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.
With the Google June 2021 Core Update that went on Wednesday June 4th - we are still seeing unusual activity for a Google core update. Friday morning, we saw some light signs from both the SEO community and the toolsets that an update touched down. But the signals we are seeing are not are core update levels. Maybe this core update will pop later today or maybe over the weekend - or maybe not until phase two of this update, in July, is released. I do not know but at the time of this newsletter, it does seem some signals are heating up a bit. So stay tuned...
Also I posted the weekly Friday video recap - hope you like it. There is a bunch of local changes that I wrote about this morning and a cool Microsoft Bing feature you won't want to miss.
Do you like these intro paragraphs? If so or if not, let me know, just reply to this email. Have a wonderful and safe weekend!
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google June 2021 Core Update, News Trust Signals, UGC Penalties, CLS Metrics & Google Ads Cryptocurrencies
It was a pretty busy week, with Google releasing a new core update after not having one is about six months. This core update is named the June 2021 Core Update and Google said part two of this update will rollout next month... - Google June 2021 Core Update Tremors But It's Still Early
I was expecting as of this morning that I'd see significant signals that the Google June 2021 core update has landed. But at the time of posting this, I am not seeing "significant" signals of this, but I am seeing some less significant signals. Many, not all, of the tools are showing volatility and some are talking about ranking changes but many are saying all is calm. - Google Test Layouts For Local Panel On Mobile Search
Google seems to be testing a bunch of variations and adjustments to the local panel in the mobile search results. Amy Toman posted a few examples on Twitter, both video screen casts and screen shots. - Google My Business Removes Ability To Edit Or Create Short Names
In 2019, Google My Business added the ability for businesses to create short names - i.e. short URLs - for your Google business profile in Google Maps or Google Search. Well, Google said it will no longer allow businesses to create or edit their short names anymore. - New on Google Local Search Results Label
Google has launched a new label in the local search results, both the local pack in Google Search and in the Google local results in Google Maps. The new label reads "new on Google" with an announcement speaker blue icon. - Google Knowledge Panel Showing Monthly Costs For Services Like SEO
If you search for [seo] and look at the knowledge panel on the right, you will see a section that says "Monthly cost: $2819 per month." That links to an SEO company's SEO packages page but it makes it looks like the monthly cost for SEO is that fee, no matter what firm you hire. - Microsoft Bing Explore This Page - Topics On This Page Widget
Microsoft Bing added (not sure how new this is) a feature named "explore this page" to its search results. When you click on the arrow to explore the page, an overlay box comes up in the search results showing you the topics you can find on that page. - New Google NYC Pride Signage
Google has updated the look and design of its pride signage at the Google New York City office. It use to be rainbow pride colors for the Os, but now Google made them more stylistic. Here is the new l
Other Great Search Threads:
- Searches on Google Maps for “curbside pickup” have increased globally by 5,000% year over year. Learn how to reach local customers in new ways → https://t.co/1lRjg5danJ #GML2021, Google Ads on Twitter
- I'm a bit mad - during #GML2021, @GoogleAds strongly implied that Customer Match would be available to everyone...what they left out is that you still need to hit $50K lifetime spend to use anything other than observation m, Navah Hopkins on Twitter
- New Google Featured Snippets Doc update. Key changes: • Other examples of placement added (now within "overall results", PAA & Knowledge Panels) • Policies now more similar to broad Search features (added manipulated med, Brodie Clark on Twitter
- To me that sounds like our systems aren't finding the value they'd like to find in your content, so they're just processing less of it. There's a bit about how we prioritize at, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Fortune 500 secret: Consumer intelligence analytics drives every decision
- For the first time, full-screen ads arrive on Twitter in the form of Fleet ads
- Google Ads updates cryptocurrency ad policies
- Hey search community, we’re hiring a content and SEO manager for MarTech and Search Engine Land
- What could possibly be better than one Google core update?; Thursday’s daily brief
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Google Analytics 4: The Next Generation of Google Analytics is Here, Analytics Insight
- Introducing Google Analytics 4: New Tracking & a New Way of Thinking, Dealer Marketing
Industry & Business
- Google diversity head removed over anti-Semitic blog post, BBC News
- Google says it’s committed to ethical AI research. Its ethical AI team isn’t so sure., Vox
- Google study: Newspaper revenues declined over print ads, 9to5Google
- Research: What really happened to newspaper revenue, Google Blog
- Google Cofounders Page And Brin Selling Alphabet Shares After Years Of No Sales, Forbes
- Google News Showcase Targeted by Germany Antitrust Chief Andreas Mundt, Bloomberg
- Sen. Booker, Dem lawmakers urge Google to conduct 'racial equity audit' to make product safer for Black people, Fox Business
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
- New Google Maps Feature on Android Brings Self-Driving Cars at One-Tap Distance, AutoEvolution
- Waymo’s driverless taxi service can now be accessed on Google Maps, TechCrunch
Mobile & Voice
- Google boosts Android privacy protections in attempt to rival Apple, Financial Times
- Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) Review: Sweet Dreams, Wired
- Google will restrict use of Android Advertising ID to opted-in users, CNBC
- Pixel Buds A-Series: Rich sound, iconic design, just $99, Google Blog
- Tips for using Google apps on iOS, Google Blog
- Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2021, Pew Research Center
SEO
- 6 Practical Ways to Get Buy-In for SEO, BruceClay
- Study: Featured Snippet Length and Display Limits, Portent
- What are the June 2021 & July 2021 updates? Here’s what it is striving for, John Cabot
- Five SEO Myths to Stop Believing, DealerOn
PPC
- 4 Ad Customizers to Improve Google Ads Campaign Performance, Search Engine Journal
- Google PPC Ads Used to Deliver Infostealers, Threatpost
Feedback:
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