Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

Today we covered Google has confirmed it has recently begun running a "small experiment" where it is serving regular pure Search campaigns with restrictive match types in AI Mode. Google Shopping Ads data shows it might have a reverse crocodile effect with AI Overviews. Google may have a bug with its job search feature because it is barely showing any new jobs within its search results....

This week, we covered how Google for the second time dodged being broken up, this time over its ad tech monopoly. Google AI Overviews are expanding by default, making them more like AI Mode. Gemini 3.8 Flash is now powering AI Mode but it seems it is not linking or citing much at all. Content is disappearing from the Google News tab for some reason. Google said it does not penalize for old crusty...

Today we covered that a judge ruled Google won’t be broken up over its ad tech monopoly ruling. Google AI Mode now uses Gemini 3.8 Flash but it doesn’t seem too link or citation friendly. Content seems to be disappearing from the Google News tab. 0:00 - Introduction 1:28 - Google won’t be broken up over ad tech 5:33 - Google AI Mode with Gemini 3.8 Flash and it is not link friendly 8:06 - Content...

Today we covered the current Google Analytics data bug that is freaking everyone out.  Google’s John Mueller said the disavow link tool does have an effect. Google AdSense will change its impression measurements to Begin-to-Render. Google Local Service Ads bug is being worked on.  Google Ads new pre-fill asset groups with generated assets. Bing is testing removing the site name from snippets. 0:00...

Today we covered the global rollout of the Google Search Console generative AI reports.  Google said crusty old links that now go to shady sites won’t hurt you.  Google added more human verification methods to Google Search. Google Ads is testing AI-generated what customers love from store rating reviews. 0:00 - Introduction 0:41 - Google Generative Search AI report globally available 2:36 - Googl...

Today we covered how Google said its search team is still at it with fighting spam, does the data show that.  Google AI Overviews are now more like AI Mode results, which is not a great thing for us.  Google’s site reputation abuse policy won’t be enforced in several European regions.  Microsoft Advertising is previewing a new design. Google changes coming to Display & Video 360 API. 0:00 - In...

Another week, more volatility within the Google Search results. Google is also swapping out direct links to go-to URL redirect links in its search results to protect from abuse. Google seems to be showing fewer PDFs within Google Search but why. Google fixed the favicon bug and the crawl stats missing data. Google released updated help docs on the favicon to list out the supported formats includin...

Today we covered more Google search ranking volatility. Google seems to not be showing PDFs as often in the search results. Google added goto parameter redirects to the search result listings. Google AI Mode is rolling out link carousels.  Bing may be renaming Copilot Search answers to AI Overviews.  Google Ads has a new channel setting prioritization slider.  0:00 - Introduction 0:55 - Google add...

Google has released its third spam update of the 2026 year, the August 2026 spam update this week and finished rolling out Friday morning at 4:50am. Google Search’s AI Mode is now being powered sometimes by the new Gemini 3.7 Flash. Google’s John Mueller says it does not roll out updates prior to the announcement. He also explained why Google announces some search updates and not others. The Googl...

Today we covered  Microsoft Advertising is rolling out AI Max globally. Google Ads is testing enhanced matching in customer match settings. John Mueller of Google explaining which Google updates they decide to announce and not announce. Favicons seem to be disappearing from Google Search. 0:00 - Introduction 1:42 - Microsoft Advertising is rolling out AI Max to all 3:56 - Google Ads Enhanced Match...

Today we covered that Google unleashed the August 2026 spam update and no, the volatility we saw prior was not this spam update. Google updates Branded searches conversion measurements. OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT Ads to 31 European regions.  0:00 - Introduction 1:26 - Google August 2026 spam update 2:26 - Google does not wait to announce updates 4:42 - Google updates Branded searches conversion m...

Today we covered a new bug with the Google Search Console Performance reports Generative AI feature data logging. Google paused the AI-generated images from showing up in AI Overviews. Google Ads will use generative-AI to resize your video ads for Performance Max campaigns.  0:00 - Introduction 1:13 - Google Performance Report Data Bug 2:17 - Google pauses AI-generated images test in AI Overviews...

Today we covered the August 17th Google update is here, today is August 17th.  Google Ads language targeting changes are coming next month. Google AI Max timeline is also here.  Google Merchant Center for Agencies has a new limit.  Google Search can now use Gemini 3.7 Flash. Google is hiring a product manager for content automation. Google seems to be testing AI-generated images in AI Overviews fo...

This week, we of course had more Google search ranking volatility, this time on the 12th. Google is testing new AI buttons on its home page, which makes you wonder. Google Search Console expanded its generative AI reporting tools again. Google AI Overviews for local results show AI slop. Google is creating AI-generated images in AI Overviews. Google can show spammy Google-selected canonical in Sea...

Today we covered Google ranking volatility hitting yesterday. Be careful with your Cloudflare setting, it can hurt your SEO. OpenAI makes the sources in ChatGPT responses less visible. Google makes the subscriber count requirement for Search Profiles lower. 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - Google search ranking volatility 1:53 - Don’t misconfigure your Cloudflare account 3:54 - ChatGPT sources are now l...

Today we covered how Google amended its lawsuit against SerpApi now citing licenses content protection and safeguards. Google Merchant Center performance reporting update is coming. Google added a campaign data import validation report in Google Analytics. New Google Ads help document named About Local customer optimization within Performance Max campaign for store goals. 0:00 - Introduction 3:10...

Today we covered how it seems the Google Search Console generative AI performance reports are fully rolled out. Google Ads and Google Analytics added AI Overviews at the top of the pages, new AI data dashboard tools, and a new benchmarking AI feature. Google Ads is testing site names and favicons at the top of the sponsored results ad grouping section. And scammers are snapping up expired X accoun...

Today we covered how Google updated its home page to add some AI buttons right under the search bar.  Google Ads is rolling out the strong match labels in the wild. The Google Ads with AI labels on local pack and Discover. META/Facebook is crawling the web and may be building an AI search engine. ChatGPT Ads rolled out oCPC, AAM and a new product carousel.  Google Business Profiles won’t let you u...

This week, we covered two unconfirmed Google search ranking updates, one mid-week and one over the weekend - some were pretty big. Google said Reddit gets no special preference in its search rankings or AI results. Google Search Console can indeed show AI Mode queries, just not where you expect them. Google crawled send HTTP requests for GET and POST but also HEAD, OPTIONS, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE....

Today we covered the core-like Google Search ranking volatility that hit yesterday.  Google had big executive changes with Jeff Dean leaving, Demise Hassabis changing roles and much more. Google Search Console can show AI Mode queries but not where you need it.  Google has new Deal Ends annotations for Product Listing Ads.  Microsoft Advertising adds excluded content terms for Audience Ads. 0:00 -...

Today we covered how Google said Reddit gets no special preference in its search or AI rankings. Gemini will be replacing Google Assistant on September 4 on mobile devices. Google Ads is testing keyword anchor text links in ad descriptions. Google Ads has new help docs for PMax pay per leads. 0:00 - Introduction 1:08 - Google says Reddit gets no special preference 4:06 - Gemini to replace the Goog...

Today we covered more Google search ranking volatility kicking in this weekend and heating up today.  Bing Webmaster Tools promises the ability to filter by query, URL, etc in the performance reports. Google Search is testing making searchers sign in to see more results. ChatGPT Ads is rolling out a new campaign type for business agents. 0:00 - Introduction 0:47 - Google Search ranking volatility...

This week, yep, we had more ongoing Google Search volatility but a calming period on Wednesday. Google has rolled out the platform properties to track X, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Google page indexing delays has caused weird static snapshots. Google does not list the order precedence for how they deal with metadata conflicts. Google does support the unavailable_after date but it might not see...

Today we covered how half of Google search results have an AI Overview.  Google is testing AI-generated descriptions on Shopping Ads. Google blamed the websites for a race-based AI Overview response. Microsoft earnings were out and Bing search ads are up 10%.  0:00 - Introduction 2:00 - Google AI Overviews On Almost Half of Searches 5:15 - Google Shopping Ads With AI-Generated Descriptions  9:12 -...

Today we covered Google Ads new budget panel is in the help document.  Google also had this new Lead Journey Mapping tool. Google Ads target CPA and target ROAS is showing as bidding options.  Google Platform Properties live for all in Google Search Console. Google Search has no order precedence for metadata conflict.  Google spoke about using the unavailable_after meta tag and can it cause issues...