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.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google Search Algorithm Tweaked To Show Less Porn For Lesbian, Teen & Other Queries
Google has apparently updated its search algorithm to show less pornographic content and search results for queries around lesbian, teen, school girl, and other related queries. Pandu Nayak from Google told The Next Web “We have taken measures in cases where, when there is a reason for the word to be interpreted in a non-pornographic way, that interpretation is put forward.”
New Evergreen GoogleBot Support For Google Testing Tools
We knew it was coming soon and now it is here, Google just announced that most of the testing tools now support the new evergreen GoogleBot. We have been waiting for this for a couple months since Google launched the evergreen GoogleBot for crawling and indexing and now the tools support it as well.
Google Drops Magnifying Glass In Search Bar For Text Search Button
Google has dropped the magnifying glass in the search bar and substituted it for a text based search button. We saw Google testing this out a couple months ago and it now seems to be almost fully live.
Google Search Console Sending Monthly Performance Reports
Google is now sending some Google Search Console profiles a monthly performance report via email. The email shares the clicks, impressions and pages with first impressions for your site. It also dives into more details like your best content pages, and a lot more.
Vlog #8: Mary Bowling Ignitor Digital On Local SEO & Google My Business Data
In episode #8 of the vlog series at the Search Engine Roundtable I interviewed Mary Bowling (@marybowling) of Ignitor Digital Marketing. Mary and I and I started off talking about her work…
Take The New Search Ranking Factors Survey
As some of you may have heard in my interview with Rand Fishkin, he was planning on relaunching the search ranking factors survey. Well, he did it and you can participate in the survey over here.
Google Launches New Image Search Preview Box, Upsetting Some Searchers
As expected, Google has launched a redesign to the Google Image Search preview image box. Google has gone with the sticky interface, where the image preview box sticks to the right side and you can independently scroll through other images or the image preview box.
New In Google My Business: Messaging Insights, Site Manager Sign-Up & Status Changes
Google launched three new features or changes to Google My Business including messaging insights, a site manager sign-up link on a business profile and changes to status names.
The 80’s Visits Google
I found this image on Instagram of an Instagram profile named PinkBeast16 who visited Google and took a photo with Peter The Greeter. You can see, she is all decked out in the 80’s look.
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
@brodieseo Things are always changing, so I’m not particularly surprised that has changed as well :)., John Mueller on Twitter
Does the export latest links in GSC to CSV or Google Sheets work for anyone else, not working for me https://t.co/JvwT6UQ7Ln https://t.co/RiEVHHsaGS, Barry Schwartz on Twitter
Is this "uploaded by" feature new or am I just slow to notice? @rustybrick @CyrusShepard #GoogleIsAtItAgain https://t.co/1mmpLf2yJt, Kici on Twitter
Search Quality Raters for non-English SERPs?, WebmasterWorld
Search Engine Land Stories:
Google Ads’ new account map makes it easier to visualize manager accounts
AI and Digital Paid Media: Are PPC Managers Being Replaced?
Google Image Search launches new image preview box
Google beats out Microsoft, Amazon, IBM in image recognition study
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
On-Demand Webinar: Gaining Deeper Marketing Insights with BigQuery, GA360 & Data Studio, Adswerve
Step by Step: Setting up an App + Web Property, Krista Seiden
Industry & Business
‘Reclaim a seat at the table’: Microsoft is diversifying its advertising business, Digiday
Don’t Let Google Get Away With Censorship, Wall Street Journal
Links & Promotion Building
Relying Solely on Metrics for Link Building Can Be Futile & Dangerous – Here’s Why, Search Engine Journal
Local & Maps
Google Maps introduces Nigerian accent, Africanews
Hip-hop dancers show Paris in a new light on Street View, Google Blog
Sandee Wants to Be the Yelp of Beaches, Bloomberg
Yelp is Screwing Over Restaurants By Quietly Replacing Their Phone Numbers, VICE
Google Local Shows Photos to Match the User Query – And what it Means to You, Mike Blumenthal
Google Maps for tissues, Techxplore
How To Use Google Maps Offline, Ubergizmo
Mobile & Voice
BBC Sound Users Can Pause Alexa Across Any Device, Voicebot
How Google Assistant really gives operators leverage, Videonet
SEO
Thin Content & SEO | How to Avoid a Google Thin Content Penalty, Cognitive SEO
We’ve Doubled the Sensitivity of our SEO Split-Testing Platform, Distilled
Your Essential International SEO Checklist, Hallam
An SEO Checklist for Research and On-Page & Off-Page SEO, Marketing Infographic
How to Screen and Recruit the Best SEO Content Writers, Moz
SEO Best Practices: How to Add Keywords to a Website, Search Engine Guide
PPC
A Guide to Custom Affinity Audiences for the Google Display Network, Metric Theory
Support for app-ads.txt to protect your app revenue and brand, Google Blog
What Mobile-First Indexing Means for You as an Advertiser, WordStream
How To Nail Your Next QBR, PPC Hero
How to Use Remarketing Lists for Search Ads | RLSA Ads, Hallam
Keyword Research Guide by SEMrush, SEM Rush
Search Features
Image Recognition Accuracy Study, Perficient Digital
Other Search
The Advanced Protection Program expands to Chrome, Google Blog
