Daily Search Forum Recap: February 16, 2024

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 says again, what Google wants to rank well in search is what users like, so do what users like. Google’s right to be forgotten take down notices no longer share specific details. Here is how some SEOs use the link data within Google Search Console. Google virtual try-on has model height. Google is testing left aligned logos in the knowledge panel. Plus I posted the weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Search Ranking Update, Recipe Blogs Drop, Google Hits Reviews & More SEO, PPC and Local
  
  
  This week, we covered another unconfirmed Google search ranking update that hit on February 14th and 15th. Google has some bugs or changes that really hurt recipe bloggers big time right before the Super Bowl. Google’s featured snippets disappeared for a couple of hours…
• 
  Google: Google Search Wants What Your Website Users Want
  
  
  Google’s Danny Sullivan said it again, when it comes to what you do on your website, Google Search wants what your users want. Sullivan wrote, “Virtually everything someone asks about what Google wants, the touchstone is “Is this what your reader / audience wants?” Because that is what Google wants. “
• 
  How SEOs Use Google Search Console Link Data
  
  
  How do you use the link data within Google Search Console? That is what John Mueller of Google asked earlier this month, and he got a nice list of uses for the link data within the Search Console.
• 
  Google Removed Details From Right To Be Forgotten EU Takedown Notices
  
  
  Google has updated its right to be forgotten EU takedown notices and details to not show the specific URLs and to stop notifying publishers of these requests. This is a big change from how these initially worked back in 2014.
• 
  Google Search Virtual Try-On Models Now Displays Model Height
  
  
  In June, Google introduced virtual try-on models to some clothing








• 
  Google Tests Left Aligned Logo In Knowledge Panel
  
  
  Google seems to be testing aligning the logo to the left in some knowledge panels within the search results. Typically the logo would show up on the right top corner, but now Google is testing the logo at the left top corner.





• 
  Google Colored Latte Pattern
  
  
  Here is a latte made at the Google office, it has the Google colors and a tree pattern. I recently found this on Instagram but it is actually from over six years ago.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Also, I’m seeing a new SGE test with more links in the SGE answer. We have seen tests like this in the past, but it just showed up this AM for me. The dashed links say, “More about {topic…}” when you hover over them or click them., Glenn Gabe on X
• Good thing we are working for our users 🙂 As long as they are happy and can tell the difference…, Mikhail Parakhin on X
• Impacted the HCU? There seems to be a bit of confusion about if the helpful content update can impact Discover visibility. YES, IT CAN. Google even included that in their documentation about the HCU (see below). And here’s a good example… Site flatlined, Glenn Gabe on X
• Launching our new series: How Search Works! Join @methode from Google’s Search team as he demystifies the world of Google Search. Subscribe on YouTube to never miss an episode! → https://t.co/mKiDLczoOS #GoogleSear, Google Search Central on X
• Microsoft Bing might be putting a special spotlight on software and apps in their SERPs: a potentially new element is displaying buttons for download or install., Frank Sandtmann on Mastodon
• Tip: use unique and descriptive HTML title tag, and relevant META description that summarizes your main content, and HTML5 semantic elements as main to help detect your webpage primary content: This maximizes the c, Fabrice Canel on X
• Welcome back, today we’re going to wrap up what we’ve covered so far this week ahead of strengthened user consent policy enforcement starting in March., AdsLiaison on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Mobile & Voice

SEO

PPC

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.