Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

Today we covered a new report from Similarweb showing the overlap of ChatGPT and Google users.  Google said the web is now not declining, just the web-ad market.  Google Ads has new reporting for AI Max campaigns. Google can now connect your ads better across web and apps.  0:00 - Introduction 0:38 - Google and ChatGPT user overlap 2:23 - Google says now the open web is not declining 4:52 - Google...

Today we covered how Google’s lawyers said the open web is declining, going against what Google’s executives have said. Google was fined $3.5 billion in the EU over anti-competitive ad practices and then told to divest.  Google AI Mode may be the default, but maybe not too soon.  A report says Apple will launch Apple World Knowledge Answers in 2026.    0:00 - Introduction 1:01 - Google says open w...

This week, we covered the big Google Monopoly remedy ruling that will not end up breaking up the company and was more like a slap on the wrist. Google also has FastSearch, a faster search technology used for grounding. Google court docs also note search use of user interactions, user data, Chrome data, and also discuss the search index, spam scores, PageRank, Glue, and more. Google said crawling c...

Today we covered several tidbits from the Google court documents on Google Search. Bing Search tests new Copilot keyword suggestions and expandable related searches. Google Hotel Center will crack down on pricing accuracy. Google Ads new customization for graphs. Sad to report Alan Bleiweiss passed.  0:00 - Introduction 1:05 - Google court docs reveal more on Google Search 3:27 - Bing tests Copilo...

Today we covered the remedy ruling on Google’s monopoly case, in short, they won’t be broken up.  Google FastSearch is used by Gemini for grounding.  Google is testing new search headers and direction buttons.  Google Ads has this survey on the YouTube Network. 0:00 - Introduction 0:31 - Google won’t be broken up in its monopoly ruling 10:40 - Google FastSearch is used for Gemini grounding 11:58 -...

Today we covered the new checkboxes in Google Ads to help you filter your campaigns. Google said AI Max does not go after the Search Partner Network more aggressively. Google Ads lets you search using Google Maps for location assets. The Google webmaster report for September is live. And Google has a new mini-game to encourage you to search more. 0:00 - Introduction 1:30 - Google Ads checkbox filt...

Today we covered how Google updated the AI Mode models last week. Google AI Mode now lets you compare local businesses and products.  Google AI Overviews tests a new look, more like knowledge panels.  Danny Sullivan speaks on Google at WordCamp and Ginny Marvin becomes a YouTuber. 0:00 - Introduction 1:09 - Google AI Mode model was updated 2:09 - Google AI Mode lets you compare products and local...

This week we had our first Google spam update in 8 months, the August 2025 spam update. This update touched down very quickly, likely within 24 hours. I also posted a Google search ranking volatility status report. Google is testing changes to AI Mode to encourage clicks. A new report says traditional search is not dying. A new survey says only 4% of searchers don’t click on links in AI Overviews....

Today we covered a weird potential bug with crawling where many sites, not all, saw huge declines in Google crawl rates. Microsoft now tests larger Bing Ads titles, larger than organic results. Google Ads audience exclusions work for Shopping campaigns. Bing is testing bolding on hover.  0:00 - Introduction 0:45 - Google massive crawl rate drop 3:22 - Microsoft Bing Ads titles get big 4:38 - Googl...

Today we covered the release of the Google August 2025 spam update.  A new survey is out that looks at how searchers are clicking on AI Overviews. Google Ads has new loyalty goals.  0:00 - Introduction 0:54 - Google August 2025 spam update released 3:32 - Google AI Overviews click survey 6:41 - Google Ads loyalty goals 9:57 - Conclusion A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marke...

Today we covered Google’s Robby Stein saying AI Mode will test encouraging more clicks from the answers.  A new report says traditional search is not declining. Microsoft Advertising responds to it testing almost invisible sponsored labels. And Microsoft spoke about suspensions and appeals dos and don’ts.   0:00 - Introduction 1:04 - Google AI Mode to now encourage clicks 3:48 - Traditional search...

Today we had a checkin with the Google search ranking volatility.  The Information uncovered that OpenAI’s ChatGPT uses SerpApi to scrape some of Google’s search results.  Is Google hiring another Search Liaison? Amazon is back advertising with Google Ads. Google Ads channel reporting for PMax is on the account level.   0:00 - Introduction 1:42 - Google search ranking volatility checkin 2:23 - Ope...

This week, we did a check in on the ongoing Google Search ranking volatility. Google AI Mode expanded to 180 countries, added agentic experiences, got more personalized and gained sharable links. ChatGPT may be sending less traffic to sites, according to one report. A new tool is tracking referral traffic from ChatGPT vs Google. Google explained the difference between the Chrome UX report and the...

Today we covered that Google expanded AI Mode to 180 countries and added agentic and personalization features. ChatGPT may be sending 52% less referral traffic, according to one report.  Google Local Service Ads verified badges will be the single badge. Google Ads has a richer conversion import.  Google Search is testing share icons in the search results. 0:00 - Introduction 0:36 - Google AI Mode...

Today we covered a new Google Ads report for its Search Partner Network, where it actually shows where your impressions are coming from.  We also covered a new tool that tracks ChatGPT versus Google traffic referrals.  Bing updated its Copilot AI answers in search and more. Also, did you see the Google AI Overviews bottom tray?  0:00 - Introduction 1:14 - Google Ads SPN reporting update 4:22 - Cha...

Today we covered that the new Google Merchant API will replace the Content API for Shopping. And we covered the unexpected image of Amazon stopping its Google Ads. Google explained the differences between the Chrome UX report and Search Console’s core web vitals report.   0:00 - Introduction 0:49 - Google Merchant API to replace Content API for Shopping 2:09 - Unexpected Impact Of Amazon Stopping...

Today we covered Google search results volatility cools. Chartbeat said Google Search clicks to publishers are stable, and backs up Google’s statement.  Google’s John Mueller goes off on GEO acronyms. Google Ads language targeting is going away for search campaigns. Google Ads has a new preview ad link in the asset details section. 0:00 - Introduction 1:20 - Google Search volatility cools 2:00 - G...

The Google search ranking volatility has not calmed down since the June core update and we are in mid-August and expecting another core update soon. Google launched the preferred sources feature for Top Stories in the US and India. Chartbeat says traffic from Google to publishers is stable with AI Overviews, supporting Google’s claims.  Google’s Gary Illyes was interviewed on AI Search, AI content...

Today we covered Microsoft says SEOs need to do the click studies to see if AI search clicks lead to conversions or not, search engines don't have visibility there. A site saw Google traffic drop by 50% in two weeks after being hacked, John Mueller of Google replied. Google Ads has a new cost toggle for PMax campaigns to show share of cost. We also covered YouTube promotions expansion and Goog...

Today we covered the launch of Google’s preferred sources for top stories. Google Ads has a new gender exclusions feature for PMax.  Google has new AI to reduce invalid traffic by up to 40%. 0:00 - Introduction 0:33 - Google preferred sources is live 1:58 - Google Ads invalid traffic AI improvements 3:47 - Google Ads PMax gender exclusions  4:51 - Conclusion A daily recap video summarizing a few o...

Today we covered Gary Illyes on AI Search, content, SEO and more. Google Ads page content exclusions. And Google quietly updated a number of its ads policy help articles.  0:00 - Introduction 0:48 - Google’s Gary Illyes on AI Search, Content and SEO 4:06 - Google Ads page content exclusions  5:57 - Google Ads help articles quietly updated 7:19 - Conclusion A daily recap video summarizing a few of...

Today we covered the numerous Google Ads performance max updates. Google Ads launches conversions with cart data diagnostics tool. Google Search ranking volatility was heated this weekend. Bing Webmaster Tools gained 24 months of performance data. 0:00 - Introduction0:56 - Google Ads released numerous useful updates for PMax2:15 - Google Ads conversions with cart data diagnostics tool 3:25 - Googl...

This week, we covered the ongoing Google search volatility, which cooled for a bit and then got heated again. Google’s Liz Reid said that website clicks from Google are relatively stable since launching AI Overviews, but no one believes them. Google did not confirm that it uses MUVERA in Google Search. I posted the Google Webmaster report for August. Bing Webmaster Tools search performance report...

Today we covered how Google’s Liz Reid said clicks to websites are “relatively stable” since AI Overviews were added, but no one believes Google.   Bing Webmaster Tools adds device and country lists to performance report. Google Ads has new PMax targeting options in the Google Ads API, and released the new Ads API 0:00 - Introduction 0:56 - Google says clicks to websites stable since AI Overviews...

Today we covered how the Google search volatility first calmed for a day and then spiked back up, all with the SEO chatter. Google seems to be rolling out a sticky search bar header.  Google Ads negative keywords are used to train its smart bidding. Google Ads updated its EU political content policy.  0:00 - Introduction 1:16 - Google ranking volatility cooled and now heats up again 3:25 - Google...