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 started to roll out the fifth product reviews update before Google finished rolling out the September core update. Google has a new crawler named Google Site Verifier, it does not listen to your robots.txt. Google said it can filter out obvious hack spam but its best to stay on top of the content put on your site. Google shared advice on how to temporarily close your site, before the Jewish holidays. Bing is testing a video length filter.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
Google Unleashes Fifth Product Reviews Update Before Core Update Is Done
Google, at about 4 am ET today, September 20, 2022, has unleashed the fifth product reviews update. This was released prior to the September 2022 core update being completed, which was not excepted and Google’s Danny Sullivan said likely would not happen – but it did happen.
Google Search Can Filter Out Obvious Hack Spam But…
What if your site gets hacked and there is a ton of spammy content placed on it? Do you have to worry about negative consequences on your Google rankings and overall SEO efforts? John Mueller of Google said Google can filter out the most obvious hacks but what is placed on your website is what Google likely sees, so make sure to be on top of your security.
New Google Site Verifier User Agent
Google has added a new Google crawler, a new user agent, to the Google spider list. Its name is Google Site Verifier User Agent. This user agent ignores robots.txt rules, by the way, and I assume it is used for verifying sites with Search Console and other Google tools and services.
Bing Tests New Video Length Filter In Web Search
Microsoft Bing has been doing a lot of user experience features around search refinements and filters dynamically within various search feature boxes. Here is one more showing a filter option for the length of a video next to the video box.
Jewish High Holy Days Approaching: Google Shares Tips On How To Temporarily Close Your Site
Next week the High Holy Days begin for the Jewish people and some of us will be offline (I will be offline) and some more righteous folks actually disable functionally, like checkout processes, on their sites on the holidays and even on Shabbat (Saturday). With these days approaching, John Mueller of Google reshared some tips on how to temporarily close your site on specific days.
Miniature Google Indoor RV
I am not sure what this vehicle is, or even if it is a vehicle but it looks like a small tiny mini RV that is branded with Google logos and was placed inside the Google Nederland office
Other Great Search Threads:
Submit your questions for the next office-hours. We’re still experimenting (thanks for your feedback!), and ready for the next round. Drop your questions in at, John Mueller on Twitter
Also, unless you set up HTTPS in a really, really weird way, it will be the same settings & certificates for the whole site, you don’t need to test individual URLs. Just, John Mueller on Twitter
If you’re not finding what you’re looking for in the first 100 results, I’d recommend adjusting the search that you’re making. Showing more than 100 re, John Mueller on Twitter
No, the cached page is independent of ranking., John Mueller on Twitter
Site moves can take a while, and moving a site to an expired domain (assuming that’s what happened) isn’t always the best strategy., John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
4 smarter ways to measure SEO effectiveness
Google releases September 2022 product reviews update
11 tips for using social to become an authority in your niche
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Why web analytics is poised to embrace Google’s GA4 platform, Ad Age
Industry & Business
Google India: Google faces pressure from government to help curb illegal lending apps: report, The Economic Times
Links & Content Marketing
10 Tips for Writing Product Content, Hallam Internet
Explore the most-read articles of 2022 on Think with Google U.K., with lessons for marketers on topics such as privacy, sustainability, automation and more., Think with Google
Local & Maps
How to create and organize Google Maps labels, 9to5Google
Tripadvisor’s new in-house studio serves external clients, Ad Age
Mobile & Voice
Google begins testing Matter update for Nest Hub Max, 9to5Google
Apple to raise App Store prices in multiple countries, 9to5Mac
Google Assistant Plans Custom Quick Phrases, Voicebot
Upcoming price and tax changes for apps and in-app purchases, Apple Developer
SEO
10 Must-Have Chrome Extensions For SEO, Semrush
Case Study AI content punished by the HCU update, Kevin Indig
Google Core Update September 2022, SISTRIX
How to Get Google to Recrawl Your Site, seoClarity
How to Fix “Discovered – currently not indexed”, Ahrefs
PPC
Google’s post-cookie ad tech tests face skepticism, Ad Age
Growth Marketing vs. Demand Generation: Which is Better?, PPC Expo
How to Create Google Performance Max Ads That Convert, Tinuiti
How to Get Found Online: 5 Tips for Small Business Owners in 2022, PPC Hero
Paid Search Rules, Speech Bomb, BOPIS to Suffer, Near Media
Google’s crumbling third-party cookie is still likely to take center stage at Dmexco 2022, Digiday
Other Search
Announcing the Launch of the Chrome Root Program, Chromium Blog
Exclusive: Gmail launches pilot to keep campaign emails out of spam, Axios
Feedback:
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