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Well over a week after the Google August 2024 core update finished, we still have a ton of volatility. Apple Visual Intelligence was demoed at the Apple event this week, it is neat. I covered a bunch of statements on Navboost over the years from Googlers and others. Google replaced the cache link with a link to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. Google added a spam warning to the Indexing API documentation. A new report shows that about half of the links in the AI Overviews are from the top traditional search results. Google is showing AI Overviews for commercial shopping queries again. Google is testing a new interface for AI Overviews. Google said Exif data is not used for rankings. Google Search now supports a new ineligible region property. Bing may use ProductGroup markup in the future. Bing also treats 308 redirects like 301 redirects. Google Ads is sunsetting eCPC in March 2025. Google Ads is testing a new ad label design. Google Ads introduced confidential matching for privacy reasons. Google is emailing LSA advertisers about verification requirements. There has been an increase in complaints from advertisers about fraud in the Google Ads Search Partner Network. Google Business Profiles emails about broken appointment links. Google Maps shows business photos in reviews. Bing is testing Facebook and Yelp icons in the reviews in the local pack. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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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 is launching confidential matching, a new privacy-centric ad feature. Google is testing a new AI Overview interface. Advertisers are complaining about fraud on the Search partner network. Google is testing for reference boxes in search. Google is testing search results without breadcrumbs. Plus, I posted my weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Ranking Volatility, Apple Intelligence, Navboost, Ads, Bing & Local
  
  
  Well over a week after the Google August 2024 core update finished, we still have a ton of volatility. Apple Visual Intelligence was demoed at the Apple event this week…
• 
  Google Ads Introduces Confidential Matching
  
  
  Google Ads announced what it calls “confidential matching.” Confidential matching is a “way to securely connect your first-party data for our measurement and audience solutions,” Google said. And it will be used on Google Ads in numerous areas.




• 
  Google Tests AI Overview With Small “More” Link
  
  
  Google is testing removing the large “show more” button and replacing it with a small “more” link at the bottom of the AI Overview snippet. Also, the AI Overview header and Gemini logo at the top left is being removed, or at least being tested being removed.
• 
  Complaints On Google Ads Search Partners Network Fraud
  
  
  I am seeing a spike in complaints from the PPC community around there being an increase in fraudulent traffic from the Google Ads Search Partner network. Many have seen an unusual spike in fraud from that network in the past week, say some advertisers.
• 
  Google Testing For Reference Search Box
  
  
  Google is testing a new search box named “for reference” which is placed under a set of search results and contains more news articles related to the query. This seems similar to some other features Google has tested over the years.
• 
  Google Tests Search Result Snippets Without Breadcrumbs
  
  
  Google is testing showing search results snippets without the breadcrumbs in the URL section of the snippet. Google has tested removing URLs and breadcrumbs completely before, but now Google is testing removing just the breadcrumb and leaving the URL.
• 
  Hummus Party At Google Dublin
  
  
  Here is some sort of event where there are a bunch of Googlers eating hummus, and other dips, with pita bread, at the Google office in Dublin, Ireland.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Local Pack in Desktop Search Results – Google is now testing showing close up of business location on the map as main image. PS – Quote tweet is also like this one but last image being the map close up and that test was in mo, Gagan Ghotra on X
• Every now and then, we get questions about whether “valid HTML” is a ranking factor, or a requirement for Google Search. Jens has done regular analysis of the validity of the top websites’ homepages, and the results are sobering., John Mueller on LinkedIn
• here is o1, a series of our most capable and aligned models yet: https://t.co/yzZGNN8HvD o1 is still flawed, still limited, and it still seems more impressive on first use than it does after you spend more time with it., Sam Altman on X
• Local businesses that I’ve looked at have been mostly safe from all the core updates in the last year – except this last one. I’m hearing multiple reports on Facebook, Reddit, and our forum of local businesses being hit by the Augu, Joy Hawkins on X
• On the one hand, I don’t make the search results, on the other hand, I use both of those sites intensively for programming-related queries, I wouldn’t blindly see one of them as being good and the other as being bad., John Mueller on LinkedIn
• Set tROAS recommendation is now also increasing your daily budget if you apply the recommendation! Pay attention, Here all you need, Thomas Eccel on X
• These Are The Spam Practices Going On GMB And Google Maps By Lead Gen And Local SEO Agencies in 2024 In India Also where Google takes extra steps to make sure guard Business Profile’s integrity, Ayman Ali on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

Industry & Business

• Data Protection Commission launches inquiry into Google AI model, Data Protection Commission
• Former Google Execs Help DOJ’s Case, AdWeek
• Google announces new funding and AI training for small businesses, Google Blog
• Google antitrust trial reveals the ‘succeed at all costs’ culture behind the pursuit of ad market domination, Digiday
• Google sued for using trademarked Gemini name for AI service, The Register
• OpenAI COO Says ChatGPT Passed 11 Million Paying Subscribers, The Information
• OpenAI, Anthropic and Google leaders meet with White House to talk AI, CNBC
• The California Google deal could leave out news startups and the smallest publishers, Nieman Journalism Lab
• What DOJ and EU Antitrust Cases Mean for Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon and X, Bloomberg

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Mobile & Voice

SEO

PPC

Search Features

Other Search

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.

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 covered some old statements from former Googlers on Navboost from Hacker News. Google replaced the cache link with links to the Wayback Machine, but they are deep inside. Google says it doesn’t use Exif data for ranking. Google updated its Indexing API docs warning not to abuse the API or else. Google has had this get definitions box for a while.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Ex-Googler Forum Statements On Google Navboost
  
  
  In my interview with Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liaison, I tried to get more details on Navboost and how it plays a roll in core updates and general rankings. I was pretty much shot down (I am a good loser). That being said, here are some old posts from ex-Googlers (from what I can tell) on the topic of Navboost from the Hacker News forums.
• 
  Google Indexing API: Submissions Go Undergo Rigorous Spam Detection
  
  
  Google has updated its Indexing API documentation to add a few things but the largest update talks about how “all submissions through the Indexing API undergo rigorous spam detection.” Plus, it says that attempts to abuse the Indexing API “may result in access being revoked.”
• 
  Google Replaced Cache Link With Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine
  
  
  After Google has angered tons of SEOs and searchers over removing the cache link from the search result snippets, Google decided several months later to add links to Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. This will give you snapshots in time of what that webpage looked like, but it is not powered by Google.
• 
  Google’s Martin Splitt: We Do Not Use Exif Data For Ranking
  
  
  Over the years Google has been wishy-washy on if they use or do not use Exif (Exchangeable image file format) data for rankings. In 2014, Google’s Matt Cutts said Google can parse the data and reserves the right to use it. But in 2019, Gary Illyes from Google said it was not used for rankings. Now in 2024, Martin Splitt of Google said it is not used for rankings.
• 
  Google: Get Definitions & Translations As You Search
  
  
  Google is now notifying some searchers of a translation feature within the search results. It says, “Get definitions and translations as you search. Select words to get definitions & translations without leaving the page.”
• 
  Google Silence Phone Boxes
  
  
  We saw the Google silence box before, but it was one box. Now here are photos of many of them, also in the Google Paris, France office.

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Industry & Business

• Are digital marketing conferences worth it?, SERP’s Up SEO Podcast
• Google dominates online ads, says antitrust trial witness, but publishers are feeling ‘stuck’, The Verge
• Google says it’s made a quantum computing breakthrough that reduces errors, MIT Technology Review
• Google’s AI model faces European Union scrutiny from privacy watchdog, ABC News
• Google’s ‘my way or the highway’ approach takes center stage in antitrust trial, Digiday
• The DOJ vs. Google, Day Two: Tales From The Underbelly Of Ad Tech, AdExchanger
• Google’s AI model faces EU scrutiny from privacy watchdog, AP News

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Mobile & Voice

SEO

PPC

Search Features

Other Search

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or just contact us the old fashion way.