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.
Google AI Overviews are now rolling out to over 100 countries, making it available to over a billion searchers. Google said it is doubtful you'd see big ranking drops over core web vitals issues. Google is testing a "frequently saved" label in the search result snippets. Google is testing a new local places and compare sites interface. Bing recommends against batch mode for IndexNow submissions. Google Ads has a new raise your budgets recommendation section.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Google AI Overviews Rolling Out To 100+ Countries & Billion+ Users
Google announced it is rolling out AI Overviews in Google Search to over 100 more countries, making it available to over one billion users and in all supported languages. This is the biggest expansion of AI Overviews yet, which was previously available in seven countries by default (without opting into it). -
Google: Doubtful You'd See Big Ranking Drop Over Core Web Vitals Issues
Google's John Mueller said it again, he said on LinkedIn, "We've been pretty clear that Core Web Vitals are not giant factors in ranking, and I doubt you'd see a big drop just because of that." Google has been saying Core Web Vitals are important in general but when it comes to search rankings, they have never been that important. -
Google Tests Frequently Saved Label On Search Result Snippets
Google is now testing a "Frequently saved" label on the search results snippets. Previously we've seen you've visit often labels, for you labels, preferred source labels and other labels in the search results. -
Google Tests New Local Places & Compare Sites Interface
Google is testing a new "all places" and "compare now" interface to see businesses and third-party comparison sites outside of Google Search. This is something Google launched in the European regions but now some are seeing this in the US with this new user interface. -
Bing Recommends Against Batch Mode For IndexNow
With the new Bing Webmaster Tools recommendations section, we are learning more about what Bing Search likes and dislikes. One of the things Bing does not like is when a site using batch mode, or batch URL groups for IndexNow. Bing says it can cause server overload and delays in indexing. -
Google Ads Raise Your Budgets Recommendation Gains Information
Google has updated the "Raise your budgets" recommendation within the Google Ads recommendations with more details and tips. I mean, no one wants to raise their budget unless they can make more money, so having more details on why you should raise your budget is useful. -
Custom Google Sneakers
Google had some event at the Kirkland, Seattle office and there was a company named The Sole Revival showcasing its custom Google shoes or sneakers.
Other Great Search Threads:
- Google Ads API users, we've got more details to share on the new ability to retrieve optimized budget suggestions during PMax and Search campaign construction., Ginny Marvin on LinkedIn
- If Google's systems can tell that pages are similar enough that one of them could be focused on, then we use the factors listed in that document (and more) to try to determine which one to focus on. If you have a strong preference, it's best to make that, John Mueller on LinkedIn
- If it shared across a bunch of domains and focuses on something like crawling, it's probably an issue with a shared piece of infrastructure. If it's already recovering, at least it's not urgent anymore and you have a bit of time to poke at recent changes, John Mueller on LinkedIn
- Is SEO dying? I've been in this industry since 2006. When I first started, it wasn't actually that difficult, and I think a lot of people cashed in on that. Tons of people got into SEO, the industry became pretty saturated, and dem, Joy Hawkins on X
- Perplexity now serves over 100M queries every week. Next stop: 100M+ queries every day., Aravind Srinivas on X
- Case Study: Some data about the new Shopping Update (no more prioritization of Pmax over Standard Shopping), Thomas Eccel on LinkedIn
- Chat GPT surpassed Bing's traffic in August. It's also the biggest AI Chatbot by traffic - by a long shot. Forecast: growing., Kevin Indig on X
- Currently traveling the world talking to other SEOs about ranking on Google, content, AI, and the future of SEO., Cyrus SEO on LinkedIn
- Sorry about that. We had a data issue on our side. This should be now fixed., Rajan Patel on X
- We are on our way to Google HQ to spend a day discussing the current state of Google Search with other independent web publishers and Google engineers. We hope we will come out of the meeting with actionable next steps towards a bett, HouseFresh on X
- When updating a campaign's bid strategy from a Portfolio Max Conv. to individual max clicks, change history says "updated" and to "target_spend" When updating a campaign's bid strategy from individual Max Conv. to individual max clicks, i, Greg on X
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google tests new AI tool for large advertisers
- Google upgrades Call Ads to Responsive Search Ads format
- Google expands AI Overviews to over 100 countries
- SMX kicks off in two weeks… don’t miss out!
- Amazon non-endemic ads: Winning strategies for service-based businesses
- Google Search demoting content that is starkly different from the main content of the site
- Google Search Console performance report bug causes panic
- Inbound or outbound? What 1,000 consumers reveal about search, social and AI
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- Beyond Pageviews: Measure Content Performance And User Engagement In GA4, Search Engine Journal
Industry & Business
- Alphabet's Q3 revenue growth likely to slow as competition pressures Search, YouTube, Reuters
- CRTC exempts Google from Online News Act for five years, CTV News
- Microsoft says Google is behind ‘shadow campaigns’ to undermine its cloud business, The Verge
- OpenAI CFO Says 75% of Its Revenue Comes From Paying Consumers, Bloomberg
- OpenAI chair's AI startup Sierra gets $4.5 bln valuation in latest funding round, Reuters
Links & Content Marketing
- 3 Disruptions That Will Shape Your Content and Marketing Strategy in 2025, Content Marketing Institute
- Don’t Settle for This in Your 2025 Marketing, Content Marketing Institute
- How to Find Keywords for SEO (EP33), Compass Digital Strategies
Local & Maps
- Amazon, Google Accuse Website Of Selling Fake Reviews, Law360
- Android Auto is getting major Google Maps upgrades on Ford EVs, 9to5Google
- Google Flights Puts Bags Upfront, But Where Is The Basic Economy Filter?, DansDeals
- Tips for Passing Google Business Profile Bulk Verification, Sterling Sky
Mobile & Voice
- Apple M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac Launch Details; iOS 18.2 ChatGPT Testing, Bloomberg
- Google’s AR ambitions should really start with Ray-Ban competitors, 9to5Google
- Apple Intelligence exits beta, TechCrunch
- Apple Intelligence Rolling Out in the European Union Starting in April 2025, MacRumors
- Apple Intelligence starts rolling out with iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1, Engadget
- Apple's Commitment to AI Is Clear, But Its Execution Is Uneven, MacStories
- Google is working on a Tensor chip for Pixel Watch, 9to5Google
- iOS 18.1 & iPadOS 18.1 review: baby steps with Apple Intelligence, AppleInsider
- macOS 15.1 Sequoia review: Apple Intelligence, performance, AppleInsider
- visionOS 2.1 brings stability & bug fixes to Apple Vision Pro, AppleInsider
SEO
- Annoyed Redditors tanking Google Search results illustrates perils of AI scrapers, Ars Technica
- How Compression Can Be Used To Detect Low Quality Pages, Search Engine Journal
- Hi Google, please stop 💩 the bed: a desperate plea from the independent web., Ben Fox
- How Branding Helps Drive SEO Success, BruceClay
- How to find helpful content in a sea of made-for-Google BS, HouseFresh
- Overcoming implementation blockers: how to get buy-in for SEO in 2025, Builtvisible
- Ready Steady Cut is Battling Google's Algorithmic Extinction Event, Ready Steady Cut
PPC
- Announcing Budget Prefills with the Google Ads API, Google Ads Developer Blog
- 8 Google Ads Strategies to Drive Holiday Sales, WordStream
- Brand Names as a Section Title in Search, PPC News Feed
- Enhanced Conversions in Google Ads: Your Complete Guide, Jyll Saskin Gales
- Google is Testing a New Search Advertising Tool, AdWeek
- Sexual health & wellness policy (October 2024), Google Advertising Policies Help
- "Raise Your Budgets" Recommendation Updated, PPC News Feed
Search Features
- 7 Fun Ways I Use Google Lens Regularly, How To Geek
- AI Overviews Across Industries: Key Trends and Insights, Rich Sanger SEO
Other Search
- Learn how to write AI prompts in 5 easy steps with this new course from Google, Google Blog
- Meta Develops AI Search Engine to Lessen Reliance on Google, Microsoft, The Information
- We finally have an 'official' definition for open source AI, TechCrunch
- Gartner predicts AI agents will transform work, but disillusionment is growing, VentureBeat
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