Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

Today we covered an interview with Google’s CEO where he spoke about how AI Mode may be incorporated into core web search. Google Search Console’s Discover report has a bug.  Google Business Profiles are being reported as vanishing.  Google Search ranking volatility is calm but heated. Google Ads Display and Video 360 API file changes.  And more… 0:00 - Introduction 0:46 - Google AI Mode coming to...

This week we covered the ongoing Google search ranking volatility that spiked on June 4th. Have you heard of the Great Decoupling? Did Google start indexing less in late May? Google updated its ranking algorithm around explicit content and videos, plus they updated its SafeSearch documentation. I posted the monthly Google webmaster report for June 2025. Google is testing AI Overviews at the bottom...

Today we covered some reporting a drop in indexing with Google Search since late May.  Google updated its explicit search ranking algorithm and revamped its SafeSearch documentation. Google Ads API version 20 is out. FTX sued Neil Patel for $55 million. And Bloomberg interviewed Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai. 0:00 - Introduction 0:39 - Google Indexing dropping? 2:20 - Google explicit algorithm updat...

Today we covered The Great Decoupling with Google Search impressions and clicks. We are seeing Google search volatility on June 4th.  Google AI Overviews have shown up at the bottom.  Google Discover is testing showing generative AI summaries. Google video ads expands to search, shopping and images.  Navah Hopkins is the new Microsoft Advertising Ads Liaison.  0:00 - Introduction 1:29 - The Great...

This week, we covered more Google Search ranking volatility around May 29th. Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, said web publishing is not dead and had a great interview with The Verge. Most SEOs are scared of AI Mode in Google Search. Google AI Mode data is coming to Search Console. Google AI Overviews test query expansion feature. Google Ads has new help documents on AI Overviews and AI experiences. G...

Today we covered how Ginny Marvin from Google said when you will see ads above/below or within AI Overviews.  Google will bring promote pins to Google Maps for Demand Gen campaigns and we are seeing new Google search ranking volatility.  0:00 - Introduction 0:56 - Google Ads in AI Overviews above/below and within 4:00 - Google promoted pins for demand gen 5:26 - Google ranking volatility heats up...

Today we covered The Verge’s interview with Sundar Pichai, where he said web publishing isn’t dying. A new poll showing SEOs are scared about AI Mode. Google AI Overviews are testing query expansion.  Google product results with a third level overlay to keep searchers on the page. Google enhanced conversion configuration to a new GTM tag. 0:00 - Introduction 0:32 - Google’s Sundar Pichai on web pu...

Today we covered that Google lowered the customer list requirement for targeting on search campaigns. Google’s John Mueller doesn’t like to lump programmatic SEO with technical SEO.  Google is testing image carousels in the AI Overview.  Google is testing new call to actions to drive people into AI Mode. 0:00 - Introduction 0:52 - Google Ads customer list change 2:13 - Programmatic SEO vs technica...

Today we covered how Google Search Console will get AI Mode data but it will be lumped in with all the other data, with no way to break it out. Google Ads has new help docs on AI Mode and AI Overviews, etc. I am seeing complaints about the live indexing API in Google Search. Google Shopping tests a new sub menu.  And more… 0:00 - Introduction 0:50 - Google Search Console data for AI Mode 3:06 - Go...

This week was a huge week for search; between Google I/O and Google Marketing Live - it was just a lot. We had two unconfirmed Google ranking updates, one on I/O day and one on May 16th. Google announced AI Mode was live in the US and then announced a number of new features for AI Mode. Meanwhile, AI Mode links had a bug with tracking, it should be fixed soon, if not already. Google AI Overviews e...

Today we covered the news out of Google Marketing Live around ads in AI Mode, ads in desktop AI Overviews. New Google Ads smart bidding exploration. New Google Ads AI tools and Agentic features. Why Google placed the AI Mode tab on the left, always.  Google’s new help documents on using AI for content and your website and AI search features.  0:00 - Introduction 0:50 - Google AI Mode Ads & Ads...

Today we covered the news out of Google I/O from yesterday, including my one-on-one with a Google executive.  Google AI Mode rolled out in the US and they are testing a slew of new features.  Google AI Overviews have expanded and they claim a 10% increase in searches from it.  Google search ranking volatility also heated up over I/O.   0:00 - Introduction 0:55 - Google AI Mode 12:21 - Google expan...

Today we covered the Google Ads benchmarks report from Wordstream.  Google is testing removing site names from the search results.  Google tests a new link icon in a box. IndexNow supports product schema, which leads to faster shopping indexing and Shopify and Amazon will support it. 0:00 - Introduction 0:45 - Google Ads Benchmarks 2025 2:18 - Google tests removing site names 3:07 - Google tests l...

Today we covered how Google said ads with AI Overviews on the page are making as much as ads without.  Google Ads has a bug with ad spend on new customer acquisition.  Google Discover seems to be rolling out on desktop.  Google made AI mode faster, tests AI shuffle and we are seeing volatility.  0:00 - Introduction 1:05 - Google earning on ads with AI Overviews 3:26 - Google Ads bug with ad spend...

This week, we covered, you guessed it, more Google search ranking volatility.  Google also said they are rethinking its search stack from the ground up because of LLMs.  Google is testing AI Overviews in more regions and languages prior to Google I/O/  Google is testing AI Mode buttons throughout Google Search. Google is testing a new Discussions beta feature maybe to replace Reddit. Google is tes...

Today we covered how Google said it needs to rethink search from the ground up with LLMs in mind.  Google adjusted for click bias because of rank position. Google Ads PMAx campaigns now support device targeting. Google Ads has a new “ads funded by” section.   0:00 - Introduction 1:28 - Google Rethinking Search From Ground Up 3:32 - Google Click Position Bias 4:30 - Google PMAx Device Targeting 7:3...

Today we covered Google Search Console testing the add annotations feature. Bing Search APIs are retiring.  Google internal emails on Google Marketing Live from 2024.  Google Ads PMax image optimization feature. Google Business Profiles new What’s Happening feature. 0:00 - Introduction 1:05 - Google Search Console report annotations 1:57 - Bing Search APIs retiring 2:38 - Google Power Pair interna...

Today we covered that Google executives are expecting Google Search traffic to decline and are planning what to do about ads and monetization revenue.  Google was sued in Italy for $3.3 billion and $1.4 in Texas.  More DOJ documents reveal more search ranking details.  Google’s Ryan Moulton rants on the court documents.  And we are seeing renewed signs of Google Search ranking volatility. 0:00 - I...

Today we covered the Google discussions beta and will it replace Reddit in google Search. Google AI Mode button tests. Google AI Overviews expanding in more regions. Recipe features in AI Overviews. Google AI Max questions and answers. And what is with follower counts on Google Ads. 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - Google discussions beta 4:21 - Google AI Mode buttons 5:12 - Google AI Overviews expandin...

It's been calm for the past two weeks but we are seeing Google ranking volatility hit on May 8th. Google held another creator summit, this one in Washington, D.C. Apple said Google searches are declining in Safari, but Google said searches are up across Apple devices. Google Discover in Brazil is wacky. Google Search said they stopped 20 times more scammy pages. Google’s AI crawler does render...

Today we covered the new Google search ranking volatility that hit on May 8th. With that we also had Google Analytics real time bugs.  Apple said Google searches on Safari are down but Google says searchers are up on Apple devices. Google Ads is testing new charts. Google Ad Manager has data issues. 0:00 - Introduction 1:11 - Google ranking volatility May 8th 1:46 - GA 4 real time bugs 3:22 - Appl...

Today we covered the new creator summit that took place in Washington, D.C. Google Ads AI Max is out and we got some feedback on it.  Google Merchant Center has a new event promotion. Google sitelinks carousels with images. Google is moving the results count, chewing it out.  0:00 - Introduction 0:52 - Google D.C. Creator Summit 5:28 - Google Ads AI Max Feedback 8:48 - Google Merchant Center Event...

Today we covered the new Google Ads AI Max for search campaigns. Google As is testing new ad group changes. Google seems to be okay and happy with Reddit using AI translation in automation.  Google Discover seems to be bugging out in Brazil and more… 0:00 - Introduction 0:57 - Google Ads AI Max 5:27 - Google Ads Ad Group Changes 6:02 - Google Is Okay With AI Translation For Reddit 10:05 - Google D...

Today we covered the rollout of AI Mode to more Google users, and some of the new places and product features.  Google is testing swapping local pack results with AI Overviews, Google Ads will display the payers name going forward. Google Ads is testing doubling the search themes limit. 0:00 - Introduction 1:06 - Google AI Mode expands and features 3:35 - Google local pack replaced by AI Overviews...

This week we covered the ongoing Google Search ranking volatility. I posted the big Google webmaster report for May. Google admitted in a deposition that it used its search data for Gemini AI. Google Search Console leaked that it was showing desktop data for the Google Discover performance report. Google Search Console’s API was stuck most of this week. Google may label commercial search queries f...