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:
December 4th Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update. Maybe?
Some of the tracking tools are spiking up and showing signals of a Google search ranking update over the past couple of days – maybe December 3rd or 4th. There is some limited chatter, nothing crazy, but some chatter at WebmasterWorld. Some are saying they saw…
Google My Business Reviews Select Rated Highly For Tags
Google is now letting Local Guides and maybe other Google users to select a tag to describe why you like the business you are reviewing. So not just leave a star rating and a review and photos but also select a descriptive tag that Google can use in a more structured fashion.
Simple Video On How Google Search Works
Google posted on their Google Webmaster YouTube channel a nice very clear and simple beginner video on how Google Search works as it relates to how you, webmasters, can make your web sites better. This might be one of those videos you share with new, newbie, clients?
Google: Only Insane CPU Usage Will Limit How It Renders JavaScript
Google is good, really good, at rendering JavaScript these days, even pretty inefficient JavaScript. So much so that Martin Splitt from Google said the only time you really need to worry about CPU usage being a problem is when it is such a big issue that your users CPUs get so hot the fans on the computer sounds like it is going to “lift off.”
Google Search Console Updates Messaging Interface
As we reported, new stuff has now come to Google Search Console’s messaging. Google announced a new method for viewing messages in Google Search Console. You can now access these messages in the bell icon at the top right, it will have a red indicator when there are new messages for you to view. You can even view the messages by category.
GoogleBot Hits Tel Aviv
Here is a photo from John Mueller of Google who brought his 3D printed GoogleBot to Tel Aviv, Israel. It is the Google Webmaster Conference in Tel Aviv, so I suspect he brought a handful of these to
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
Genius sues Google and LyricFind alleging anticompetitive behavior and that song lyrics on its service were stolen, asking for over $400M in damages (@danideahl / The Verge) https://t.co/C9MUsmQyjC https://t.co/SOIvifF0lH, Techmeme on Twitter
Mojeek gets investment, 100 new servers deployed, WebmasterWorld
Google Spam & Hacked Machines, WebmasterWorld
I chatted with the @ycombinator podcast about the early days of Google, and the US Digital Service: https://t.co/y6IRTHdIHt We’re looking for great product managers, engineers, and designers! Apply here: https://t.co/DhPlLOtRP2, Matt Cutts on Twitter
Instagram Now Requires Birth-dates For Sign-ups, WebmasterWorld
It’s not so much about parity (though that’s useful to know too), but more about understanding the whole web. For example, we wouldn’t realize that a site now has m-dot pages if we don’t check how a desktop user s, John Mueller on Twitter
Optimization score now includes Display campaigns, Google Ads Help
The top stories section is an organic search feature — not all pages show up there that’s normal., John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Now is the time to position your site for a successful start to 2020
Google Search Console messages can now be viewed without leaving reports
Video: Jeff Selig on the early days of SEO, Google algorithms & international SEO
How deep learning can reduce bias in advertising
Google co-founders step down, Sundar Pichai to lead both Google and Alphabet
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
How Can Big Data Contribute To Digital Marketing Success?, InGenium Web
Persist Campaign Data On The Landing Page, Simo Ahava’s blog
The 3 Essentials for Properly Setting Up Google Analytics Conversion Tracking, Databox Blog
Using Drill-Down Charts in Data Studio, ClickInsight
Industry & Business
Google Retaliation Claims Spread With New Labor Board Filing, Bloomberg
Google’s founders came up with the Alphabet model after meeting Warren Buffett, Business Insider
Key Takeaways from Google Webmaster Conference Tel Aviv 2019, Fandango SEO
Links & Promotion Building
The Importance of Internal Linking to Boost Site Performance and UX, Seer Interactive
9 ways to use data to get authoritative links, Koozai blog
SPAM Nofollow Backlinks are nothing to worry about – Think Again…, Majestic Blog
Local & Maps
Better Than Google Maps Or Waze? This New Navigation App Pulls Out All The Stops, Forbes
Google Street View for Kenya’s National Parks launched, KBC
Mobile & Voice
Google Assistant now recommending recipes based on your dietary restrictions, Social Barrel
Google Assistant supports more bedroom, kitchen appliances, 9to5Google
I Tried on Google and Levi’s Smart Jean Jacket and It’s Cool, but Not There Just Yet, KTLA
SEO
Botify Partners With Looker: Powering Insights To Boost Website Performance, Botify
Understand Page Speed, Metrics, and How to Improve Speed with the 9 Best Speed Fixes, BrightEdge SEO Blog
Medium’s Got a Large Problem – Onely, Medium
New Google Search Console report checks site speed, Yoast
SERP News: Google Goes Stealth with the Nov. 2019 Local Update, RankRanger
7 Tips to Write More Effective SEO Reports, Seer Interactive
PPC
Google’s Shiny New Lead Form Extension, State of Digital
Search Features
Live from the North Pole, it’s Santa’s Village!, Google Blog
