Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

Today we covered Google AI Mode recipe results with new link cards, based on recipe blogger feedback.  Google also has these AI Mode recipe widgets in Google Search. Google AI Overviews have these weird drop downs. Google removed the accessibility section from its JavaScript SEO documentation.  Google Merchant Center adds build to order for vehicle listings. 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Google AI Mo...

Today we covered that OpenAI launched GPT 5.3 Instant that will show fewer links in ChatGPT web search. Google had a new help document on how its crawler works. Google Discover feed shows social posts.  Google Ads API enforces daily minimum budget for Demand Gen campaigns.  0:00 - Introduction 1:04 - ChatGPT 5.3 Instant without so many links 2:27 - Google’s new crawler help document 4:36 - Google...

Today we covered how Google selects image thumbnails for Google Search and Google Discover. Google AI Mode sidebar referrer links do not work. Google Ads has a new help page for UCP.  0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Image thumbnail selection in Google Search & Discover 1:25 - Google AI Mode sidebar referrers not working 3:02 - UCP Google Ads help page 4:27 - Conclusion  A daily recap video summariz...

This week, we covered the competition of the Google Discover core update. Also gave a status update on the Google Search volatility. Google had a brief serving issue with Google Search. Google is testing showing vertical search services next to its own in the EU.  Google said a spike in impressions do not cause problems for Google Search.  Google won’t use a sitemap file if it is not convinced of...

Today we covered Google Circle to Search looking at the whole image, with a new update. Bing updated its Webmaster Guidelines. Google Posts to add recurring scheduling. OpenAI COO says ChatGPT ad rollout will be “iterative.” Google Ads text guidelines rolling out globally for PMax and AI Max. 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Google Circle to Search looks at the whole image 3:15 - Bing Webmaster Guidelin...

Today we covered that Google Search had a serving bug for a short period of time last night.  Anthropic updated its crawler documentation. Google’s AI Mode added a see more button.  Google Ad Grants now lets nonprofits optimize for shop visits. Google Ads pacing budgeting was clarified a bit.  0:00 - Introduction 0:39 - Google search serving bug 1:21 - Anthropic documents its crawlers 2:18 - Googl...

Today we covered Google Discover dropping dates, a new checkbox for Google Ads help that allows Google to make changes on your behalf, a new Microsoft Shopping ad unit in the wild and poisoning AI agents with bad info.0:00 - Introduction1:12 - No dates on Google Discover2:56 - Google Ads new "make changes" on form5:13 - Bing testing newShopping (PLA) ad units?6:20 - Microsoft cuts back o...

Today we covered how the Google search ranking volatility may be cooling.  Google Search Console has a bug with the page indexing report.  Bing is testing new links in the AI responses.  Google Ads updated its budget pacing for ad scheduling.  Google has a new Meridian tool for Marketing Mix Model. 0:00 - Introduction 0:40 - Google search volatility cooling 1:30 - Google page indexing report bug 2...

This week, we covered that Google Search has been super volatile all week long. Google’s John Mueller said they don’t really have a bad title black filter in search. It seems a lot of businesses are complaining that Google reviews are disappearing. Google also updated its review policies, so maybe it is related. Google Search Console rolled out the new AI-powered configuration tool. Google said th...

Today we covered how Google reviews are being removed again, we are not sure why or how widespread it is.  Google Ads is now showing Performance Max placements in the where ads showed report. Google Search Console’s branded queries and social channels report are still coming. 0:00 - Introduction 0:34 - Google reviews disappearing again 1:45 - Google Ads PMax placement report 3:20 - Google Search C...

Today we covered the new link styles in Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews.  Google Search Console’s AI-powered configuration tool is live. Google AdSense has a display bug with some ad formats. Google Ads shifts Lookalike to AI signals in Demand Gen. 0:00 - Introduction 1:22 - Google has new link cards for AI Mode and AI Overviews 2:27 - Google Search Console’s AI-powered configuration tool is liv...

Today we covered that Google said blocking AI Overviews is hard.  Google Ads may be auto-enabling your paused keywords. And yes, we have more ongoing Google Search volatility. 0:00 - Introduction 0:36 - Google said blocking AI Overviews is hard 2:34 - Google Ads may be enabling your paused keywords 4:09 - Google Search has more ongoing volatility 5:58 - Conclusion A daily recap video summarizing a...

This week in search we have more ongoing Google search ranking volatility. Bing Webmaster Tools rolled out new AI Performance reports with a new design. Google AI Overviews tests new overlay cards. Grokipedia is seeing a decline in visibility in Google Search and ChatGPT. Google Ads has new ad units for retailers in AI Mode. Veo 3 is now in Google Ads Asset Studio. Google launched UCP-powered chec...

Today we covered the new Google AI Mode retail ad units, Veo 3 in Google Ads Asset Studio, plus UCP rolling out in AI Mode.  OpenAI wants advertisers to prompt to create ads, bypassing agencies.  Google released an early preview of WebMCP for agentic connections.  0:00 - Introduction 0:28 - Google AI Mode new retail ad units & Veo 3 in Asset Studio 4:41 - Google is rolling out UCP in AI Mode 5...

Today we covered the public beta launch of the new Bing AI Performance report within Bing Webmaster Tools.  Google has clarified the crawler size limits once again.  Google launched the results about you feature. Google Ads is pushing AI Max tools within in-app ads.  0:00 - Introduction 0:50 - Bing AI performance reports now live 3:04 - Google clarifies crawler file size limits again 4:29 - Google...

Today we covered ChatGPT Ads going live. There is more Google ranking volatility.  Grokipedia is dropping in the Google search results.  And Google Ads PMax A/B experiments rolling out. Google is now testing citation icons on the bottom of the AI Mode responses. 0:00 - Introduction 0:25 - ChatGPT Ads go live with user controls 2:07 - Google ranking volatility heats up 2:29 - Grokipedia see Google...

Today we covered  the new Google Discover core update in February 2026. Google earnings release with ad revenue numbers. Google Ads added diagnostics hub for data connections. 0:00 - Introduction 0:38 - Google Discover core update in February 3:29 - Google Earnings and ad revenue 6:12 - Google Ads diagnostics hub for data connections 6:59 - Conclusion A daily recap video summarizing a few of the t...

This week, we covered the first core update of 2026, the February 2026 Discover core update. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing super-heated and volatile Google search rankings. Google has nothing to share about the recent unconfirmed ranking updates. Google said its search algorithms, spam detection, spam policies did not fundamentally change with AI Search. Google spoke about its top crawling challe...

Today we covered the intense Google search ranking volatility. Also, how Lily Ray documented that tons of self-serving listicles are being hit hard in the search results, and Glenn Gabe thinks it is a reviews update.  Googlebot listed more of its file size limits. Microsoft announced the Publisher Content Marketplace to compensate publishers for AI use of its content. 0:00 - Introduction 0:40 - Go...

Today we covered Google on if algorithm or policy changes happened because of AI Search. Google also spoke about the top crawling challenges of 2025.  ChatGPT is now showing top stories and visual knowledge panels.  Google stop preselecting PMax in Shopping campaign setups. And I went off on Bing’s multi-turn search feature. 0:00 - Introduction 1:24 - Google algorithm and policy changes with AI Se...

Today we covered how Google’s John Mueller hinted (I mean commented) that AI visibility reports might come to Google Search Console. Google won’t share any insight into why there is a lot of Google volatility and there was volatility late last week into the weekend. Google is testing third-party endorsements on search ads. OpenAI is prepping the ChatGPT code base to serve ads. Google seems to be s...

This week, we covered more ongoing Google search ranking volatility - January was a heated month. Google AI Overviews show more button officially flows to AI Mode, which is not good for publishers. Gemini 3 is powering AI Overviews globally now. Google is being forced to explore ways to let us say we don’t want Google to use our content in AI Overviews or AI Mode. A poll says 33% of you will block...

Today we covered how many of you will block Google AI search experiences.  Google’s Personal Intelligence also has Frankenstein recipes.  Google Ads API version 23 is out.  Microsoft earnings are out and it may show Microsoft Advertising growth is slowing.  0:00 - Introduction 0:36 - Poll on blocking Google AI search experiences 2:17 - Google Personal Intelligence Frankenstein recipes  5:00 - Goog...

Today we covered that Google AI Overviews jump you to AI Mode, hide citations and it is just not right. Oh, and Gemini 3 powers those AI Overviews globally now.  Google is exploring ways to allow publishers to block AI search features, like AI Overviews.  Bing Webmaster Tools is testing AI Performance report, shows citations but not clicks.  Google Ads PMax has one-click ad previews. SPONSORED by...

Today we covered that Yahoo is coning back to search with Yahoo Scout.  Yea, we got more Google volatility heating up. ChatGPT ads are not going to be cheap according to early reports.  OpenAI is emailing people to use ChatGPT.  Microsoft Advertising launched its Ad Preview Hub. SPONSORED by ADSQUIRE.com 0:00 - Introduction 2:09 - Yahoo is back in search with Yahoo Scout 5:53 - Google Search volat...