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 confirmed that its backlogged with manual actions that need to be processed. Google's page experience update for desktop is coming next month. Google said links need to be indexed to be counted and even some pages that are indexed don't count. Google Ads launched a new disapproved ads auditor tool. Google Ads local campaigns do not support ad scheduling. Google is testing web stories for NFL games in search and more.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Google: Manual Actions Backlogged & Delayed Responses
Danny Sullivan of Google confirmed on Twitter that there is or was a backlog of manual actions issued by Google. Google has been slow and delayed in responding to those manual actions but is working through the backlog. - Google Page Experience Update Coming To Desktop Soon
This is just a reminder that the Google Page Experience Update for desktop pages is coming to a Google search ranking algorithm soon. Well, technically it is coming next month - in February and it is something you really don't need to stress about. - Google: Links Have To Be On Indexed Pages To Be Counted & Not Also All Indexed Links Are Counted
Google said it is okay to ignore toxic links that some tools are reporting but why? Well, we know that for a link to be counted by Google the page linking out needs to be indexed by Google in the first place. Plus, Google, since Penguin 4.0, doesn't even count all links, even if they are on indexed pages. - Google Ads Local Campaigns Ad Scheduling Isn't Allowed
Did you know that your local campaigns in Google Ads can now be scheduled to turn on or off on certain days or time of the day? Anders Hjorth posted a cryptic error when trying to set a schedule for local campaigns in Google Ads that read "this operation is not allowed for the given context." - Google Ads Disapproved Ads Auditor
Google Ads has a new scaled ad auditing tool set of code you can download at GitHub and use in your own software systems for managing your ads. The Disapproved Ads Auditor tool helps you both flag and automatically delete ads that violating Google Ads policies on your accounts. - Google Tests Web Stories For NFL Games (In Place Of YouTube Videos)
Google is testing displaying web stories in place of YouTube videos for searches on NFL games. Personally, I still see the YouTube videos but some folks, like NFL enthusiast Mordy Oberstein, is seeing Web Stories instead of YouTube videos. - Google Logo On Barbell Weight Plates
We've seen Google label dumbbells in their gyms with the Google logo, but here is a photo (taken from a video) of the Google logo on the weight plates of the barbells. This was shared on Instagram, h
Other Great Search Threads:
- Hi James, The team is aware and working to address this. However, please note that this is a message error in the Ad Preview and Diagnosis tools and is not impacting ad serving., AdsLiaison on Twitter
- I suspect it would be rare that we'd show something like that in a table snippet either way, and I don't think understanding a table like that would change anything for search (other than just picking up the tex, John Mueller on Twitter
- I've passed a note on to the team to double-check the status here, as I do for other cases that I run across. The best approach is generally to use the forums, where escalations ha, John Mueller on Twitter
- Last week, we experienced a brief glitch related to Amazon and Google’s networks. It was resolved immediately. Despite the urgent reaction, there was a temp crawl issues due to the nature of, SiteGround on Twitter
- Google Mobile search found "ideas from the web" Cc: @rustybrick https://t.co/dqx9bFywhZ, Punit on Twitter
- It can. Changing a single URL rarely changes much, but if you're revamping your site's URL structure, that can definitely take a while to be reprocessed completely. Change when you have good reasons, and ai, John Mueller on Twitter
- It's measured from start to finish of the request, across all requests made. 700ms isn't terrible, but can certainly be improved., John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Microsoft Advertising Shopping campaigns reporting enhancements
- Google Ads releases disapproved ads auditor tool
- 3 ways to check technical SEO health issues on your website
- SEO software tools: What marketers need to know
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- In-Depth Guide on Custom Insights in Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Online Metrics
Industry & Business
- A New Document Reveals More of Google's Anti-Union Strategy, Wired
- Google Must Turn Over More Documents in Labor Case, Judge Rules, New York Times
- Google in last-ditch lobbying attempt to influence incoming EU tech rules, Financial Times
Links & Content Marketing
- An Easy Local Link Building Strategy for Service Providers That Works, Adam Riemer
- Three of the Biggest Opportunities to Elevate B2B Marketing in 2022, Online Marketing Blog
Local & Maps
- Apple Car schematics allegedly shown to Japanese supplier in 2020, AppleInsider
- You can't hail an Uber from your Apple Watch anymore, AppleInsider
Mobile & Voice
- Apple paid out around $60 billion to App Store developers in 2021, TechCrunch
- Chromebooks are evolving, but Assistant Discover is missing, Chrome Unboxed
SEO
- How To Write Research-Backed Content + Find Reliable Sources, Siege Media
- SEO first principles, Kevin Indig
- How to Create an XML Sitemap to Empower SEO, Conductor
- How To Fix “Discovered – Currently Not Indexed” in Google Search Console, Onely Blog
PPC
- Build awareness for your brand with CPM pricing, Microsoft Advertising
- How to Chose Effective Images for Ads on Social, PPC Hero
- What’s new for Microsoft Advertising in January?, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
Other Search
- The Case for Permissionless Co-Marketing, SparkToro
Feedback:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, you can follow us on Facebook and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.
