Daily Search Forum Recap: February 2, 2024

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 Maps is testing generative AI for local guide types of questions and answers. Google responsive search ads gets three new changes. Google is testing double line sitelinks. Google Search has store fitlers on mobile search. I posted my weekly SEO video recap from my new location. I also posted the big Google Webmaster Report for February 2024. Also the Google search indexing issue is somewhat mitigated but not fully fixed yet, at the time this newsletter was published.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Search Indexing Issues, Recipe Bugs, INP CWV, Storm Coming & More Search News
  This week, we covered another Google Search indexing issue, plus this ongoing issue with recipes in the Google Search results. I suspect we will soon have a very big Google Search ranking update - a storm is coming...
• Google Maps Tests AI Generated Answers For Local Questions With Local Guides
  Google announced it is testing generative AI technology to answer local specific questions within Google Maps. "Starting in the U.S., this early access experiment launches this week to select Local Guides, who are some of the most active and passionate members of the Maps community," Google wrote.
• Google Responsive Search Ads Updates
  Google has released three new changes to its Google Ads Responsive Search Ads. First, Google may now show a single-line headline instead of two. Second, Google now lets you associate multiple headlines and descriptions to campaigns. Third, changes to account-level automated assets.
• February 2024 Google Webmaster Report
  Are you ready for the big Google Webmaster report - well, here is the February 2024 edition. This month, Google confirmed an issue with teetering in and out results over the weekend and with that fix, we saw the weekend Google ranking updates calm and slow.
• Google Search Stores Filter Bubble On Mobile
  Google Search on the mobile interface can show a store button with an arrow on it, that if you click on it, it overlays a filter to filter results by specific retailers and merchants. The store filter in general is not new, we've seen it before, but the way this is done on mobile, does seem new.
• Google Ads Double Line Sitelinks Test
  Google seems to be testing two lines of text for sitelinks within the mobile search ads interface. So yea, double-line sitelinks in the search ads in the Google mobile search results.
• Google Partner Plex Water Tokyo Bottle
  Here is an old photo from the Google offices in Tokyo of a Google Partner Plex water bottle. It looks to be made of stainless steel material and the photo is from 2017.

Other Great Search Threads:

• AdSense Earnings and Observations - February 2024, WebmasterWorld
• Bard with Gemini Pro is now available in over 40 languages and 230+ countries and territories, bringing its top 2 most preferred status across the world (👀 @lmsysorg). AND you can now bring your imagination to life with image, Jack Krawczyk on X
• Estamos muito felizes em anunciar uma nova edição do Search Central Live no Brasil! Junte-se a nós para aprender como melhorar o desempenho de suas pesquisas na busca do Google - dia 29 de fevereiro, em São Paulo http, Google Search Central on X
• GoogleMyBiz Any explanation as to why GBPs have a "Located In" attribute that literally lists The UPS Store and Street View pic and your system can't filter these junk listings out? Just suggested edits for another, Rex Kramer, Danger Seeker
• You hear the team talk a lot about #StructuredData for your website, but what is it and how can I get started if I’m using a website builder? Watch the latest episode of #SEOMadeEasy with @g33konaut for quick tips to ge, Google Search Central on X
• If it's the same URL, it's not duplicate content since it's all the same URL. I don't know how useful it is to send Google a big text file with canonical URLs in it, but you can do it, it won't cause pr, John Mueller on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Amazon’s ad services revenue rises 27%, bringing in more than $14 billion in Q4
• Meta’s ad revenue jump 24% in Q4, exceeding expectations
• Google Search officially retires cache link
• Google Ads introduces new simpler way to create Solutions script templates
• Meta enhances non-click video ad conversions insights
• LinkedIn launches Website Actions to simplify action tracking
• Google unveils major Responsive Search Ad asset updates
• Google Bard adds image generation
• 4 advanced GPT-4 capabilities to level up your PPC efforts
• How to make SEO and CRO more human with behavioral psychology
• 6 steps to improve your Google Ads campaigns
• Google Search investigating another indexing issue

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

• 8 Google Tag Manager Best Practices, Measure Minds Group

Industry & Business

• Our industry is changing, Marie Haynes
• Google asks judge to overturn Epic Games antitrust verdict, Reuters

Links & Content Marketing

• 4 B2B Content Types for Buying Journey Stages, MarketingProfs
• Are CMI Roles Going 6 Feet Under?, Content Marketing Institute
• Can AI improve content marketing? Well..., Diginomica
• How Can B2B Content Marketers Successfully Integrate GenAI?, Insider Intelligence Trends

Local & Maps

• A future Apple Car could be fully self-navigating, AppleInsider
• Google Maps is getting ‘supercharged’ with generative AI, The Verge
• Google Maps: New Generative AI feature coming to Local Guides, Google Blog
• Google shutting down Assistant Driving Mode in Maps on Feb. 7, 9to5Google

Mobile & Voice

• Apple announces more than 600 new apps built for Apple Vision Pro, Apple
• Apple Vision Pro could have odd effects on user's cognition, AppleInsider
• Cook 'incredibly excited' about AI news to come later this year, AppleInsider

SEO

• 2024 SEO Playbook: 11 Proven Tactics to Dominate Single-Day Live Events (Like Oscars & Super Bowl), NewzDash
• How AI Is Transforming Enterprise SEO, BrightEdge
• On-page SEO for eCommerce: Increase your online store’s organic traffic and sales, Wix SEO Hub

PPC

• Google Ads Update: 3 Changes to Search Ad Creatives, Cypress North
• Google Related Website Sets on Sandbox concerns publishers, Press Gazette
• Negative Keywords: What They Are & How to Use Them, Semrush
• The Advanced LinkedIn Ads Guide, Content Marketing Institute

Search Features

• Edge may get its own Circle to Search gesture for Copilot, rivaling Google's feature, Windows Report
• Google Translate redesigns Conversation mode with Material You, 9to5Google

Other Search

• Interop 2024, Web Dev

Feedback:

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