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:
Yet More Google Search Ranking Algorithm Tremors Over The Weekend
It has been one rocky month with both Google organic search ranking updates and local search ranking updates. This weekend there is chatter and signals of yet another Google search ranking algorithm update this weekend. The chatter started Friday and has continued through the weekend and even the tools are showing fluctuations.
Vlog #26: Who Is John Mueller Of Google
I surprised John Mueller (@JohnMu) as he was starting a Google webmaster help video and took over the video and turned it into a vlog and video interview about John Mueller…
Wall Street Journal Is Wrong & Why I Think The Google Story Should Be Retracted
This morning at Search Engine Land the team and I published a response to the Wall Street Journal’s story on Google Search. You can read my story named Misquoted and misunderstood: Why we, the search community, don’t believe the WSJ about Google search.
Google Warns Of Chrome Mixed Content Change & Impact On Rankings?
Google posted on Twitter on the Google Webmaster account that Chrome is making changes to how it handles mixed content and you should be on top of it for your users. Also mixed content can break your HTTPS security, but as we know, the HTTPS ranking boost is not dependent on HTTPS being valid right now and neither is rendering said Google.
Former Googler: Often Someone Assumed Google Took Action But Didn’t Really In That Way
Matt Cutts, who has not been with Google for a long time now, was asked to comment about alleged action Google took on a site a dozen or so years ago. Matt said he doesn’t specifically recommend this case but said in general “In many of the cases I saw, someone assumed that Google took some action in response to them or their site or their comments, when I knew from my position that the action had been percolating for months.”
Google NYC 8th Avenue Lobby Timelapsed
Google let me sit in the 8th avenue lobby unsupervised for a good 15 minutes or so, which gave me an opportunity to timelapse the Googlers coming in and out. There are more entrances and I’ve been
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
Wow! I didn’t realize there are only 50 SEOs in the world!! That’s amazing! https://t.co/cawc681rMB, Gary Illyes on Twitter
Well, those are different queries, with differing intents, and probably different competition. I don’t see it unexpected that the rankings would differ, perhaps even significantly., John Mueller on Twitter
Hey @rustybrick is the "More movies" option as something that appears above a Knowledge Panel for a show/movie and not as s/t that just comes up when searching "what to watch" new?, Mordy Oberstein on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Misquoted and misunderstood: Why we, the search community, don’t believe the WSJ about Google search
WSJ report about Google search manipulation gets a lot wrong
Google on building a better holiday omnichannel strategy
Local business study finds 0% of site traffic coming from email, paid media
A framework for SEO success with structured data
Be the first to see the new SMX West agenda
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Blocking Page Speed Hits in Google Analytics, On Page Rocks
How to Use Google Analytics to Prioritize Marketing Tactics, TechFunnel
Industry & Business
Discover new places with help from top Local Guides, Google Blog
Google is scaling back its weekly all-hands meetings after leaks, CEO tells staff, The Verge
Google’s health-care project with NIH was scuttled over data privacy concerns, Washington Post
Supreme Court will hear copyright suit between Google and Oracle, CNBC
States Step Up Google Scrutiny Over Antitrust Issues, Bloomberg
Why Is Google Slow-Walking Its Breakthroughs in AI?, Wired
Links & Promotion Building
The Content Distribution Playbook – Whiteboard Friday, Moz
Reciprocal Links: Do They Help or Hurt Your SEO?, Search Engine Journal
How do we know if content marketing works? Content Consumption!, KickPoint
Local & Maps
New Google Maps feature will make exploring new cities even more fun, BGR
Mobile & Voice
November 2019 Xbox One Update Brings Xbox Action for the Google Assistant, Gamertag Updates, Text Filters and More, Xbox Wire
Cortana iOS app to go dark in Australia, UK, Canada on January 31, Apple Insider
73% of Drivers Will Use an In-Car Voice Assistant by 2022: Report, Voicebot
Cortana to Be Removed from Non-U.S. App Stores, Directing Users to Microsoft 365 for Productivity Assistant, Voicebot
SEO
Google Webmaster Hangout Notes: November 12th 2019, DeepCrawl
How to Create Harder Working Home Pages – A 10 Step Guide, State of Digital
SEO Basics: How to start with SEO?, Yoast
Did Chrome Make Title Tags Pop Bigger on Hover, BrightEdge
Google’s mobile-first indexing: what does it mean for SEO?, Vertical Leap
Rewriting Queries Based Upon Entities at Nearby Locations, Go Fish Digital
So, what happens when they Google you?, Five Blocks
PPC
Google Ads & Machine Learning Transparency, PPC Hero
Find Hidden Budget to Fund New Marketing Initiatives, Seer Interactive
5 Useful PPC Bid Management Tips, Search Engine Guide
Advertising Editor is better than ever!, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
Google search will now give you feedback on your pronunciation, The Verge
Why newsrooms should pay attention to AI, Google Blog
