We have been tracking the Google core update and seeing more surges and changes with those hit by the September helpful content update. I ran a survey asking how SEOs were impacted so far by the August 2024 core update, and I shared these results this morning. Google may now use your OG title for your title links in the search results. Google updates its video SEO documentation. Google also updated its organization markup documentation. Google said they generatively do not try variations of your URLs. Google said it does not count words or links on your pages. Google said bad actor traffic does not hurt your SEO. I covered how AWS blocked S3 from Googlebot and how that impacted by image traffic. Google Ads announced new shopping reports, trends, and new ad features. Google has tag diagnostics and a new consent management setup. Google Ada accidentally released an internal tools button. Google is merging booking on Google Business Profiles with Google Local Service Ads. Google Local Service Ads review links are expiring and being replaced by Google Business Profile review links. Google Business Profiles appear to be delayed. Google is testing expandable map embeds in the search results. Google Search is testing from your notifications. Google is testing a new default favicon set. Google shopping carousels are testing “more like this” buttons. And Yelp sued Google, it is getting spicy. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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Search Topics of Discussion:

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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.

I posted the poll results for the Google August 2024 core update, most are down but not all. Google Shopping is testing a carousel for “more like this.” Google Ads has a “change bid strategy” popup. Google Store rating reviews for popular product videos are now being tested. Google Ads has a “here are some in the area” interface. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Google August 2024 Core Update Impact Poll Results
  
  
  Earlier this week, I posted polls across numerous sites, asking SEOs how they were impacted by the last Google August 2024 core update – knowing the update is not done rolling out yet. Overall, most said their rankings and traffic from Google Search are down but honestly, it is a pretty even distribution of responses.
• 
  Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google August Core Update Data, SEO, Google Ads Features, Yelp Sues Google & More
  
  
  
  
  We have been tracking the Google core update and seeing more surges and changes with those hit by the September helpful content update. I ran a survey asking how SEOs were impacted so far by the August 2024 core update…




• 
  Google Ads Change Bid Strategy Popup Dialog
  
  
  Some advertisers see Google Ads show this request dialog popup asking them to change their bid strategies. This shows in the Google Ads advertiser console, which asks the advertiser to change their bid strategy from one option to another.
• 
  Google Shopping Carousel More Like This Button
  
  
  Google Search is showing the shopping results but now shows “more like this” buttons under the products it shows for some carousel groupings. When you click on that “more like this” button, Google will dynamically load more products like it beneath the product you clicked on.




• 
  Here Are Some In The Area Google Ads
  
  
  Google has this ad format, I don’t think it is new, but it is titled “Here are some in the area.” These look like a version of Local Service Ads, but they look different.
• 
  Google Store Rating Videos Reviews Of Popular Products
  
  
  Google is now showing video reviews in the reviews of popular products section in the Google Store ratings landing area on Google Search. Got all that?
• 
  Window Cleaners At Google Brazil Office
  
  
  Here is a photo of a window cleaner hanging from the outside of the Google office in Brazil, taking a selfie as he and his coworker clean the windows.

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Industry & Business

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.

Yelp sued Google, the search marketing industry found it funny. Google has a new tag diagnostic and consent management setup for Google Ads. Google says it does not count words or links on a page. Google is unifying booking on Google Business Profiles and Google Local Service Ads. Google is testing from your notifications.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• 
  Yelp Sues Google Over Unfair Advantage In Local Search
  
  
  Yelp has officially filed a lawsuit against Google for allegedly using its monopolistic powers to give Google an unfair advantage in local search and local search ads. “For years, Google has leveraged its monopoly in general search to pad its own bottom line at the expense of what’s best for consumers, innovation, and fair competition,” Yelp’s General Counsel, Aaron Schur said.
• 
  Google: We Don’t Count Words Or Links On Your Blog Posts
  
  
  We know Google has told us for many years that word count is not a thing, Google doubled down on it last year. Google’s John Mueller reiterated that over the weekend saying not just words on a page but also links on a page are not counted by Google.
• 
  Tag Diagnostics & New Consent Management Setup In Google
  
  
  Google announced what it is calling “strengthen your first-party data strategy with new tools.” These new tools are Tag Diagnostics and a new consent management setup within Google Ads, Google Analytics, and Tag Manager.
• 
  Google Merging Booking On Google Business Profiles & Local Services Ads
  
  
  Google emailed some local businesses saying it will begin “unifying” booking on Google Business Profiles (GBP) and Local Services Ads (LSA). Google said this will create a “more seamless experience for your clients and their customers.”
• 
  Google Search Tests From Your Notifications Box
  
  
  Google Search seems to be testing a new search box that is titled “from your notifications.” I assume this works for Android devices only, where Google Search can detect the Android notifications, and show them when the query may be relevant to the notification?
• 
  Google Bangkok 3D Signage with Googlers You May Know
  
  
  Here is a photo from the Google Bangkok office, when Google held a Search Central Live event. You can see Daniel Waisberg, Cherry Prommawin and Gary Illyes in the photo standing next to this Google 3D signage.

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

Analytics

Industry & Business

• Google to spend $400 million to expand Nevada data centers, The Nevada Independent
• Brave lays off 27 employees, TechCrunch
• Googlers Say Leaders Use AI to Dodge Tough Questions at TGIF Meetings, Business Insider
• OpenAI reportedly in talks to close a new funding round at $100B+ valuation, TechCrunch
• Shopify welcomes new CTO Mikhail Parakhin, Shopify
• AI Doomers Had Their Big Moment, The Atlantic
• Google to invest another $400m in Nevada data centers, Data Center Dynamics
• Google weighs large data centre in Vietnam, source says, in nation’s first by US big tech, Reuters

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.