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 Search Console now lets you add your shipping and return details in the interface. Google confirmed ads can show below featured snippets as part of “dynamic ad placement.” Bing is testing a voting feature in search. Google is maybe testing auto-playing video thumbnails. Thumbtack is adding booking links to your Google Business Profiles without you knowing. I also posted my SEO video recap today, so check it out.
Google Confirmed Ads Below Featured Snippet As Part Of Dynamic Ad Placement
It is not news that Google now mixes in ads within organic results, but I have to say it still feels super icky to me that Google does this. Ginny Marvin, the Google Ads Liaison, confirmed that search ads can appear directly below organic featured snippets, as part of Google’s “ongoing evolution of dynamic ad placement on search.”
New: Google Search Console Let’s You Add Your Shipping & Return Information
Google has added a method in Search Console settings to add your shipping and return information. This should make it easier for some merchants to specify their shipping and return details to Google Search, so that information can be shown in Google Search.
Remove Thumbtack Book Links In Google Business Profiles
There are new reports that a booking/appointment system run by Thumbtack, a local search service, is automatically adding its booking links and service to Google Business Profiles. Well, you can opt out, if you don’t want it. But I am sure most businesses will have no clue this was added to their local listings in Google Search and Google Maps.
Bing Search Tests Voting On Search Results
Bing is testing a voting feature in the Bing Search results. You can vote up or vote down specific search results in the search results page. It even shows you the percentage of votes for those who voted it up versus voted it down.
This week, guess what, we had more volatility over the weekend and also a blip in the middle of the week. Google also had another indexing bug that lasted only about an hour. Google Search Console had a bug with new owner notifications. Google Search Console now lets you enter your shipping…
Google Search Tests Autoplaying Video Thumbnails In Results?
Google may be testing auto-playing the video thumbnails it has within its search results page. I am not sure if this is some sort of browser bug or something else, but Google may auto-play the video thumbnail without sound in the search results.
Prabhakar Raghavan With Japan’s Minister Taro Kono
Here is a photo of Google’s Senior Vice President, Prabhakar Raghavan, meeting with Taro Kono, the Japanese Minister for Digital Transformation, a few weeks ago.
Analytics
Industry & Business
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
Google celebrates 10 years of Android expanding to auto, TV and more, Google Blog
4 updates Google announced at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked, Google Blog
All of the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 rumors and leaks so far, The Verge
Apple seeks ‘killer app’ for its $3,500 Vision Pro headset, Financial Times (Sub)
Apple Vision Pro Launches in UK, Canada, France, Germany, and Australia, MacRumors
Google Gemini can now do more without Assistant’s help, SamMobile
Google Resets Its Ambitions for AR Glasses to Make up Lost Ground, Business Insider
How Apple Intelligence will change how you use Siri on your iPhone, TechCrunch
SEO
131: Bias in SEO, Overconfident SEO Case Studies, Google’s SERP Struggles w/Sarah Presch, Evolving SEO
A Brief Meeting With Google After The Apocalypse, Brandon Saltalamacchia
How EquipmentShare Doubled Organic Traffic with SEO, Foundation Inc
How SEOs Use AI: Boosting Efficiency and Productivity in 2024, BruceClay
Insights from “Back to Basics for RAG w/ Jo Bergum” for SEO Today, Ethan Lazuk
Removing “Compare” from title tags, Search Pilot
Rendering JavaScript for Google Search, Search Off the Record
What is Search Intent in SEO?: A Comprehensive Guide, Go Fish Digital
PPC
Search Features
Other Search
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