SEARCHENGINES
Google Does Another Bulk Mobile First Indexing Batch On May 22, 2023

I am hearing reports from SEOs that Google did another batch switchover from desktop-first indexing to mobile-first indexing for many sites. As you know, Google started the mobile-first indexing over six years ago but told us earlier this month that the process might be done in the coming months.
Update: John Mueller of Google has later confirmed this is indeed the last batch. He added to my story on Mastodon, “Last batch! Tiny handful of sites that really don’t work on mobile are left, they’ll just be crawled with desktop Googlebot going forward.”
I am told there are still some sites still on desktop-first indexing but we did have a massive push today of sites being moved from desktop-first indexing to mobile-first indexing today, May 22nd/May 21st. John later confirmed Google is done, this was the last batch.
Here is what the notification looks like in Google Search Console, if you want to login to see if your desktop-first indexing site was moved today:
Kenichi Suzuki noticed a batch being moved this morning and posted it on Twitter:
僕のSCでも最後まで残っていた MFI 未移行サイトが 5/22 付で「スマートフォン用 Googlebot」に切り替わってた👏
ようやく全サイトの移行を完了させたのかな?🔚 https://t.co/dq88xnXU8g pic.twitter.com/fg11srmshL— Kenichi Suzuki🇺🇦鈴木謙一 (@suzukik) May 22, 2023
Richard Hearne also noticed this and posted about it on Twitter this morning:
Looks like Google is moving the lingering Desktop-index websites over to Mobile First Indexing. This site has >10M pages, and *was* using a very atypical technique to vary traffic based on UA back when MFI was introed. Today it finally got migrated to MFI: pic.twitter.com/ht8tS4QRGY
— Richard Hearne (@RedCardinal) May 22, 2023
Pedro Dias as well noticed:
Is anyone else noticing a Google rolling a big push to MFI?
— Pedro Dias (@pedrodias) May 22, 2023
Pedro said some of the largest sites were moved over today.
Glenn Gabe also noticed this but with the May 21st date (different time zone?):
For example, the first screenshot is a site that just got moved on 5/21 to m-first indexing (finally). They have been waiting a very long time. But the second screenshot is a site STILL on desktop-first indexing. So Google isn’t done yet. Hard to believe, but true. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/kcbaIRUYP0
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) May 22, 2023
In November 2022, John said the last batch of mobile-indexing is coming soon. Before that, he said that the last batch would be in July 2022 but then in August said they were not done. As a reminder, Google started its mobile-first indexing initiative over six years ago, in November 2016. But we still have sites that are being migrated over from Google desktop-first indexing to mobile-first indexing at the end of 2022.
Yes, last November, Google removed any deadline they had for the mandatory mobile-first indexing switchover. As a reminder, in May 2021, we reported that mobile first indexing switch was not done yet and then in March we reported that Google was going to migrate over the last batch of sites to mobile first indexing soon. This was after moving the mobile-first indexing deadline from September 2020 to March 2021.
As I said above, earlier this month, John Mueller of Google said that the process might be done in the coming months. And this is the end of these batches.
John Mueller added that the reason those last sites will never move over is because they just don’t access Google’s mobile user agent. He wrote, “The problem-sites are those that don’t work with mobile user-agents at all, where it’s basically a decision about whether we can index anything or not. A desktop-formatted site (that can be seen on mobile) is not problematic for indexing.”
The problem-sites are those that don’t work with mobile user-agents at all, where it’s basically a decision about whether we can index anything or not. A desktop-formatted site (that can be seen on mobile) is not problematic for indexing.
— John Mueller (official) — #StaplerLife · #Is (@JohnMu) May 22, 2023
Forum discussion at Twitter.
SEARCHENGINES
Configuring Microsoft pubCenter

The other day, I reported that Microsoft was sending invites to relaunch and expand Microsoft pubCenter, Microsoft’s AdSense alternative. So I signed up and was given access the other day and I wanted to share some screenshots of the screens.
The first thing you get is an email saying “You’ve been selected from the waitlist.” You then click over from the email to sign up with their form. After you sign up, you immediately have access to the new pubCenter at next.pubcenter.microsoft.com as opposed to the old one at pubcenter.microsoft.com. So I guess this new version is named Microsoft pubCenter Next?
You are asked to set up your payment settings, which I did not do yet, but you can imagine that it asks for your bank details, tax ID and so forth. Here is a screenshot of the welcome screen:
I then entered my business information, which I did not screenshot for you.
After that, I went to set up my ad unit. I was asked to pick a layout, a template and an ad unit type (there is only one offered but “search” and “other” are coming soon). Then I was able to copy and paste the code snippet into my site.
Here are those screenshots:
What is interesting is that when you click on the reports within pubCenter next, I guess that is what they are calling it? You are taken to a notice that says “Reports aren’t available in the latest version of pubCenter yet. To access reports through the previous version, click Go to reports.”
You are able to control ad units, sites that show your ads, block ads, see reports and manage your account.
I am not sure when my pending status will be removed but below this paragraph I’ll embed an ad, when the ad shows, that means it is active:
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Note: This was pre-written and scheduled to be posted today, I am currently offline for Shavout.
SEARCHENGINES
Google Search Generative Experience Goes Live For Some Searchers

The all-new and exciting Google Search Generative Experience is now rolling out as a labs experiment to some early waitlisted users. I should have access by now, but I am offline, I wrote this yesterday before I was able to play with it (which is why this news is not in my video, which I recorded earlier yesterday).
Google announced yesterday, a bit after 11 am ET, that it has begun to invite waitlisted users to try to new Search Generative Experience. “Today, we’re starting to open up access to Search Labs, a new program to access early experiments from Google,” Google wrote. “If you’ve already signed up for the waitlist at labs.google.com/search, you’ll be notified by email when you can start testing Labs experiments, like SGE (Search Generative Experience),” Google added.
I spent most of the day refreshing to see if I could play with it before I go offline for the holiday, but I did not gain access. Google did tell me I would likely be offline by the time I get access. So I will play a lot with it on Monday and hopefully report on what I see. But I embedded a lot of videos and screenshots below from others.
Note at around 5 pm ET I gained access, so I scrambled to do some queries and posted a Twitter thread, I embedded those tweets below over here.
I keep refreshing to see when I will see it today, I am offline starting tonight, so eager to see it before i go offline for two days https://t.co/4QSi87Fp5W pic.twitter.com/lX6SzCXQIS
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
Here are lucky users who received access an hour or so after Google announced it opening up:
I received an email around noon ET saying “It’s your turn to try Search Labs”. Following the link took you to a page to turn these options on.
— Andrew (@spacerobot5) May 25, 2023
You can check to see if you have access by checking your email or going to labs.google.com/search, that is the screenshot above in my tweet.
Here are some screenshots and commentary for some who had early access:
From Andy Simpson – just look at all the clickable links:
My first SGE had to be local 😏 pic.twitter.com/aU9FNcByHf
— Andy Simpson 🇬🇧 (@ndyjsimpson) May 25, 2023
Some queries (long-tail / questions) it will autogenerate the SGE results. Shorter queries give you a button to generate. Example, “what is SEO?” vs. “SEO”. pic.twitter.com/cQGE30sX0C
— Andrew (@spacerobot5) May 25, 2023
— Andrew (@spacerobot5) May 25, 2023
buy a surfboard online pic.twitter.com/9IK4nG6PmB
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
Google SGE is out in Beta – You better watch out….. pic.twitter.com/KH7ZoM45TY
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
Who is Ron Desantis pic.twitter.com/Hc4uanKHkt
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
PIzza 10019 pic.twitter.com/XaocOXGfZ9
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
Not all local results link to Google.com
Plumber near me pic.twitter.com/vqtNLS3w7v
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
Reebok Sneakers pic.twitter.com/YaUYOAIZjW
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
Local results show links to Google Business Profiles on Google.com
What are the best bars in amsterdam pic.twitter.com/flzZ76T6Az
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
How can I solve a rubik’s’ cube? pic.twitter.com/FzGpk4o9ua
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
Here is when Google won’t show an AI-generated answer:
Not really showing up for News related stories or Politics and not available on Mobile search as of yet. pic.twitter.com/NE8lGouD4B
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
I would like to visit Isreal with my family where should we stay and where should we visit? pic.twitter.com/7yZvws9AS5
— Brendan OConnell (@BrendanOConnel) May 25, 2023
wow… pic.twitter.com/ymLKy1Klr6
— Andy Simpson 🇬🇧 (@ndyjsimpson) May 25, 2023
If I do get access before I go offline, I’ll post some quick screenshots on Twitter @rustybrick and try to embed them below this. It is the best I can do with having to turn off everything for the holiday.
Google said, “Once you’re in, the new generative AI powered Search experience will help you take some of the work out of searching, so you can understand a topic faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights and get things done more easily. So instead of asking a series of questions and piecing together that information yourself, Search now can do some of that heavy lifting for you.”
To see my deep-dive on the Google Search Generative Experience announcement, read over here.
My Really Quick Review
Then at about 5pm ET I gained access and I really don’t have time, so I did a Twitter thread which I am embedding here. I will say that I am very impressed with the clickability of the results, I do think it will drive clicks to publishers:
Here we go, let’s get started pic.twitter.com/nEvvKn9xos
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
When does my holiday start, it is not giving me the time but I do like how you can expand the answers and look at all those snackable organic/free links you can click on pic.twitter.com/yjhNsXwCdY
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
I should get a haircut but I honestly don’t pay more than $20-25 in my area, not sure what this is about. I do like the 5 pack (no longer a 3 paack) pic.twitter.com/YWVWbrOEs0
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
Here are some “how to” queries pic.twitter.com/WXAZYtATNY
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
More health/medical queries where Google is happy to give generative AI answers pic.twitter.com/iKz5AwZSjW
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
Let’s do some sports questions pic.twitter.com/yr6Du9laUO
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
Asking for marriage’ish advice 🙂 pic.twitter.com/654BmHOkLO
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
Politics and news – not much here pic.twitter.com/tvudZjynbg
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
More financial queries, super limited in generative AI pic.twitter.com/eWjYLoLbFe
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
More mobile pic.twitter.com/mLQ3Zw8OzU
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
Here are real estate results and the second part shows that Google still shows featured snippets:
Going offline soon, but I found featured snippet still do show up. pic.twitter.com/d4xro2bHFl
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
People also ask also…
Trying to bring up some recent stories I wrote… pic.twitter.com/Y4lxDsKozH
— Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) May 25, 2023
Happy futuristic searching folks!
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Note: This was pre-written and scheduled to be posted today, I am currently offline for Shavout.
SEARCHENGINES
Google Marketing Live AI Ads, Google Search Ranking Update, Topic Authority Ranking System & More

This week, we had the big Google Marketing Live event where Google showcased more of how ads will work on the new Google Search Generative Experience. Google launched the new Search Generative Experience to some searchers last minute (so this is not in my video). Google also showed us how AI would help advertisers build ads. Google Merchant Center is getting a revamp with Google Merchant Center Next. Google also launched Google Product Studio, PMax AI features, and much more. We also had an unconfirmed Google search ranking update on May 22 and May 23rd. Google spoke about an old ranking system named topic authority ranking. Google did its last batch for mobile-first indexing after six and a half years. Google had a bug with video content between May 4th and May 17th, resulting in a possible drop in traffic from Google Search. Google job search also had a weird indexing bug for a few days this week. Google is testing a new interactive “suggestions for your search.” Google added an edit code button to the rich results test. Google now supports site names for subdomains on mobile. There is this weird crawl error issue with AMP URLs in Search Console. Google replaced the trusted store badge with a top-quality store badge. Google is testing 3D / AR images on desktop search. Google can also show both the 3D and 360 labels for those products on mobile search. Google is testing placing the services button first in the local maps results. Google Business Profiles is testing a carousel for business images. I have screenshots of the new Microsoft pubCenter Next. Google Bard now supports images in the answer. Bing Chat doubled its character limit. Bing Search is the default search service for Open AI’s ChatGPT. And programming note, I am offline today; this and all my other stuff on Friday were pre-written, pre-recorded, and scheduled to go live. 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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Note: This was pre-written and scheduled to be posted today, I am currently offline for Shavout.
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