Daily Search Forum Recap: September 13, 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.

Google Ads is launching confidential matching, a new privacy-centric ad feature. Google is testing a new AI Overview interface. Advertisers are complaining about fraud on the Search partner network. Google is testing for reference boxes in search. Google is testing search results without breadcrumbs. Plus, I posted my weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Ranking Volatility, Apple Intelligence, Navboost, Ads, Bing & Local
  Well over a week after the Google August 2024 core update finished, we still have a ton of volatility. Apple Visual Intelligence was demoed at the Apple event this week...
• Google Ads Introduces Confidential Matching
  Google Ads announced what it calls "confidential matching." Confidential matching is a "way to securely connect your first-party data for our measurement and audience solutions," Google said. And it will be used on Google Ads in numerous areas.
• Google Tests AI Overview With Small "More" Link
  Google is testing removing the large "show more" button and replacing it with a small "more" link at the bottom of the AI Overview snippet. Also, the AI Overview header and Gemini logo at the top left is being removed, or at least being tested being removed.
• Complaints On Google Ads Search Partners Network Fraud
  I am seeing a spike in complaints from the PPC community around there being an increase in fraudulent traffic from the Google Ads Search Partner network. Many have seen an unusual spike in fraud from that network in the past week, say some advertisers.
• Google Testing For Reference Search Box
  Google is testing a new search box named "for reference" which is placed under a set of search results and contains more news articles related to the query. This seems similar to some other features Google has tested over the years.
• Google Tests Search Result Snippets Without Breadcrumbs
  Google is testing showing search results snippets without the breadcrumbs in the URL section of the snippet. Google has tested removing URLs and breadcrumbs completely before, but now Google is testing removing just the breadcrumb and leaving the URL.
• Hummus Party At Google Dublin
  Here is some sort of event where there are a bunch of Googlers eating hummus, and other dips, with pita bread, at the Google office in Dublin, Ireland.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Local Pack in Desktop Search Results - Google is now testing showing close up of business location on the map as main image. PS - Quote tweet is also like this one but last image being the map close up and that test was in mo, Gagan Ghotra on X
• Every now and then, we get questions about whether "valid HTML" is a ranking factor, or a requirement for Google Search. Jens has done regular analysis of the validity of the top websites' homepages, and the results are sobering., John Mueller on LinkedIn
• here is o1, a series of our most capable and aligned models yet: https://t.co/yzZGNN8HvD o1 is still flawed, still limited, and it still seems more impressive on first use than it does after you spend more time with it., Sam Altman on X
• Local businesses that I've looked at have been mostly safe from all the core updates in the last year - except this last one. I'm hearing multiple reports on Facebook, Reddit, and our forum of local businesses being hit by the Augu, Joy Hawkins on X
• On the one hand, I don't make the search results, on the other hand, I use both of those sites intensively for programming-related queries, I wouldn't blindly see one of them as being good and the other as being bad., John Mueller on LinkedIn
• Set tROAS recommendation is now also increasing your daily budget if you apply the recommendation! Pay attention, Here all you need, Thomas Eccel on X
• These Are The Spam Practices Going On GMB And Google Maps By Lead Gen And Local SEO Agencies in 2024 In India Also where Google takes extra steps to make sure guard Business Profile's integrity, Ayman Ali on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• YouTube First Position Ads now available across Display & Video 360
• SearchGPT: What you need to know about OpenAI’s search engine
• How to drive SEO growth with structure, skimmability and search intent
• Google launches confidential matching for data privacy
• Google and guest posts: What gets indexed and what doesn’t

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

• Analysing Google Search Console Data with BigQuery, Omi Sido
• Maximizing SEO with Google Search Console and GA4: A Comprehensive Guide, Data Driven U

Industry & Business

• Data Protection Commission launches inquiry into Google AI model, Data Protection Commission
• Former Google Execs Help DOJ's Case, AdWeek
• Google announces new funding and AI training for small businesses, Google Blog
• Google antitrust trial reveals the 'succeed at all costs' culture behind the pursuit of ad market domination, Digiday
• Google sued for using trademarked Gemini name for AI service, The Register
• OpenAI COO Says ChatGPT Passed 11 Million Paying Subscribers, The Information
• OpenAI, Anthropic and Google leaders meet with White House to talk AI, CNBC
• The California Google deal could leave out news startups and the smallest publishers, Nieman Journalism Lab
• What DOJ and EU Antitrust Cases Mean for Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon and X, Bloomberg

Links & Content Marketing

• 19+ Free or Low-Budget Ideas To Distribute Your Brand’s Content, Content Marketing Institute
• Content Curation: How to Build a Fandom by Talent-Scouting Great Content, Ahrefs
• Downloading backlinks just got a little bit easier, Majestic
• How conversational content can help your marketing efforts, Yoast

Local & Maps

• Bing Places to Discontinue Support for iOS and Android Apps Starting September 16th, Bill Hartzer
• Local SEO for Pest Control, BrightLocal

Mobile & Voice

• Google rolling out Gemini Live & voices to free users on Android, 9to5Google
• Google unlists misleading Gemini video, The Verge
• Siri Not Working for Some iOS 18.1 Beta Users, MacRumors

SEO

• Ask a news SEO: AP’s Julie Vanderperre, SEO For Journalism
• How To Secure an SEO Leadership Role [According to an Ex-SEO Turned Headhunter], Moz
• Learn all about Google Trends with our new YouTube tutorials, Google Search Central Blog
• SERP analysis 101: How can I rank for this keyword?, Wix SEO Hub
• US Presidential Debates - SEO Rankings, Stats & Top 100 News Sites, NewzDash
• [Podcast] Will Critchlow on the Evolution of SEO & Reddit’s Influence on Search Today, Lumar

PPC

• Perplexity will launch ads in Q4, but marketers may be hesitant to invest, eMarketer
• SEO vs PPC: Key Differences & When to Use Each, seoClarity
• Bypassing ad blockers with server-side custom GTM loaders, Hallam
• Low, Medium, High: Decoding Google Shopping Priority Settings, PPC Hero

Search Features

• Google Chrome: New updates to help users stay safe while browsing, Google Blog
• How to Use Google Search Like a Pro: 9 Useful Techniques, Semrush

Other Search

• Beware the 'New Google': TikTok’s Search Engine Pumps Toxic Misinformation To Its Young Users, NewsGuard
• Guide to AI Prompts: What They Are and How to Write Them, Semrush
• Introducing OpenAI o1 - a new series of reasoning models for solving hard problems, OpenAI
• OpenAI releases new o1 reasoning model, The Verge

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