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.
That was fast, the Google October spam update is now fully rolled out in less than two days. Google My Ad Center is now also fully rolled out. Google is testing interactive knowledge panels in the auto-complete search box. Google is removing tons of reviews from business listings. Third-party appointment services are hijacking a lot of the booking features in Google local listings. And don't miss my SEO video recap.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Google October 2022 Spam Update Completed In ~42 Hours
In less than about 42 hours, Google has fully rolled out the last spam update - the Google October 2022 spam update. The update began on October 19, 2022, at about 11 am ET and was completed on October 21, 2022, at about 5 am ET. - Report: Google Reviews Being Removed From Local Business Profiles
There are numerous reports of Google doing some mass pruning and removals of reviews from the local maps results, from Google Business Profile listings. This is done every now and then, it is unclear if this is a bug or some new filter being applied to already approved reviews. - Third Party Appointment Services Hijacking Google Local Business Profile Panels
Google Maps and local panels have shown booking, appointment, reservation, and other ordering solutions from third parties for many years. And while we have a way to opt-out, it is still causing a lot of confusion and frustration for these small businesses. - Google Interactive Knowledge Panels In Auto-Complete Search Suggestions
We have seen Google place a lot of goodies in the search box auto-complete and search suggestions, including people also ask and other forms of answers. But remember the new interactive knowledge panel design? Google seems to be testing a version of that in the auto-complete drop-down. - Google My Ad Center Rolling Out To All
Google My Ad Center is now rolling out globally to all users, giving users the ability to control the ads they see or do not see, across Google Search and Google properties. Google said you will "also be able to block sensitive ads and learn more about the information used to personalize your ad experience." - Google Colorful Reindeer
I am not sure what this is exactly, I thought it was a sheep with reindeer like horns but I don't know. This is some sort of reindeer at the Google Seattle office, with colorful cotton balls? - Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Spam Update, Site Name & Favicons, New Sponsored Ad Label and More
The Google October 2022 spam update, the first spam update since last November, started and was completed within 42 hours, I have more on that in the video. Google also has rolled out a new Site name and favicon design for the mobile search results, with new structured data...
Other Great Search Threads:
- 12 new Google Business Profile categories have been added recently and 2 were removed, Joy Hawkins on Twitter
- It seems like something you could just robot out and leave to be processed on its own. Even robotted the URL may be indexed, but since it's without content, it won't rank. More "visible" on, John Mueller on Twitter
- The other day I mentioned how often now product guides/reviews are outranking e-commerce PLPs for queries that were thought to be highly transactional & it's time for e-commerce to start diversifying and investing i, Aleyda Solis on Twitter
- We updated & rewrote our own content. It's good to do that from time to time. That sounds much better than copying and rewriting someone else's content (which honestly sounds like a, John Mueller on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Why you should fire clients more often (and how to do it the right way)
- Google October 2022 spam update done rolling out in less than 48 hours
- Uber ads are coming, and they’re already raising privacy concerns
- Google penalties, manual actions and notifications: A complete guide
- Google My Ad Center updates give users more, expanded controls
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Google Analytics 4 Metrics Tutorial: Everything You Need to Know Before You Transition to the New Platform, Databox Blog
Industry & Business
- Apple Is an Ad Company Now, Wired
- India fines Google $162 million for anti-competitive practices on Android, TechCrunch
- Texas Sues Google Over Use of Facial Images, Wall Street Journal
Links & Content Marketing
- A Google Docs content template for Wix Blogs, Wix SEO Hub
- How to Become a Successful Content Creator, I Love SEO
- Why (and How To) Write a Strategy for Your Cause-Related Marketing, Content Marketing Institute
Local & Maps
- Amazon Expands Efforts to Stop the Source of Fake Reviews With New Legal Actions Worldwide, Business Wire
Mobile & Voice
- 250 million devices run Android Go — but the new version is more demanding, The Verge
- Google improving Assistant smart home command accuracy with AI, 9to5Google
- Here's a look at the new Siri interface on Apple TV, 9to5Google
SEO
- Beyond Title Tags: 5 Worthwhile SEO Tests that Seem “Untestworthy”, Moz
- 8 Confirmed Google Ranking Factors, Ahrefs
- Five Steps to Build an SEO Team from Scratch, Rank Ranger
- Rich Snippets: What Are They and What do SEO Pros Need to Know?, I Love SEO
- SEO Guide To Product Structured Data and the Google Merchant Center, iPullRank
- SEO Writing Checklist for Non-SEO Professionals, Outbrain
- Should You Target Zero-Volume Keywords? It Depends, Ahrefs
PPC
- 3 reasons podcast ads can connect brand and performance marketing, Ad Age
- Channel the power of intent through Search, Think with Google
- Tap into your audience’s mood with Music Mood Lineups, Google Ads Help
- Your Guide to the New Search Ads 360 Experience, Adswerve
Search Features
- More visual ways to shop on your desktop with Google, Google Blog
- New Snippet Layout: Site Names in a Prominent Position, SISTRIX
Other Search
- MUSIQ: Assessing Image Aesthetic and Technical Quality with Multi-scale Transformers, Google AI Blog
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