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.
Google has shockingly said the Google product reviews update finished rolling out on August 2nd, despite us all thinking it would be done two weeks later. Google has a new way of handling searches with quotes in them. Google’s Things To Know feature has returned to the desktop results. Google is testing business listing photos as an overlay. Google Discover Ads gain features, insights, and Ads Editor and API support. Plus my weekly SEO video recap is live for you all to consume, like, subscribe and comment on. Have a great weekend everyone!
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
July 2022 Google Product Reviews Update Finished On August 2nd & No One Said Anything
So Google has finished the rollout of the July 2022 Google Product Reviews Update in a record-breaking fashion, in a six-day period. It even shocked Google because Google originally estimated 14-21 days for the rollout and Google didn’t even mention anything on its social channels about the update being done rolling out.
Google Updates Searches With Quotes To Show Location Of Page That Contains Quoted Words
Google announced it has changed how it displays search results for queries that use queries. The search snippet will now display the portion of the page where the quotes match, so the searcher knows where to look on the page when clicking through to the URL.
RankRanger: Google Things To Know Back In Desktop Search Results
About two weeks ago, Google stopped showing the Things To Know box in the desktop search results but don’t fret, it seems to be back now. RankRanger’s tracker tool spotted that the Things To Know box has returned to normal levels within Google Search.
Google Business Listings Test Photo Overlay Interface In Web Search
Google seems to be testing overlaying the photos of some Google Business Profile listings in the web search results. Typically when you click on a photo in a Google Business Profile listing you are taken into the Google Maps interface to view the photos but this test simply overlays the photos on top of the web search results.
Google Ads Editor & API Now Support Discovery Ads, Plus New Audience Insights
Google announced a bunch of new things for Google Discover Ads yesterday. They include that the Google Ads Editor and Google Ads API now support Discovery ads, there are new audience insights at the Discovery campaign level, and new support for images with text overlays.
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Product Reviews Update Done, Blogger SEO Best Practices, Mobile-First Indexing Alive, SEO Rants & Much More
Shockingly, Google finished rolling out the Google product reviews update on August 2nd and didn’t even tell us on social. We are seeing some volatility and fluctuations in Google Search may be due to the Google Product Reviews…
Outside Of The Google Chicago Subway Cars
We have posted numerous photos of the subway cars on the rooftop of the Google Chicago office before, just search this site. But this one shows a wider view and shows how really long this is. I always
Other Great Search Threads:
Based on analyzing the July Product Reviews Update (which is still rolling out), I wanted to share some interesting SERP features I’ve seen that can help users while researching. E.g. From the web w/carousels, Buying Guides br, Glenn Gabe on Twitter
Did you know: LSA Reviews Can totally be bought and are a huge ranking factor. “$4,000 for 1,500 reviews was a recent quote., Ben Fisher on Twitter
It links to a specific part of a page ( https://t.co/zjDJaSF1tm ). In the case of your site, it loads so slowly that it doesn’t seem to work., John Mueller on Twitter
Perhaps, instead of assuming there’s some secret SEO juice attracted / detracted from these pages, consider what it is you want to achieve with them, and wha, John Mueller on Twitter
Yes, this is more about using JavaScript to change visibility of content in the DOM (which doesn’t really need JavaScript for indexing, it’s just how it’s commonly done in cod, John Mueller on Twitter
I’m guessing it’s ranking either for different queries, or in a different way. Average ranking is tricky since it includes highs and lows. One way to find out more is to try to dril, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google announces 4 new features for Discovery ad users
Google updates search result snippets for queries with quotes
Twitter launches Location Spotlight for all professional accounts
Google July 2022 product reviews update is finished rolling out
Google tests new SERP feature that gives searchers Perspectives
Using search query reports to optimize PPC campaigns
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Dashboard Reporting: What It Is, Why It Matters, Best Practices, and More, Databox Blog
How To Use GA4 With Squarespace (And Why You Should), Data Driven U
Build an Effective Performance Reporting Process with These 8 Tips, Databox Blog
Industry & Business
Companies From Google to Pepsi Are Boosting Capital Spending, Wall Street Journal
Links & Content Marketing
Develop a Successful Link Building Campaign: Part 1, 3Q/DEPT
Marketing Tech Is So Bright, You Gotta Wear Strategic Shades [Rose-Colored Glasses], Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
Fake online reviews lead shoppers to overpay, new study says, Axios
How to Craft a Click-Worthy Google Business Profile Post, Buffer
SEO
Dental SEO 101: Stories & Tips to Get More Patients, Semrush
How do removals work in Google Search, really?, Search Off the Record
How Topic Modeling Can Improve Your Organic Growth, iPullRank
What Are Manual Actions and How To Deal With Them?, Onely
The Ultimate Guide to Long Tail Keywords, I Love SEO
PPC
A Guide To Creating Responsive Search Ads, Go Fish Digital
Commercial Intent: How to Find Your Most Valuable Keywords, WordStream
Tracking Google Ads conversions (well) with GA4 (Infographic), Adworld Experience
Search Features
Why is Google rewriting so many titles in the search results?, Wix SEO Hub
4 ways to use Touch to Search on Chrome, Google Blog
Other Search
Introducing the Google Universal Image Embedding Challenge, Google AI Blog
Are We In a Recession? Google Searches Allude to Economic Downturn, Bloomberg
Feedback:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, you can follow us on Facebook and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.
