SEARCHENGINES
Google Product Reviews Update Causing Wild Volatility & Swings
Well, this last February 2023 product reviews update has been pretty volatile, and we have seen some significant ranking changes and the chatter within the SEO community has been pretty wild. This product reviews update seems to be much more widespread than previous product review updates and some SEOs think something is off with this update.
Yes, this update was expected to be felt more widely since it targeted more languages than just English. It expanded to Spanish, German, French, Italian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Russian, Dutch, Portuguese, and Polish. But I have seen complaints from sites not in any of these languages getting hit hard at the time Google pushed this update – yes, it can be unrelated.
Plus, I am seeing sites with little review-like content also being hit. Maybe Google released another update at this time, unrelated to the product reviews update as well and didn’t talk about it? I don’t know.
Google Tracking Tools
Let’s start this time with what the tracking tool are showing. Look at the swings since February 21, you saw a big one the day after, then on Thursday and then something maybe even bigger on Saturday. This is almost across all tools.
So you can see, the automated tools are picking up on these wild swings.
SEO Chatter
But the chatter within the SEO community tell more of the story. A story of a product reviews update that we have not seen before. Larger volatility, wider impacts, impacts that almost feel more core update-like.
As I was writing this up on Sunday morning (yes, I know I posted this Monday but I held it for Monday so some of you can have a more restful weekend), Glenn Gabe also was tweeting what I was seeing as well. I like the reassurance, and he said on Twitter, “the PRU off & will be corrected via a tremor or did G dial things up?” “Google has explained in the past that the PRU can have more site-level impact if it believes most of the content is reviews-based, but can be more granular if it’s not a majority. But I see some sites heavily impact outside of reviews,” he added.
Google has explained in the past that the PRU can have more site-level impact if it believes most of the content is reviews-based, but can be more granular if it’s not a majority. But I’m seeing some sites heavily impact outside of reviews. More info: https://t.co/YmKuYIE5fm pic.twitter.com/3RalZ8bVBz
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) February 26, 2023
Reading through some of the comments on my original story and the WebmasterWorld forums, here are some I want to highlight:
Not happy with Google product review update. My website lost almost 50% of traffic after this update.
I am seeing that only the big stores are showing the stars in the search results, and very few of the small stores.
I have several stores with the same review system, and only one of them shows the reviews in the search results, why? We don’t know.
Big movements this Sunday. One client for who I’ve been de-optimizing content and reducing content silo structures has done a whole day’s worth of traffic by 9:30 am this morning. Looks like another update is possibly in the mix as well.
Another day, another #1 keyword lost — to a site that doesn’t even offer that product.
After a decent Saturday, a huge drop in USA traffic on Sunday. USA is down 40% from an average Sunday. CA also -22% and AU -17%. So…a couple of decent days after weeks of tepid traffic. And this is while my rank / visibility is the highest it’s been since 2021.
Yayyyyyy more drops in traffic *dramatically rolls eyes*
WTH is going on?
Global site Wednesday traffic 48.7%.
Today UK time nothing until 02.00, then until 11.59, traffic is completely normal at 60.7% … since 12.00 dead, it completely switched off.
G’s ad receipts must be going through the roof again.
But really, it’s annoying. Today’s traffic is the worse I’ve experienced. Its dead town despite rankings are the ‘same’.
There is so much more and something feels ‘off’ with this update but I am not sure why.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
SEARCHENGINES
Google AI Overview Ads, New Link Format, AI Organized Search Results & Plus More
Google announced a bunch of new AI Search features including search ads finally rolling out to AI Overviews, the new link format rolling out, AI-organized search results, new AI shopping features, Google Lens and more.
Of course, Google announced this when I am offline, but at least I got a heads up a few hours prior. So I was able to write it up for Search Engine Land and here and schedule it.
Ads In Google AI Overviews
Google Search and Shopping Ads are now rolling out to AI Overviews. These ads will have the “Sponsored” label on them, like other search ads. Google said these ads now available for mobile users in the US after several months of testing.
“People have been fidning the ads within AI Overviews helpful because they can quickly connect with relevant businesses, products and services to take the next step at the exact moment they need them,” Google wrote.
Here is a screenshot of the ads in the AI Overviews, which look like they are under the AI Overviews:
Google is also rolling out Shopping Ads through Google Lens. Shopping ads will appear above and alongside visual search results by the end of the year.
Google wrote, “For example, let’s say you’re shopping at a mall and a backpack displayed in a store’s window catches your eye. You want to learn more — and check if there’s other colors available — but you’re in a hurry. Simply tap the Lens icon in the search bar, snap a photo or upload one from your gallery to learn more about the product. Lens will bring together our advanced AI models and Google’s Shopping Graph — which has information on more than 45 billion products — to identify the exact item in your photo.”
Links Updated In AI Overviews
As Google showed us in August, Google has a new link format for AI Overviews that are now rolling out “globally to all countries where AI Overviews are available,” Google told us.
Google also told us, “with AI Overviews, we’re seeing that people have been visiting a greater diversity of websites for help with more complex questions.” “And when people click from search result pages with AI Overviews, these clicks are higher quality for websites — meaning users are more likely to spend more time on the sites they visit,” Google added.
They said they have seen a positive reception during testing, saying, “we’ve seen that this improved experience has driven an increase in traffic to supporting websites compared to the previous design, and people are finding it easier to visit sites that interest them.”
Here is the illustration Google posted:
Here are the screenshots of this test we posted a few weeks ago:
AI-Organized Search Results
Also previously announced, Google is now rolling out AI-organized search results.
Google wrote, “we’re rolling out search results pages organized with AI in the U.S. — beginning with recipes and meal inspiration on mobile. Y ou’ll now see a full-page experience, with relevant results organized just for you. You can easily explore content and perspectives from across the web including articles, videos, forums and more — all in one place.”
Here is what it looks like:
Plus, as I mentioned at Search Engine Land, there is also more on Google Lens and Shopping:
- New multimodal Lens features. Google is launching the ability to search with video in Lens and ask complex questions about moving images (available through Search Labs) and voice input in Lens, so you can ask questions out loud while snapping a photo (or recording video) to more easily search what you see.
- Shop easily with Lens. Google is now showing more helpful product information when using Lens for shopping, including a product’s price across retailers, reviews, or where to buy.
SEARCHENGINES
Google Ranking Volatility Record, Forbes Advisor Slapped, Bing Generative Search Experience & More
We had more of the same Google ranking volatility but this time, we broke a record of the longest period of heated search ranking volatility ever. Google may have slapped Forbes Advisor with some sort of penalty. Bing generative search experience is now rolling out. I posted the big Google October 2024 webmaster report. Google Search Console released sticky performance filters. Google Search Console recommendations is now fully rolled out but more people see it. Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, was interviewed again, this time by Aledya Solis. Google warned about using JavaScript generated product markup. Google spoke again about noindex versus canonical tags. Google said don’t use a generic coming soon page for new pages. Bing Search can get dates and times wrong for search snippets. Microsoft Advertising has a new ad console experience, and new diagnostics and performance snapshot. Bing is testing replacing the ad label with a sponsored label. Google Shopping is testing a new updated interface with expandable refinements. Google Local Service Ads has a new bidding option for target cost per lead. BingBot celebrated its 14th birthday. Google didn’t celebrate its 26th birthday for some reason. I am offline today and yesterday for Rosh Hashanah, so this video and post was pre-recorded and scheduled. The Google AI Overview news did not make it into the video, as I recorded it before I was given a heads-up on this news. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.
Sponsor: BruceClay one of the founding fathers of the SEO space, doing search marketing optimization since 1996. Bruce Clay is big into SEO training, check out seotraining.com to learn more and check them out at bruceclay.com. Also, check out their new product, Prewriter.ai – this tool empowers writers to write better and more efficiently, so check it out.
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Search Topics of Discussion:
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SEARCHENGINES
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 3, 2024
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.
We have record-breaking Google search ranking volatility going into October. Microsoft Advertising streamlined its ad interface and added some new features. Google is testing search instead for sections. Google said SEOs can help shape policies and decisions around AI. Google Ads is testing swipable images to map. Bing celebrated the 14th birthday of BingBot. And I am offline, this content was pre-written and scheduled.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
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Record-Breaking Google Search Ranking Volatility Continues Into October
Surprise, surprise, the heated Google Search ranking volatility has continued into October. This is the longest ongoing period of heated Google Search ranking volatility we had ever recorded according to data provided… -
Microsoft Advertising New Ad Experience, Diagnostics & Performance Snapshot
Microsoft announced a new streamlined experience below Copilot’s organic response and two new capabilities, diagnostics and performance snapshot. -
Google Testing Search Instead For Section
Google is testing replacing the “People also search for” box with a “Search instead for” box. I think this is just a title change because the functionality looks equivalent to the previous version. -
Google: SEOs Can Help Shape Client Policies & Decisions On AI Bots
Google’s John Mueller said that SEOs are in a great place because they understand how crawlers work, how the controls work, and they can help their clients decide on their AI policies and decisions as they navigate this new era of AI bots. -
Google Ads With Images & Map Carousel
Google is testing an ad format for Google Ads where you swipe over a carousel of images, eventually leading to a map. When you click on the map, it takes you to the Google Business Profile in Google Maps. -
Happy 14th Birthday BingBot
Fabrice Canel from Microsoft posted on X this week that BingBot turned 14 years old. Yea, 14 years of crawling the web. Fabrice wrote, “Happy 14th Birthday, BingBot! You’ve been crawling… -
Google Atlanta Poolside View
Here is a photo, I guess of a hotel across the street from the Google offices in Atlanta. I think… So if you want to relax and go for a night swim, while checking your rankings, this might be a good place to do that. -
Programming Note: Rosh Hashanah 5785 – Happy & Healthy Jewish New Year
This is a programming note that Thursday and Wednesday are Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and I will be offline the next two days. I will be offline on Thursday and Wednesday, October 3rd and October 4th.
Other Great Search Threads:
Search Engine Land Stories:
Other Great Search Stories:
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, 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.
Note: This was pre-written and scheduled to be posted today, I am currently offline for Rosh Hashanah.
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