Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

Today we covered how Google Ads has a new campaign setup screen. Google Ads tweaked the default conversion goal behavior. Google said old domain history needs time to be shaken off.  Google Business Profiles suspensions are spiking. 0:00 - Introduction 1:01 - Google Ads new campaign setup screen 3:11 - Google Ads tweaks default conversion goal behavior 4:40 - Google says old domains history needs...

This week we covered the completion of the Google August 2025 spam update and then we saw ranking volatility heat up again post spam update. Google Search Console impressions are impacted by Google blocking bots. Google Darksteel AI search test. Google AI Mode product listings with AI-generated product summaries. Google Search Live is now out of beta. Google AI Mode travel planning gained more fea...

Today we covered the volatility we are seeing in Google Search post the August spam update. Google Search Live is now really live in the US. Google Ads sponsored grouping label expands.  Google Ads dishonest pricing policy.  0:00 - Introduction 0:54 - Google post spam update volatility 4:13 - Google Search Live is live 5:36 - Google Ads dishonest pricing 6:40 - Google sponsored grouping label 9:32...

Today we covered Google completing the August 2025 spam update and how it is a mess to look at even with Search Console data. Google added a ton of AI features to Chrome. Google also warned the DOJ on its ad-tech remedies ruling.  Also, a programming note, a lot of us are offline Tuesday and Wednesday for the Jewish new year. 0:00 - Introduction 1:21 - Google August 2025 spam update completed 3:05...

The third-party Google Search tracking tools are going through a rough patch right now. Google Search Console was reporting massive impression drops since the 100-parameter results were removed. Google somewhat commented on that Search Console impressions dip. A Google Search bug led to the search results being overwhelmed by search ads. Bing is mixing ads into the organic image search results. Go...

Today we covered how John Mueller responded about the Google Search Console impressions drop. Google doubled down on its AI Max pitch to advertisers.  Google Search has this anti-scraper job but it was closed.  Google added new widgets to the store feature.  Google Discover launched the follow feature and more social posts. 0:00 - Introduction 0:42 - Google somewhat comments on the Search Console...

Today we covered a Google bug leading to ads overwhelming the search results. A new Google Ads study on match types.  Google says searchers love AI summaries, more than links. Google is testing AI-generated summaries for snippets. ChatGPT Search got an upgrade.  0:00 - Introduction 0:41 - Google Ads overwhelm search results 2:30 - Google Ads match type study  6:03 - Google says searchers love AI s...

Today we covered how Microsoft is mixing ads within the organic image search results. Google Ads auto-enabled Store Visits conversions, upsetting some advertisers.  Rolling Stone’s publisher sued Google over AI Overviews. Google Search has this question fringe score, but what is it? 0:00 - Introduction 0:40 - Bing image search mixing ads with organic results 2:47 - Google Ads auto-enables store vi...

Today we covered  the mess going on now with Google Search organic rank tracking now.  Google dropped 100 results per page, the third party tracking tools are broken, Google Search Console performance reports may be impacted too and no, AI Overviews reporting is not coming.  Google Merchant Center pricing policies were updated. The FTC is investigating Google over pricing and terms for ads on webs...

This week, I covered the ongoing Google August 2025 spam update and how it heated up this week. Google got into hot water over saying the web is rapidly declining. Google AI Mode also said AI Mode would be the default, and then backtracked on that statement as well. Google AI Mode expanded beyond the English language. Google is showing AI Mode in the search suggestions autocomplete. Google release...

Today we covered the new Google Ads updates, including AI Max rolling out to all advertisers. Google Ads tests promotion mode, campaign total budget and more. The Google August spam update heating up again.  Bing is testing sitelinks with link icons. Google tests removing the review stars from the hotel knowledge panel. 0:00 - Introduction 0:48 - Google Ads AI Max now available to all plus more 2:...

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...