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.
There was more Google core update volatility over the weekend. Google defended its statements about forums ranking for almost everything. Google responded to The Verge’s printer article mocking its search results. Google AdSense publishers are seeing really big earnings drops. Google crawl budget is allocated on the hostname level. Google threatened California over its new proposed link tax bill with pulling investments and its news results from the state.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Weekend Google Core Ranking Volatility Taxing Site Owners
As I mentioned briefly in my Friday video recap, I was starting to see renewed chatter on Friday morning around more Google search ranking volatility. I spotted some renewed chatter that lead through Friday, into Saturday and today. So I figured I’d cover it and share some of what SEOs are saying over the weekend.
Google Responds To The Verge Mocking Its Search Rankings For Best Printer
Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief of the Verge posted a new article with the intent to both rank for [best printer] in Google Search, as well as mock Google for how he can game Google’s search rankings using AI-generated content, while throwing in some affiliate links. Google’s John Mueller responded saying, “People seem to really enjoy it.”
Google Goes On Defensive On Its Search Quality & Forum Results Statements
Recently, we covered some of Google’s rationale for ranking forums like Reddit and Quora so well in the Discussion and Forums box for many queries. Just a few days ago, we covered how I was sad to see Google ranking some dangerous and potentially harmful forum threads for health-related queries.
Google Threatens California: Tests Removing Links To Publishers & Pauses Investments
On Friday, Google responded to a pending bill in the California state legislature, the California Journalism Preservation Act (CJPA), that would require Google to pay a link tax to publishers by testing removing links to California based publishers and pausing investments in news publishers within the state.
Google Crawl Budget Is Allocated By Hostname
Google gives every hostname its own allocated crawl budget. So that means each domain, subdomain, etc has its own unique crawl budget.
Google AdSense Publishers Reporting Huge RPM Earnings Drops
Many Google AdSense publishers have been reporting massive declines in their earnings and RPMs (page revenue per thousand impressions) since late February. This comes a couple of weeks after we reported the switch from CPC to CPM bidding in AdSense did not have a negative revenue result for publishers.
Google Android Figurine Display Case
At the Google Chicago office they have dozens of Android figurines on display in this glass display case. I guess they all have a name and are labeled with details. I found this image on Instagram.
Other Great Search Threads:
These things are done when they’re done, it’s hard to predict exact timelines., John Mueller on X
Google just changed the layout for product detail window , also include the near by store in this, Khushal Bherwani on X
Google Ads charging 0.01 for a few European countries, WebmasterWorld
GPTBot got stuck in giant content farm, Orhan Kurulan on X
I created a chatbot with the Google Webmasters Documentation. Based on the current data, the tool has: 1. Over 15,000 requests 2. Over 3,000 users 3. I received support from @JohnMu and @g33konaut from Google itself, Dido Grigorov on X
I am the new Paid Media News Writer of @sengineland ! Such an honour – can’t believe it! I get to work with the likes of @rustybrick and @MrDannyGoodwin!! Dreams do come tru, Anu Adegbola on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
TikTok testing virtual influencers for video ads
Chase launches first bank-led media network
The latest jobs in search marketing
How advertisers can capitalize on vertical video
How the Google-Reddit partnership impacts brand management
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for Beginners—Part 2: Mastering Reports and User Interface Navigation, HackerNoon
Industry & Business
Exclusive: OpenAI’s Altman pitches ChatGPT Enterprise to large firms, including some Microsoft customers, Reuters
OpenAI Taps Ex-Amazon Executive to Head Enterprise Push in Japan, Bloomberg
Links & Content Marketing
The Sea of Sameness Problem in Content Marketing & SEO, Seer Interactive
Content creation holds appeal for laid-off workers seeking flexibility, AP News
Local & Maps
Local Keyword Research: 4 Easy Steps to Attract More Customers, Backlinko
Multi-location Review Management: How to Manage Business Reviews at Scale, BrightLocal
Exploring the impact of Google updates on business listings, Mirador Local
Glanceable Directions is the Best New Google Maps Feature in Ages, How To Geek
The Ugly Side of Google Maps: Why Barcelona Removed a Bus Route From the App, AutoEvolution
Mobile & Voice
Exclusive: Google Pixel 9 to get new modem, satellite connectivity, Android Authority
Worldwide Smartphone Market Up 7.8% in the First Quarter of 2024 as Samsung Moves Back into the Top Position, According to IDC Tracker, IDC
The Next Frontier for Brain Implants Is Artificial Vision, Wired
SEO
How to Appear in Position One in 2024 — Whiteboard Friday, Moz
Google’s Self-Supervised Pretraining for ASD & Why SEOs Should Care (Maybe), Ethan Lazuk
Reddit Post Ranks On Google In 5 Minutes – What’s Going On?, Search Engine Journal
PPC
‘Made for Advertising’ Websites Are the Marketing Industry’s Latest Messy Situatio, Wall Street Journal
Use New Customer Acquisition in Google Ads Without Hurting ROAS, Optmyzr
Search Features
Why the California Journalism Preservation Act is putting support of the news ecosystem at risk, Google Blog
Other Search
Gemini has serious hallucinations (at least when you ask about composers!), SearchReSearch
OpenAI makes ChatGPT ‘more direct, less verbose’, TechCrunch
Google’s new technique gives LLMs infinite context, VentureBeat
Tech Leaders Once Cried for AI Regulation. Now the Message Is ‘Slow Down’, Wired
5 failed Google social media platforms, Android Police
ChatGPT essay cheats are a menace to us all, Financial Times (Sub)
Feedback:
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