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 Ads has a bug that won’t let you add exact match keywords right now. Google added a new Shops section to the mobile search results. Google AdSense reenabled the related search experiments feature after 8 months. Google says you can ignore “toxic” links. Google said keyword density still not a thing in 2022. And I posted the weekly video recap – it was a slow week – finally.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Search News Buzz Video Recap: Bing’s IndexNow For WordPress, Google SEO Topics, Links In 2022 & More
  
  It was a slow start to 2022 but I guess that is welcomed by most of you – I have my January 2022 Google webmaster report live, if you took off at all…
• Google Adds Shops Section To Search Results
  
  Google has recently added a new section to the mobile search results named “Shops.” This was first spotted by Khushal Bherwani on Twitter and we got confirmation from Google that this was indeed new at Search Engine Land yesterday.




• Trying To Adds Exact Match Keywords To Google Ads? Google Says Nope, We’re Adding Broad Match Keywords
  
  Drew Cannon posted on Twitter a screenshot of him adding new exact match keywords to his Google Ads campaigns and then Google informing him that no, despite wanting exact match – we’re going to be going with broad match. There is a not that says “broad match keywords are on and keywords will be saved as broad match.”




• Google AdSense Resumes Related Search Experiments After 8 Months
  
  Google has resumed the AdSense related search Custom search style experiments after pausing it back 8-months ago in May 2021. Google said “we’d like to inform you that as of January 6, 2022, we’ve re-enabled your ability to create Related search Custom search style experiments in your AdSense account.”
• Google: Keyword Density Still Not An SEO Search Ranking Factor
  
  So it is now 2022 and some folks are asking if keyword density is an SEO Google search ranking factor. The answer is still no, according to John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google.
• Google: Ignore Toxic Links, Some Tools Make The Wrong Assumptions
  
  Google’s John Mueller said it again, when it comes to “toxic links” you can ignore them. If you are losing sleep at night over them and it makes you sleep better, you can disavow the links – but you don’t have to – John Mueller said just ignore them and move on.





• Googler Dancing On The Google NYC Rooftop
  
  Here is a video I made into a GIF of a Google product manager dancing on a rooftop at the Google New York City office the other day. He said on Instagram “

Other Great Search Threads:

• We used to have a Sofa in the office. We loved it, Gary in particular. Then the facility team took it away. 1/?, Martin Splitt on Twitter
• You’d think ⁦@GoogleMyBiz⁩ would use the app update as an opportunity to rename the app Google Business Profiles – guess next time. https://t.co/4RMfa4AyU0, Barry Schwartz on Twitter
• Are standalone Gmail campaigns officially dead? Haven’t served an impression since December 11th. Help article (below) directs to Discovery campaigns now. #ppcchat https://t.co/ObuYMGhzqN, Greg on Twitter
• ​​Share content from the YouTube mobile app to YouTube Kids, Google YouTube for Families Community
• I don’t think that does anything for SEO, but it’s also not a problem. It’s a common HTML pattern: linking to different parts of the same page, for example from a table of contents on to, John Mueller on Twitter
• Quick Personal Update: Graduating from Google Analytics It seems January 2022 is seeing a lot of people take on new roles. That includes me. After 7+ years as a Google Analytics Advocate, I have a new role (which I’ll tell you, Louis Gray on Twitter
• Reminder: Google AdWords API will Sunset April 2022, Switch to Ads API, WebmasterWorld
• The new Google Partners program is giving out $600 (vs $100) free ad credit to new account. https://t.co/asxcrxXBmm #ppcchat https://t.co/tZobJbUc65, Duane Brown on Twitter

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Mobile & Voice

SEO

PPC

Other Search

Feedback:

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