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 December Core Update Second Wave, Zero Search Results Again & Search Console API
This week, we covered more on the changes related to the Google December 2020 core update. Specifically, Google said it is still rolling out and it looks like on Thursday... - Google December 2020 Core Update Second Wave
Yesterday I reported that this Google December Core update was a really unusual core update because it seemed like the rollout happened over a 48-hour period and was not a slow two-week rollout. Well, I talked too soon - there may have ben a second wave (is it bad to use that term because of COVID?) where a spike of volatility happened yesterday, December 10th. - Google Santa Tracker Now Live In Search
Every year Google puts up its Santa Tracker before Christmas. While we have the Chanukah decorations live, the Christmas and Kwanzaa decorations are not live yet but the easter egg for the Santa tracker is live. - Google Search COVID-19 Vaccines Updates
Google Search is making some changes to its search results around COVID-19 vaccines. Much like it did for COVID-19 news and information in general, Google is trying to make sure it provides the most accurate, trustworthy, authoritative and up-to-date information as possible - espesially when data and information is changing so quickly. - Google Search Testing Thinner Knowledge Panels
It looks like Google is testing thinner, 85 pixels less wide, knowledge panels in the Google Search results. Jason Barnard said the current/old knowledge panel on desktop search is 455 pixels wide. The new, thinner, version is 370 pixels wide. - Google Maps Landmark Icons & Pins
It looks like Google is widely showing the landmark icons or pins in the Google Maps desktop and mobile interface now. It is not exactly new, according to Justin OBeirne, Google started to slowly roll this out in nine cities in October 3, 2019 and it is now in at least 80 cities, which is why so many are seeing it now. - Google AdSense Link Units Going Away
Google announced that the link unit ad type is being retired. I think the link unit were first introduced in 2007, AdSense itself was launched in 2003. Link ads display a list of topics that are relevant to the content of your page. They are being retired on March 10, 2021. - Very Green Google Outdoor Chairs
Here is a photo I found posted on Instagram recently of chairs outside of the GooglePlex, the main Google headquarters in California. These outdoor chairs are so neatly lined up in a nice green color
Other Great Search Forum Threads:
- More ways to š§ listen to #SearchOfftheRecord š Due to popular demand, the @googlesearchc podcast show is now also available on ā¶ļø YouTube! Check out the new YouTube playlist → https://t.co/XrfoJ7StM, Google Search Central on Twitter
- The end result is the same. Our systems look to reward quality. If you are posting misinformation, you're not rewarded, because you don't rank well. If you try to artificially boost your relevance, Danny Sullivan on Twitter
Search Engine Land Stories:
- Google Web Stories ads now available via Display Network
- Even as more people shop online, searches for āavailable near meā up over 100% vs. last year
- Searching for Opportunity: How COOP Careers is Changing the Digital Marketing Hiring Landscape
- Google, YouTube add user controls to limit alcohol, gambling ads
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
- 6 Reporting Challenges Solved by Restructuring Your Google Analytics Account, Seer Interactive
- GA4: Go fourth and conquer, Accord Marketing
- Meet Google Analytics 4. The 5 things you need to know about the…, Towards Data Science
Industry & Business
- 20 years of Year in Search, Google Blog
- From interviewing to starting at Google, all virtually, Google Blog
- Timnit Gebru: Google's 'dehumanizing' memo paints me as an angry Black woman, VentureBeat
- Where nonprofit news and business intersect, Google Blog
Links & Content Marketing
- 14 Link Building Secrets from a Technical SEO Expert, WordStream
- 3 Creative Ways to Give Your Content Efforts a Boost — Best of Whiteboard Friday, Moz
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
- Future 'Apple Glass' hardware could extrude 3D AR & VR content from flat videos, Appleinsider
- Google appears to be testing a 'cardless' Discover Feed, 9to5Google
- New Google Assistant design brings light bar to non-Pixels, 9to5Google
SEO
- SaaS SEO: An Actionable Strategy for Growth, SEM Rush
- Short Term SEO: The Immediate Benefits of Optimizations, Conductor
- URLs Case Sensitive - How to Redirect Uppercase to Lowercase, Go Inflow
- Why SEO is the Most Undervalued Marketing Channel, Terakeet
- SEO Planning: Creating a Flexible SEO Roadmap, Searchmetrics
PPC
- Greater controls for sensitive ad topics in your Ad Settings, Google Blog
- Keywords, Match Types and Triangulation for AdWords, Koozai
Other Search
- Spread holiday cheer (even in 2020) with Google, Google Blog
- Where the Internet Lives: a podcast about data centers, Google Blog
