Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

Today we covered Google PMax campaigns with new brand asset rules. Google phrase match is losing group to broad match in Google Ads. Google updated its local ranking documentation.  Google Search Analytics API now has new metadata for incomplete data points.  0:00 - Introduction 0:45 - Google PMax brand asset rules 2:04 - Google Google Ads phrase match listing to broad match 6:10 - Google updates...

Today we covered the ongoing Google June 2025 core update and how it was super heated over the weekend. Google Business Profiles missing performance data since June 25th.  Google AI Mode with link only cards. Google AI Overviews with more videos.  Google Ads with apply recommendations in one click from Gmail.  Google Local Service Ads reviews are now managed in Business Profiles. 0:00 - Introducti...

This week we covered the ongoing Google June 2025 core update and how we are finally seeing some recoveries with the past helpful content updates, and some core updates. Google Search Console’s performance report might have a bug with the average position. Google Search Console added a discussion forums search appearance filter. A new study shows AI-generated content ranks fine in Google Search bu...

Today we covered how we are seeing helpful content update recoveries with the latest Google June 2025 core update. Google Search Console may have a reporting bug on average position.  Google Ads is resulting in fewer clicks.  Google Ads API to sunset ad sharing.  Google AI Mode now with Circle to Search and Google Lens. 0:00 - Introduction 1:35 - Google June 2025 core update recoveries 4:44 - Sear...

Today we covered Google’s response to hidden search terms in Google Ads.  AI Content - is it safe or not for Google.  Google Search Console’s new discussion forums filter.  Google video action campaigns to be upgraded to Demand Gen. 0:00 - Introduction 0:48 - Google Ads Hidden Search Terms 2:45 - AI Generated Content and Google 5:30 - Google Search Console discussion forum filter 6:22 - Google Vid...

Today we covered Google AI Mode going fully live in India.  Google AI Mode with follow up search suggestions. Google AI Mode results differ each and every time.  Google Ads Editor version 2.10 is out.  Google Ads updated its political content policy. Google Ads highlights irrelevant bold terms.  0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - Google AI Mode fully live in India 1:58 - Google AI Mode follow up suggestio...

Today we covered how Cloudflare’s CEO said he will get Google to allow us to block AI Overviews without it impacting regular search. Google faces EU antitrust complaints over its AI Overviews.  Google AI Mode can respond in non-English languages. Plus, the Google Keyword Planner tool got an update. And google Merchant Center gets automated shipping updates. 0:00 - Introduction 0:57 - Cloudflare to...

This week, we finally had an official Google update, the June 2025 core update, which seemed to have kicked in on July 2nd. We also had an unconfirmed update on June 28th, days before the core update was announced. Google Search Console updated its Insights report. Google promoted AI Mode with an animated not Google Doodle. Google is testing AI Mode in Chrome. A study from Similarweb shows that cl...

Today we covered  Similarweb data says zero click search is way up since AI Overviews were introduced. Google’s people also ask is showing AI Overviews 12% or of the time, says AlsoAsked.  Google Ads is rolling out AI Max search match type in the search term report.  0:00 - Introduction 0:37 - Google zero click is up a lot 3:06 - Google people also ask showing AI Overviews 12% of the time 5:22 - G...

Today we covered the first signs of the June 2025 Google core update being seen in the wild.  Google Ads message assets will require you to verify your phone numbers.  Microsoft is putting Copilot Search as the first tab in the Bing Search bar. 0:00 - Introduction 1:02  - Signs of the Google June 2025 core update 4:02 - Google Ads message assets phone number verification 5:34 - Copilot Search gets...

Today we covered the June 2025 Google core update announcement.  Cloudflare announced they will block AI bots by default and launched a new initiative named pay per crawl.  Google Ads rolls out video analytics.  0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Google June 2025 core update 2:26 - Cloudflare block AI bots and pay per crawl initiative 5:54 - Google Ads video analytics 7:36 - Conclusion A daily recap video...

Today we covered Google’s Liz Reid on SEO and ads in AI Mode. Google search ranking volatility hit hard again this weekend.  Google AI Overviews is testing site names for citations. Google Ads simplifies broad match testing.   0:00 - Introduction 0:53 - Google’s Liz Reid On SEO and Ads in AI Mode 2:26 - Google ranking volatility this weekend 2:52 - Google AI Overviews with site names 3:30 - Google...

Another week and more Google search ranking volatility hits, this time on June 25 and June 26. Google promised more core updates, more often, but that did not happen. Google’s Nick Fox says he questions the AI Overview click studies and says the web is thriving. Liz Reid, Google’s head of Search, spoke about SEO and ads in AI Search. Google expanded AI Mode in Labs to India. Google touts its index...

Today we covered another unconfirmed Google update, and what the heck happened with Google releasing more core updates, more often. Google Discover added a shopping widget for price tracking. Google launches Offerwall, a customizable content access tool for publishers. Microsoft is testing italics fonts for URLs in the Bing Search results.  0:00 - Introduction 1:14 - Where are Google’s core update...

Today we covered Microsoft Advertising app placement controls. Microsoft is testing floating the Copilot search box floating over the Bing results. Google reviews expands consumer alerts. Google is facing a crackdown in the UK over AI, search and ads. 0:00 - Introduction 1:47 - Google UK crackdown 3:00 - Microsoft Ads app placement controls 4:00 - Microsoft Copilot search box floating over Bing se...

Today we covered Google’s first expansion of AI Mode, it is now in India as Search Labs.  Google’s John Mueller said URL extensions don’t matter for SEO.  Google has a new undisclosed answer box. Google added emoji answers. Google local listings test social profile links above Google Posts. We have an update on the Google Ads slider bar. Google Analytics has consent signal ratings.  0:00 - Introdu...

Today we covered Google’s VP, Nick Fox, saying the web is thriving and he disagrees with the CTR studies on AI Overviews.  Google’s John Mueller said longer lingering, larger SEO issues can take Google longer to process.  Google Ads has new conversion value include predicted metric.  Google ads has a PMax update you should know about. At the end we played with Google Audio Overviews for fun. 0:00...

This week we covered the ongoing Google search ranking volatility. Google is now officially counting AI Mode in Google Search Console’s performance reports, but good luck understanding it. Google is testing Audio Overviews in Google Search. Google AI Mode is now within people also ask and Chrome. Google rolled out the Search Live feature in labs but it is audio only. Google added troubleshooting d...

Today we covered that Google Search Live, the audio version, went live.  Google added Veo 3 video tool to YouTube Shorts.  Google updated its URL structure help documentation. And Google reviews reporting was updated. 0:00 - Introduction 0:44 - Google Search Live audio goes live 2:41 - Veo 3 video tool in YouTube Shorts 4:03 - Google updates URL structure help documentation 5:03 - Google reporting...

Today we had a special guest, Glenn Gabe from GSQI , who explained how Google Search Console tracks AI Mode. Google’s Martin Splitt explained the Great Decoupling. Google search ranking volatility heats up again.  John Mueller from Google said no AI system uses the LLMs.txt file yet. Google is testing a new ad format for search ads.  Google PMax, smart campaigns on offline conversion 0:00 - Introd...

Today we covered Google Search Console showing AI Mode data. Google AI Mode being shown in people also ask and Chrome auto-suggest.  Google knowledge panels are sending people to the wrong site. Google Ads AI Max is rolling out and Greg has his thoughts.  Google Ads target CPC bidding for Demand Gen is new. 0:00 - Introduction 1:14 - Google AI Mode data now in Search Console bleh… 4:16 - Google AI...

Today we covered Google AI Mode rolling out more in the US and Google launching Audio Overviews in search. Google Ads is testing new interfaces for charts and Google Merchant Center moved some interface features around. Google Ads shows the audience size for custom segments.  OpenAI made improvements to ChatGPT Search. 0:00 - Introduction 1:09 - Google AI Mode rolling out in US 2:18 - Google Audio...

This week in search, we of course covered some Google search ranking volatility. Google Search had serving issues across Google Search, Discover and Google Lens yesterday. Google’s Sundar Pichai said AI Mode will slowly be incorporated into Google Search. Google is finally rolling out AI Mode in search for signed-out users. Apple announced updates to Apple Intelligence and Apple Visual Intelligenc...

Today we covered Google’s new voluntary buyout program.  Google updated its removal-based demotion system.  Google warned about unrelated content on your site.  Microsoft Advertising has a new report builder and more. YouTube is testing 30-second non-skippable ads.  0:00 - Introduction 1:59 - Google buy out program 4:54 - Google removal based demotion system small but mighty update 6:11 - Google o...

Today we covered Apple Visual Intelligence demos, are they impressive or too late. Google AI Max is coming in the third quarter.  Google Ads URL inclusion and exclusion is being tested. Google Ads confirmed an “issue.” Google Search Console API is delayed again.  0:00 - Introduction 1:56 - Apple Intelligence & Visual Intelligence 5:20 - Google AI Max Coming 6:24 - Google Ads URL inclusion and...