Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

Today we covered that Google Ads Dynamic Search Ads are being replaced by AI Max.  Google spam reports may now be used for manual actions. Google Search Console had an unfortunate email bug.  Google Ads is simplifying enhanced conversions with a new on and off toggle. 0:00 - Introduction 0:38 - Google Ads DSAs deprecating to AI Max 2:58 - Google spam reports used for manual actions  5:01 - Google...

Today we covered the new Google search spam penalty for back button hijacking.  Google said don’t try to manipulate LLM results. Google Ads updated its analytics sources and more. Plus, did you see the PMax channel reporting insights page. 0:00 - Introduction 0:47 - Google back button hijack spam 4:18 - Listicles and other LLM manipulation 7:56 - Google Ads updates analytics usage 9:01 - PMax repo...

Today we covered how we spotted hints of a new Google Search Console report for AI contribution.  Google AI Overviews study shows there are problems with accuracy.  Google Ads enhanced conversion lets you toggle to a single switch.  Google Chrome reusable skills. 0:00 - Intro 0:31 - Google AI contribution report 1:56 - Google AI Overviews have accuracy problems 4:12 - Google Ads simplifies enhance...

Today we covered the conclusion of the March 2026 Core update, new location assets spotted in Google Ads and AI Mode takeover from the "show more" button in AIOs.0:00 - Intro0:46 - The March 2026 Cord Update is over2:30 - Swipeable Location Assets in Google Ads?4:43 - Major test with AI Mode taking over the AIOs7:10 - ConclusionA daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search mark...

Today we covered ChatGPT hitting $100 million in ad revenue and ads are showing up very often.  Google is testing AI Overview changes with the background. Bing is testing larger product ads.  Google released the March 2026 core update - seems quiet so far.  0:00 - Intro 0:34 - ChatGPT ad revenue 3:16 - Google tests new AI Overview citations 4:08 - Bing tests larger product ads 5:32 - Google March...

This week we covered the release of the Google March 2026 core update that rolled out this morning and will take about two weeks to finish. We also covered Google March 2026 spam update that launched on March 24th and finished 19.5 hours later on March 25th. We also covered Google’s confirmation of using AI to generate title links in search results. Bing Webmaster Tools AI performance report added...

Mordy and Greg talk about the newest Spam update, breakdown the "Dig Deeper" guides that Google is leaning into (only if opted in!) and uncover some good news for news publishers about AIOs.0:00 - Intro1:12 - Google Spam Update2:29 - Google’s Web Guides6:40 - Jeter vs Arod8:10 - AIOs showing less for Breaking News?9:57 - ConclusionA daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search m...

Mordy covers bubble overlays in Google Results as well as the possibility of Google's Personal Intellegence rolling out globally. Anu talks about duplicate stats on Google Ads and Greg covers Apple Map ads coming this month?0:00 - Introduction2:00 - Hover Preview in AIOs5:21 - Personal Intelligence Coming Globally?7:00 - Duplicate stats on Google Ads Display8:30 - Ads Coming to Apple Maps?9:38...

Mordy, Anu & Greg cover Google using AI to (badly) rewrite title links in the SERPs, ChatGPT is using phone calls and spreadsheets to help advertisers optimize and AIOs are slowly taking over breaking news.0:00 - Introduction1:16 - Google Rewriting Title Links with AI6:53 - The State of ChatGPT Ads11:57 - AIOs are overtaking Breaking News 13:04 - Jokes!14:00 - Conclusion A daily recap video su...

The gang covers the developing ability to opt-out of AI Features in Search, a new beaker icon and Google retiring several legacy ad format policies. Oh and Mordy covers Google's Personal Intellegence updates that we already covered yesterday.0:00 - Introduction1:11 - Opt-Out of Google AI Features in Search is Developing5:44 - Google Beaker Change6:40 - Mordy Rehashes Personal Intelligence 9:22...

The gang covers the new rollout of Google's Personal Intellegence along with an ad-free (FOR NOW) version of AI mode if using Personal Intellegence. Anu covers a sticky ad that can't be skipped on YouTube and Mordy has better baseball scores in AI Mode.0:00 - Introduction1:35 - Google Personal Intelligence Expands2:40 - Ads Won’t Show For Personal Intelligence Users in AI Mode4:30 - Skippa...

Today Mordy, Anu & Greg covered ChatGPT Ads Manager, A Loss of Call Buttons in the Local Packs, an odd recommendation to reach out to SearchLiaison and new updates in Google Ads Editor 2.120:00 - Introduction0:52 - ChatGPT Ads Manager4:08 - Call Buttons Disappearing? 7:21 - Google Ads Editor 2.12 10:15 - Conclusion & St. Patrick’s Day TriviaA daily recap video summarizing a few of the top...

Today we covered the continued March volitility, went deep on the Alvin Picklefest, talked about the launch of Google's Merchant Center for Agencies and ended with some AI-Voice overs in PMax0:00 - Introduction1:16 - Google's "Related Activity"2:35 - Google continued volitility3:45 - SER Programming Note4:03 - Merchant Center for Agencies7:14 - AI Voice Overs for PMax 8:30 - Conc...

This week, we continue to see ongoing heated Google Search volatility. I posted the big Google webmaster report for March 2026. Google AI Mode added more links to recipe sites. Google AI Mode has this recipe widget but is that a good thing. Google AI Overviews has expandable drop-downs that just seem weird. Google AI Mode sidebar links don’t pass referrer, but it should be fixed. ChatGPT launched...

Today we covered Google AI Mode recipe results with new link cards, based on recipe blogger feedback.  Google also has these AI Mode recipe widgets in Google Search. Google AI Overviews have these weird drop downs. Google removed the accessibility section from its JavaScript SEO documentation.  Google Merchant Center adds build to order for vehicle listings. 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Google AI Mo...

Today we covered that OpenAI launched GPT 5.3 Instant that will show fewer links in ChatGPT web search. Google had a new help document on how its crawler works. Google Discover feed shows social posts.  Google Ads API enforces daily minimum budget for Demand Gen campaigns.  0:00 - Introduction 1:04 - ChatGPT 5.3 Instant without so many links 2:27 - Google’s new crawler help document 4:36 - Google...

Today we covered how Google selects image thumbnails for Google Search and Google Discover. Google AI Mode sidebar referrer links do not work. Google Ads has a new help page for UCP.  0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Image thumbnail selection in Google Search & Discover 1:25 - Google AI Mode sidebar referrers not working 3:02 - UCP Google Ads help page 4:27 - Conclusion  A daily recap video summariz...

This week, we covered the competition of the Google Discover core update. Also gave a status update on the Google Search volatility. Google had a brief serving issue with Google Search. Google is testing showing vertical search services next to its own in the EU.  Google said a spike in impressions do not cause problems for Google Search.  Google won’t use a sitemap file if it is not convinced of...

Today we covered Google Circle to Search looking at the whole image, with a new update. Bing updated its Webmaster Guidelines. Google Posts to add recurring scheduling. OpenAI COO says ChatGPT ad rollout will be “iterative.” Google Ads text guidelines rolling out globally for PMax and AI Max. 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Google Circle to Search looks at the whole image 3:15 - Bing Webmaster Guidelin...

Today we covered that Google Search had a serving bug for a short period of time last night.  Anthropic updated its crawler documentation. Google’s AI Mode added a see more button.  Google Ad Grants now lets nonprofits optimize for shop visits. Google Ads pacing budgeting was clarified a bit.  0:00 - Introduction 0:39 - Google search serving bug 1:21 - Anthropic documents its crawlers 2:18 - Googl...

Today we covered Google Discover dropping dates, a new checkbox for Google Ads help that allows Google to make changes on your behalf, a new Microsoft Shopping ad unit in the wild and poisoning AI agents with bad info.0:00 - Introduction1:12 - No dates on Google Discover2:56 - Google Ads new "make changes" on form5:13 - Bing testing newShopping (PLA) ad units?6:20 - Microsoft cuts back o...

Today we covered how the Google search ranking volatility may be cooling.  Google Search Console has a bug with the page indexing report.  Bing is testing new links in the AI responses.  Google Ads updated its budget pacing for ad scheduling.  Google has a new Meridian tool for Marketing Mix Model. 0:00 - Introduction 0:40 - Google search volatility cooling 1:30 - Google page indexing report bug 2...

This week, we covered that Google Search has been super volatile all week long. Google’s John Mueller said they don’t really have a bad title black filter in search. It seems a lot of businesses are complaining that Google reviews are disappearing. Google also updated its review policies, so maybe it is related. Google Search Console rolled out the new AI-powered configuration tool. Google said th...

Today we covered how Google reviews are being removed again, we are not sure why or how widespread it is.  Google Ads is now showing Performance Max placements in the where ads showed report. Google Search Console’s branded queries and social channels report are still coming. 0:00 - Introduction 0:34 - Google reviews disappearing again 1:45 - Google Ads PMax placement report 3:20 - Google Search C...

Today we covered the new link styles in Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews.  Google Search Console’s AI-powered configuration tool is live. Google AdSense has a display bug with some ad formats. Google Ads shifts Lookalike to AI signals in Demand Gen. 0:00 - Introduction 1:22 - Google has new link cards for AI Mode and AI Overviews 2:27 - Google Search Console’s AI-powered configuration tool is liv...