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:
- Search Buzz Video Recap: Google Birthday Updates, Dynamic Rendering, Google Assistant, Discover & Lens
September 27th update - so I am naming it the Google Birthday Update. Google also said to make your sites better if you were impacted by it. Google may have made more tweaks to that Google Birthday update on October 4th... - Google Search Algorithm Ranking Shuffling On October 4th
The Google search results don't seem to be settling down at all, at least not over the past five weeks or so. I am seeing more chatter and signals that there was another search ranking algorithm update, probably a smaller one, yesterday. Many of the automated tools are showing signs and I am also seeing some chatter. - Google Assistant Gets Redesign & Enables Money Transactions
This week, Google announced that the Google Assistant has received a redesign or makeover. This makes it easier for you to get things done over voice or using your hands. Google also announced you can now make money using the Google Assistant. - Google Tests Minimalist Local Pack Again
We've seen it before, a more subtle and more minimalistic layout and design for the Google local pack in the mobile search results. Here is another screen shot of it, this time from Mike Blumenthal. - Old Google Ads Interface Shutting Down October 4th or October 18, 2018
After over two years of testing, Google is going to be shutting down the old Google Ads interface and the new Google Ads interface will be the exclusive way to manage your Google Ads (formerly AdWords) campaigns. Google sent two dates to advertisers on the date of the switch over, both October 4, 2018 and October 18, 2018. - Google My Business Agency Account Migration Tool
Google's Allyson Wright, a Community Manager for Google My Business, shared in the Google Business Help forums that they are currently doing a limited rollout of a new agency account migration tool. Allyson said the tool will help "improve the process of transferring listings to organization accounts." - The Google Internet Balloon (Loon) At The GooglePlex
It looks like a Google internet balloon from Project Loon stopped by the GooglePlex the other day. I guess Google was doing some promotion or story around this project or something?
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- If you have a connected AMP (AMP + traditional), we'd use the mobile version of the traditional page as the basis for mobile first indexing. If you set up the AMP as the mobile version (which you could do too; separate mobile U, John Mueller on Twitter
- You've got places to go and people to see! To make all of that easier, we're rolling out a new way to book a ride with the #GoogleAssistant → https://t.co/GRTre3t5Dk… https://t.co/0S7FEGMCfk, Google on Twitter
- AMP is a fine responsive web-framework. If you want to switch a site over to pure-AMP, then that's fine from a search point of view. There are a few fast & responsive frameworks you can use which work well with search, includi, John Mueller on Twitter
- Dunno whether it's new.. This just caught my eye.. audio is also available for the example in screenshot 1.… https://t.co/4FSSVBSD3A, Bhumika Kateliya on Twitter
- Strange linking patterns I don't get it?, WebmasterWorld
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Bing votes ‘no’ on political candidate and ballot measure ads
- Google Search Console is currently down
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Google Analytics for Bloggers: 10 Reports to Grow Your Site & Content, Get Highlights
- When Should You Install Google Analytics? NOW., Eraserheader Design
- Why brand storytelling should evolve to story building, Think with Google
Industry & Business
- Privacy Badger Now Fights More Sneaky Google Tracking, Electronic Frontier Foundation
- White House calls on Google to abandon Chinese search engine project, The Verge
Local & Maps
- What's Up with the Local Search Results…. Who the f knows?, Mike Blumenthal
- Google My Business Launches a Migration Tool for the Agency Dashboard, Sterling Sky Inc
Mobile & Voice
- Four tips for building great transactional experiences for the Google Assistant, Google Developers Blog
- Promoting inclusive storytelling with the Google Podcasts creator program, Google Blog
- Amazon’s revamped Alexa app makes it easier to manage your smart home, TechCrunch
SEO
- Personalized Search: Changes on Google and What they Mean, BrightEdge SEO Blog
- Faceted Navigation Intro - Whiteboard Friday, Moz
- Google Webmaster Hangout Notes: October 2nd 2018, DeepCrawl
PPC
- Introducing the Improved Ad Manager API Sunset Notifications, Google Ads Developer Blog
- Changes to our Political Ads Policy, Bing Ads Blog
- Survey: Are you still worried your ads will show up in the wrong places?, PPC Hero
Other Search
