Daily Search Forum Recap: December 6, 2024

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.

The Google November 2024 core update is finally done rolling out after almost 24 days, we recapped the whole update and what we saw. I posted a slew of canonicalization and cluster topics today, including the difference between clustering and canonicalization, 40 different signals Google uses for canonicalization, black holes with clusters and error pages, how localization works with clustering and how Google handles broken canonicalization. That being said, I also posted the big SEO video recap - check it out.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google November 2024 Core Update Finally Finished Rolling Out
  The Google November 2024 core update finally finished rolling out yesterday at around 1:30 PM ET. It took over 23.5 days to roll out, starting on November 11, 2024 at 3:30 pm and finishing on December 5, 2024 at 1:30 pm. The update was expected to take two weeks to roll out but took almost twice as long.
• Google Marauding Black Holes With Clustering & Error Pages
  As part of the topic of clustering and canonicalization with Google Search today, Allan Scott from Google explained what he called "marauding black holes" in Google Search. Where Google's clustering takes in some error pages and they end up in this black hole of sorts in Google Search.
• Google Search Difference Between Clustering & Canonicalization
  Google's John Mueller explained the difference between clustering and canonicalization within Google Search. He said, "Clustering is basically taking the pages that we think are the same. And then canonicalization is, from those pages, which one is the best one."
• Google Has 40 Signals For Canonicalization
  Did you know that Google uses around 40 different signals to perform canonicalization in Google Search? This not only includes numerous type of redirects, the rel canonical attribute but also things like x-default, sitemaps, links, PageRank and other signals.
• Google Search: How Clustering Works With Localization
  As part of the topic of clustering and canonicalization with Google Search today, Allan Scott from Google explained how Google Search's clustering technology works with its localization technology. The answer is, wait for it, "it depends," but let's dig in.
• Google Does Try To Handle Broken Canonicals
  With all this talk about clustering and canonicalization today, what about if you get it wrong, or your CMS breaks and serves the wrong thing to Google? We know how consistency and communicating that to Google is super important. Well, Google tries to handle canonicals that seem broken or flat-out wrong.
• Google Android Boxer Statue By Fitness Center
  Here is a photo from the fitness center at the Google New York City office where there is an Android boxer statue outside. Google loves its Android statues.
• Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google November Core Update Done, Chrome Site Engagement Metrics, Canonicals, 21 Years & More
  Google's November 2024 core update was finally completed this week, yesterday to be more exact. This came after even more volatility from early this week. I also posted the big December 2024 Google webmaster report...

Other Great Search Threads:

• I've just seen this on TikTok—reviews and location data pulled from Google. When you click into tagged locations on videos, or search via Places, it shows their Google reviews, with functionality to leave a review, BrightLocal on X
• Not all clicks are created equal. An AI click delivers a 1.378% conversion rate on our website (Book a Call) compared to 0.201% from Google organic traffic. This aligns with what @facan and @wilreynolds have been highlighting, Andrea Volpini on X
• Shaping AI's Impact on Billions of Lives I’m delighted to have collaborated with an awesome set of co-authors on this paper that offers a blueprint of actions that can be taken by practitioners, policymakers, and other, Jeff Dean on X
• We just rolled out Grounding with Google Search to all of Europe! You can try it for free in Google AI Studio and with the paid tier of the Gemini API., Logan Kilpatrick on X
• Mike's not getting any special treatment. No one is going out and saying "oh, fix this particular snippet" now. What we will do is look at what happened in this case to better understand how to improve the system for sites genera, Google's Search Liaison on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• How AI is radically reshaping marketing budgets
• Perplexity expands publisher ad revenue sharing program
• Google November 2024 core update rollout is now complete
• Google to launch new Dating and Companionship Ads policy
• Easier consent management comes to Google Tag UI
• How to analyze your SEO competitors to find opportunities
• Top 6 technical SEO action items for 2025
• Google Search makes it easier to search without personalization
• Microsoft Advertising: A comprehensive guide

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

• A Full Guide to GA4 UTM Parameters in Google Analytics 4, Measure Minds Group
• Building a Basic Custom CTR Curve, Chris Green
• Using GTM and GA4 to track multiple forms, Browser Media

Industry & Business

• 75 SEO Resources I (Probably) Can’t Live Without, Ahrefs
• Google Split Still ‘On the Table,’ EU’s New Antitrust Chief Says, Bloomberg
• Perplexity expands its publisher program, TechCrunch

Links & Content Marketing

• Should Jaguar’s Bold Rebrand Generate a New Roar for Marketers?, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Busiest London stations visually mapped by Google Street View, BBC
• Google bringing Waymo robotaxis to Miami. Uber, Lyft shares falling., Yahoo Finance
• Should You Use Schema for Your Local Business in 2025?, Whitespark

Mobile & Voice

• Android 15’s first major update has arrived, The Verge
• Android’s Expressive Captions uses AI to bring emotion to captions, Google Blog
• Copilot Vision, Microsoft's AI tool that can read your screen, launches in preview, TechCrunch
• Google Pixel Tablet: 3 of our favorite new features to try, Google Blog
• iOS 18.2 -- All the new AI features and changes explained, AppleInsider
• Pixel and Android: New features and AI updates, Google Blog
• Pixel feature drop December 2024: All the latest features for Pixel phones, Google Blog

SEO

• 2025 Predictions: The Rise of Brand SEO, Builtvisible
• Passive vs. Active search marketing: Embrace the modern search journey, Wix SEO Hub
• We Analyzed 5,000 Google Shopping Results. Here’s What We Found., 180 Marketing
• Intersection of SEO & Brand With Mordy Oberstein, Unscripted SEO

PPC

• How Automation will Reshape the Role of the PPC Manager in 2025, PPC Hero
• 2024 Microsoft Advertising Partner Awards: EMEA winners, Microsoft Advertising
• Same Advertiser Showing Up Twice, PPC News Feed

Search Features

• ChatGPT Pro coming soon for $200/month, per OpenAI leak, 9to5Mac
• OpenAI launches a new $200 monthly subscription and an updated model, The Verge
• Sundar Pichai says Google Search will ‘change profoundly’ in 2025, The Verge

Other Search

• Google's latest feature drop includes new Gemini extensions and accessibility features, TechCrunch
• OpenAI launches full o1 model with 34% reduced error rate, VentureBeat
• Online ecosystem is squeezing small publishers out of business, Press Gazette

Feedback:

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