SEARCHENGINES
Google Search Hidden Gems Ranking Algorithm Rolling Out
Google announced the hidden gems ranking system or update has been rolling out. This hidden gems update helps promote content deep within forum posts, social media, and blog posts that Google Search thinks provide authentic content based on personal insights and experiences.
It’s Been Live For Months
In fact, Google told me this started to roll out as part of core updates a few months ago and this is not part of the helpful content update. This is weird because Google told me less than a month ago that it was not live (maybe it was not live as part of the helpful content update?). What Danny Sullivan wrote back then was “This work is still continuing and is not part of this particular update. We’ll share more about our work in this area in the future.” So while we all interpreted that it was not live yet, it didn’t necessarily mean that.
“This work is still continuing and is not part of this particular update. We’ll share more about our work in this area in the future.”https://t.co/kYZeciPgM5
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) October 11, 2023
Not Part Of The Helpful Content Update
Let me be clear, despite what we originally were told and thought, this is not part of the helpful content update. This is its own ranking system, its own ranking algorithm, to find this type of content that Google considers “hidden gems.” Google told me they did not incorporate this update within the helpful content update because “this goal worked better as improvements with our core ranking.”
Google initially told us the hidden gems aspect would be part of a future helpful content update. That is not the case, Google’s Brad Kellett, Senior Director on Google Search product and engineering, told me. This is its own algorithm, its own ranking system.
More On Hidden Gems
This aims at finding these hidden gems within forums, blog posts, social media and other places. It is not explicitly classifying something as a “gem,” but instead the idea is that this type of content can be perceived as especially helpful and in the past, might have been harder to appear in results.
We initially thought this was already live but Google told us it was not live yet.
Google initially wrote, “Helpful information can often live in unexpected or hard-to-find places: a comment in a forum thread, a post on a little-known blog, or an article with unique expertise on a topic.” So this seems to be related to that.
But again, this is part of the core updates not helpful content update.
Google told us this is a series of ranking improvements that have already rolled out, and are continuing to roll out. Google made it clear that this is not just one update but a series of ongoing updates.
Additional Insights From Google
It’s really that our core ranking systems are designed to show more of this type of content if it seems helpful. It’s not that they are somehow classified as “gems” but rather that this type of content sometimes hasn’t surfaced as well in results in the past, so bringing it to…
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) November 15, 2023
Several months ago. Don’t know the exact date offhand, but it’s been months and we’ve been improving and ramping it up since then to fully now.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) November 15, 2023
I did ask about content vs authors and Danny answered it the same way to Lily Ray that he did to me:
That’s not about figuring out authors. What that’s referencing is that if we’re showing content from social authors, we’re surfacing more information about the author from the profile. Sort of like what we do with schema as a display thing.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) November 15, 2023
And more about the core system versus helpful content system:
We said it wasn’t part of an update to the helpful content system, because it wasn’t part of that system. Instead, it was being tested as part of our core ranking systems. Since it’s fully launched now, that’s what we announced today — that it’s live and part of core ranking.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) November 15, 2023
Forum discussion at X.
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.
Make sure to subscribe to our video feed or subscribe directly on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favorite podcast player to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube version of the feed. For the original iTunes version, click here
Search Topics of Discussion:
Please do subscribe on YouTube or subscribe via iTunes or on your favorite RSS reader. Don’t forget to comment below with the right answer and good luck!
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:
-
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.
SEARCHENGINES
Programming Note: Rosh Hashanah 5785
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.
There will be stories posted each day, all of them were pre-written before the holiday and scheduled to be posted. I will be completely offline, so any social media posts or anything coming from this site, or my social channels are all scheduled beforehand.
I apologize for any spammy comments that slip through while should note while I am offline, I will do my best to catch up late Saturday night after nightfall.
If there are any Google algorithm updates or big news that I miss, I will catch up on them in the coming days.
Thank you all for reading, commenting, and sharing every day – I appreciate it.
Feel free to check out the archives or catch up with the weekly videos or just browse the search pics. Oh, and if you have nothing to do, feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel.
I wanted to wish all my Jewish readers a happy, healthy, successful, and sweet new year! I wish all my readers a happy, healthy, and successful remainder of the year.
There will be a lot of days this month when I am offline for Jewish holidays – so brace yourself.
-
WORDPRESS3 days ago
WordPress biz Automattic details WP Engine deal demands • The Register
-
SEARCHENGINES5 days ago
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 30, 2024
-
SEARCHENGINES6 days ago
Google Volatility With Gains & Losses, Updated Web Spam Policies, Cache Gone & More Search News
-
SEO7 days ago
6 Things You Can Do to Compete With Big Sites
-
SEARCHENGINES4 days ago
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 1, 2024
-
SEO6 days ago
An In-Depth Guide For Businesses
-
AFFILIATE MARKETING6 days ago
This Minimalist Lamp Lets You Pick From 16 Million+ Lighting Colors for Maximum Productivity
-
AFFILIATE MARKETING6 days ago
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Praises Nuclear Energy to Power AI