Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

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...

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...