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 Fully Dropping URLs For Breadcrumbs On Desktop?
Back in 2015, on mobile, Google went from showing the URL to showing the site name, plus the breadcrumb in the search results. This morning, I have been hit up numerous times about Google doing the same on desktop. It doesn't seem 100% rolled out yet, so this might be a test or a bug, but it seems Google is showing breadcrumbs, not URLs, on desktop as well now. - Google Local Listing For Dodge Dealership Shows Toyota Advertisement
Ben Fisher posted on Twitter a screen shot of Google showing an ad within the Google Local Knowledge panel for a Dodge dealership. The interesting thing is the ad is from a different brand, a Toyota! - You Can't Hide From Google's Mobile-First Indexing
Like we covered before, you cannot opt out of Google's mobile-first indexing initiative - it is going to happen with or without you. There is no hiding from it, there is not cheating it, it is coming for you. Heck, Google's John Mueller made a video just about that question. - Google Tests Expandable People Also Search For
Google is testing an expandable version of the people also search for carousel. It actually looks a lot like the expandable more people carousel but with different types of content. Here are screen shots from Valentin Peltzer who spotted this. - Google Search Console Adds AMP On Image Result Report - Here Is How To See It
Google told us they would give us data within Google Search Console about the "swipe to visit" image feature that only works with AMP pages right now. And now you can access that data in Google Search Console. - Bing Webmaster Tools Now Supports Domain Connect For Easier Site Verification
Bing announced yesterday that it is now supporting Domain Connect, a third-party service, to make the process of site verification within Bing Webmaster Tools faster and easier. Instead of XML file authentication, or meta tag authentication or CNAME authentication, this offers an easier way to do it. - Google Growing Watermelons
Here is a photo of someone at the Google offices, the GooglePlex, holding a watermelon in what looks like Google's watermelon garden. The Instagram post says "Just a photoshoot with a watermelon. #goo
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- Facebook changes text and picture aspect ratios on Mobile News Feed, WebmasterWorld
- I wouldn't worry about any seo implications. Link to things you find useful and relevant to your users., John Mueller on Twitter
- LinkedIn Blocked 21.6 Million Fake Accounts in Six Months, WebmasterWorld
- Yay! @LizziHarvey and I updated the dynamic rendering docs to clarify a very frequent question: Is dynamic rendering considered cloaking? The answer shouldn't surprise you 😂 https://t.co/l4s3JkOLcx https://t.co, Martin Splitt on Twitter
- There's nothing to fix. It's one piece of content, you're hosting it on two URLs, we just pick one and show that one. You can help us pick the one you prefer with a rel, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google rolls out maximize conversion value smart bidding strategy
- You can’t opt into or out of mobile-first indexing
- From Customer Review to Customer Insight: Best Practices in AI and Sentiment Analysis
- Are we right for fawning over core algorithm updates?
- Traffic from Image’s Swipe to Visit feature now appears in Search Console
- Video: Greg Gifford discusses Google Posts, Google Q&A and local SEO
- Bing Webmaster Tools adds Domain Connect verification integration
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- How platform integration leads to customer engagement., Google
- How To Optimize Website Speed Like A PRO (Complete Beginner’s Guide), Know Your Mobile
- iOS Quickstart With Google Analytics For Firebase And Google Tag Manager, Simo Ahava's blog
Industry & Business
- Google DeepMind Co-Founder Mustafa Suleyman Placed on Leave, Bloomberg
- Google proposes new privacy and anti-fingerprinting controls for the web, TechCrunch
Local & Maps
- Waze adds easy access to YouTube Music while you drive, Engadget
- Google account quick-switch gesture now in Drive, Maps, 9to5Google
- Google Maps green direction box/card troubles users after recent update; missing Street View issue being looked into, PiunikaWeb
- Yelp Now Labels Which Phone Numbers Are 'Powered by Grubhub', Food & Wine
Mobile & Voice
- A pop of color and more: updates to Android’s brand, Google Blog
- AT&T TV box uses Android TV and Google Assistant, 9to5Google
- Ikea's smart blinds to support Google Assistant, not Apple HomeKit or Alexa at launch, Mobile Syrup
- Support number scam infects Google Assistant (Update: Google responds), Android Authority
SEO
- Augmented Search Queries Using Knowledge Graph Information, SEO By The Sea
- 7 Handy SEO Tools Functionalities that facilitate a Fast Web Migrations & Redesigns validation, Aleyda Solis
- Is Using Breadcrumb Schema No Longer Necessary?, Brodie Clark Consulting
PPC
- Additional safeguards to protect the quality of our ad network, Google Blog
- Google Launches an Enhanced Shopping Experience, Merkle
- Sunsetting accelerated budget delivery, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Leverage Microsoft and LinkedIn to drive demand, Microsoft Advertising
- Next steps to ensure transparency, choice and control in digital advertising, Google Blog
Search Features
- 6 Google Tricks That Will Turn You Into an Internet Detective, New York Times
- Potential uses for the Privacy Sandbox, Chromium Blog
