Google Updates Some SERPs With Translated Results
Google added documentation for what appears to be a new feature called Translated Results. Translated Results is a feature that will automatically translate and rank web pages that are in a different language than the language of the user and then publish the title and snippet in the translated language.
This change does not affect all languages and is currently rolled out in only six languages.
Google has previously ranked content in other languages but Google did not translate the title and snippet. The previous behavior was to add a link to the translated content.
A new Google Search Central web page documents what might be a new feature that enables Google to show search results to users regardless of language.
The goal of the new feature is to fill in “content gaps” for users where there might not be enough content in the users native language.
The way this system works is if there is a lack of adequate web pages to rank in the users native language then Google will select the best web page in a different language and display that in the search results.
Google automatically translates the title tag and meta description of the ranked web page from the foreign language to the language of the user.
When the user clicks through from the search engine results page (SERP) to the web page Google will automatically translate the entire web page into the users native language.
Google’s new Search Central help page describes the feature as something that will be good for publishers because it will expand the audience for their content.
The documentation states:
“A translated result is a Google Search feature that enables users to view results from other languages in their language, and can help publishers reach a larger audience.”
All embedded images and JavaScript are supposed to work in the translated web page.
According to Google:
“If the user clicks the translated title link, all further user interaction with the page is through Google Translate, which will automatically translate any links followed.
By expanding the result, users can view the original title link and snippet, and access the entire page in the original language.”
Previous Translation of Search Results
Translated Results is different from how Google used to handle content in a different language.
Google’s usual method is to add a link to translated content in the search results. But it didn’t actually translate the title and snippet shown in the search result.
This change in Google’s ranking is reflected in the updated developer page for the Notranslate Meta Tag.
Google Notranslate Meta Tag
Google recognizes a notranslate meta tag that will prevent Google from translating a web page.
Google’s Developer page for the notranslate meta tag used to read like this on November 10, 2021:
“When Google recognizes that the contents of a page aren’t in the language that the user is likely to want to read, Google often provides a link to a translation in the search results.”
On November 17, 2021 Google updated the last part of that sentence in the documentation to now say that Google will translate the title tag and snippet:
“Google may provide a translated title link and snippet in search results.”
Google also added new wording to reflect a change in how translated search results are handled:
“If the user clicks the translated title link, all further user interaction with the page is through Google Translate, which will automatically translate any links followed.”
Translated SERPs Are Limited
The change to how Google is surfacing content in multiple languages is currently limited to the following languages:
- Indonesian
- Hindi
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Tamil
- Telugu
Google’s documentation says that these are the languages that this feature is “currently” available, which can be construed to imply that the door is open to expanding the feature to other languages.
“Currently, translated results are available in the following languages:”
Opt In and Out of Translated SERPs
The announcement states that all websites are automatically opted in to this new feature. Publishers wishing to opt out should consider using the notranslate directive.
Directions for Ad Networks
Google also published a new help page with documentation for enabling ad networks to work with this update.
The documentation is: Enabling your ad network to work with translation-related Google Search features
Citations
Read Google’s New Documentation for Translated SERPs:
Newly Updated Notranslate Documentation
New Documentation: All meta tags that Google understands
Old Documentation: Archive of previous Notranslate Documentation
Documentation for Enabling Translation for Ad Networks
Enabling your ad network to work with translation-related Google Search features
Google Warns About Misuse of Its Indexing API
Google has updated its Indexing API documentation with a clear warning about spam detection and the possible consequences of misuse.
Warning Against API Misuse The new message in the guide says:
“All submissions through the Indexing API are checked for spam. Any misuse, like using multiple accounts or going over the usage limits, could lead to access being taken away.”
This warning is aimed at people trying to abuse the system by exceeding the API’s limits or breaking Google’s rules.
What Is the Indexing API? The Indexing API allows websites to tell Google when job posting or livestream video pages are added or removed. It helps websites with fast-changing content get their pages crawled and indexed quickly.
But it seems some users have been trying to abuse this by using multiple accounts to get more access.
Impact of the Update Google is now closely watching how people use the Indexing API. If someone breaks the rules, they might lose access to the tool, which could make it harder for them to keep their search results updated for time-sensitive content.
How To Stay Compliant To use the Indexing API properly, follow these rules:
- Don’t go over the usage limits, and if you need more, ask Google instead of using multiple accounts.
- Use the API only for job postings or livestream videos, and make sure your data is correct.
- Follow all of Google’s API guidelines and spam policies.
- Use sitemaps along with the API, not as a replacement.
Remember, the Indexing API isn’t a shortcut to faster indexing. Follow the rules to keep your access.
This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update
Here’s what happened in the world of Google and search engines this week:
1. Google’s June 2024 Spam Update
Google finished rolling out its June 2024 spam update over a period of seven days. This update aims to reduce spammy content in search results.
2. Changes to Google Search Interface
Google has removed the continuous scroll feature for search results. Instead, it’s back to the old system of pages.
3. New Features and Tests
- Link Cards: Google is testing link cards at the top of AI-generated overviews.
- Health Overviews: There are more AI-generated health overviews showing up in search results.
- Local Panels: Google is testing AI overviews in local information panels.
4. Search Rankings and Quality
- Improving Rankings: Google said it can improve its search ranking system but will only do so on a large scale.
- Measuring Quality: Google’s Elizabeth Tucker shared how they measure search quality.
5. Advice for Content Creators
- Brand Names in Reviews: Google advises not to avoid mentioning brand names in review content.
- Fixing 404 Pages: Google explained when it’s important to fix 404 error pages.
6. New Search Features in Google Chrome
Google Chrome for mobile devices has added several new search features to enhance user experience.
7. New Tests and Features in Google Search
- Credit Card Widget: Google is testing a new widget for credit card information in search results.
- Sliding Search Results: When making a new search query, the results might slide to the right.
8. Bing’s New Feature
Bing is now using AI to write “People Also Ask” questions in search results.
9. Local Search Ranking Factors
Menu items and popular times might be factors that influence local search rankings on Google.
10. Google Ads Updates
- Query Matching and Brand Controls: Google Ads updated its query matching and brand controls, and advertisers are happy with these changes.
- Lead Credits: Google will automate lead credits for Local Service Ads. Google says this is a good change, but some advertisers are worried.
- tROAS Insights Box: Google Ads is testing a new insights box for tROAS (Target Return on Ad Spend) in Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.
- WordPress Tag Code: There is a new conversion code for Google Ads on WordPress sites.
These updates highlight how Google and other search engines are continuously evolving to improve user experience and provide better advertising tools.
AI
Exploring the Evolution of Language Translation: A Comparative Analysis of AI Chatbots and Google Translate
According to an article on PCMag, while Google Translate makes translating sentences into over 100 languages easy, regular users acknowledge that there’s still room for improvement.
In theory, large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT are expected to bring about a new era in language translation. These models consume vast amounts of text-based training data and real-time feedback from users worldwide, enabling them to quickly learn to generate coherent, human-like sentences in a wide range of languages.
However, despite the anticipation that ChatGPT would revolutionize translation, previous experiences have shown that such expectations are often inaccurate, posing challenges for translation accuracy. To put these claims to the test, PCMag conducted a blind test, asking fluent speakers of eight non-English languages to evaluate the translation results from various AI services.
The test compared ChatGPT (both the free and paid versions) to Google Translate, as well as to other competing chatbots such as Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini. The evaluation involved comparing the translation quality for two test paragraphs across different languages, including Polish, French, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog, and Amharic.
In the first test conducted in June 2023, participants consistently favored AI chatbots over Google Translate. ChatGPT, Google Bard (now Gemini), and Microsoft Bing outperformed Google Translate, with ChatGPT receiving the highest praise. ChatGPT demonstrated superior performance in converting colloquialisms, while Google Translate often provided literal translations that lacked cultural nuance.
For instance, ChatGPT accurately translated colloquial expressions like “blow off steam,” whereas Google Translate produced more literal translations that failed to resonate across cultures. Participants appreciated ChatGPT’s ability to maintain consistent levels of formality and its consideration of gender options in translations.
The success of AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be attributed to reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF), which allows these models to learn from human preferences and produce culturally appropriate translations, particularly for non-native speakers. However, it’s essential to note that while AI chatbots outperformed Google Translate, they still had limitations and occasional inaccuracies.
In a subsequent test, PCMag evaluated different versions of ChatGPT, including the free and paid versions, as well as language-specific AI agents from OpenAI’s GPTStore. The paid version of ChatGPT, known as ChatGPT Plus, consistently delivered the best translations across various languages. However, Google Translate also showed improvement, performing surprisingly well compared to previous tests.
Overall, while ChatGPT Plus emerged as the preferred choice for translation, Google Translate demonstrated notable improvement, challenging the notion that AI chatbots are always superior to traditional translation tools.
Source: https://www.pcmag.com/articles/google-translate-vs-chatgpt-which-is-the-best-language-translator
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