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.

Microsoft Bing was offline for a while today, taking down third-party sites like ChatGPT Search, DuckDuckGo and even its ad products. Google is testing special treatments for Reddit results in search. Google is testing from sources across the web without images. Google is testing replacing related search with people also search for. Google Ads has a referral program, not sure if that is new. Google updated its robots.txt parser code in GitHub.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Google Tests Special Reddit Search Result Snippet Interface?
  
  
  Google may be testing a special search result snippet interface for Reddit search results. In this test, Google seems to be showing the number of upvotes and the number of comments on the Reddit thread.
• 
  Bing Search Is Down; Takes Down DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, ChatGPT Search & More
  
  
  Bing Search is currently down and/or having massive latency issues. The Bing home page loads a gray dull background, the Bing search results mostly loads errors pages and if it loads search results, those results are sparse. Plus, Bing’s APIs are down, so Microsoft Copilot and other services are down, including partners like DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, ChatGPT Search are all down.
• 
  Google Search: Sources Across The Web Without Images
  
  
  The from sources across the web Google Search feature is testing showing results without image thumbnails. Google has reportedly been testing the imageless version since January of this year.
• 
  Google Tests Replacing Related Searches With People Also Search For?
  
  
  Google may be testing replacing the “related searches” box with the “people also search for” box. The two are functionally not that different, from what I can tell.
• 
  Google Ads Referral / Affiliate Program
  
  
  Did you know Google Ads has a referral or affiliate program. Where you can refer Google Ads a new advertiser and you will earn $250 in ad credits in Google Ads. I am not sure if this is new, but Anthony Higman thinks it might be new.
• 
  Google Robots.txt Parser Updated In GitHub
  
  
  Google has updated its open source robots.txt parser code on GitHub the other day. Gary Illyes from Google pushed the update yesterday morning to the repository there.
• 
  Ginny Marvin, Google’s Ads Liaison, With PPCers At Google Marketing Live
  
  
  Here is a photo from Google Marketing Live on Tuesday where you can see Google’s Ads Liaison, Ginny Marvin, with a number of well-respected paid search professionals, aka PPCers.

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Mobile & Voice

SEO

PPC

Search Features

Other Search

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.

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 Marketing Live was yesterday and we covered all of the search ad announcements including that ads are coming to AI Overviews. I am seeing a possible Google ranking update, unconfirmed of course. Google and Bing both recommend you upgrade to WordPress 6.5 because it supports native lastmod elements in the sitemap files. There is this weird surge in Google Search Console performance reports for product snippets. Bing is testing search tag filters. Apple Maps may mark a business closed due to missing an address and/or business hours.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Google Search Ranking Volatility Spike Around May 22
  
  
  After a few days of calm Google weather, we are now seeing a spike in volatility, fluctuations and SEO chatter around Google search ranking movement. It is somewhat early on but I am seeing both a spike in SEOs noticing ranking movement and many of the tools are showing a spike in volatility.
• 
  Google Ads In AI Overviews, AI Shopping Ads, Brand Profile Ads & More AI Ad Tools
  
  
  Google Marketing Live was yesterday, and the Google Ad team announced a ton of new AI formats, new ad tools, and changes to the Google Ads platform that are coming soon. The big items for me are ads in AI Overviews, new AI Shopping Ads, Brand Profile ads, and more AI tools to help you create your ads.
• 
  Unusual Surge In Google Search Console Product Snippets Search Performance
  
  
  Google Search Console may have another data bug, maybe, this time with product snippets. If you look at your Search Performance report, then filter by search appearance for product snippets, you will likely see a surge in impressions and clicks over the past few days.
• 
  Google & Bing Say Upgrade To WordPress 6.5 To Gain Lastmod Sitemap Support
  
  
  Google and Bing are recommending that those on WordPress to upgrade to version 6.5 because 6.5 now supports lastmod dates in the sitemap files natively. In fact, Fabrice Canel from Bing says this is a “game-changer.”
• 
  Bing Search Testing Tag Filters
  
  
  Microsoft is testing a way to filter your Bing Search results based on tags. The tag filter is showing up for some searchers via a tab that you can click on via the right side of the page that will expand and show you tag filter options.
• 
  Apple Maps Listing Permanently Closed Over Missing Business Hours & Address
  
  
  Did you know that Apple can mark a business listing within Appel Maps / Apple Business Connect, as permanently closed if that business listing is missing the business hours and business address and/or if the business hours and address do not match what is on the business’s website or other local listings (like on Yelp, Google Maps, etc)?
• 
  Google Golf Clubs
  
  
  Here is a photo from a Google event named “Grow with Google” where there are Google branded gold clubs in this backdrop. You can see them in the golf bag on the right of the photo.

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Mobile & Voice

SEO

PPC

Search Features

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.

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’s CEO, Sunda Pichai, spoke about AI Overviews killing the web, small publishers dying and not giving us Search Console data (well, kinda). The Google site reputation abuse policy also applies to Google Discover. Google AI Overview colors have nothing to do with the confidence of the answer. Google about source knowledge panels get graphical. Google also is rolling out a more graphical and richer search results interface. Google Marketing Live was this afternoon, more on that tomorrow… I am going to try publishing the newsletter earlier in the day (see how you like it).

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Google’s Sundar Pichai On AI Overviews Killing Web, Smaller Publishers & Search Console Data
  
  
  Nilay Patel, Editor-In-Chief of The Verge interviewed Sunday Pichai, CEO of Google, at Google I/O and the 40 minute interview released yesterday dug into a lot of the concerns we have been covering here. This includes how AI Overviews may kill the web, how smaller/indepdent publishers are dying and if we can get data in Search Console.
• 
  Google Rolling Out More Graphical & Richer Search Results
  
  
  Rajan Patel, the VP of Engineering at Google leading the Search experiences, wrote that Google is rolling out a more graphical results interface that go “beyond visual matches to include things like more links and facts from Knowledge Graph as well as AI Overviews.”




• 
  PSA: Site Reputation Abuse Policy Also Applies To Google Discover
  
  
  Just a PSA – the newish Google site reputation abuse policy not only applies to Google Search but also applies to Google Discover. Google updated the Discover content policies a while back to add a line that reads, “Publishers should be aware of the new site reputation abuse policy that becomes effective as of May 5, 2024.”




• 
  Google Adds Visuals To About Source Knowledge Panels
  
  
  December 2022, Google began showing “About this” site under some search result snippets, when the intent of the query was to learn more about that brand. It was a pretty sparse textual box that has more details about the source. Now, Google is testing showing this information in a more graphical user interface.





• 
  Google AI Overviews Colors Do Not Indicate Confidence Of Response
  
  
  Google’s John Mueller said the colors that Google selects for the AI Overviews has no indication of the confidence of the response. Back when SGE (old name for AI Overviews), Google told me the color had more to do with the journey but they were just fun.







• 
  Android Shrubbery Statue
  
  
  Here is an Android statue at the Google London office that is covered in shrubbery. This is a super green and plant-like Android figurine.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Both are important. As is cleaning up., John Mueller on X
• If you’re an SEO looking to analyze AI Overview results, check out my new Chrome extension! It lists cited resources, compares them with traditional search results, and dynamically updates as you scroll. Easily copy tables to a spread, Amin Foroutan on X
• The buzz is all about removing AI Overviews! Search trends (data by @similarweb @Lem4) are exploding with over 100 terms including “remove,” “cancel,” and “opt out.” #GoogleSearch #AIOverviews, Shay Harel on X
• Tune in to Google Marketing Live tomorrow, Tues, May 21 at 9AM PT to hear how you can put Google AI to work for your business. Set a reminder on YouTube, Prabhakar Raghavan on X
• Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t there no such thing as a home remedy for appendicitis? Google AI suggests mint leaves., Avram Piltch on X
• If there’s a specific outcome you’re interested in, I’d make it as consistent as possible in that regard. For this kind of thing, canonicalization primarily affects reporting, so your site overall wouldn’t rank differently., John Mueller on X
• Is your SEO tool showing AI Overviews yet?, Mark Traphagen on LinkedIn
• Links to AMP pages are fine – there’s no need to remove any social media posts that include them. The only thing I’d watch out for is that you redirect them should you choose to move to a responsive site architecture (like with any site revamp)., John Mueller on X
• You want to add 2 seconds latency to your web pages? That sounds like a terrible idea. How much are they paying you for doing that?, John Mueller on LinkedIn

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Mobile & Voice

SEO

PPC

Search Features

Other Search

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.