SEARCHENGINES
Daily Search Forum Recap: January 7, 2022
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:
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, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.
SEARCHENGINES
Most SEOs Won’t Recommend Using AI To Write Content

A new Twitter poll shows that most SEOs do not yet feel comfortable recommending using AI to write client content. The poll asked, “Would you recommend using an AI writer to your clients?” Most SEOs said no.
Mordy Oberstein posted this poll on Twitter and there were over 600 votes. About 66% said no, they would not recommend an AI writer to their clients, the rest said yes, they would recommend an AI writer.
Here is the poll:
Would you recommend using an AI writer to your clients?
— Mordy Oberstein 🇺🇦 (@MordyOberstein) January 18, 2023
Do you think this poll is representative of the SEO industry?
Forum discussion at Twitter.
SEARCHENGINES
Google Layoffs, DOJ Sues Google, Search Console Content Ideas & Google Optimize Going Away, Yahoo Search Comeback

As I mentioned briefly last week, Google announced mass layoffs last week, and I discuss what I know so far about it. There are also reports that Google is pushing advertisers to use third-party resellers and not their internal staff. The DOJ sued Google again to break up its ad business. Microsoft announced its earnings, showing how Bing’s search ad growth continues to slow. Bing also may have had a search ranking algorithm update. Google Search Console content ideas beta feature may go away in March. Google Search Console Insights has an achievements section. Google confirmed a bug with some preferred languages in Google Search, and they blame mobile-first indexing. Google Ads had an outage on Monday morning that caused huge headaches. Google has no preferences between connected structured data and not connected structured data. Google will parse the image elements even when those elements are enclosed within other elements. Google published a new case study after 18 months, this one from Vimeo on video SEO. Google said generating tons of fake URLs on a site won’t cause SEO issues. Google Business Profiles now supports cars for sale inventory for US dealerships. Bing is testing infinite scroll. Google is testing two justifications in the local results. Google is also testing a new trusted store badge. Bing has a new menu for image search that uses a drop-down and adds explore and collect. Account-level negative keywords are now available on Google Ads. Google will sunset Google Optimize on September 30th. And it seems like Yahoo Search may be making a comeback to Search – that would be exciting. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
SPONSOR: This week’s video recap is sponsored by Duda, the Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own.
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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.
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