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 has officially made AI Overviews text link back to more Google Search results, no, I am not joking. Microsoft Bing is testing the same thing with their AI responses in search. Google Ads is testing an overlay more button for product results. Google is dropping reviews from school Business Profiles, Google expanded availability for structured data carousel beta. Google shared how it processes your search feedback. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap. I go offline through Monday night for Passover, have a nice holiday!
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Official: Google AI Overviews Link To More Search Results
A month ago, we reported that Google was testing linking words in the AI Overviews back to its own search results. We felt this set a horrible message but hey, Google did not, instead, Google made it an official feature of AI Overviews because it helps "people more easily explore topics and discover relevant websites," the company told me. -
Bing Answer Snippets Also Linking To More Search Results
Recently, I've been complaining that Google is linking many of its search features back to more search results, this is also includes the AI Overviews. Well, Bing Search is also doing this for some of their AI-based answer snippets. -
Google Ads More Button Overlays More Products In Hover
Google is testing a new ad format that overlays more product ads when you click on a "more" button. This is different from expanding a product carousel, in that this overlays on top of the current search results interface. -
Google To Drop Reviews On School Business Profiles
Google will stop showing reviews and ratings on school listings in Google Search and Google Maps. Google Business Profiles said, "Starting April 30, 2025, your school's associated Business Profile will no longer allow reviews and ratings." -
Google Expands Availability For Structured Data Carousels (beta)
Google has expanded where the Structured data carousels (beta) search feature works and for what types of queries. When it first launched, about a year ago, it was available for flights queries in Germany, France, Czechia, and the UK. Now it is available for queries related to ground transportation, hotels, vacation rentals, local business, and things to do (for example, events, tours, and activities) in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries. -
How Google Search Uses Your Feedback Submission
Google Search representatives often tell us to use the feedback link when we see something that is off or needs improvement with Google Search. Well, what happens when you use that feedback link? -
Microsoft Advertising Accelerate Punta Cana Party
Microsoft held the Advertising Accelerate event in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. It looked like a cool event, if your type of thing is parties. Here is one of many photos that Kya Sainsbury-Carter posted on LinkedIn. -
Google Ranking Movement, Discover On Desktop, Linking To Self, Google Ads, Maps Bing & Apple News
This week, we covered yet again some more Google search ranking volatility. Google Discover will be coming to the desktop version of Google's homepage. Google Search Analytics API now shows hourly data for the past ten...
Other Great Search Threads:
- Bing is testing more video carousels., Sachin Patel on X
- Google is testing AI Overview links in blue with underlines. When clicked, they redirect to a new query in the Google search bar., Sachin Patel on X
- Google volatility? Yep -> Here are some examples of recent impact to sites that were initially impacted by the March 2025 core update. One was impacted by the 2/20 unconfirmed update. I need to dig in so I'm not sure what happened he, Glenn Gabe on X
- If you are still thinking "near me" optimization is spammy, even Google is doing it. Check out that title AND URL. h/t @cyandle, Joy Hawkins on X
- Starting today, memory in ChatGPT can now reference all of your past chats to provide more personalized responses, drawing on your preferences and interests to make it even more helpful for writing, getting advice, learning, and beyond., OpenAI on X
- We have greatly improved memory in chatgpt--it can now reference all your past conversations! this is a surprisingly great feature imo, and it points at something we are excited about: ai systems that get to know you over your life,, Sam Altman on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google officially rolls out links in AI Overviews to its own search results
- Uber Advertising partners with Instacart to expand CPG reach
- Marin Software plans to shut down after years of decline
- Google Performance Max gets new customer goals, image controls
- A testing primer for B2B paid social creative optimization
- Google’s AI-powered SERPs: Strategies for recipe, travel, and lifestyle bloggers
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Industry & Business
- As Advertisers Rethink Spending, Meta and Google Look Better Positioned, The Information
- Europe’s Tax Threat Looms Over Google and Meta, The Information
- Google abandons even more office space in the Bay Area, San Francisco Chronicle
- Marin Software Announces Plan of Dissolution, Business Wire
- Google Lays Off Hundreds of Employees in Android, Pixel Group, The Information
Links & Content Marketing
- 12 over-looked content marketing tools and features you should be using, MarTech
- How to Make Content Pillars: A Beginner-Friendly Guide, SEO Hacker
Local & Maps
- Yandex Maps Launches Personalized Recommendations With Neural Network Support, International Search News
- Google Maps is launching tools to help cities analyze infrastructure and traffic, The Verge
Mobile & Voice
- Google Pixel 9a review: Basic in just the right way, Engadget
- Pixel 9a is available now, Google Blog
- Report Reveals Internal Chaos Behind Apple's Siri Failure, MacRumors
- What’s Wrong With Apple?, New York Times
- Will Apple Make iPhones in the US? How Much with the iPhone Cost with Tariffs?, Bloomberg
SEO
- 4 Best SEO Reporting Tools in 2025 (Free & Paid Options), Backlinko
- 5 AI Insights about from Google Search Central Live in Madrid on April 9, 2025, Aleyda Solis
- 5 ways to SEO your website without messing it up, Alice Rowan
- Google Files New Patent On Personal History-Based Search, Search Engine Journal
- Google Merchant Center Updates Energy Efficiency Class & Certification Attributes (April 2025), FeedArmy
- Google Updates Price Attribute Policy in Merchant Center (April 2025), FeedArmy
- Necessary Evil: Pushing Navboost – A Fresh Look at One of Googles Top Ranking Signals, Search Engine World
- Now Microsoft Bing Has a Date Problem, Too – Just Like Google, Bill Hartzer
- Passage Ranking: Another Update to Keep SEOs Awake - SEO - What about it?, Steady HQ
- Prioritize Information Gain (PIG) to Bring Home the SEO Bacon, Igniting Business
- Scammers Used OpenAI to Flood the Web with SEO Spam, 404 Media
- Why AI-Generated Content Has a Short SEO Shelf Life, JumpFly
- Yandex Discontinues Support for Turbo Pages in Search, International Search News
- GEO, LEO and the Future of SEO, Pedro Dias
PPC
- AI in action: Five insights to unlock marketing ROI for every brand, Microsoft Advertising
- Be a top player this cricket season: Score with key trends and marketing strategies, Microsoft Advertising
- Google Ads Updates Its Unfair Advantage Policy: What You Need to Know, WordStream
- How to Use Brand Exclusions & Inclusions to Control Branded Search, Cypress North
- Blue Shield: Web Trackers Shared Member PHI With Google Ads, Gov Info Security
- Google Ads: Strategies to Scale Your Remarketing Campaigns, Jyll Saskin Gales
Search Features
- Answer: Can you extract and summarize a blog?, SearchReSearch
- Google Expands AI Overviews and Introduces AI Mode: What SEO Managers Need to Know, We Are Roast
- Introducing AI Mode: a new experiment in Google Search, Google on YouTube
- Tracking AIO Disruption: Trends from Q1 2025 Data, Seer Interactive
Other Search
- Americans are really not into news chatbots, a study finds, Nieman Journalism Lab
- OpenAI slashes AI model safety testing time, Financial Times (Sub)
Feedback:
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