Recent Comments on Search Engine Roundtable

JasonLBauman commented on Structured Data & Schema Does Not Help With Visibility In AI Search

The second test they literally tried a play on the "Invisible text in the footer" trick and are surprised that Google didn't count the invisible text in their index? The second page was a blank page where the schema was not relevant to the content on the page, so it would be ignored. At least the first test is interesting, but Tokenization isn't the whole story, otherwise LLMs couldn't understand code. If you take code and paste it into the Tokenizer example on ChatGPT, the LLM also "breaks" the code. But we know that models can understand code and respond to it. If you ask questions of an LLM using structured data like formatting, the model interprets it appropriately. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/344877f9f249f1595b2c4147b1faff56772863196ea24145134f1200ed16922d.png As others have mentioned below: We know that Google uses Schema to inform their index. It is not a ranking factor (you won't improve ranking from spot 3 to spot 2 implementing schema) we DO know that schema helps Google better understand your page so you can appear for a broader range of terms and my company has case studies showing that schema can improve the quality score of a page, making it more efficient for ads. In my own testing, We also know that these models CAN parse schema when fed a page, so they understand the context. It's not a silver bullet and should never be treated as such, but I think that's a far cry from the "Schema is useless" talk, especially when so many people are still doing genuinely useless stuff like keyword rank tracking in AI models (Or worse, using AI for Keyword research) and paying hundreds of dollars a month for it. Again, Schema isn't a silver bullet. Anyone trying to sell it to you as the "way" to "win AI" is trying to just take your money.

Comment ID #6768940263 09/16/2025 01:59 pm

Lokesh Singh commented on Structured Data & Schema Does Not Help With Visibility In AI Search

Wrong explanation, you have to investigate it more... I am using and working fine with outstanding results...

Comment ID #6768914694 09/16/2025 01:10 pm

Claire commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

guess google is monopolizing data too... :(

Comment ID #6768911797 09/16/2025 01:05 pm

Rowan commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

My theory? Google is doing this, so we can’t get reliable and accurate third-party data. This way, we can only rely on the data Google gives us (i.e, Google Analytics), which they can manipulate and lie to us. Don’t forget, this isn’t the first time Google has attempted this. Earlier this year, Google did ‘something’ to the search results, I believe they added some hidden elements or something, and it made many scraping software and keyword tracking not work as normal. It is also to deter OpenAI and all the other AI startups from scraping content online conveniently. This way, AI startups will have a tough time scraping for data within their budget. They will have to buy proxies and whatnot, which will skyrocket their expenses. It will benefit Google in the long run since people will just rely on Google for the latest, correct answers. For other words, they're setting barriers to data harvesting. Sometimes I feel that they didn't just intentionally deteriorate the search results' relevance to push us to Adwords; it also hurts AI companies who rely on Google to scrape for data, since it will be irrelevant and doesn’t answer the question. Reddit always rank first and, coincidentally, Reddit has security measures to block scrapers. Then they put up Youtube, Pinterest, and Facebook which won't be much value for data harvesting. Anyway, when content creators like us can’t get accurate data to let us know where we’re ranking; Google can keep shuffling the search results crazily behind our back. Then they can manipulate or even delay Analytics data. We will think all is ‘normal’ and we will continue to write content like mules oblivious to Google’s ploy. Then Googlers can still tell us, “SEO is not dead.”, or “Keep writing helpful content.”

Comment ID #6768905871 09/16/2025 12:53 pm

2025 commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

What's taking this fuc/king update so much time to roll out??????

Comment ID #6768887523 09/16/2025 12:18 pm

UncleKrusty commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

<blockquote>google is fucking greedy beyond belief.</blockquote>Greedy they are, but it's not stopping them from pushing their gaslighting PR campaign. Just saw the story below on CNBC with Youtube bragging how much they are paying out. All of the comments I can recall here, from those producing Youtube videos, is them being paid peanuts. But being paid peanuts is still better than what Google search pays creators. YouTube says it has paid creators more than $100 billion over last 4 years <blockquote>YouTube said on Tuesday it has paid out over $100 billion to creators, artists and media companies since 2021.</blockquote><blockquote>The milestone comes as the Google-owned platform marks its 20th year and pushes to cement itself as one of the world’s most lucrative media businesses.</blockquote>Full story: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/16/youtube-creators-pay.html">https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/16/youtube-creators-pay.html</a>

Comment ID #6768877115 09/16/2025 11:58 am

Atoz Stanf commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

Can someone explain to me why Google would make this change? Honestly, what's the point of removing the top 100 results? And yes, we do fking care about 30+ positions.

Comment ID #6768873506 09/16/2025 11:52 am

Clemson Web Design commented on Google August 2025 Spam Update Heats Up Again

This looks almost exactly like what Im seeing

Comment ID #6768860251 09/16/2025 11:28 am

Clemson Web Design commented on Google August 2025 Spam Update Heats Up Again

Yes. Starting Sept 10th. Off a cliff.

Comment ID #6768859955 09/16/2025 11:27 am

Claire commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

maybe.... just maybe.... it will also click on its OWN ads to purchase from advertiser's websites... then they charge advertisers for it, while also taking a cut from the customer's purchase for 'processing fee'. google is fucking greedy beyond belief.

Comment ID #6768859047 09/16/2025 11:26 am

UncleKrusty commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

I think it's only a matter of time before Google uses their unchecked monopoly to scrape our product content, present it to users with their own inflated price so they can forcibly take a slice of the transaction by making consumers pay a higher price. The foundation is being built... Google launches new protocol for agent-driven purchases <blockquote>On Tuesday, Google announced a new open protocol for purchases initiated by AI agents — automated software programs that can shop and make decisions on behalf of users — with backing from more than 60 merchants and financial institutions. Called the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), the system is meant to be interoperable between AI platforms, payment systems and vendors, providing a traceable paper trail for each transaction.</blockquote>Full story: <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/16/google-launches-new-protocol-for-agent-driven-purchases/">https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/16/google-launches-new-protocol-for-agent-driven-purchases/</a>

Comment ID #6768840012 09/16/2025 10:51 am

Mantha Phani Satya Anirudh commented on Google Search Testing Dropping 100 Search Results Parameter

Great point, Kevin — I completely agree that pairing GSC data with log file analysis is key to separating genuine user demand from bot noise. I find this perspective very interesting. Have you come across any specific frameworks, case studies, or resources that explain how to effectively combine GSC and log files? Would love to explore this further with some supporting material.

Comment ID #6768804221 09/16/2025 09:44 am

Economia Italia commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

Drop in desktop impressions and decrease in revenue RPM This is very stupid by google

Comment ID #6768794737 09/16/2025 09:25 am

DataDonkey commented on Rolling Stone Publisher Penske Sues Google Over AI Overviews

Judge Meathead could have dealt with this in his ruling, but he succumbed to being corrupted and should be removed from the bench. But this speaks to the larger problem of allowing foreign nationals to become judges and lead companies (Microsoft, Alphabet) which are hostile to American freedoms and liberty.

Comment ID #6768763112 09/16/2025 08:16 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

I wonder if anyone has filed a DMCA takedown request for stolen content appearing in AI Overlords? Would be nice if Google was flooded with millions of these DMCA requests and also millions of lawsuits from small publishers who have been severely harmed by the Google Crime Syndicate. Trump isn't going to help anyone other than big techies. In fact the one who nicknamed Sleepy Joe is now being called Nappy Trump and said to be showing signs of early dementia. Too many Geriatrics in DC which is why age limits are needed. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/71a372baa90d44bb4b788422a63cbe1527463e4bf3b2636889ba60b2b66c59e3.png ‘This Isn’t Normal’: Psychologists Sound Alarm on Trump Dozing Off - <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/isn-t-normal-psychologists-sound-170735970.html">https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/isn-t-normal-psychologists-sound-170735970.html</a> <blockquote>Two psychologists are warning that President Donald Trump’s frequent confusion and mounting physical issues may be pointing to something more troubling than just aging. On their podcast Shrinking Trump, psychologists John Gartner and Harry Segal argued that the 79-year-old president is showing both physical and linguistic symptoms of what they call “early dementia.”</blockquote>

Comment ID #6768759072 09/16/2025 08:06 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

And those two blue links will be from text ads.

Comment ID #6768749294 09/16/2025 07:39 am

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

Please do. But if you delete it quickly I will probably miss it since I'm not spending as much time online anymore except for work. I have a feeling we're getting closer to AI Scrode Mode being the default. Ranking #1 now brings no traffic anyway, so going full AI Scrode Mode is the next logical step for the Google Crime Syndicate.

Comment ID #6768746984 09/16/2025 07:32 am

johnadam commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

Does anybody know an alternative to check search rankings up to 100 results?

Comment ID #6768738123 09/16/2025 07:05 am

Anas commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7dc9d793c86f6e3f128da6fd9105837959ef59445c40124c7b8e269c4f04a32e.png My pages are not getting indexed. I’ve fixed all technical errors and duplicate content, but Google is neither crawling the site nor indexing it.

Comment ID #6768727250 09/16/2025 06:26 am

Husnain Ahmed commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

use google.com/ai

Comment ID #6768717323 09/16/2025 05:48 am

Martin Jeffrey commented on Structured Data & Schema Does Not Help With Visibility In AI Search

David, agreed — schema isn’t a ranking factor. That part’s clear. But saying it does “nothing” isn’t accurate either. Google explicitly documents its use of structured data to power Merchant Center feeds, Knowledge Graph entities, FAQ/How-to rich results, events, and product attributes. Those aren’t “magic,” they’re retrieval inputs. And retrieval matters: MAGI-T, AI Overviews, and RAG pipelines can only cite what makes it into that shortlist. Schema doesn’t get you into the model, but it does change the pool of candidates the model can pull from.

Comment ID #6768697128 09/16/2025 04:21 am

Ted (or Big T) commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

Old website was recovered, but new website is totaly dead....

Comment ID #6768691888 09/16/2025 03:57 am

Sam commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

There are things I have written from my head (only me) that are in AI overviews from my website. It does not quote me but it is so obscure that it could only come from my brain. And now, they are using my own content to rob me, that is not fair use.

Comment ID #6768691446 09/16/2025 03:55 am

Sam commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/8d5b66d1f24798bf9cb60e8b7dbb2dd2a1f9ffaa331aca16b4f8a4f7a53a984a.png I am in UK - so maybe I have it before in US, or I am just part of a test pool before it launches?

Comment ID #6768688749 09/16/2025 03:43 am

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

yes they did, so nobody could see the proof how things worked with old analytics LOL

Comment ID #6768686564 09/16/2025 03:32 am

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

apply for MV journey maybe

Comment ID #6768686419 09/16/2025 03:31 am

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

they basically have covert contract with us, they expect us to continue writing, while not telling us that it's terrible business for us :DD that's why they really feel no need to comment, because we keep writing while they know it's worst idea, but it's ideal for them

Comment ID #6768684232 09/16/2025 03:21 am

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

but where do you see that button "AI mode"? I don't see it anywhere https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/322b2934791955bc41048683457b34f567bde57956b3a57b332f84a320aef0a7.png

Comment ID #6768684032 09/16/2025 03:20 am

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

10 blue links? maybe 2

Comment ID #6768683726 09/16/2025 03:18 am

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Console Reporting Off Since 100 Results Per Page Change

ahh yes, check search console

Comment ID #6768683256 09/16/2025 03:16 am

Recent Comments

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

Most Recent Articles

Daily Search Forum Recap: September 16, 2025

New (But Old) Google Search Console Achievements

What Is Google Question Fringe Score

Bing Image Search With Ads Mixed Into The Organic Results

Bing Testing Sticky Search Bar Header

Rolling Stone Publisher (Penske) Sued Google Over AI Overviews