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:
- Some Google Search Ranking Algorithm Chatter Past Few Days
I've been on the edge about if I should report or not report some of the chatter and signals I am seeing around a possible Google search ranking algorithm update. I was seeing some somewhat small signs since the weekend of an update but those signals are picking up a little bit more a few days in. - Google Ads Console Is Down & We're Back
Google Ads is currently not loading for advertisers now. If you try to login to ads.google.com you will be presented with a 502 server error. Google Ads went down at about 3:10pm ET today. - Google Talks About Its Serving Index & Index Shards
In the latests episode of the Search Off The Record podcast with Googlers John Mueller, Gary Illyes, Martin Splitt and this week's special guest Mariya Moeva - they spoke about Google's SiteKit and then also about the serving index. Gary gave a summary of how Google's serving index works. - Google Mobile-First Indexing Deadline Is Around March 2021
Google's revised mobile-first indexing deadline is coming up in the next several weeks. Google said it is going 100% into mobile-first indexing. Google moved the deadline from September 2020 to March 2021. John Mueller of Google said today the March 2021 is an approximate deadline. - Google Search Console Association Controls Updated
Google has enhanced the associations controls within Google Search Console. Google now makes it super clear where your Search Console account is associated with, in terms of other Google accounts. The list of associations includes Analytics, YouTube, Google Ads, Android Apps and more. - Google: Total Number Of Links Is Completely Irrelevant For SEO
Google's John Mueller said that "the total number [of backlinks] essentially is completely irrelevant" to rankings in Google in a video hangout last week. I heard the statement and didn't cover because it is SEO 101 but then I saw some of the responses on the internet about this line and decided it is worth repeating. - Google: No Search Penalty For Too Many Redirects
Google's John Mueller confirmed that Google Search does not have a penalty for having too many redirects. John said on Twitter "No, Google won't penalize a site for having 15 redirects (or any other number)." - Creepy Android Looking Down From Ceiling In Google Korea
Here is a photo from the Google Korea office from a few years ago where you can see an Android statue is attached to the ceiling looking down at everyone. It does look a bit creepy to be honest.
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- New lyrics panel on mobile? Cc: @rustybrick https://t.co/Gvl1ybict8, Ric Rodriguez on Twitter
- That sounds like spam. Make something that pepper will want to link to on their own., John Mueller on Twitter
- Facebook Secures News Deal in Australia, WebmasterWorld
- It looks like you've since removed a bunch of those duplicate pages, so I'd say you're on the right track. Repeat reconsideration requests are ignored, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- The brand name conundrum: to buy or not to buy (your brand name)?
- Yelp’s Waitlist, analytics and POS updates aim to address shifting consumer preferences
- Google Search Console adds ‘associations’ so you can link with other Google accounts
- Facebook unfriends Australia and Maryland passes ad tax; Monday’s daily brief
- Video: Eli Feldblum on the SEO industry maturing through the years
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- A Google Analytics Love Affair, Infinum
- How to Create a Funnel Analysis Report in Google Analytics 4, Conversion Uplift
Industry & Business
- Big Tech Employees Opened Wallets for Biden Campaign, Wall Street Journal
- Facebook, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, and Twitter adopt Aussie misinformation code, ZDNet
- Microsoft, EU publishers seek Australia-style news payments, AP News
- Alphabet in talks with Spanish publishers to bring Google News back, sources say, Reuters
Links & Content Marketing
- Problem Solved: Increase B2B Content Marketing Success by Conquering 4 Conundrums, Online Marketing Blog
Local & Maps
- What Happens When Google Removes 98% of Your Reviews | A Case Study, Sterling Sky Blog
Mobile & Voice
- App spending to reach $270B by 2025, new forecast predicts, TechCrunch
- Google app tests new 'Voice Search' interface on Android, 9to5Google
- Spotify Free accounts can no longer cast audio to Google Assistant speakers, Smart Displays, 9to5Google
SEO
- Analyzing the SERP for SEO, Content and Search Intent with thruuu, Samuel Schmitt
- How To Do a Competitive Analysis with Semrush (Including Template), SEM Rush
- How to Easily Rank for Big Search Terms in Google, Adam Riemer
- How to Improve Google Image Search Ranking, BruceClay
- Optimizing for User Intent with content-tuning, Kevin Indig
- SEO Turns to Data Graphs to Learn About the Web, Go Fish Digital
- The Strategic Value of Structured Data Implementation on SME Websites, Moz
- Yoast SEO 15.9: Performance improvements, Yoast
PPC
- 4 Ways to Identify How Your Display Ads Impact Search Ad Performance, WordStream
- Ad Testing: Non-Title Case vs Title Case, Metric Theory
- Changes to Showcase Shopping ads, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Google to lift political ad ban put in place following Capitol siege, Axios
- Check RTB creatives for user consent (GDPR and LGPD), Google AdSense Help
- Tommy Hilfiger: Growth through accessibility, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
