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.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- October 2018 Google Webmaster Report
The month of September was an insane month for Google, specifically for SEOs and webmaster. We have several unconfirmed algorithm updates with a couple confirmed ones. Google updates their image search design and algorithms as well. Google had their 20th birthday. Search Console came out of beta and also Google released new features for the knowledge graph. - Google Tests Explore Carousel For Local Results
Google is expanding their test of the explore carousel for local results. This was first spotted back in May by Sergey Alakov and respotted by Dan Leibson the other day. The explore carousel looks to show similar local venues or places to your Google search. - Google: With Mobile-First Indexing, App Interstitials Can Be Problematic
Google's John Mueller posted a PSA yesterday on Twitter saying that with the mobile first indexing rolling out, that if you have app interstitials and if those are taking up all your content, then that is what Google will see. He said you are are roboting them out or replacing your homepage with it, then that is what Google will see. - Google Tests Clustering Featured Snippet Refinement Bubbles
Google began showing refinement filter bubbles under the featured snippets back in April. Now, according to STAT, Google is testing grouping or clustering these refinement filters into pairs. Here is a screen shot from Dan Nutter that captured this in action in the Google search results. - Google Displays Search Console Stats In Search Results
Google is now showing Google Search Console statistics and a brief dashboard directly in the search results when you are the verified owner of the site and your site comes up in the search results. The dashboard shows you clicks, impression and average position data for the past 7 days compared to the previous period. - Google Waymo Truck
Here is a photo of a truck with the Waymo name and logo on it. Waymo is Google's self driving car initiative. Is this a self driving truck or a truck that delivers Waymo hardware or cars? That is uncl
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- New Post: Local Mobile Image Thumbnail SERPS - It’s All About Context https://t.co/kXnKpsaLv9…, Mike Blumenthal on Twitter
- Skip waiting at the bus stop. Now you can see if one leg of your commute is running behind with Multimodal commute → https://t.co/r7vvZ38NaY… https://t.co/5xGvLw5JCF, Google Maps on Twitter
- Changing title tags and meta description... effects on ranking, WebmasterWorld
- WiFi Alliance Brands 802.11ax Device Support as WiFi 6, WebmasterWorld
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Choosing an enterprise call analytics platform
- Website redesign mistakes that destroy SEO
- Google Search Console snapshot arrives in search results
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Cross-Device Tracking in Google Analytics, Clix Marketing PPC Blog
- How to Build a Google Analytics Funnel to Track your Sales, Razor Social
- Use This Brilliant Analytics Tip for Tracking Social Media Posts, bulk.ly
- You Ask, I Answer: Causes of Direct Traffic in Google Analytics, Christopher S. Penn Marketing Blog
Industry & Business
- Marketers Don't Understand SEO, Report Suggests, MediaPost
- What Google Teaches Its Leaders, Inc.com
Links & Promotion Building
Local & Maps
- Book a ride with the Google Assistant, Google Blog
- Google Maps Commute tab now rolling out, music integration, 9to5Google
Mobile & Voice
SEO
- SEO: Understanding Sitemaps for Ecommerce Stores, Practical Ecommerce
- What is a redirect?, Yoast
- Author Authority: Does It Matter for Your Content and SEO, Stone Temple
- BrightonSEO Roundup: Take your Site Speed Optimisation to the Next Level, Koozai
PPC
- An Introduction to Google's In-Market Audiences for Search, Metric Theory
- Google Ads Smart Bidding: Important Tips & Common Pitfalls, Metric Theory
- Google Shopping: Seller vs product ratings - a guide to the difference, Vertical Leap
Search Features
- Coming together to create a prior art archive, Google Blog
