SEARCHENGINES
Daily Search Forum Recap: August 27, 2021

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:
Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, you can follow us on Facebook and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel or just contact us the old fashion way.
SEARCHENGINES
New Google Trusted Store Badge Test

Google is testing a new design for the trusted store badge in the paid shopping results. The Google Trusted Stores program to all U.S. merchants back in 2012, along with that came a badge in the search results to make those listings stand out.
FYI – here is how to qualify for this trusted store badge.
Brian Freiesleben spotted this new badge the other day and posted a screenshot on Twitter – here is that screenshot:
Curently, the badge looks more like this version from last year:
And the original one looked like this:
Brian said on Twitter, “Would love to see Google add this to organic products from trusted merchants as well, but not sure if that’s likely.”
Looks like Google is testing out a new badge for advertisers that are trusted merchants.
Would love to see Google add this to organic products from trusted merchants as well, but not sure if that’s likely 😉
Second screenshot is what appears after clicking the badge. pic.twitter.com/3lXIU9m04d
— Brian Freiesleben (@type_SEO) January 25, 2023
Forum discussion at Twitter.
SEARCHENGINES
Google Search Console Content Ideas Going Away March 28th

Last December, we caught Google testing an experimental feature named content ideas in Google Search Console. Well, yesterday, Google sent more invites to this feature but noted the feature is only available until March 28, 2023 and then it goes away.
Both Robin Dirksen on Twitter and Deepak Ness on Twitter shared screenshots of this feature but the new part is the March 28th date.
The email they received about this feature reads, “Note: This feature be available only until March 28, 2023, and only to select properties.” Then when you access the feature, there is a notice in the interface that says, “New! Get inspiration for new content (available until March 28).”
Here are those screenshots (click to enlarge):
We know this seems like the Question Hub feature and that Google Question Hub shut down this month. So maybe this content ideas feature is also shutting down but not until the end of March?
Here are more tweets with this:
Just received an email from Google Search Console about “Content ideas”
For me, it will be available till March 28 (2023) – what will happen after that is unknown (for now) pic.twitter.com/hjVtrStJXP
— Robin Dirksen (@robindirksen1) January 25, 2023
Here’s it: pic.twitter.com/thAvEgI95t
— DeepakNess (@DeepakNesss) January 25, 2023
Hmmm… This is interesting Introducing “Content ideas”: Get inspiration for new content from Google – has this been reported on yet @rustybrick ? pic.twitter.com/aUOt3sYoTJ
— @[email protected] (@ChuckPrice518) January 25, 2023
“content ideas” GSC feature (US based) company/website.@rustybrick reported it in December but looked to be exclusive to India/Pakistan.https://t.co/Pg0sQIEXAT pic.twitter.com/iGoQhfAzYe
— Nick LeRoy (@NickLeRoy) January 25, 2023
I do wonder if Google is only testing it until then and maybe will bring it to more users later or if Google is completely killing it off on March 28th?
SEARCHENGINES
Microsoft Bing Search Menu Drop Down With Explore & Collect

Microsoft Bing is testing a new search bar interface on image search (I believe) where the search vertical options, such as web, videos, news, etc, are now presented in a drop-down bar and Bing added an “explore” and “collect” option across the bar instead.
This was spotted first by Frank Sandtmann and posted on Mastodon but I am also able to replicate this in Bing Image search. Here is a screenshot that you can click on and enlarge:
This was also spotted by Khushal Bherwani:
🆕 Bing with Explore and Image filters in Image search. pic.twitter.com/ttjenRpfLW
— Khushal Bherwani (@b4k_khushal) January 23, 2023
Frank wrote, “Today I spotted #Bing displaying a new navigation menu on their image #SERP. Now the usual elements can be accessed after clicking on a dropdown. In addition, two more elements are displayed: “Explore” and “Collect”.”
Do you prefer this interface? I get what Microsoft is trying to do here but to me, I might want to jump back to web results or maybe video results sooner than use explore or collect?
Forum discussion at Mastodon.
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