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:
- August 2020 Google Webmaster Report
Last month was not that slow of a month, while we didn't have any confirmed Google search algorithm updates, we had several unconfirmed ones and some felt pretty big. Google also said it will weight business names less - Google Featured Snippets Without Borders - A Bug Or Feature?
I had a few reports yesterday of Google displaying featured snippets but without borders. It seems like a bug to me but who knows, maybe Google is testing borderless featured snippets and search results? - Google: A Lot Of Negative Reviews Can Hurt Your Site
The other day I reported that Google said negative reviews on the web about your brand or business won't hurt your rankings in Google search. Yesterday, I was on the video call with John Mueller and I asked him this question and brought up the Decor My Eyes case from ten years ago. He then said he can see if a brand has a ton of negative reviews, algorithms would pick up on that and the site might not rank as well. - Google For The Umpteenth Time: Quality Raters Do Not Directly Impact Search Results
I have covered Google saying that its quality raters, which are third-party consultants who are not even employed by Google directly, do not have any direct influence in Google search rankings. I reported Googlers saying this countless times and I didn't report Googlers saying it as well because I covered it countless times. - Google: Many Manual Actions Are Algorithmic Now & Not Used
Google's John Mueller said that many of those manual actions are probably not used anymore. Why? He said because many may have been automated and done algorithmically. I did ask John for a list but he refused, go figure. - Google Doodle That Was Pulled Down Is Now Live: Wear a Mask. Save Lives.
The other week I reported Google posted a Google Doodle about wearing a mask to help save lives and then Google pulled down the Doodle. Well, today, August 5th, it is back up and live. It leads to a search around [covid-19 prevention] with three pieces of advice, (1) wear a mask, (2) wash your hands and (3) socially distance from others. - Google Pasta Logo
Here is a photo of the Google super G logo made up of different colored noodles and pasta. I cannot tell if the noodles are cooked yet or not. But it does make the G logo look super tasty.
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- Google Ad Measurement and Personal Data Change Over Privacy Shield, WebmasterWorld
- Having URLs that return noindex is fine. Search Console is just warning you in case you weren't aware that you have a noindex on those pages., John Mueller on Twitter
- Uncommon SEO Knowledge #1 HTTPS I think most people know HTTPS is a very lightweight ranking signal for Google. Here's what you might not know about HTTPS and things that may be useful to know as an SEO., Patrick Stox on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Build A Lookup Table Generator For Google Tag Manager, Simo Ahava's blog
- Improve Your Online Marketing Using Google Analytics, Web Marketing Therapy
- Track These SEO Metrics & KPIs For SEO Success, BrightEdge
- Using Google Tag Manager to Track Visitor Interactions, Practical Ecommerce
Industry & Business
- An update on Fitbit, Google Blog
- Anthony Levandowski: Ex-Google engineer sentenced for theft, BBC News
Links & Content Marketing
- How Link-Begging Became the Most Annoying Search Engine Tactic, VICE
- 5 Types of Content Marketing (and How to Use Them to Get Results), SEM Rush
Local & Maps
- Menu Misery for GMB Restaurants & Singleplatform Feed, Online Ownership
- [2020] Ultimate Playbook for Google My Business Suspensions, Sterling Sky Inc
Mobile & Voice
- Delivering security and privacy for Exchange on Android, Google Blog
- Instantly share files with people around you with Nearby Share, Google Blog
SEO
- 10 Questions to Discover Your SEO Target Audience, Seer Interactive
- John Mueller's Take on Conversing with the Search Industry: SEO Podcast, RankRanger
- The Truth Behind Search Engine Visibility, Search Metrics
- How Many Sites Pass the Core Web Vitals Assessment?, Screaming Frog
- Just the Facts: The rise of auto-generated profile sites, and what that means about the direction of search, Five Blocks
PPC
- 3 Google Optimize Strategies to Boost Your Paid Search Efforts, OpenMoves
- August update to Display & Video 360 API v1, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Grow your audience faster with Maximize conversions bidding in App campaigns, Google Ads Help
- Simplifying image requirements for App campaigns, Google Ads Help
- Updates to Misrepresentation policy (August 2020), Google Advertising Policies Help
- Grow your games business with new ads solutions, Google Blog
Other Search
- Making privacy personal with Files by Google, Google Blog
