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.
The Google March 2025 core update is at its end but we are still seeing volatility. Google Ads with its different auction for reach location may impact CTR and impression rates. Google says a poor Pingtom score does not affect your SEO. Google rolled out AI Overviews to more EU regions. Google Ads has new support options. Google is testing quick view on hotel lodging carousels and packs.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google March 2025 Core Update Volatility Heats Up At Tail End Of Update
As you know, the Google March 2025 core update was announced on March 13th and it should be just about done rolling out. We saw some volatility related to that core update a few days into the update, then a lot of confusion later on, and now at the tail end of the update, we are seeing more volatility. -
Google Ads Different Auctions Locations May Impact CTR & Impression Rates
Ginny Marvin, the Google Ads Liaison, said that you may see a shift in Top/Absolute Top Impression rate and/or a change in overall CTR as a result of the double serving Google Ads experiment. This is where Google can show the same ads in different ad locations because it has different auctions for each ad location. -
Google Expands AI Overviews To More EU Regions
Google has rolled out AI Overviews to more European regions after we caught them testing these AI Overviews earlier this month. AI Overviews are now officially live in Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. -
Google: Poor Pingdom Score Does Not Affect Your SEO
Google's John Mueller responded to a concern on Reddit about a site that scored a D with its Pingdom score. Pingdom measures sites uptime and overall page speed metrics. John Mueller responded to the concern saying, "this is not affecting your SEO." -
Google Ads Support New Get A Call Option & Text Help
Google Ads has a new option for getting support, at least, for some advertisers. This option is named "Get a call," and it is addition to call us, chat or email support. Google is also trying a way to text for help. -
Google Tests Quick View Links On Hotel/Lodging Packs/Carousels
Google is testing a new quick view button/link within the Google Search results for hotel and lodging results. When you click on the quick view button you are taken to the Google Business Profile listing but when you click on the main result you are taken to the website directly (or maybe the other way, I cannot tell for sure). -
St. Patrick's Day Google Food
Google had a special menu at some of the Google offices for St. Patrick's Day last week. This dish is corned beef, cabbage, and mashed potatoes, at the Google San Francisco office, the sign says.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Circle to Search. Coming shortly to all Android Perplexity users, Aravind Srinivas on X
- SEO Tip: it's important to understand the source of your data from Google Search, along with the limitations. When a user selects a search bar tab to submit their query, the data will appear within various different Google-related, Brodie Clark on X
- A new way to reach out Google support, Arpan Banerjee on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google rolls out AI Overviews In EU regions
- Ex-Google exec: Giving traffic to publishers ‘a necessary evil’
- How geotagging photos affects Google Business Profile rank: Study
- Google Business Profile bug prevents adding new businesses
- Answer engine optimization: 6 AI models you should optimize for
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Industry & Business
- Apple Joins AI Data Center Race, Investor's Business Daily
- Google ad revenue research on news 'pure propaganda', Press Gazette
- Google Strips DEI Language From Some Internal Research Studies, The Information
- How a Former Google Exec Used Manipulation to Launch Her New Career, Business Insider
- Unlikely report claims Apple is buying 250 Nvidia servers for AI, AppleInsider
Links & Content Marketing
- How To Say No: 5 Scripts for Content Marketing Requests, Content Marketing Institute
- What Is Backlink Spam?, Analytics Insight
Local & Maps
- Android Auto 14.0 update rolling out, prepares Gemini, 9to5Google
- Google Maps is getting more specific about route overviews, Android Police
Mobile & Voice
- Here's how we're helping developers build safer Android apps more efficiently, Google Blog
- WWDC will be on June 9 and bring Apple Intelligence updates, AppleInsider
SEO
- Google Is Looking Out for #1. It’s Time You Do, Too, Ahrefs
- How Gen Alpha Influences Future SEO Strategies | Women in Tech SEO, Women in Tech SEO
- Python for SEO, Explained for Beginners, Ahrefs
- SEO 2008 Almanac, Metehan
PPC
- 4 Takeaways from One Year of Google AI Overviews, AdWeek
- Choose Aspect Ratio in Google’s Image Generator, PPC News Feed
- Google's CMP launches support for consent mode, Google AdSense Help
- The Role of Demographics in Search Targeting for Google Ads, JumpFly
- Three generative AI trends shaping the future of marketing, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
- Google is Grounded and Needs to Learn How to Soar, Tom Critchlow
Other Search
- A new, challenging AGI test stumps most AI models, TechCrunch
- DeepSeek’s Success Fires Up Chinese Tech Industry, Bloomberg
- Gemini 2.5: Our newest Gemini model with thinking, Google Blog
- OpenAI upgrades Sora and rolls it out in ChatGPT, The Verge
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