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July 2022 Google Product Reviews Update Kicking In Friday Afternoon

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2022

Google On Product Images For Web Snippets

On July 27th Google said it began to roll out the July 2022 Google Product Reviews update. But we didn’t see it impact the Google search results until a couple of days later on Friday afternoon, July 29th.

What is interesting is that most of the tracking tools are still not really picking up on the Google Product Reviews update. But we did start to see chatter where SEOs are drilling into specific sites and noticing big ranking changes.

So while it took a couple of days to start to kick in, it is now being noticed by the SEO industry.

SEO Chatter

Currently, there is not a lot of chatter in the forums but we are seeing chatter on Twitter from over the weekend. The chatter that is out there, shows the changes are indeed significant, but currently there is just not a lot of chatter.

One of the first to post about the fluctuations being noticed that I found was Vlad Rappoport who is on PST time, he posted on Twitter and said “Beginning to see noticeable volatility as of this morning, probably due to Google’s PRU. Also seeing some review sites lose their rich snippet stars they previously earned back with the most recent core update or earlier.”

Yes, you can lose rich results after a core update or product reviews update.

Glenn Gabe has been posting what he has been seeing throughout the weekend:

Here are some screenshots of visibility changes *just starting* to show for sites impacted. I’m sure the tools will show much more visibility swings starting tomorrow. Again, GSC and GA show much more of the impact. pic.twitter.com/BnbU1jBEOh

— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) July 30, 2022

And here are some exs of surges based on the July PRU. The last screenshot is a super-interesting one that I’m digging into heavily. It’s a massive drop, but I’m not sure that’s correct… Wouldn’t shock me to see a change there as the update continues to roll out (via a tremor). pic.twitter.com/4isWpVZQS3

— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) July 31, 2022

The ongoing WebmasterWorld thread and Black Hat World have a bit of chatter but not much yet:

Traffic is soaring again today…highly unusual for a Friday. It coincides with a recovery of most of the top3 terms lost last week. A closer look shows relative weakness in USA and UK traffic since July 21st. But Canada and Australia seem to be much stronger than I have seen in months…Germany also.

It’s only during these surges that I get any inquiries at all. Getting traffic hammered for the entire week and then surging for a day or two simply doesn’t cut it. Sales are drastically down compared to 2021. That is also the mild recession at play, but it’s mostly Google. You can adjust pricing downward during a recession…but if you have no traffic and no inquiries then it’s just impossible.

Following my post above, all rankings gone this morning. Still nothing in search console, still looking normal as site:xxxxxx but absolutely nothing in the SERPS

I noticed a huge drop in my traffic, around 80 -90% of my traffic was gone. Maybe it’s because of the update? I thought that I was penalized or something.

I also lost ~50% of my traffic in the last few days, hopefully it will recover after the update gets completed.

Google Tracking Tools

The tools are not showing huge changes, despite SEOs starting to notice the changes this past Friday. This is what the Google tracking tools are showing this morning and throughout the weekend:

Advanced Web Rankings:

Algoroo:

SERPwoo:

SERPstat:

So are any of you seeing anything big?

Forum discussion at Twitter & WebmasterWorld & Black Hat World.

Source: www.seroundtable.com

Related Topics:Afternoon Friday Google July Kicking product Reviews update

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Daily Search Forum Recap: September 13, 2024

Published

58 mins ago

September 14, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

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:

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.

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Daily Search Forum Recap: September 12, 2024

Published

1 day ago

September 13, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

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:

Feedback:

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Daily Search Forum Recap: September 11, 2024

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

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 is testing a new ad label header, it makes the ads stick out more. Google Search ranking volatility is still incredibly heated, even over a week after the core update finished. Google is sending out verification notices to Local Service Ads advertisers. Bing is testing a local pack with review source icons. Google AdSense is expanding auto ads to more languages. Google Search has a new video property for ineligible regions.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Google Search Ranking Volatility Still Heated A Week After Core Update

I sound like a broken record, but the Google Search ranking volatility is still incredibly heated and has not let down, even over a week after the Google August 2024 core update was completed on September 3rd.

Google Tests New Ad Label / Design That Makes Ads Stand Out

Google is testing a new ad label and interface that really make the ads way more noticeable in the Google Search results. The ad label still is a black sponsored label, but Google is testing it on a tall gray background, with subtitles like “promoted products” and “promoted results.”

Google Emails Advertisers On Local Services Ads Verification Requirements

In March, Google announced a new verification process for its Local Service Ads program. Well, now, Google has started to email advertisers that need to take the steps to verify their advertising accounts.

Bing Local Pack Tests Review Source Icons Instead Of Review Stars

Microsoft is testing adding the source of the reviews in the Bing Search local pack, instead of showing review stars. So if the Bing Search local pack is showing reviews from Yelp, it would show the Yelp logo, and if it is showing them from Facebook, it would show the Facebook logo.

Google Expands AdSense Auto Ads To French, Spanish, and Japanese

Google is expanding AdSense’s Auto ads to support French, Spanish, and Japanese languages. Previously, Auto ads were worked for English and German languages only.

Google Search Supports Ineligible Regions Property For Videos

Google Search now supports specifying where (which regions) a video is not allowed to be viewed in its video structured data and video SEO documentation. A new ineligibleRegion property was added to the Google video structured data documentation.

Google Chelsea Market Tile Backsplash

At the Google office in New York City, the Chelsea Market location, they have this kitchen area that has the old Google logo, with the location, Chelsea Market, tiled into the wall.