the age of Google Earth, people still buy globes. Here is why they remain so alluring, AP News
Android Auto bug forces voice commands through Google Maps, 9to5Google
Mobile & Voice
Apple Vision Pro owners now have more decent controller options, Engadget
Google Assistant Broadcasts are now a two-stage command, 9to5Google
Google app testing a bottom search bar redesign on Android, 9to5Google
Apple Future Products Could Include Robots and Smart Home Push, Bloomberg
SEO
Aligning SEO Strategy with Client Business Goals — Whiteboard Friday, Moz
Google Is Killing Retro Dodo & Other Independent Sites, RetroDodo
Skyscraper SEO is dead: Why Ranch-Style SEO is your future-proof SEO strategy, Clearscope
Woo.com migrating back to WooCommerce.com, Woo
PPC
What Is The Impact Of Having Zero Impression Google Ad Keywords/Ad Groups?, Search Engine Journal
Search Features
New competition rules come with trade-offs, Google Blog
Other Search
Apple to license images from Shutterstock to train AI models, AppleInsider
Microsoft AI gets a new London hub fronted by former Inflection and Deepmind scientist Jordan Hoffmann, TechCrunch
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