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:
- Google Thanksgiving Search Algorithm Ranking Update
There are a nice number of SEOs and webmasters in the forums claiming they saw huge changes in terms of their rankings in Google starting on November 22nd or so. Since it was Thanksgiving day and traffic is always off on holidays, I wanted to wait it out. But there are many claims of an update, possibly a reversal of the Medic Update for some that were originally hit. - Google Really Launches Zero Search Results For Time, Conversions & Math
This is not a joke, Google has officially launched showing zero search results - yes, showing no actual search results - for a some very specific types of queries. When someone searches for time/date, conversion or math related answers - Google may just show the answer with a button to click to see the search results. - Google Tests Featured Snippet Image Carousel
Google is also testing a format for the featured snippets that lets you see multiple images in the position zero slot with a carousel format. So you can flip through the images in the featured snippet format. - Google My Business Updates Service Area Businesses Sign Up
Joy Hawkins noticed that Google recently updated the steps in Google My Business for service area businesses to sign up. Joy said they changed the process for some of the clients she manages. - Google Featured Snippet Refinement Bubbles Video Option
Google seems to be showing a special query refinement option in the featured snippets section to show videos. Eric Hedekar from Moz (formerly STAT) shared two screen shots of this in action on Twitter. - Trojan Horse At Google Office
Looks like someone placed a trojan horse at the Google Zurich office. Someone on Twitter shared the photo and wrote "Someone attacked the Google office in Zurich with a Trojan horse."
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- By fixing any of those problems.…, John Mueller on Twitter
- Google Could Shut Down Google News Over E.U. Link Tax, WebmasterWorld
- Google Shopping Search Criticised By Rivals: Open Letter to E.U. Commissioner, WebmasterWorld
- Google Takes Action Against Unofficial ESTA Ads, WebmasterWorld
- Paid ads inside location panel. Looks new to me. #seo @JoyanneHawkins @rustybrick, Saijo George on Twitter
- Take a look at these 3 URLs: https://t.co/uATzpGfV1Y https://t.co/TZAkW9WRPf https://t.co/hiqYaxl50R ... now, without looking, tell me if it's worth clicking on: https://t.co/10R4ZbcBQU… https://t.co/49pGYTXg8C, John Mueller on Twitter
- UK Parliament Seizes Facebook Internal Papers, WebmasterWorld
Search Engine Land Stories:
- 8 ways marketers use call analytics with Salesforce to drive revenue
- TrueView for Shopping: The perfect marriage of awareness and direct response
- The new world of marketing
- Analyze data distribution more accurately with time series
- Google showing zero results again for many time, calculations & conversions search results
- Google’s EU shopping comparison rivals say their situation is getting worse
- Navigating Showcase Shopping Ads this holiday season
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- A 10-minute crash course on Google Data Studio, data36.com
- GTM Tag Sequencing: Keep it sequenced, keep it safe, Periscopix
Industry & Business
- Google settled with a contractor after complaints of racial profiling, The Verge
- Google pays $1 billion for huge Mountain View business park, Mercury News
- Russia may fine Google for failing to remove banned websites, Engadget
Links & Promotion Building
- How to get Digital PR & Editorial Links, PR Link Building, Craig Campbell
Local & Maps
- Google Maps biz reviews can now include hashtags, TechCrunch
- Scammers edit Google Maps bank listings to trick and defraud people, Business Insider
Mobile & Voice
- Voice Search in 2019: 101, The Drum
SEO
- How to rank high in Google, Yoast
- What Is International SEO?, AccuraCast
- Google is Showing Zero Search Results for Time, Calculations & Conversions. Again., Sergey Alakov
- 6 Old School SEO Habits That Never Grow Old, Search Engine Journal
- Rank Ranger's Beta Blitz 2018! New, Never-Seen SEO Tools, RankRanger
- Trust-Centric Marketing and SEO, Stone Temple
- What is EAT?, Marie Haynes Consulting
- What to Do with Your Old Blog Posts, Moz
PPC
- Deliver Personalization with New Features in Google Optimize, Seer Interactive
- Optimizing Amazon Ads During the Holiday Madness, PPC Hero
Other Search
