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:
- Searchers Seeing Mixed Up Languages In Google Search
There are some reports in the Google Web Search Help forums of searchers seeing mixed languages in the search results. If they search for one query, they may see English but if they search for a different query, they may see a completely different language. - Google's John Mueller: You Focus Too Much On Links
Google's John Mueller has been telling some SEOs over the past day or so that they are focusing too much on links. He said it twice within a few hours of each other to different SEOs on Twitter. - Google Knowledge Panel With Video As Top Featured Image
I am not sure if I've seen a video in the top featured slot of the knowledge panel in Google before. If you search for [oscar nominations] in Google on desktop or mobile, you will see a video thumbnail at the top. Click on it and it will play a video. - Google My Business Helps Businesses Without Offices With New Sign Up Process
We saw this coming and now Google officially released a new sign up process for service area businesses, businesses that don't operate out of a specific location(s). Google now lets them specify the locations they service, instead of being stuck without any options. - Google URL Inspection Tool Security Issue
Oliver H.G. Mason posted a simple method to use the Google Search Console URL inspection tool on any URL even when you do not have verified access to that URL in Google Search Console. The process is very simple, just set up a page on a URL you do have access to and redirect it to a page you do not have access to. - Google Food Ordering
Here is a nice photo I found on Instagram from Ann Beaver. It says Hey Google, order food! Google food ordering. Looks like either a chocolate bar or card of some sorts to me.
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- Facebook's 10-Year Challenge: Motives Questioned, WebmasterWorld
- Google Considering Pulling News Service From Europe, WebmasterWorld
- Google Seems to be Turning Up the Exact match (close variant), WebmasterWorld
- In terms of being able to help us correct issues like this, that's exactly why we allow Knowledge Panels to be claimed. I'm not sure from your post when and how you filed feedback after claiming, but if you want to share more, Danny Sullivan on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Accelerated mobile pages: Are they worth it?
- How reputation became a major ranking factor in SEO
- Amazon had a record-breaking holiday season, here’s how advertisers managed it
- Small business scammer shut down by Google lawsuit
- Google offers improved GMB sign-up flow for service-area businesses
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- 14 Key Functions Of Google Analytics Agencies Should Be Using, Forbes
- How to Optimize Your Conversion Funnel, from ToFu to BoFu, Moz
- Ten Google Analytics Admin Tips to Improve Your Data Collection, Northwood Soft
- True View Ecommerce Impressions With Google Tag Manager, Simo Ahava's blog
Industry & Business
- Engaging policy stakeholders on issues in AI governance, Google Blog
- Expanding knowledge access with the Wikimedia Foundation, Google Blog
- Expanding the Application of Deep Learning to Electronic Health Records, Google AI Blog
- Google Opens New Office in Berlin, With Eye on Expansion, Billboard
- Google Set 2018 Lobbying Record as Washington Techlash Expands, Bloomberg
- China's Baidu pledges to improve search service after complaint, Reuters
- Google hires 14-year Mac veteran to bring Fuchsia to market, 9to5Google
Links & Promotion Building
- Earning Links With Journalists, What Do You Need to Know?, State of Digital
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
- PWAs: Why you want one, how to get them & optimize for them - #CrawlingMondays 4th Episode, Aleyda Solis
SEO
- The Ultimate Guide to SEO Reports With a Guide and Template, Raven Blog
- What Is SEM? Does SEM Include SEO?, BruceClay.com
- Yoast SEO 9.5: Hej Sverige!, Yoast
- Webcast: The Art and Science of SEO, Bing Ads Blog
PPC
