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.

I posted the weekly SEO video recap today, check it out and make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. Also, the description Google uses in the snippet is still customized based on the query. Google’s top stories carousels show a fact check label. Google said keyword rich domains won’t help you rank. Google’s local pack has some examples without any call to actions. Google said removing AMP won’t generally result in lower rankings. Have a great and safe weekend.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Link Spam Update Complete, Google Changes Titles In Search Results, Search Console Data Bug & Google Ads
  Google, two weeks longer than expected, has finally finished rolling out the link spam update. Google confirmed it made changes to the titles it generates in search…
• Google Search Snippet Descriptions Still Can Be Customized Based On Queries
  Google told us the other day that the title change for the search result snippets no longer uses queries to customize the title of the search result snippets. But the search result descriptions, the snippets, still are customized based on user query.
• Google Top Stories Tests Fact Check Labels
  Google has been labeling news stories with fact check labels for many years now. But I do not believe I’ve seen them in the top stories carousel and section in the web search results. Suhailaerath shared a screenshot with me on Twitter of Google testing the fact check label in web search on top stories.
• Google: Keyword Rich Domains For Your Website Won’t Help You Rank
  Google’s John Mueller said on Twitter that it is not worth buying multiple keyword-rich domains for one website for SEO reasons. This is similar messaging Google has posted over the years but sometimes we see keyword rich domains ranking well and sometimes we don’t.
• Google Local Pack Without Any Call To Action Buttons
  If you search for [restaurants near me] in Google Search mobile or desktop, you will see the local three pack and map but you won’t see buttons to call the restaurant or directions or a way to order online. You will not see any call to action buttons, or at least I don’t and many others do not.
• Google: Generally Removing AMP Page Shouldn’t Result In Search Ranking Decline
  Google’s John Mueller was asked on Twitter if a site would remove an AMP page, would that result in the ranking of that specific page to drop in the search results. John Mueller said “probably it [the search ranking position] will remain the same” as it was when it was an AMP page.
• Waze Swag: Shirt, Cup, Seat Saver, Notebook, Fleece & More
  Here are some photos of swag from Google’s Waze team sent to Hillel Fuld in Israel. I don’t think I know anyone who has more swag than Hillel. But this time he shared a collection from Google’s Waze.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Google Paying Apple 15b to be default search, WebmasterWorld
• I’d try to determine what is real, and deduce the rest. Does it rank? (easy to test) How does it rank? (is it a random image? top listing?) Is volume real? (guess). Scrapers do weird stuff, you’ve, John Mueller on Twitter
• If the manual action is over 6 years old, I’m pretty sure it would have expired by now. If it’s expired, it has no effect. I wouldn’t worry about it if it’s that far back, we almost certainly have, John Mueller on Twitter
• If you have questions about how to remove web results from Google Search, this new help document centralizes tools and options for site owners and individuals, Google SearchLiaison on Twitter
• We filter most of that before Search Console, and more afterwards, but sometimes some of the abuse makes it through. If you’re seeing a rise in these kinds of things, I can chat wi, John Mueller on Twitter
• Your site looks like it’s pretty new — sometimes it takes a while for things to settle down, and for our systems — and the users on the web — to recognize your site as something unique, compelling, and of high, John Mueller on Twitter
• Business Moved Before GMB Verification (Postcard is Being Sent to Old Location), Local Search Forum
• Chrome extension that lets you analyze your competitors’ GMB Post strategy, Local Search Forum

Feedback:

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