Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

This week, surprise - surprise, we covered more Google Search ranking volatility. OpenAI launched its web browser, ChatGPT Atlas - it uses Google. Google Search Console performance reports are stuck again. Google said links, site moves and technical SEO do not help with quality issues. Google did not give more core updates more often, despite what they said a year ago. Google Ads celebrated its 25...

Today we covered that Google Ads turned 25 years old today. Google Search Console performance reports are stuck at Sunday. Google Business Profiles call data is missing a few days of data. Google AI Mode should be better at fantasy sports queries.  ChatGPT updated GPT-5 Instant for singed out users.  Reddit sues Perplexity, SerpApi and others over stealing data. 0:00 - Introduction 1:10 - Google A...

Today we just spoke about OpenAI’s new announcement, its AI web browser named ChatGPT Atlas.  It uses Google a lot not just for search but also as its user agent.  We dive into this news. 0:00 - Introduction 0:15 - ChatGPT Atlas  6:36 - Conclusion A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable. This recap is called It's New -...

Today we covered Google not giving us more core update, more often. Google Ads is experimenting with setting the new customer value amount without advertiser input.  Google Ads will delete accounts without campaigns after 6 months.  And Google is testing AI powered product summary sections in AI Mode. 0:00 - Introduction 0:50 - Google didn’t come through with more core updates, more often 2:39 - G...

Today we covered Google Search ranking volatility heated up late last week. The Google Search Console crawl stats is missing a day.  Google’s Liz Reid was interviewed again.  Google Ads is rolling out the text guidelines feature in beta. Google Merchant Center now allows selling subscriptions for physical goods. Google also shows price tracking graphs by retailer. 0:00 - Introduction 1:38 - Google...

This week we covered the new Google Ads label, which Google says improves navigation but in my opinion, is a deceptive way to get searchers to click on those ads. Google Goldmine leaked as a search content ranking system. Bing now supports the data-nosnippet HTML attribute. Google’s Robby Stein spoke about AI not replacing search, AI within Search, SEO and more. Liz Reid, Google’s head of Search w...

Today we covered Google Ads label grouping going live.  Google Ads new prescription drug ad policy. Google people also ask AI-generated. Bing supports the data no-snippet attribute.  0:00 - Introduction 1:08 - Google grouped ad label is live 3:05 - Google Ads prescription drug ads policy 6:00 - Google people also ask AI-generated 7:21 - Bing supports data-no snippet HTML attribute  8:34 - Conclusi...

Today we covered the fake traffic surge for some e-commerce sites we saw from Google Search.  Google is providing help now for review extortion scams. Google’s Robby Stein was interviewed on AI Search.  Google has been designated with strategic market status. And YouTube Brand Pulse report is out. 0:00 - Introduction 1:44 - Google fake traffic surge 3:00 - Google review extortion scam help 3:51 -...

This week we covered some big Google Search ranking movement and volatility. Google earlier confirmed a serving issue with Google Search. Google AI Mode expanded to 35 new languages and 40 new countries. Google added shoes to the Try On feature and supports three new countries. Google is testing a more publisher-friendly recipe AI Overview. Google is testing an Ask AI Mode anything carousel. Googl...

Today we covered new heated Google search ranking volatility.  Google Business Profiles has a new Insights feature.  Google is testing a more friendly AI Overview for recipes. Google AI Mode has more languages and regional support.  Campaign type was added to the Google Ads channel performance report.  Google Ads has a new missed growth opportunities report.  0:00 - Introduction 0:43 - Google Sear...

Today we covered the ongoing Google Search serving issue and events go missing in Google Search. Google is testing AI-generated search descriptions. Google is testing AI Overviews that link directly to AI Mode. Microsoft is testing super large images on Bing Copilot ads.  Google call ads revealed the sunset dates. 0:00 - Introduction 0:35 - Google Search serving issue 1:24 - Events go missing in G...

This week we covered the Google AI Mode news that it is more visual for many queries, including shopping queries. Google AI Mode agentic capabilities can now be opted into. Google AI Overviews tests a sticky citations box. Google Shopping Ask Stores feature is being tested. Google’s Liz Reid as interviewed again about AI Search. Google said the old domain history sometimes needs to be shaken off....

Today we covered Google AI Mode gets more visual with the visual search fan-out technique. Google tests AI Overviews with sticky citations.  Google Ads updated its reporting features. Google’s head of search, Liz Reid, interviewed again.  Also, the emoji answer box is live in Google Search. 0:00 - Introduction 1:02 - Google AI Mode more visual 3:36 - Google AI Overviews sticky citations 4:29 - Goo...

Today we covered the new ChatGPT Instant Checkout with Stripe using Agentic Commerce Protocol.  Did the num 100 parameter change impact Google Ads reporting and tools? Google AdSense launched a new traffic source breakdown report. We covered an article on Google’s AI Max for Search 30 day test. 0:00 - Introduction 1:13 - ChatGPT Instant Checkout 5:13 - Google Ads num 100 change impact 7:30 - Googl...

Today we covered how Google Ads has a new campaign setup screen. Google Ads tweaked the default conversion goal behavior. Google said old domain history needs time to be shaken off.  Google Business Profiles suspensions are spiking. 0:00 - Introduction 1:01 - Google Ads new campaign setup screen 3:11 - Google Ads tweaks default conversion goal behavior 4:40 - Google says old domains history needs...

This week we covered the completion of the Google August 2025 spam update and then we saw ranking volatility heat up again post spam update. Google Search Console impressions are impacted by Google blocking bots. Google Darksteel AI search test. Google AI Mode product listings with AI-generated product summaries. Google Search Live is now out of beta. Google AI Mode travel planning gained more fea...

Today we covered the volatility we are seeing in Google Search post the August spam update. Google Search Live is now really live in the US. Google Ads sponsored grouping label expands.  Google Ads dishonest pricing policy.  0:00 - Introduction 0:54 - Google post spam update volatility 4:13 - Google Search Live is live 5:36 - Google Ads dishonest pricing 6:40 - Google sponsored grouping label 9:32...

Today we covered Google completing the August 2025 spam update and how it is a mess to look at even with Search Console data. Google added a ton of AI features to Chrome. Google also warned the DOJ on its ad-tech remedies ruling.  Also, a programming note, a lot of us are offline Tuesday and Wednesday for the Jewish new year. 0:00 - Introduction 1:21 - Google August 2025 spam update completed 3:05...

The third-party Google Search tracking tools are going through a rough patch right now. Google Search Console was reporting massive impression drops since the 100-parameter results were removed. Google somewhat commented on that Search Console impressions dip. A Google Search bug led to the search results being overwhelmed by search ads. Bing is mixing ads into the organic image search results. Go...

Today we covered how John Mueller responded about the Google Search Console impressions drop. Google doubled down on its AI Max pitch to advertisers.  Google Search has this anti-scraper job but it was closed.  Google added new widgets to the store feature.  Google Discover launched the follow feature and more social posts. 0:00 - Introduction 0:42 - Google somewhat comments on the Search Console...

Today we covered a Google bug leading to ads overwhelming the search results. A new Google Ads study on match types.  Google says searchers love AI summaries, more than links. Google is testing AI-generated summaries for snippets. ChatGPT Search got an upgrade.  0:00 - Introduction 0:41 - Google Ads overwhelm search results 2:30 - Google Ads match type study  6:03 - Google says searchers love AI s...

Today we covered how Microsoft is mixing ads within the organic image search results. Google Ads auto-enabled Store Visits conversions, upsetting some advertisers.  Rolling Stone’s publisher sued Google over AI Overviews. Google Search has this question fringe score, but what is it? 0:00 - Introduction 0:40 - Bing image search mixing ads with organic results 2:47 - Google Ads auto-enables store vi...

Today we covered  the mess going on now with Google Search organic rank tracking now.  Google dropped 100 results per page, the third party tracking tools are broken, Google Search Console performance reports may be impacted too and no, AI Overviews reporting is not coming.  Google Merchant Center pricing policies were updated. The FTC is investigating Google over pricing and terms for ads on webs...

This week, I covered the ongoing Google August 2025 spam update and how it heated up this week. Google got into hot water over saying the web is rapidly declining. Google AI Mode also said AI Mode would be the default, and then backtracked on that statement as well. Google AI Mode expanded beyond the English language. Google is showing AI Mode in the search suggestions autocomplete. Google release...

Today we covered the new Google Ads updates, including AI Max rolling out to all advertisers. Google Ads tests promotion mode, campaign total budget and more. The Google August spam update heating up again.  Bing is testing sitelinks with link icons. Google tests removing the review stars from the hotel knowledge panel. 0:00 - Introduction 0:48 - Google Ads AI Max now available to all plus more 2:...