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.
This is a special Sunday edition because I am not posting any stories tomorrow in observance of Yom Kippur. Google said it will not roll back the helpful content update. Google said links are not a top three ranking factor anymore. Google said removing content doesn't make the other content rank higher. Google said comments on websites can be a good thing. Clicks on ads within Bing Chat are 1.8X higher than traditional search ad clicks. Google said keep your important content out of the before or after CSS pseudo-elements.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Google Not Rolling Back The Last Helpful Content Update
Google's John Mueller said it is very unlikely that the search company will roll back the last Google update, the September 2023 Google helpful content update. The update is currently rolling out, first touching down on September 14th, and has really wreaked havoc for some SEOs. - Google: Links No Longer A Top Three Ranking Signal
Google has been downplaying the importance of links in its ranking algorithm for the past couple of years now. But last Thursday, at PubCon, Gary Illyes from the Google Search team said he wouldn't even put links into the top three ranking signals Google Search uses. - Microsoft: Ads Clicks Within Bing Chat Are 1.8X Higher
At the Microsoft AI event on last Thursday, I had a sit down with Kya Sainsbury-Carter, the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Advertising, who told me that clicks on ads within Bing Chat are higher than clicks on ads in traditional search. 1.8X higher to be exact and with shopping ads, specifically in Bing Chat, it is 11% higher. - Google Gary Illyes: Comments Sections On Websites Can Be Good
Gary Illyes from the Google Search team said at PubCon that comments sections on websites can be a good thing. This messaging is on target with what Google has said about comments sections in the past, assuming the comments are useful and not filled with spam - they can be a good thing. - Google: Removing Content Doesn't Make The Other Content Rank Higher
Google's John Mueller said on Twitter that removing content doesn't make the rest of your content rank higher. He said, "keep in mind that removing content doesn't make the rest rank higher." - Google: Keep Important Content Out Of Before Or After CSS Pseudo-Elements
Google posted on Twitter "we recommend not adding meaningful content or symbols using ::before or ::after CSS pseudo-elements." Google said such content "might not be used for indexing your pages." - Google Cloud Swag Mug
Here is a new mug from Google, the Google Cloud team, that I have been seeing on social media recently. Seems like a bunch of folks got this new Google Cloud mug from Google recently. - Programming Note: Offline Monday For Yom Kippur 5784
This is just a programming note that I will be 100% offline starting Sunday night (September 24th) through Monday night (September 25th) for Yom Kippur. I am not scheduling any stories on Yom Kippur...
Other Great Search Threads:
- 3,664 emojis not enough to choose from? Search for [emoji kitchen] on Google to create your own and get cooking on illustrations of your favorite emoji mashups!, Rajan Patel on X
- "I don't think most sites will see a great benefit from working on Core Web Vitals (paraphrased a bit) @methode #pubcon, Patrick Stox on X
- Are there cases where subdirectories can be treated separately, as individual sites? Yes. It's not common on the English web but it is in other languages. @methode #pubcon, Patrick Stox on X
- It's not a clear-cut technical thing just because of differing ways of processing / keeping track of a noindex, but if you want to *make sure* something (like a link) is known, don't only put it on an unindexable page., John Mueller on X
- That can happen if verification was lost for an extended period of time. The data isn't back-filled. You might see some of it if you verify similar properties (eg domain vs prefix property), but it's not guaranteed., John Mueller on X
- Upgrading my new action button with the new @bing, Michael Schechter on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google accused of downplaying ad price manipulation
- Google denies manipulating ad auctions in resurfaced SMX Advanced clip
- Bing adds controls for webmasters to disallow their content in Bing Chat
- How to increase LTV with PPC
- The latest jobs in search marketing
- What is the best generative AI tool for writing PR content?
- How to optimize your ecommerce ad spend and budget for the best ROI
- TikTok testing displaying links to Google search results
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Industry & Business
- Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Shows New iPhone Browser Search at Google Trial, Bloomberg
- Meet the Law Geeks Exposing Google’s Secretive Antitrust Trial, Wired
Links & Content Marketing
- 14 Content Marketing Metrics to Track for Success, Semrush
- How to Get Press Coverage for Your Company, MarketingProfs
- The Inside Scoop on Content Marketing Strategy, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Google brings its AI chatbot Bard to Gmail, Maps and YouTube, AP News
- How Good Are Offline Maps in iOS 17?, CNET
- Secret Google Maps Features Every Traveler Should Know, SlashGear
- What the iOS 17 release means for Apple CarPlay, Drive
Mobile & Voice
- [Exclusive] Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro camera features revealed through promo video, 91 Mobiles
- Amazon's latest Alexa improvements are making Google Assistant look bad, Android Police
- Siri can now play Spotify hands-free on your HomePod, The Verge
SEO
- SEO Is Dead. Long Live AO, Inc
- The Magical Black Box, SEO Book
PPC
- The 15 Biggest Announcements From Google & Facebook So Far This Year, WordStream
- Google has been force-feeding us ads. Now one big antitrust case could change the internet forever, Los Angeles Times
- How Retailers Can Use Local PPC To Drive Footfall, The Drum
Search Features
- 4 Stats About SGE – Whiteboard Friday, Moz
- Apple exec touts hidden iOS 17 search engine setting during Google testimony, 9to5Mac
Other Search
- Why Google's Elizabeth Reid isn't rushing AI search, Fast Company
Feedback:
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