Daily Search Forum Recap: September 12, 2024

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.

I covered some old statements from former Googlers on Navboost from Hacker News. Google replaced the cache link with links to the Wayback Machine, but they are deep inside. Google says it doesn't use Exif data for ranking. Google updated its Indexing API docs warning not to abuse the API or else. Google has had this get definitions box for a while.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Ex-Googler Forum Statements On Google Navboost
  In my interview with Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liaison, I tried to get more details on Navboost and how it plays a roll in core updates and general rankings. I was pretty much shot down (I am a good loser). That being said, here are some old posts from ex-Googlers (from what I can tell) on the topic of Navboost from the Hacker News forums.
• Google Indexing API: Submissions Go Undergo Rigorous Spam Detection
  Google has updated its Indexing API documentation to add a few things but the largest update talks about how "all submissions through the Indexing API undergo rigorous spam detection." Plus, it says that attempts to abuse the Indexing API "may result in access being revoked."
• Google Replaced Cache Link With Internet Archive's Wayback Machine
  After Google has angered tons of SEOs and searchers over removing the cache link from the search result snippets, Google decided several months later to add links to Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. This will give you snapshots in time of what that webpage looked like, but it is not powered by Google.
• Google's Martin Splitt: We Do Not Use Exif Data For Ranking
  Over the years Google has been wishy-washy on if they use or do not use Exif (Exchangeable image file format) data for rankings. In 2014, Google's Matt Cutts said Google can parse the data and reserves the right to use it. But in 2019, Gary Illyes from Google said it was not used for rankings. Now in 2024, Martin Splitt of Google said it is not used for rankings.
• Google: Get Definitions & Translations As You Search
  Google is now notifying some searchers of a translation feature within the search results. It says, "Get definitions and translations as you search. Select words to get definitions & translations without leaving the page."
• Google Silence Phone Boxes
  We saw the Google silence box before, but it was one box. Now here are photos of many of them, also in the Google Paris, France office.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Feeling lost in a sea of data? @danielwaisberg and Hadas Jacobi have the map to navigate Google Trends like a pro. Watch the latest episode of Google Trends Tutorials on YouTube., Google Search Central on X
• The best way to exclude audiences in your Google Performance Max campaign is to use Google Ads Editor., Milez on X
• There's been a lot of chatter about volatility and reversals, but I've been running the numbers on a large list of sites heavily impacted by the August core update, and almost all of them are moving in the same direction (continuing, Glenn Gabe on X
• Want to learn more about Site Kit for WordPress & meet some of the Googlers behind it? If you're in Portland, Oregon, this might be a great opportunity for you., Google SearchLiaison on LinkedIn

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google tests more noticeable ad labels in search results
• Google adtech antitrust trial: Everything you need to know
• Google Search adds Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine links to about this page
• How to manage a paid media budget: Allocation, risk and scaling
• 7 tips for delivering high-impact technical SEO audits
• How to build and retain brand trust in the age of AI

Other Great Search Stories:

Industry & Business

• Are digital marketing conferences worth it?, SERP's Up SEO Podcast
• Google dominates online ads, says antitrust trial witness, but publishers are feeling ‘stuck’, The Verge
• Google says it’s made a quantum computing breakthrough that reduces errors, MIT Technology Review
• Google's AI model faces European Union scrutiny from privacy watchdog, ABC News
• Google’s ‘my way or the highway’ approach takes center stage in antitrust trial, Digiday
• The DOJ vs. Google, Day Two: Tales From The Underbelly Of Ad Tech, AdExchanger
• Google's AI model faces EU scrutiny from privacy watchdog, AP News

Links & Content Marketing

• 3 Sound Ideas for Building Audio Into Your Content Strategy, Content Marketing Institute
• The 4 types of content buyers want, MarTech
• Why Software Companies Should Stop Using Content Marketing Frameworks For Pricing, Forbes

Local & Maps

• Google Maps in Space allow you to explore the solar system, PCWorld
• How to use Google Lens when you travel, USA Today
• I Used Google Maps With All the New Features, And Here's Why Waze Now Feels Useless, AutoEvolution

Mobile & Voice

• Apple Intelligence Promises Better AI Privacy. Here's How It Actually Works, Wired
• Apple Vision Pro’s Eye Tracking Exposed What People Type, Wired
• Gemini vs Meta — I gave the two AI models 7 prompts and here’s the winner, Tom's Guide
• LLaMA-Omni: The open-source AI that's giving Siri and Alexa a run for their money, VentureBeat
• Why Apple Intelligence won’t change your iPhone anytime soon, Vox

SEO

• 7 common technical ecommerce SEO mistakes to prevent, Yoast
• IndexNow: When and How Websites Should Notify Search Engines..., Bing Search Blog
• Stop Overcomplicating Things. Entity SEO is Just SEO, Ahrefs
• When to Invest More in SEO, Koozai

PPC

• How AI Call Tracking Is Changing the Google Ads Game, PPC Hero
• PPC for Beginners: A Quick-Start Guide on Search Ads, BruceClay
• The Full-Funnel Media Approach, DAC

Search Features

• Gemini might redesign its homepage, adds Gems to mobile app, 9to5Google
• Google Lens in Chrome is working out of the box with ChromeOS 128, Chrome Unboxed

Other Search

• Google's Search AI Makes Disgusting Recommendation for Parents of Toddlers, Futurism
• Why a former Google leader says AI-powered robots are still far away, Axios

Feedback:

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