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 Ads posted its first feature announcement in over two months, it is on PMax updates. Bing Webmaster Tools fixed a notification bug. Google SGE renamed its AI overviews to AI Answer. Most SEOs have not filled in the Google March 2024 core update feedback form. A Google search for flag GIFs can lead to Nazi flags.
Google Ads Posts First New Feature Announcement In Two Months – PMax Updates
Google Ads has posted its first new features announcement in its help section in over two months. This was to announce several Performance Max campaigns features, which we will get into below. But like I reported earlier, Google has not posted anything in this section for two months prior to posting this new announcement.
Googling “Flag GIF” Leads To Nazi Flags In Google Search
If you search for [flag GIF] on Google, click on the “waiving” refinement, you are taken to images of Nazi flags. I waited a full week to report on this, a full week from when Google acknowledged the issue and it is still an issue.
Bing Webmaster Tools Notifications & Insights Bug Fixed
Fabrice Canel from Microsoft confirmed Microsoft has fixed a bug with Bing Webmaster Tools showing inaccurate and/or irrelevant notifications in the notifications and insights section. Fabrice wrote, “Happy to report that the fix has been implemented and the issue should now be resolved for your site and all sites once data is refreshed.”
Google SGE AI Overviews Has A New Title – AI Answer
Google is now labeling or using the title of its SGE, Search Generative Experience, “AI Answer.” This replaces the title “AI Overviews” and “Al overviews are experimental.” This change happened on Monday, I believe.
Most SEOs Did Not Send Feedback To Google On The March 2024 Core Update
Google opened up its feedback form after it announced the Google March 2024 core update was completed and it seems most SEOs did not send Google feedback. Why? Maybe because many don’t believe Google will use that feedback to help them? Maybe because SEOs don’t want to share specifics with Google?
Sundar Pichai 20 Year Google Anniversary
Google’s CEO, Sunday Pichai, on April 26, 2024, posted on Instagram that he is celebrating him 20 year anniversary of working at Google. He started on April 26, 2004 and is now running the place.
Well, moved to Munich, Germany., John Mueller on X
This Google Ads thing is becoming really expensive. Fee increase from 2% to 2.5% for Italy. Fee increase from 2% to 3% for Spain. Fee increase from 5% to 7% for Turkey., Thomas Eccel on X
Analytics
Industry & Business
Google takes lion’s share of UK ad market as publishers lose out, Press Gazette
Apple poaches AI experts from Google and builds a secret AI lab, QZ
Friends From the Old Neighborhood Turn Rivals in Big Tech’s A.I. Race, New York Times
Google Founders’ Hand-Picked CEO Nears Billionaire Status Too, Bloomberg
Google needs a more formalized way to kill products, 9to5Google
Local Memo: Rank Isn’t the Primary Decision Factor for Consumers in Many Industries, SOCi
San Francisco homeless people to receive $1,000 a month from Google, The San Francisco Standard
Google sued by US artists over AI image generator, Reuters
Meet the Woman Who Showed President Biden ChatGPT—and Helped Set the Course for AI, Wired
Microsoft and OpenAI sued yet again by Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News, Engadget
Microsoft Concern About Google’s Lead Drove Investment in OpenAI, Bloomberg
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
SEO
AI Is Poisoning Reddit to Promote Products and Game Google With ‘Parasite SEO’, 404 Media
How to combine SEO and CRO, Blue Array SEO
3 Steps to Get Ahead in an AI-First Search World, BrightEdge
Carving a Career in SEO — How NOT to Get Taken for a Ride, Moz
How Did Authority Bloggers Beat the Google Update?, Chris Garrett
SEO A/B testing: realizing the value of a good experimentation program, Search Pilot
SEO for Developers: 10 Best Practices to Know, Semrush
SGE: New data and the future of SEO and SERP…, STAT Search Analytics
User Search Journeys: Advantages and Use Cases for Agencies, seoClarity
What is bounce rate and how has it changed?, Wix SEO Hub
Why Google SEO Traffic is More Appealing Than Social Media, Adam Riemer
Yoast SEO 22.6 brings more enhancements, Yoast
What to do about Google’s Reddit habit?, SERP’s Up SEO Podcast
PPC
Search Features
Other Search
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