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.
While I was offline, Google released the April 2023 reviews update that goes beyond just product reviews. Google also said it will remove video thumbnail images from some search result snippets. Google said most links designed to manipulate Google Search are ignored. Google’s Android app is testing additional search buttons. Google Ads banned some ads for concentrated sodium nitrite. Google Translate is testing the camera button in search. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google April 2023 Reviews Update Rolls Out, Expands To Cover Reviews About Products, Services, and Things
On the heels of the March Broad Core Update rolling out, Google is now rolling out the April 2023 Reviews Update. And you’re reading that correctly. ‘Product’ has been removed now that the system covers ‘reviews about products, services, and things’.
Google Removes Video Thumbnails In Search Results When Video Is Not Main Content
Google announced it will remove the video thumbnail image from the search results snippet when that video is not the main content of the page. Google said this change will impact search appearance reported metrics for videos in the performance report in Google Search Console.
Google: Most Links SEOs Make To Gain Rankings & Manipulate Search Are Ignored
Google’s John Mueller said that when it comes to links SEO make to manipulate search rankings and gain ranking position in Google, those links are mostly ignored by Google Search. This is a line Googlers have been saying since Penguin 4.0 came out and continue to say.
Google Android App Tests Additional Search Buttons
Google is testing a version of the Android app that include additional search buttons, many of which the iOS app has had since last year. These buttons include solve homework, identify a song, shop for products, translate text and more.
Google Translate In Mobile Search Adds Camera
If you do some translation-based queries in Google mobile search, you will not just see a Google logo icon but also Google testing a camera icon, to search by camera.
Google To Ban Ads For Concentrated Sodium Nitrite Of Over 10%
Google said starting on May 23, 2023, Google will disallow and prohibit ads that sell products with a concentration of more than 10% sodium nitrite. I am sure this may impact less than 1% of you, but I wanted to ask MidJourney to make an image of Google salt.
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Reviews Update, Google Core Update’s Local Search Impact, Webspam Report, Generative AI Coming To Google Search, Bard Updates & Bing Chat Plugins
This week in search, we covered the new April 2023 reviews update that goes beyond just product reviews. We also covered the possible impact the Google March 2023 broad core update had on local search. Google’s John Mueller said they don’t…
Old 2009 Bing Decision Engine Poster
Michael Schechter, the Vice President, Growth and Distribution at Microsoft and Bing, posted this photo on Twitter. It is of an old poster from the early days of Bing, when they went with the tagline,
Other Great Search Threads:
Fun fact: DeepSpeed is also a part of our team. And if you like training models, you might want to know we just released DeepSpeed-Chat: RLHF support out of the box., Mikhail Parakhin on Twitter
Google loves us but we have disappeared from SERPs., WebmasterWorld
If you’re changing URLs, then a redirect is the right approach. I’d try it out with an irrelevant URL on your site, to make sure that you know how to set it, John Mueller on Twitter
Unfortunately, given how much hype there is around AI, and how my comments get taken out of context for months and months, I have the option of either writing a nove, John Mueller on Twitter
If you want a specific canonical, you need to be super-consistent about it. Just adding a rel=canonical to a random page is unlikely to change things., John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google Marketing Live registration opens
Google: Video must be main content to appear as thumbnail
Microsoft’s integration with Roku reveals increased engagement across CTV and search
A Google Ads script that uses GPT to write RSAs
7 proven methods to explain the value of SEO
U.S. search ad revenue hit a record $84.4 billion in 2022
Google releases April 2023 reviews update
LinkedIn SEO guide: Optimizing your profile for more connections, better leads
5 Python scripts for automating SEO tasks
How to glean insights from impression share to boost PPC performance
Connected TV’s results transcend the TV screen
Microsoft Ads introduces PLA Extensions
Google Ads API is removing ad group and keyword forecasts
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Display & Video 360 optimized targeting rollout extended through early May 2023, Google Ads Developer Blog
GA4 Adds New Conversion Counting Method, Krista Seiden
GA4 SOS Training: Your data fundamentals lifeline, Builtvisible
Google’s free Assured Open Source Software service hits GA, TechCrunch
How Google Analytics 4 Integrates with the Google Cloud Platform, Measure Minds Group
How to Make Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Your Source of Truth by 2024, Adswerve
Upcoming changes to Google Analytics audiences and conversions in Google Ads, Google Ads Developer Blog
Industry & Business
Google drops global vaccine requirement to enter buildings, CNBC
Google must face trial over Sonos patents, California judge says, Yahoo Finance
Links & Content Marketing
11 Creative Marketing Ideas (Suggested by 18 Marketers), Ahrefs
6 Content Strategy Examples To Boost Success, Siege Media
How to Do Keyword and Backlink Analysis With Semrush Tools, Semrush
How To Get Your Audience To Give Their Data for Personalized Content, Content Marketing Institute
“High Quality Content” is the Most Useless Phrase in Marketing; We Can Do Better, SparkToro
Local & Maps
Exploring national parks with Local Guide Jeremy Janus, Local Guides Connect
5 Easy Local Citation Building Tips to Boost SEO Fast, WordStream
Mobile & Voice
Google launches an auto-archiving feature for Android apps to save space, TechCrunch
‘Apple Glasses’ reportedly launching in 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, AppleInsider
Apple rolls out tvOS 16.4.1, HomePod version 16.4.1, AppleInsider
Google launches the first public beta of Android 14, TechCrunch
Unity Google Mobile Ads Version 8 Released, Google Ads Developer Blog
SEO
Long sales cycles, the #1 enemy of SEO attribution, Kevin Indig
Analyzing Search performance data with bubble charts – Search Console Training, YouTube
Google Needs Your Dealership to E-E-A-T, DealerOn
How to find trending keywords for SEO campaigns, Wix SEO Hub
Reveal New Growth Opportunities with More SERP Feature Data, Semrush
Robots.txt Files: Directives, Examples, and Use Cases, iPullRank
What you need to know if you want to go Enterprise SEO, SERP’s Up SEO Podcast
PPC
7 Tools To Optimize Your International PPC Campaigns, Go Fish Digital
Canadian Advertisers Gain Access to Google Shopping Vehicle Ads, FeedArmy
Digital Ad Revenue Grew Again in 2022, but Much More Slowly, Wall Street Journal
Discover how to extend your high-performing PLA campaigns, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
Easily access the new AI-powered Bing across your favorite mobile apps, Bing Search Blog
Microsoft testing a new Compact View mode on Bing Search, gHacks
Other Search
Announcing the deps.dev API: critical dependency data for secure supply chains, Google Online Security Blog
Bard’s hypocrisy: Google isn’t following their own advice with AI chatbot, Brodie Clark Consulting
Developing an aging clock using deep learning on retinal images, Google AI Blog
Answer: What’s this architecture all about?, SearchReSearch
Google vs. Chat GPT: Leveraging automation, Builtvisible
More ways we’re making Chrome faster, Chromium Blog
Feedback:
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