SEO 101 Episode 496 – March 2025 Core Update, a Little Known Mistake to Avoid, and AI Errors 19 Mar 6:35 AM (19 days ago)
In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte discuss Google’s March 2025 core update and its focus on quality content. They explain a mistake that can cause search engine result click-through rates to plummet, and they address the challenges of AI accuracy in search engines and its implications for digital content creators.
Show Notes:
- Google Search Paperclip Icon
- Testing a paperclip icon beside the search bar.
- Clicking copies a goo.gl link for easy sharing.
- Uncertainty about its usefulness and impact on personalization.
- Firefox Data Policy Changes
- Removed promise to never sell personal data; reassured users not to panic.
- New terms grant Mozilla a license to use uploaded information.
- Clarified that Mozilla does not own user content.
- Google Search Volume
- Google now processes over 5 trillion searches per year.
- Historical search volume growth from 1 billion in 1999 to 5 trillion in 2025.
- Approximately 158,548 searches per second.
- Google March 2025 Core Update
- First core update of 2025 rolling out; expected to take 2 weeks.
- Emphasis on producing quality content.
- Impact of Date Published/Updated on CTR
- Displaying both dates can decrease organic CTR and traffic.
- Recommended to display only the most relevant date.
- Schema markup can include both dates without issues.
- Personalization in Search Results
- Noted personalized sitelinks for a multilingual client’s website.
- Observed search results reflecting individual browsing history.
- Google Business Profile Updates
- Major changes to Google Business Profiles may lead to suspension.
- Minor updates are advised until trust is built.
- Google Testing AI Mode
- AI Mode available in Google Labs for selected users.
- Aimed at addressing concerns about content scraping and encouraging site visits.
- Uncertain impact on click-through rates (CTR) from AI Overviews.
- AI Search Engine Accuracy Issues
- Study found AI chatbots often provide incorrect answers and fabricated citations.
- Over 60% of queries returned inaccurate results.
- Concerns over confidence in wrong answers and bypassing crawler protocols.
- Inaccurate attribution affecting publishers’ visibility and traffic.
Sources:
Google Search Paperclip Icon – Google tests a paperclip icon for easy sharing of search results via a goo.gl link.
Firefox Data Policy Changes – Firefox removes its promise to never sell personal data, prompting user concerns and backlash.
Google Search Volume – Google processes over 5 trillion searches annually, showcasing significant growth over the years.
Google March 2025 Core Update – The first core update of 2025 focuses on quality content and is expected to roll out over two weeks.
Impact of Date Published/Updated on CTR – Displaying both publication and updated dates can negatively affect organic click-through rates; best practices recommended.
Google Business Profile Updates – Caution against making major updates to Google Business Profiles to avoid suspension and build trust.
Google Testing AI Mode – Google introduces AI Mode in Search Labs, aiming to enhance user interaction while addressing publisher concerns.
AI Search Engine Accuracy Issues – A study reveals AI chatbots often provide incorrect answers and fabricate citations, raising concerns about information integrity.
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SEO 101 Episode 495 – Google Search Decline: AI Preferences, User Trust, and Ranking Volatility 19 Mar 5:55 AM (19 days ago)
In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dun and Scott Van Achte explore the recent VOX Media survey revealing declining trust in Google Search, with a shift toward AI tools. They discuss Google’s updates for personal info removal, local SEO strategies, and AI ranking volatility, emphasizing the need for diverse content to improve visibility in evolving search landscapes. Tune in to learn how to adapt your SEO strategy for better visibility!
Show Notes:
Non-SEO News
- Chegg sues Google over AI Overviews affecting traffic and revenue.
- Claims AI Overviews block traffic to Chegg.
- Argues Google engages in:
- Reciprocal dealing: Forces Chegg to provide proprietary content for search inclusion.
- Monopoly maintenance: Unfairly uses monopoly power to oust competitors.
- Unjust enrichment: Gains financially from Chegg’s content without compensation.
SEO News
- Survey Findings (VOX Media)
- 42% believe Google Search is less useful.
- 61% of Gen Z and 53% of Millennials prefer AI tools over traditional search.
- 76% see over 25% Google Shopping results as sponsored; only 14% find them helpful.
- 55% rely on community for information over search engines.
- 52% use AI chatbots or platforms like TikTok instead of Google.
- 66% report declining information quality.
- Shift towards AI chatbots and niche communities noted as legacy tech loses trust.
Google Updates
- Simplified removal of personal info from search results via updated “Results About You” tool.
- Redesigned hub for alerts and takedown requests.
- Proactive search for personal info.
- Simplified removal request process.
- Option to refresh outdated search results.
Local SEO News
- GBP suspension appeal wait time: 3-4 weeks.
- Use location/service pages as URLs in Google Business Profile for better ranking.
AI News
- Ranking Volatility
- 70% of AI Overview rankings changed within 2-3 months.
- AI Overviews Volatility Score: 0.73; Organic Search Score: 0.55.
- Top 10 organic rankings don’t guarantee AI Overview placement; 60% overlap noted.
- Citation Patterns in AI Search Engines
- Study analyzed 40,000 responses with 250,000 citations.
- Perplexity: 6.61 citations/response.
- Google Gemini: 6.1 citations/response.
- ChatGPT: 2.62 citations/response.
- Study analyzed 40,000 responses with 250,000 citations.
- Quality of citations:
- High-quality: 31.5%,
- Upper-mid: 15.3%,
- Mid: 26.3%,
- Lower-mid: 22.1%,
- Low: 4.8%.
- Platform-specific citation preferences noted.
Takeaway
- Invest in a mix of owned content and third-party coverage for better citation chances in AI search engines.
Sources:
Chegg Sues Google Over AI Overviews – Overview of Chegg’s lawsuit against Google, claiming AI Overviews negatively impact traffic and revenue.
VOX Media Survey on Google Search – Results from a survey highlighting user perceptions of Google Search and the rising preference for AI tools.
Google Simplifies Removing Personal Info – Details on Google’s updates to its “Results About You” tool for easier removal of personal information from search results.
Google AI Overviews Ranking Volatility Report – Study findings on the volatility of AI Overview rankings compared to organic search rankings.
AI Search Engines Citation Patterns Study – Analysis of citation patterns among major AI search engines and the quality of sources cited.
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SEO 101 Episode 494 – Google Search Changes: ‘All Results’ Rename, Local Listing Drops, Audio SEO Insights, and Review Count Bug Fixes 10 Mar 3:27 AM (28 days ago)
In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore the recent Google search updates, including the renaming of the “All Results” feature, the removal of pagination numbers, and new image search capabilities. They discuss the impact of local listings on organic results, the benefits of audio versions for SEO, and review count bug fixes. Don’t miss these essential takeaways!
Show Notes:
- Google Business Profiles Support Delays
- Backlogged support for Google Business Profiles; patience required for reinstatement and technical issues.
- Bitly’s Policy Change
- Interstitial ads added to shortened URLs for free accounts.
- Users directed to an ad page before reaching the destination link.
- Consider switching to a paid plan or linking directly to destinations for better SEO.
- Google Lifts Fingerprinting Ban
- Fingerprinting for advertisers allowed again, enhancing tracking across devices without cookies.
- Collects data like IP address and OS details for improved ad personalization.
- Google Search Updates
- All Results” Label Change: “All” in search results renamed to “All Results.”
- Pagination Changes: Clickable page numbers removed, only “next” and “previous” buttons remain.
- Image Search Feature: “More like these” button added for related image searches.
- Speed Improvements: Testing pre-fetching methods to boost search result loading times.
- Google Local Update
- URLs may drop from organic results if a local listing is present; suggested to change URLs in GBP to mitigate.
- Audio Versions of Blog Posts
- Google suggests audio versions may not directly impact SEO but can enhance user experience and engagement.
- Review Count Bugs Fix
- Most review count bugs fixed; if issues persist, users should contact Google support.
Sources:
Google Business Profiles Support Backlogged – Updates on delays in Google Business Profiles support, urging patience for assistance.
Bitly Adds Interstitial Ads to Shortened URLs – Bitly introduces interstitial ads for free account users, affecting link navigation.
Google Lifts 2019 Ban on Fingerprinting for Advertisers – Google reinstates fingerprinting, enhancing user tracking capabilities for advertisers.
Google Testing Various Changes – Overview of various testing changes in Google search, including feature renaming and pagination adjustments.
Google Local Update Drops Organic Listing When Local Listing Is Present – Details on the local update impacting organic search results when local listings are present.
Google Answers Whether Audio Versions of Blog Posts Help SEO – Insights from Google on the potential SEO benefits of audio versions of blog posts.
Google Confirms Most Review Count Bugs Fixed – Update on the resolution of review count bugs in Google, with instructions for ongoing issues.
The post SEO 101 Episode 494 – Google Search Changes: ‘All Results’ Rename, Local Listing Drops, Audio SEO Insights, and Review Count Bug Fixes appeared first on StepForth Web Marketing Inc..
SEO 101 Episode 493 – AI Overviews Impacting Click-Through Rates, Recipe Blog User Experience Guidelines, and Local Reviews Bug Fixes 20 Feb 9:27 AM (last month)
In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore the significant decline in click-through rates due to Google’s AI Overviews. They discuss new guidelines for recipe blogs to enhance user experience, and address a recent bug affecting local reviews. Tune in for insights on these critical SEO developments and their implications.
Show Notes:
NON SEO NEWS
- Google updates AI Ethics policy, removing commitment not to use AI for weapons or surveillance.
- Original promise from 2018 regarding AI use for harm and surveillance has been erased.
SEO NEWS
- Impact of AI Overviews on CTR:
- Study by Seer Interactive shows significant decrease in click-through rates (CTR):
- Organic CTR without AI Overview: 2.68% → 3.97%
- Organic CTR with AI Overview: 1.41% → 0.64%
- Paid CTR without AI Overview: 23.07% → 17.24%
- Paid CTR with AI Overview: 8.76% → 6.56%
- Study analyzed 10,000 keywords with informational intent.
- Study by Seer Interactive shows significant decrease in click-through rates (CTR):
- Tracking CTR in GSC for AI Overviews:
- Glenn Gabe shares a method to track AI Overview performance in Google Search Console (GSC) for sites with manual actions.
- Data can be viewed by filtering for impacted pages and selecting the active date range.
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search:
- No sign-in required to access ChatGPT search, potentially increasing competition with Google.
- Google’s Recipe Blog Guidelines:
- New guidelines emphasize avoiding significant scrolling on recipe pages.
- Poor user experience noted due to excessive filler content and ads.
- Recommendations include easy-to-find “jump to recipe” links and relevant content.
LOCAL SEO NEWS
- Google reviews drop issue:
- On February 7, fewer reviews displayed in local listings due to a bug.
- Google confirmed the issue on February 10 and began rolling out fixes on February 11.
AI NEWS
- Google Search Testing ‘AI Mode’
- New feature for long-form queries, utilizing Gemini 2.0.
- Example includes detailed responses for complex questions.
- AI Overviews with Shopping Comparisons
- AI Overviews now provide detailed comparisons for product searches, impacting organic traffic for comparison sites.
- Increase in YouTube Citations
- YouTube citations within AI Overviews surged by 25.21% since January 1, with notable increases in instructional and visual content categories.
- Google Search’s Ask for Me
- New experiment allowing Google AI to call businesses for service inquiries.
- Currently testing with specific service industries; businesses can opt out.
Sources:
Google erases promise not to use AI technology for weapons or surveillance – Discusses Google’s update to its AI Ethics policy, removing its commitment against using AI for harmful purposes.
Report: Google AI Overviews Are Killing Click Through Rates – A study by Seer Interactive reveals the negative impact of AI Overviews on click-through rates for organic and paid searches.
How to Track CTR in GSC for AI Overviews – Glenn Gabe shares a method for tracking AI Overview performance in Google Search Console, specifically for sites with manual actions.
OpenAI drops sign-in requirement for ChatGPT search – Announcement of ChatGPT search now available to everyone without requiring a login.
Google Guidelines Warns Of Significant Scrolling On Recipe Blogs – Google updates quality rater guidelines, advising against significant scrolling on recipe sites to improve user experience.
Google bug causes reviews to drop out of local listings – Coverage of a bug affecting the display of reviews in local listings, with Google working on a fix.
Google Search testing ‘AI Mode – Information about Google testing a new ‘AI Mode’ for complex search queries using Gemini 2.0.
Google AI Overviews now with detailed shopping comparisons – Update on AI Overviews providing detailed shopping comparisons, impacting organic search traffic for comparison sites.
YouTube citations in Google AI Overviews surge 25% – Report on the increase in YouTube citations within Google AI Overviews, highlighting various content categories.
Google Search launches Ask for me – Introduction of the ‘Ask for Me’ feature, allowing Google AI to call businesses for service inquiries on behalf of users.
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SEO 101 Episode 492 – Google Breadcrumb Removal, JavaScript Tool Disruptions, AI News and Enforcement Updates 6 Feb 9:19 AM (2 months ago)
In this episode of the SEO 101 Podcast, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte discuss Google’s removal of mobile breadcrumbs, disruptions to SEO tools from JavaScript requirements, DeepSeek updates, site reputation abuse enforcement in Germany, and Google AI Overviews offering coding assistance. Tune in for essential SEO insights!
Show Notes:
- Google Removing Breadcrumbs from Mobile SERPS
- Breadcrumbs removed from mobile search; retained on desktop.
- Introduced in 2009; removal simplifies URL display on mobile.
- Yahoo Search and AI
- Yahoo hinted at search revival in 2023 but has made little progress.
- New banner indicates updates are coming; currently not available in Canada.
- AI Chat features and AI Answers integrated into Yahoo Search, powered by OpenAI.
- Google Change Disrupts SEO Tools
- Change on January 15, 2025, caused data blackouts for SEO tools.
- Users must enable JavaScript to access search; affects many data tracking tools.
- Change aimed at protecting against LLMs (Large Language Models) training on Google data.
- Most tools back online by January 20; increased costs for SEO tools anticipated.
- Google Expands Site Reputation Abuse Enforcement to Germany
- Enforcement expanded to Germany after starting in other European countries.
- Manual actions taken against site reputation abuse; reduced third-party content in SERPs.
- Site reputation abuse involves leveraging established site rankings for third-party content.
- AI News: Google AI Overviews Providing Programming Help
- AI Overviews now displaying coding help in search results.
- Example code provided for programming queries, enhancing user experience.
- Potential impact on coding sites like Stack Exchange.
- DeepSeek – The AI Disruptor
- Utilizes MoE (Mixture of Experts) architecture for cost-efficient AI training.
- DeepSeek’s AI Assistant ranked top free app on Apple’s App Store.
- Open-source models encourage innovation among smaller organizations.
- Concerns raised about data privacy and censorship with Chinese-developed AI.
- Mueller Files: Do Not Dynamically Update Robots.txt**
- John Mueller advises against dynamically updating robots.txt files.
- Google caches robots.txt for up to 24 hours; recommends using status codes 503 or 429.
- Crawl-delay rule in robots.txt is no longer recognized by Google.
Sources:
Google Removing Breadcrumbs from Mobile SERPS – Discusses Google’s decision to remove breadcrumbs from mobile search results while retaining them on desktop, aiming to simplify URL displays.
Yahoo Search and AI – Covers Yahoo’s efforts to revitalize its search platform, including new AI features integrated into search results powered by OpenAI.
Google Change Disrupts SEO Tools – Details a significant change from Google that required users to enable JavaScript, causing disruptions and data blackouts for various SEO tools.
Google Expands Site Reputation Abuse Enforcement to Germany – Discusses the expansion of Google’s enforcement against site reputation abuse in Germany, aimed at reducing third-party content in search rankings.
Google AI Overviews is Now Providing Programming Help – Highlights Google AI Overviews now offering coding assistance directly in search results, enhancing user experience for programming queries.
DeepSeek – The AI Disruptor – Introduces DeepSeek, an AI player utilizing cost-efficient architectures, raising significant attention in the market while addressing data privacy concerns.
Do Not Dynamically Update Robots.txt – John Mueller’s advice against dynamically updating robots.txt files, emphasizing the importance of using appropriate status codes for managing crawl rates.
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SEO 101 Episode 491 – Spam Impact, Continuous Scroll Return, and Blogging Benefits 6 Feb 9:11 AM (2 months ago)
In this solo episode of SEO 101, Scott analyzes the December 2024 Google Spam Update and its effects on site rankings. He discusses the reintroduction of continuous scroll for Image and Video results and explores the importance of blogging for authority and fresh content, along with best practices for optimizing your website.
Show Notes:
SEO NEWS
- December 2024 Google Spam Update
- Ran from Dec 19 to Dec 26, 2024.
- General spam update; not link spam related.
- Manual site reputation abuse policy remains unchanged.
- Holiday timing may obscure traffic decline reasons.
- Continuous Scroll is Back
- Reintroduced for Image and Video results; other tabs limited to 10 links.
- Applicable on both desktop and mobile platforms.
- Google’s Search Market Share Drops
- First time below 90% since 2015; sat at 89.73% in December.
- US market share also below 90% at 87.39%.
- Search traffic may have shifted to platforms like ChatGPT.
SEO Tips
- Do You Need a Blog?
- Adds authority and a human voice.
- Structured markup, author bio, and social media links recommended.
- Good for long-tail queries and fresh content.
- What to Blog About
- Business stories, current events, product comparisons, contests, tips, FAQs, and press releases.
- Alternate Content Suggestions**
- Service/product pages, resource pages, evergreen content.
- When Not to Blog
- Lack of content ideas or inability to maintain quality and regular posts.
MUELLER FILES
- Country Codes in URLs and SEO**
- John Mueller: Adding country codes doesn’t improve regional rankings.
- Changing URLs causes temporary fluctuations but no long-term ranking benefits.
- Use ccTLDs and HREFLANG tags for country-specific content.
AI News
- Manual Actions in AI Overviews**
- Pages with manual actions can still appear in AI Overviews after demotion.
- Noted by Lily Ray and confirmed by Glen Gabe.
Questions & Comments
- Weather Widgets on Local Business Sites**
- May enhance local focus but relevance is low for car repair businesses.
- Little to no expected impact; context matters for usability.
Sources:
December 2024 Google Spam Update – Overview of the December 2024 Spam Update, including its timeline and impact on website rankings.
Continuous Scroll is Back – Details on the reintroduction of continuous scroll for Image and Video results in Google search.
Google’s Search Market Share Drops – Analysis of Google’s market share dipping below 90% for the first time since 2015, including implications for search behavior.
Do You Need a Blog? – Discussion on the benefits of maintaining a blog for authority, content freshness, and SEO.
Adding Country Codes to URLs Won’t Help for SEO – Insights from John Mueller on the ineffectiveness of adding country codes to URLs for improving regional rankings.
Google Can Show Sites with Manual Actions in AI Overviews – Information on how pages affected by manual actions can still appear in AI Overviews, as noted by industry experts.
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SEO 101 Episode 490 – 2025 Predictions, Google December Core Update, and ChatGPT Search for Free Users: Features and Insights 23 Jan 6:37 AM (2 months ago)
In this episode of SEO 101, Ross and Scott share their predictions for 2025, and Bing’s removal of the cache link and Google’s December 2024 core update; analyzing their potential impacts on search rankings. They also explore the features of ChatGPT Search now available to free users, highlighting its usefulness for research and its limitations for commercial queries.
Show Notes:
SEO News
- Bing Cache Link Removal
- Bing removed the cache link from search results on Dec 11, 2024.
- Google removed their cache link back in February 2024.
- Google December 2024 Core Update
- Rolling out now; fourth core update of 2024.
- Began shortly after November update completion.
- Expected to last around 2 weeks; previous updates have varied in duration.
- Described as “BIG” by Barry Schwartz; mixed reactions from users regarding drops in rankings.
- Google states they are continually improving core systems.
- ChatGPT Search for Free Users
- Available to all logged-in free users as of Dec 16, 2024.
- Two search tests highlighted:
- Comox Valley – Provided photos, writeup, and source links.
- Victoria Hotels – Short blurb, local map with limited hotel listings.
- Useful for research, less so for specific product/service searches.
- Google Testing “Things to Do” Carousel
- Testing a new image carousel for “things to do” queries.
- Features high-resolution images and additional information.
- Important for event or “things to do” websites to ensure correct schema markup and visuals.
Mueller Files
- Disavowing Toxic Links
- John Mueller advises against disavowing “toxic” links; considers it a waste of time.
- Most spammy links are ignored by Google now.
- Bing also removed its disavow tool in September 2023.
2025 Predictions
- Scott’s Predictions
- Continued significant advances in AI and SEO tools.
- Evolution of content creation and search experiences (SGE).
- Core updates from Google with limited guidance.
- Increased growth for ChatGPT Search.
- Potential reduction in organic traffic for informational sites due to AI providing direct answers.
- Ross’s Predictions
- Google maintains an edge in AI competition.
- Wider usability of AI agents in SEO.
- Increased familiarity with AI among users.
- Growth of personal AI sandboxes.
- Predictions of SearchGPT’s accessibility and integration of ads by 2025.
- Potential market share growth for Bing and SearchGPT.
- Various “dream” scenarios including regulatory challenges for Google and increased market competition.
Sources:
Bing Removes Cache Link from Search Results – Details the removal of the cache link from Bing search results as of December 11, following a similar action by Google in February.
Google December 2024 Core Update Rolling Out Now – Information on the rollout of Google’s December 2024 core update, the fourth of the year, including its expected duration and impact on search results.
ChatGPT Search Now Available for Free Users – Announcement of ChatGPT Search’s availability for all free, logged-in users, along with examples of its functionality.
Google Testing New “Things to Do” Carousel – Coverage of Google’s testing of a new carousel for “things to do” queries, featuring high-resolution images and enhanced user experience.
Disavowing Toxic Links Is A Waste Of Time – John Mueller’s insights on the inefficacy of disavowing toxic links, stating that most spammy links are ignored by Google.
Google Will Remove Its Disavow Link Tool – A post from May discussing John Mueller’s comments on the disavow link tool, emphasizing that most spammy, paid, or swapped links are ignored and suggesting potential removal of the tool in the future.
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SEO 101 Episode 489 – Exploring ChatGPT Search, Google’s Gemini 2, and Project Mariner 8 Jan 8:33 AM (2 months ago)
In this episode of SEO 101, we explore key insights from ChatGPT’s search results, discuss ongoing volatility following Google’s core update, and examine recent indexing issues. We also cover the importance of long-form content, local SEO, and Google’s Gemini 2.0 and what Project Mariner may mean for search in 2025.
Show Notes:
NON SEO NEWS
- Google Search Console Updates
- New date controls for performance reports being rolled out.
- Easier date changes with preset links above filter options.
- Preset options include: 24 hours, 7 days, 28 days, 3 months, or dropdown for more options.
SEO NEWS
- Google Search Ranking Volatility
- Continued volatility post core update (December 5th).
- Increased rank movement noted by users and tools.
- SEO for ChatGPT Search Insights
- ChatGPT search results differ from Google and Bing.
- ChatGPT favors long-form content over brand product pages.
- Rankings are influenced by authoritative, non-brand review sites.
- Local SEO emphasizes the importance of positive Google reviews.
- ChatGPT prioritizes brand mentions for awareness rather than driving clicks.
- Google’s Delayed Indexing Issues
- Noted delayed indexing affecting some sites since December 9th.
- Large publishers likely to have experienced these delays.
- Handling Broken Canonicals
- Google attempts to correct incorrect canonical tags but acknowledges imperfections in the process.
AI NEWS
- Google’s Search Updates with Gemini 2.0
- Enhanced AI Overviews feature for complex queries.
- Gemini 2.0 offers faster responses and multimodal processing.
- Introduction of Project Mariner for improved user interaction with browsers.
- Project Mariner Overview
- Aims to enhance browser interaction using natural language.
- Designed for multimodal understanding and task automation.
- Focus on personalized experiences for users.
- AI Chatbot Traffic in B2B:**
- AI Chatbots significantly driving traffic for B2B companies.
- ChatGPT accounts for 48% of AI Chatbot traffic.
- Referral traffic from AI Chatbots increased 5x in a case study.
- AI Chatbot traffic remains small compared to organic traffic (0.34% overall).
Sources:
Google Search Console rolling out new date controls for performance reports – Details the new preset date options added to Google Search Console for easier performance report adjustments.
Google Search Ranking Volatility Continues Post Core Update – Analyzes the ongoing rank movements and volatility following the December 5th core update.
SEO for ChatGPT search: 4 key observations – Explores how ChatGPT search results differ from Google and Bing, emphasizing content preferences and local SEO.
Google Search fixes delayed indexing issues – Reports on the delayed indexing issues Google experienced and their impact on large publishers
Google Does Try To Handle Broken Canonicals – Discusses Google’s approach to correcting incorrect canonical tags as explained by the Search Team
Google Announces Search Updates Powered By Gemini 2.0 – Details the advancements in AI capabilities with Gemini 2.0, enhancing user interactions and responses
Project Mariner – What it is and How it Could Change Our Internet Use – Explains Project Mariner’s goal to improve browser interaction using advanced AI technologies.
How Significant Is AI Chatbot Traffic In B2B? – Analyzes the growth of AI chatbot referral traffic in B2B companies and its comparison with organic traffic.
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SEO 101 Episode 488 – Google’s November Update, Search Console Recommendations, Rebranding Tips, and SEO Strategies 8 Jan 8:11 AM (2 months ago)
In this episode of SEO 101, we discuss the ongoing November Core Update and its ranking volatility, the recently launched Google Search Console Recommendations that suggest SEO actions, and John Mueller’s insights on why generic names struggle to rank. We also provide essential tips for a successful domain rebranding transition. Tune in for essential tips to navigate these critical SEO developments!
Show Notes:
SEO NEWS
- November Core Update
- Ongoing rollout causing ranking volatility.
- Google Search Console Recommendations
- Fully live as of November 26.
- Offers optimization opportunities and suggested actions.
- Recommendations may change or expire; not all users will see them.
- Google Tests Bare-Bones Hotel Search
- Conducted in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia.
- Removes certain search features temporarily, returning to basic search format.
- Test to comply with EU’s Digital Markets Act.
- 15% of Google Searches Driven by 148 Terms
- 250 billion searches per month.
- Top 10 most searched terms include YouTube, Gmail, Amazon, Facebook, and others.
- 44% of searches are branded; 51% are informational.
MUELLER FILES
- John Mueller on Ranking for Generic Names
- Generic names may not rank well despite being in the domain (e.g., “the wedding company”).
- Highlights competitiveness of the space and time needed after rebranding.
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
Tips for Rebranding to a New Domain
- Before Transition
- Crawl current site, export ranking details, and identify high-traffic pages.
- Backup old site.
- During Transition
- Transfer page details, ensure internal links are correct, update online profiles, set up 301 redirects, and use Google Search Console’s Change of Address Tool.
- After Transition
- Check functionality of contact forms and shopping carts, monitor organic rankings, and use tools like SEMRush for site health tracking
Sources:
Scan of 140K Sites Reveals Best WordPress Plugins – A comprehensive analysis of 140,000 WordPress websites identifying the most commonly used plugins.
November Core Update Still Rolling Out – Update on the ongoing November Core Update from Google, with notes on ranking volatility.
Google Search Console Recommendations Now Fully Live – Announcement of the fully rolled-out Search Console Recommendations feature that suggests actions for SEO improvement.
Google Tests Bare-Bones Hotel Search In Three EU Countries – Details on Google’s temporary test removing certain hotel search features in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia.
15% of Google Searches Driven by Only 148 Terms – Insights from a study showing that a small number of terms drive a significant portion of Google searches, along with trends in search behavior.
Google: Just Because You Call Yourself It, It Doesn’t Mean You Will Rank For It – John Mueller’s response to a query about ranking challenges for generic names following a rebranding.
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101 Episode 487 – Google Analytics Glitches, Ranking Signals Explained, and New Reputation Abuse Policies 28 Nov 2024 9:41 AM (4 months ago)
In this episode of SEO 101, we discuss recent Google Analytics data issues, the importance of both page-level and site-wide ranking signals, and the updated policies against site reputation abuse. Tune in for insights on how these changes impact SEO strategies and best practices for maintaining strong website rankings.
Show Notes:
NON SEO NEWS
Perplexity Launches AI-Powered Shopping Search
- New shopping feature for U.S. paid subscribers.
- Aims to compete with Google and Amazon.
- Features include:
- Visual product cards with detailed info (pricing, seller, pros/cons).
- One-click checkout with saved details.
- Merchant program to enhance online shopping.
- Users can search via text or images.
- Pro subscribers receive free shipping.
- Offers unbiased recommendations without sponsored listings.
SEO NEWS
- Google Analytics Data Issues
- Reports of missing or delayed data since November 13.
- Google confirmed the issue on November 18 and resolved it by November 20.
- Google’s Ranking Signals Update
- Both page-level and site-wide signals impact rankings.
- Good site-wide signals don’t guarantee high rankings for all pages.
- Strengthened Policy Against Site Reputation Abuse
- New policy against exploiting a site’s ranking signals with third-party content.
- Manual actions against offenders initiated, including major sites like CNN and USA Today.
- Sites can lift manual actions by removing offending content or using noindex tags.
AI NEWS
- Google’s AI Search Experiment: “Learn About
- New AI tool summarizing topics with Interactive Lists.
- Available for U.S. users aged 18+, supports English and Spanish.
- Includes privacy controls regarding user data.
- Surge in Google AI Overviews for Travel Queries
- AI Overviews now appear for 30% of travel-related queries.
- Specific travel questions are being answered more frequently, with a 700% increase from September to October.
- Ads in Google AI Overviews
- Ads launched in the U.S. for mobile search results.
- Currently in testing phase; not all users may see them.
ChatGPT’s Search Marketing Share
- Market share estimates:
- Google: 83.54%
- YouTube: 6.79%
- ChatGPT: 4.33%
- Others (combined): 3.37%
- Bing: 1.97%
AI Prompt Tips
- Tips shared by Scott and Ross on improving AI prompt results and generating client content.
Sources:
Perplexity launches AI-powered Shopping Search – Perplexity introduces a new shopping feature for U.S. paid subscribers, featuring visual product cards, one-click checkout, and a merchant program aimed at enhancing online shopping experiences.
Google Analytics data delayed or missing for some – Reports of missing data in Google Analytics starting November 13, with Google confirming and resolving the issue shortly after.
Google: Page-Level & Site-Wide Signals Both Matter For Rankings – Google clarifies that both page-level and site-wide signals impact rankings, emphasizing that good site-wide signals do not guarantee high rankings for all pages.
Google Strengthens Policy Against Site Reputation Abuse – Updated policy against using third-party content to exploit site ranking signals, with a focus on manual actions against offenders.
Google’s AI Search Experiment: “Learn About – Introduction of “Learn About,” an AI tool that uses Interactive Lists to summarize topics and guide users through related subtopics.
Google AI Overviews massively surge in travel queries – Findings show a 700% increase in Google AI Overviews for travel-related queries, now covering 30% of such searches.
Google AI Overviews ads seen on mobile search – Ads in Google AI Overviews launched in the U.S., currently visible in mobile search results and limited to a testing phase.
ChatGPT’s Search Marketing Share vs Google – Analysis of market share in search marketing, showing Google at 83.54%, ChatGPT at 4.33%, and other platforms combined at 3.37%.
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