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.
There was a long and volatile Google Search ranking algorithm update from last Thursday through today - it is not confirmed - have you noticed any ranking changes? Google said site quality is not about just looking at the pages not in the index. Google said the new content-visibility CSS won't impact your rankings. Google also said that large lead gen CTAs that are not related to the content on the page can be seen as ads and impact your rankings. Google is bringing back links in the featured snippets again and much more.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Long Volatile Google Search Ranking Algorithm Update: 9/9 - 9/12
Starting Thursday, September 9, 2021 and going on through even today, September 13th, there has been a lot of chatter and volatility in and around the Google search results. It has not really cooled or calmed down, not yet, at least. - Google: Lead Gen Forms Or CTAs Can Sometimes Be Seen As Ads When...
Google's John Mueller said that sometimes Google can treat a large lead generation form or call-to-action as an ad if the content on the page is not on the same topic as what is in the lead gen form or CTA. And when that happens, Google may say there is an ad pushing down the primary content of the page and thus it may be impacted by the old page layout algorithm. - Google: content-visibility CSS Won't Impact Google Search
Google's John Mueller said that he does not believe that the new content-visibility CSS that modern Chrome browsers support won't impact Google Search. It may impact the speed of your pages, that can impact your core web vitals but outside of that, it should have no significant impact on rankings. - Google Embedding Links In Featured Snippets Again
It looks like Google is testing embedding links in featured snippets again. It is hard to find examples of this but Brodie Clark and a few others spotted some examples. We first reported on this last November and then saw it come back in January - and now again, in September we are seeing it again. - Google: Site Quality Is Not About The Pages Missing From The Google Index
Google's John Mueller explained that you really need to look at your site as a whole when determining if your site is quality or not. Do not simply look at the pages Google did not index or the pages Google does not show in the search results. - Vlog #137: Dan Sure On Using Buy Guides For SEO
In part one with Dan Shure we followed up on his previous advice around Google core updates and what you can do to improve your site after a core update. In part two... - Blue Array SEO Tesla Car
It looks like Blue Array, an SEO company, parked its Tesla in front of Brighton SEO. I wonder if they were giving away a Tesla as a prize? I doubt it? I mean, here is the wheel of what you could have
Other Great Search Threads:
- Deferring Adsense Ad Execution For Better Page Experience, WebmasterWorld
- I'd try to work out if it's an indexing or a ranking issue, and work back from there. If you're not sure where to start for these, I'd recommend posting in the help forums, including the details, John Mueller on Twitter
- Twitter Tests "Automated Account" for Bots, WebmasterWorld
Search Engine Land Stories:
- How to drive the funnel through content marketing and link building
- Second annual Search Engine Land Award for Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Search Marketing: Nominations open
- Advertisers will now get more data in Google Ads… sort of; Friday’s daily brief
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- GA4 — Big changes, flexibility and power, Medium
- The Future of Digital Marketing Part Three: What's Next for Digital Marketing Analysis?, Adswerve
- What Is a Dimension in Google Analytics & How to Use Them, Semrush
- Web Log Analysis is Essential to a High-Performing Website, BrightEdge
- Use Python to Create a GSC to BigQuery Pipeline, importSEM
Industry & Business
- Google Could Be Violating Labor Laws With Pay for Temp Workers, New York Times
- Tinder CEO Jim Lanzone will be next CEO of Yahoo following Apollo acquisition, CNBC
- Today’s press on temporary staff, Google Blog
- Google handed user data to Hong Kong authorities despite pledge after security law was enacted, Hong Kong Free Press
- U.S. and EU Advance Talks to Preserve Data Transfers, Wall Street Journal
- Google Redesigns Work Around Sonos Patents, Filing Indicates, Bloomberg
Links & Content Marketing
- How to Use Timely Content to Build Brand Awareness and Authority, Skyword
- PPC and Content Marketing: The Perfect Combo for Immediate ROI, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Apple Maps Teams are Walking Around Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver with Special Backpacks, iPhone in Canada Blog
- Seeing A Green Leaf On Google Maps Navigation? Here's What It Means, Jalopnik
- Surrey then and now: Google Maps images illustrate how much towns have changed in decade, Surrey Live
Mobile & Voice
- IBM Upgrades Watson Voice AI for Call Centers, Voicebot
- EU is investigating if Google Assistant is being forced on Android phones, XDA Developers
- Google Assistant's latest settings layout separates your phone from your smart speakers, Android Police
- Here's how offline Siri works on iPhone in iOS 15, 9to5Mac
- Assistant Driving Mode on Android 12 gets homescreen, 9to5Google
SEO
- SEO Case Study: How an Agency Boosted Bakery’s Traffic by 214%, Semrush
- White Hat SEO, Gray Hat SEO, Black Hat SEO, and Asshat SEO: What's the Difference?, I Love SEO
- Pruning with Python and htaccess for SEO, Daniel Heredia
PPC
- 3 resources to make you an advertising pro, Microsoft Advertising
Search Features
Feedback:
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