Daily Search Forum Recap: September 23, 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.

The Google Search ranking volatility has not calmed, those who saw some gains during the August core update are now seeing those gains being wiped out. Google Ads has a bug where it showed ten sitelinks. Google is testing a new shopping card feature at the top of the search results. 55% of you are using Google or traditional search engines less often with AI now being available. Google spoke about the importance of the page the image is embedded on for image SEO.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Search Ranking Increases During Core Update Wiped Out Post Update
  It's like Google cannot make up its mind - with all the volatility we reported post Google August 2024 core update, a lot of that volatility means ranking changes for sites like yours. Some of you who saw modest increases in your Google Search rankings during the core update are now reporting those gains are being lost.
• Google Ads With Ten Sitelinks - A Bug
  Google Ads can show a nice number of sitelinks under the ad, as sitelink extensions. But I've never seen Google show 10 sitelinks under a single sponsored listing. Google did respond saying "this is not intended," which implies this is some weird bug.
• Google Search Tests Shopping / E-Commerce Card
  Google is testing using its top card format for shopping and e-commerce related queries and information. This shows product results with pricing on the left, with popular stores on the right, and then some review content in the from on content and videos on the right side of that.
• Google Describes Importance Of Page Image Is Embedded On For SEO
  Google's John Mueller responded to questions around image SEO, specifically explaining that while the image itself and the alt text is useful, so is the page that image is embedded on. This is all useful for Google to know the relevance of an image based on a specific query.
• 55% Are Using Traditional Search Like Google Less Since Gen AI Products
  The Information posted survey results of its 1,088 subscribers they surveyed and said that 77% said they are using traditional search engines like Google because of generative Al products. So I ran the same'ish poll on X and I got only 55% are using Google/traditional search less.
• Sundar Pichai Kicking Soccer Ball
  Here is a photo of Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, kicking a soccer ball. This photo was from over a year ago, I found it on Instagram recently. It was from a Pixel event for the German Women's National Team.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Google Ads shows a new Video Enhancement feature for Performance Max (PMax) campaigns. (not for Search campaigns) Has anyone else seen this feature in their PMax campaigns? Share your thoughts be, Natasha Kaurra on X
• It is localized (that was also the case for India, for example), but also it's early days & examples are super helpful. Send them my way, especially when they're obviously bad., John Mueller on LinkedIn
• Oh wow, Google really tries to push YouTube revenue! Has anyone heard more about it?, Thomas Eccel on X
• Thinking about becoming an independent SEO consultant? It’s a rewarding path, but there are a few common mistakes that can trip you up early on. Here are the top 7 pitfalls I’ve seen—and how to steer clear of them., Olga Zarr on LinkedIn

Search Engine Land Stories:

• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Google adtech antitrust trial: Everything you need to know
• Top 7 Google Ads and SEO synergies you should act upon
• 7 best AI ad creative tools, for beginners to pros
• Mastering Performance Max using scripts

Other Great Search Stories:

Industry & Business

• French Media Sue Google For $1.1 Bn Over Advertising, Barron's
• Google Faces EU Ultimatum in Fresh Attack on Search Dominance, Bloomberg
• Google merging X/Twitter accounts, like Pixel and Material Design, 9to5Google
• Tech giants push to dilute Europe's AI Act, Reuters
• Google Judge Questions Company Testimony as Ad Defense Begins, Bloomberg
• OpenAI's newest creation is raising shock, alarm, and horror among staffers: a new logo, Fortune
• UN Summit of the Future: AI opportunity for everyone, Google Blog

Links & Content Marketing

• Building Trust and Traffic with AI: Andy Crestodina on Modern Content Marketing, G2
• Don’t Let AI Headlines Steer Your Marketing Career the Wrong Way, Content Marketing Institute
• Why Content Marketing Doesn’t Have to Be Boring: How to Create Engaging Content, Rolling Stone

Local & Maps

• How Google Business Profile Reviews Are Filtered for Spam, Igniting Business
• Who Can Write a Google Review on a Google Business Profile, Igniting Business
• Google Maps Now a Waze Killer on Android Auto? Not So Fast, AutoEvolution

Mobile & Voice

• Apple aims to get to three iOS 18 updates out before the end of 2024, AppleInsider
• Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Review: New Model Reflects Slowing Pace of Innovation, Bloomberg
• Google Emails Show Unease Over Advertising Dominance, Wall Street Journal
• Meta has a major opportunity to win the AI hardware race, The Verge
• Yup, Jony Ive is working on an AI device startup with OpenAI, TechCrunch

SEO

• How to Do B2B Keyword Research: 7 Proven Tips, Semrush
• Query Deserves Freshness: What It Is & How It Works, Semrush
• Tips for international SEO strategy and reporting — Whiteboard Friday, Moz
• SaaS SEO: From Challenges to Best Practices, Advanced Web Ranking
• How to Fix Your Google Ads Campaign When It's Not Converting, Jyll Saskin Gales
• Using the Screaming Frog SEO Spider and OpenAI Embeddings to Map Related Pages at Scale, Screaming Frog

PPC

• Perplexity in talks with top brands on ads model as it challenges Google, Financial Times (Sub)
• How Much Search Term Data is Google Ads Hiding from You?, MarlinSEM

Search Features

• OpenAI just unleashed an alien of extraordinary ability, Understanding AI

Other Search

• Google calls for halting use of WHOIS for TLS domain verifications, Ars Technica
• Move over copilots: meet the next generation of AI-powered assistants, Financial Times (Sub)

Feedback:

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