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 Search Console's international targeting setting can take weeks to kick in. Google said if you are migrating to a new domain, don't also remove AMP at the same time. A reminder that error like pages or out of stock or no delivery pages can trigger soft 404s in Google Search. Google is testing a blue header in the search results. Google local shows bike sharing icons with quantity and car charing icons. Plus more...
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Google Search Console International Targeting Setting Can Take Weeks
Google's John Mueller said that it can take from a week to a couple of months for Google Search to pick up on the international targeting setting you selected in Google Search Console. He said it would likely go faster for news sites but other sites can take up to a couple of months. - Google: Pages That Look Like Error Pages Can Be Considered Soft 404s
Several months ago Google told us that returning a "results not found" type of page can result in Google Search considering that page a soft 404 and thus removing it from the search results. The same is true for "Sorry we don't deliver to this location" or other negative and error looking pages. - Advice: Don't Migrate Domains & Drop Google AMP The Same Time
It might not be the best idea to migrate to a new domain name and at the same time also drop your AMP pages. A Google SEO hangout with John Mueller has one case where a site migrated to a new domain back in September and at the same time dropped AMP and has not seen the site's traffic recover yet. - Google Search Tests Blue Header
Ric Rodriguez has spotted Google testing a blue colored header for the mobile search results. He shared a number of screenshots on Twitter -here is a side by side of a normal white header for the Google Search bar compared to the blue header for the Google search bar. - Google Local Results Displays Bike & Car Charging Icons In Local Results
Google is now showing bike icons for the bikeshare data it shows in the local search results, including the local pack and local listing for a bike share location. Google also shows the quantity of bikes that are available at that location. And Google is also showing electric car charging icons. - Google's User Agent Horse Wears A Mask - But It's A Bit Hoarse
So John Mueller of Google shared a photo of his cardboard cut out the other day and I was super upset that it was without a mask. John then shared that the User-agent horse had a mask - so all is good
Other Great Search Threads:
- I saw "Shops" in mobile serp. And shows ecommerce sites in "Shops" feature. Is this new? CC @rustybrick @JohnMu #mobile #shop https://t.co/GZEMEz7R6e, khushal Bherwani on Twitter
- Adsense, Firewalls, and Windows Servers - Minimize Claw Backs, WebmasterWorld
- It's like a filter for the display in the search results, it doesn't remove from indexing, and doesn't do anything with redirects, canonicals, etc. The only expansion it does is for http/https/www/n, John Mueller on Twitter
- This should be studied as a great example of community driven/engaged link building. Willing to bet the names on this list are getting mentioned a TON of other places as well., Joe Hall on Twitter
- 1 of the things that's not typical about the 'COVID SERP' is how well it goes "vertically" into the topic. It breaks down the subtopics that comprise the overall topic so that exploring it is easy. This is NOT how Google, Mordy Oberstein on Twitter
- Adsense revenues 'disappearing', WebmasterWorld
- hreflang only swaps out URLs, so implementing just one language/country version does nothing., John Mueller on Twitter
- It's an approximation. There is no single, accurate "speed number" - no testing tool can give you that., John Mueller on Twitter
- SEO Mystery: Why isn't https://t.co/njNTKQQJPu ranking for "reddit" - one of the highest volume keywords on the entire internet? (instead ranking https://t.co/nJkMvgfd3x - which typically ranks #2 - and is NOT what most people are s, Cyrus on Twitter
- Well, for many of them, you have to know that they exist first, if you want to search for them. It's not a matter of links, it's a matter of awareness. Also, the whole world doesn't revolve around se, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- 4 ways data analysis can help you generate new ideas and optimize your content
- Meta will remove targeting options for sensitive topics on January 19
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- The Most Important Business KPIs. (Spoiler: Not Conversion Rate!), Avinash Kaushik
Industry & Business
- Class action lawsuit alleges Google pays Apple to stay out of the search engine market, AppleInsider
- The tech industry's accessibility report card for 2021, Engadget
- Amazon and Google deploy their armies to thwart antitrust bills, POLITICO
Links & Content Marketing
- Broadcast Your B2B Marketing with a Brand Voice that Rings True, Online Marketing Blog
- How To Do Less and Get More in Every Facet of Content Marketing, Content Marketing Institute
- Why Typewriter-Like Linear Thinking Works Better Than Tools for Content Creation, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Painful Lag Makes Apple’s Google Maps Rival Nearly Useless on CarPlay, AutoEvolution
- Use this hidden Google Maps feature to avoid traffic tickets, BGR
Mobile & Voice
- Google Assistant guide: What is it, how to use it, and more, Android Authority
- Kids and the potentially lethal Penny challenge: Putting Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant on the spot, PhoneArena
SEO
- Amanda Malko - G2 SEO is the gateway to your brand, eMarketing Association
- How to do International Multilingual Keyword Research, Generic Marketing
- Professional Focus for SEO Skills, Chris Green
- Prioritising SEO Fixes & Tasks, Koozai
PPC
- 7 Changes That Impacted Amazon Advertisers in 2021, Tinuiti
- 9 Changes that Impacted Google Advertisers in 2021, Tinuiti
- How to Use High-Intent, Buyer Keywords to Boost eCommerce Sales, Go Inflow
- The 24 Best Ad Copy Examples from Every Channel, WordStream
Search Features
Other Search
- 5 Tips for Getting Your Blog Listed in Google News, Business 2 Community
- How Google helped TikTok take the throne, Kevin Indig
Feedback:
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