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:
- Google Issues Warning About Leasing Subdomains Or Subfolders
45 days ago I wrote that Google is going to be cracking down on sites that lease out its own subdomains and subfolders so that other companies can rank their content better on leased domains. Google now officially posted on Twitter about the topic. - Google Considers Notifying Webmasters For Featured Snippet Penalties
Sometimes Google may remove a featured snippet from showing in the search results because it doesn't comply with its own internal policies or guidelines. Google currently does not notify webmasters when such a removal happens but Danny Sullivan from Google said the company is considering doing so. - Google My Business Currently Unable To Transfer Reviews
Google My Business can sometimes transfer your business reviews when you move, set up a new office, change names or whatever. But that is currently not possible. A Local Search Forum thread has the local SEO folks saying Google is unable to do it right now. - Google: Nofollow Links That Involve Any Money
So we know Google does not want you to try to manipulate Google rankings, including through link schemes. So Google tells you to use the nofollow link attribute as a way to avoid being penalized. Google's John Mueller said on Twitter that a good general rule is to use the nofollow on any link that is there for "monetary reasons." - Google Search Tests More Pagination Options: More Results, Infinite Scroll & More
Google is back to testing numerous ways of paginations on the desktop search results page. We covered some of these before but the testing is getting heavier now, or at least it appears to be. The tests include showing the more results button on desktop, like it does on mobile. Also showing page two, three, four, etc results as you scroll. - Google Nacho Logo For Ignacio Anaya García
Google has a new Google Doodle, special Google logo, on its home page for Ignacio Anaya García. It is a nacho Doodle for the inventor of nachos. Ignacio Anaya was born on August 15, 1895 in Ciudad Acuña, Mexico and died on 1975 in Piedras Negras, Mexico. - Pigs At The GooglePlex
We have seen a pig at Google before but I have never seen multiple pigs at Google. This photo was supposedly taken at the GooglePlex, the main Google building in Mountain View, California.
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- Not really. I feel watched - definitely that. Sometimes it's a little frustrating when there's a thing you want to get across and then people ignore the thing that actually mat, Martin Splitt on Twitter
- So, @dan_shure interviewed @rustybrick on the Experts on the Wire podcast and published that yesterday. I immediately checked podcast search, and yep, it was there. So Google's new podcast search is pretty darn fast (processin, Glenn Gabe on Twitter
- Wow YouTube only search results in the Google Assistant! @rustybrick I guess everybody needs a YouTube strategy now 😁 https://t.co/yffiJb736n, John Lincoln on Twitter
- Facebook post inside my Discover feed, is it new? @JohnMu @rustybrick #googlediscover #seo https://t.co/fOOsV4dZno, Carlo Alberto Rosso on Twitter
- It's duplicate content (if it's a duplicate of the same content), but Google doesn't penalize for duplicate content. That said, for rich snippets / review stars, keep in mind that it's essentially a testimonial, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google is aware of sites hosted on another’s subdomain
- Google opens up to fantasy sports ads in the U.S.
- Don’t miss this live Q&A with Scott Brinker! Get your martech questions answered.
- Now, more than 50% of Google searches end without a click to other content, study finds
- FTC: Breaking up Google, Facebook to restore competition on the table
- Video: Ruth Burr Reedy on human-readable Google ranking signals
- Nail your home improvement search marketing strategy
- Last call to speak at SMX East
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- UTM Parameters : Everything you need to know, Bopgun Design
- What is Google Tag Manager?, RYNO Strategic Solutions
Industry & Business
- Racial bias observed in hate speech detection algorithm from Google, TechCrunch
- A proactive approach to disaster relief, Google Blog
Links & Promotion Building
- SEO: A Common Sense Assessment of Link Quality, Practical Ecommerce
Local & Maps
- Huawei is building its own Google Maps (with Yandex and Booking.com), The Next Web
- This subreddit documents the most delightful fuckups on Google Maps, The Next Web
Mobile & Voice
- Alexa, time for class: How one university put an Echo Dot in every dorm room, CNET
- Smart homes are a broken mess and Nest wants to fix it, Engadget
- Stay organized and productive with new Assignable reminders, Google Blog
SEO
- 10 Reasons Why You Need SEO Services for your Brand, Pole Position Marketing
- Does Google Have an Ethical Responsibility to the SEO Community?, JLH Marketing
- How Google May Interpret An Ambiguous Query Using a Semantic Interpretation, Go Fish Digital
- How to optimise for the Google Knowledge Graph, Vertical Leap
- SEO Skills: Use It Or Lose It, Smokehouse SEO
- The Fall of Examine.com - Is Google Allowed an Opinion?, SISTRIX
- Ranking factors and the Google Algorithm, Searchmetrics
- You #AskGoogleWebmasters, we answer, Official Google Webmaster Central Blog
PPC
- Goodbye, Average Position: Everything You Need to Know, WordStream
- Google ad policy enrages small businesses, The Age
- Webcast: The Art & Science of Customer Centricity, Microsoft Advertising
Other Search
- When journalists collaborate instead of compete, Google Blog
