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Google Ads Established In Extensions

Google is testing placing the year the company was established on Google Ads. The ads have "established in" next to the ad description, so these seem to be ad extensions on the ads.

Brodie Clark spotted this and posted a screenshot on X. He wrote, "Google is now testing out an automatic extension of ads that feature the year the business was established in. Accompanying the year is an icon for a business, similar to the Google Business Profile icon."

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-established-in-extensions-37274.html

Google: Our Link Best Practices Doc Are Still Good Guidelines

Google's John Mueller said the link best practices SEO documentation on its website are still "good guidelines" for both SEO and overall "accessibility & UX reasons." The guidelines are only about 14 months old, so they are recent.

The question was specific to the anchor text section, where the person who asked the question wrote, "I was wondering how true this is today (the anchor text bit). I found that personally while writing I tend to rather naturally use generic keywords: here, read more and so on."

Honestly, I also often find it natural to make many anchor text links using words like "over here," or "click here." It depends on how I am writing the sentence. To me, using keyword rich anchor text is an SEO thing, because I've been covering SEO for over 20 years...

But John Mueller of Google replied, "Those continue to seem like good guidelines - also for accessibility & UX reasons. They're not requirements, so applying nuance is fine."

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-link-best-practices-good-guidelines-37259.html

Google: Splitting & Merging Sites Takes Longer Than Normal Site Migrations

Want to scare an SEO? Just tell them they need to manage a site migration. Want to make an SEO faint? Tell them they need to manage to split a site into two or more sites while merging content on those sites. John Mueller from Google said it takes Google longer to process site splits and merges than normal site migrations.

John said this on X saying, "Splitting & merging tend to take much longer than a normal site migration." Why? Because he said "there's not much you can do other than to be patient - it just takes time." He is even "assuming" that everything was done right and even then, it takes Google much longer to process.

If you are just migrating from domainA.com to domainB.com and keeping everything else the same, then that is much easier for Google to process. But if you are moving content from one domain to two or more different domains, with new site structures, new site purposes and so on, that can take a much longer time.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-split-merge-sites-seo-37278.html

Google Ads API Version 16.1 Now Available

Google released version 16.1 of the Google Ads API yesterday. The update includes query assets for Demand Gen, more location service details, more support warnings, Target ROAS bid simulation and more.

This is a minor release update since the last update, Version 16 in February 2024. Before that was version 15 back in October 2023. Then before that was version 14.1 which was released in August. Version 13.1 preceded this new version, which was released in April 2023. Version 12.0 was released in October 2022, Version 11.0 of the Google Ads API was released in June, and version 11.1 was in August. Also Version 10.1 was released on April 27, 2022 and version 10.0 was released on February 9, 2022. And Google has sunset the AdWords API on April 27th which will completely stop working at the end of July.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-version161-37279.html

Meta Integrates Google & Bing Search Results Into AI Assistant

Meta's AI assistant, now powered by Llama 3, integrates real-time search results from Google and Bing.

Highlights:
Meta's AI assistant now integrates real-time search results from both Google and Bing.
Users can access search seamlessly within Meta's apps, without switching platforms.
SEO strategies may need to adapt to optimize for both search engines and AI assistants.

Meta’s AI assistant, powered by the new Llama 3 model, will now incorporate real-time search results from Google and Bing.

This integration marks a step forward in AI assistant capabilities and their potential impact on the search industry.

You can access Meta AI within Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and the newly launched Meta.ai desktop experience.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/meta-integrates-google-bing-search-results-into-ai-assistant/514291/

Meta could launch Threads ads this year

Brands and marketers might be able to buy ads on the text-based platform Threads sooner than expected.

Advertisers might be able to purchase ads on Meta’s Threads platform as early as the second half of this year. That’s according to a Digiday (subscription required) report citing multiple sources.

Why we care: Brands and marketers will soon have another way to reach their target audiences. Although Threads isn’t at the level of Facebook or Instagram (2 billion monthly active users), Threads gained 50 million followers in its first 24 hours of launch last year and now has about 85 million monthly active users.

Read more https://searchengineland.com/meta-threads-ads-this-year-439739

Google Expands Auto Ads with “Ad Intents” Sponsored Links

Google unveils "ad intents" format placing sponsored links in publisher content, creating a potential revenue opportunity.

Highlight:
Google launched "ad intents" to monetize website content with contextual ads and search results.
Ad intents inserts sponsored links/anchors into publisher content.
Publishers can choose not to opt-in to ad intents.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-expands-auto-ads-with-ad-intents-sponsored-links/514038/

Google Business Profiles Register Your Defibrillator (AED)

Google sent out emails a couple of days ago to businesses asking them to register their Automated External Defibrillator (AED) with Google Business Profiles. Google said, "you could save lives" if you do it.

"This can help emergency responders find the life-saving device when someone nearby is suffering from a cardiac arrest emergency," Google wrote.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profiles-register-defibrillator-aed-37240.html

Google Ads Reminds Advertisers Some Ad Customizers Will Go Away May 31st

On August 31, 2021, Google notified advertisers it would drop support for expanded text ads for responsive search ads. Google is now reminding advertisers that Ad customizers for text ads, expanded text ads and Dynamic Search Ads will stop serving after May 31, 2024.

As a reminder, Google launched ad customizers a decade ago, in 2014.

The reminder email was posted by Navah Hopkins who posted a screenshot of it on LinkedIn, the email says:

Reminder: Ad customizers for text ads, expanded text ads and Dynamic Search Ads will stop serving after May 31, 2024
Dear Google Ads advertiser,

You're receiving this message because in the last 90 days, one or more of the text ads, expanded text ads or Dynamic Search Ads in your Google Ads account served with an ad customizer.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ad-customizers-may-31-37234.html

Google Maps Releases New Directions, Travel & EV Features

Google has announced a number of new travel features with Google Maps and Travel around driving alternatives, trains and buses, travel impact mode and then some new EV driving direction features. Google says these features are to give you more "sustainable choices."

Here are summaries of these announcements:

Google Maps / Travel
(1) Driving alternatives in Google Maps: Google driving directions will soon show public transit or a walking suggestion next to driving routes. This only happens if travel times are comparable and practical. This is coming to over 15 cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Montreal, Paris, Rome and Sydney.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/new-google-maps-directions-travel-ev-features-37239.html

Google Search Console security update improves management of ownership tokens

You can now more easily see and remove which have access to your Search Console profiles.

Google Search Console has released a security update around user permissions and controls management where you can better manage the ownership tokens.

Ownership tokens are used when people verify your site in Search Console, Merchant Center and other Google products. Sometimes people who have access to your profiles no longer should.

This update makes it easier to manage such access and remove those tokens and permissions when they are no longer needed.

Read more https://searchengineland.com/google-search-console-security-update-improves-management-of-ownership-tokens-439677

Google Ads To Retire Customizers For Text Ads

Google to stop serving ad customizers for text ads and dynamic search ads, pushing marketers to responsive search ads.

Highlights:
Google is ending ad customizers for text ads and Dynamic Search Ads.
Advertisers must transition ad customizers to responsive search ads by that deadline.
This continues Google's push for responsive search ads as the primary ad format.

In an email sent to Google Ads advertisers this week, the company announced a change coming to search ads.

Effective May 31, 2024, ad customizers will stop serving for expanded text ads (ETAs) and Dynamic Search Ads (DSAs).

The notification reads in part:

“On May 31, 2024, existing ad customizers for text ads, expanded text ads and Dynamic Search Ads will stop serving (after this date they will only be able to serve with their default value).”

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ads-to-retire-customizers-for-text-ads/513930/

Google Ads Introduces Generative AI Tools For Demand Gen Campaigns

Google Ads now offers generative AI tools to create images for Demand Gen campaigns.
Advertisers provide text prompts, and AI generates unique, high-quality visuals.
Google emphasizes responsible AI development with safeguards around ad policies and image originality.

Google announced the rollout of new generative AI capabilities for Demand Gen campaigns in Google Ads today.

The tools, powered by Google’s artificial intelligence, will allow advertisers to create high-quality image assets using text prompts in just a few steps.

The AI-powered creative features aim to enhance visual storytelling to help brands generate new demand across Google’s platforms, including YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Discover, and Gmail.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ads-introduces-generative-ai-tools-for-demand-gen-campaigns/514008/

Google Strengthens Search Console Security With Token Removal Tools

Google rolls out Search Console enhancements allowing owners to remove, verify unused ownership tokens for improved security.

Highlights:
Google updated Search Console with the ability to remove unused ownership tokens.
You can now verify token removal to prevent unauthorized access.
The update enhances security and access control for website properties.

Google is rolling out an update to Search Console that makes it easier to manage unused ownership tokens.

These tokens, commonly called verification codes, establish website ownership across various Google products, including Search Console and Merchant Center.

Sometimes, these tokens are left behind after website ownership changes, posing risks to data integrity and access control.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-strengthens-search-console-security-with-token-removal-tools/514030/

Bingbot To Test Zstd Compression After Fully Gaining Full Brotli Compression

Fabrice Canel from Microsoft announced that BingBot now fully supports Brotli compression and will soon be testing zstd Zstandard compression, a lossless data compression, for its crawler.

Fabrice Canel wrote on X, "Bingbot now supports Brotli compression for all URLs after a successful ramp-up to 100%!" Microsoft began testing support for BingBot Brotli compression a month ago, so it going to 100% that quickly is impressive.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/bingbot-zstd-compression-37262.html

Google Will Fight Site Reputation Abuse Spam Both With Manual Actions & Algorithms

Google's new spam algorithm update also introduced new spam policies including the upcoming site reputation abuse policy that won't go into effect until May 2024. Google has confirmed it will fight site reputation abuse spam using both manual actions (humans) and algorithms (machines).

Truth is, Google fights search spam a lot using both methods - algorithms and humans. So it should not come as a shock that Google will also fight the new site reputation abuse spam the same way.

Lily Ray asked about this, and Danny Sullivan, Google's Search Liaison, confirmed. Lily asked, "Can you share whether the “site reputation abuse” component of Google’s new spam updates will be enforced via manual actions or algorithmically?"

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-site-reputation-abuse-spam-37231.html

Clarification: Google Search Supports Images Referenced From src Attribute

Google has clarified in its image search help documentation that images are only extracted from the src attribute of img tags in Google Search. This is not new, but Google decided to update its documentation based on some questions it received about the topic.

The new line reads:

Google Search supports images referenced in the src attribute of img in the following file formats: BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, and SVG. It's also a good idea to have the extension of your filename match with the file type.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-images-src-attribute-37232.html

Google Ends Video Carousel Structured Data Test

Google abruptly drops support for the video carousel (limited access) rich results because it wasn't useful for the "ecosystem" at scale

Google has ended support for the video carousel (limited access) markup documentation and the associated rich results because after testing the structured data they realized that it wasn’t useful at scale. Site publishers who use this specific structured data don’t necessarily have to remove it, other search engines may find it useful. However, Google won’t use it for rich results.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ends-support-of-video-carousel-structured-data/514191/

Google AdSense launches new Ad Intents format for Auto ads

Publishers have a new option for Auto ads to appear on their website, in the form of links and anchors.

Google AdSense users can now choose to have Auto Ads show as “ad intents” through the platform (in addition to overlap and in-page formats).

What are ad intents. An ad intent is an “intent-driven format that places links and anchors into existing text and pages on your site related to your content,” according to Google.

Read more https://searchengineland.com/google-adsense-ad-intents-auto-ads-439700

Wix Partners Can Now Sell Templates in Wix Marketplace

Wix customers can now buy templates curated for quality from the Wix Marketplace

Wix announced that Wix Studio agency and enterprise partners can now sell templates in the Wix Marketplace, opening up a new way for partners to earn more through Wix and for Wix publishers to gain access to professionally designed templates.

Wix Studio Partners
Wix Studio is a platform for agencies and enterprise users who manage multiple sites, providing a streamlined workspace for managing client sites all in one space. The Wix Studio platform provides the AI-powered Studio Editor for creating websites that makes it easy for teams to collaborate as well design websites in a code-free workspace that also allows for custom CSS.

Read mroe https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wix-partners-can-now-sell-templates-in-wix-marketplace/514056/

New Google Ads AI Generated Image Tool For Demand Gen Campaigns

Google Ads announced that Demand Gen campaigns are getting generative AI tools to create image assets. This is rolling out to advertisers around the world in English with more languages to come later this year, Google said.

Google said this AI tool creates "stunning, high-quality image assets in just a few steps using prompts provided by you."

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-generated-images-demand-gen-campaigns-37238.html

Google Search Console Adds Unused Ownership Tokens

Google Search Console has a new security feature under user and permission management to help you manage your unused ownership tokens. Basically, it helps you manage who has permissions to your Search Console profiles and who should not, maybe some legacy verifications.

Google wrote, "The update rolled out today lets you verify the removal of the unused verification token so that removed owners cannot regain access to the property." Google explained:

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-console-unused-ownership-tokens-37237.html

Google Maps No Longer Will Support Draft Reviews

Google Maps will soon stop supporting drafting reviews for local business listings and Google Business Profiles. Google said that starting July 16, 2024, review drafts will no longer be supported.

Google added that all the existing drafts will be removed from your account and Google Maps and you will be unable to save new drafts on Google Maps going forward.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-maps-dropping-draft-reviews-37241.html

New YouTube Shorts Ad Opportunities For Brands

Google unveils new YouTube Shorts ad products and creative strategies as the short-form video platform grows.

Google launched new YouTube Shorts ad opportunities for brands.
Google claims its "ABCD" framework can boost Shorts ad performance.
YouTube Shorts' growing audience offers potential for innovative brand connections.

Google announced several new advertising initiatives to help brands capitalize on YouTube Shorts, the company’s short-form video platform.

In a blog post, Google unveiled YouTube Select Shorts, a curated content lineup where advertisers can place Shorts ads alongside popular videos.

The announcement comes as YouTube Shorts surpassed two billion monthly logged-in users and 70 billion daily views globally, with viewership on connected TVs jumping over 100% in the first nine months of 2023.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/new-youtube-shorts-ad-opportunities-for-brands/514166/

Google: Ad Strength Is Not Used In Ad Auction

Ginny Marvin, Google's Ads Liaison, said again "Ad Strength is not used in the auction." She wrote this on X in response to an article on Search Engine Land named Google explains why Ad Strength is ‘so important’ as it addresses industry concerns.

Ginny Marvin explained, "To be clear, Ad Strength is not used in the auction." She added, "It is a diagnostic tool that was developed to help advertisers understand how the diversity and relevancy of their creative assets can maximize the number of ad combinations that may show for a query."

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ad-strength-auction-37190.html

YouTube’s ‘Affiliate Hub’ Offers A New Way For Channels To Make Money

YouTube unveils Affiliate Hub, a new shopping tool for creators to boost ecommerce monetization.

YouTube launched an Affiliate Hub to help creators earn affiliate marketing income.
New features include Shopping Collections, expanded product tagging, and Fourthwall integration.
YouTube aims to capitalize on the growing creator economy and shopping trends.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/youtubes-affiliate-hub-offers-a-new-way-for-channels-to-make-money/513476/

Google: Don't Disallow Internal Footer Links

Google's John Mueller recommended that you do not disallow your internal footer links.

A Reddit thread asked, "Should I disallow some pages that are in footer?"

John replied, "If you do this, future-you will be annoyed by the problems current-you is creating."

Google has often said not to nofollow internal links, calling PageRank sculting a waste of time. Heck, even Matt Cutts said in 2010 not to use nofollow for internal links.

Previously, John Mueller said, "You don't hoard anything when you make links nofollow." "It's a common SEO myth," he added. "I think it's a waste of time to do that" when asked about it years ago.

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-dont-disallow-internal-footer-links-37184.html

Google Improves INP For Sites Using Consent Management Platforms

Google improves website interactivity metric by collaborating with consent management platforms, yielding faster load times when cookies are accepted.

Google collaborates with CMPs to improve INP scores.
INP plays a role in SEO and user experience.
SEO professionals can optimize INP by leveraging various tools.

Google has announced improvements to its Interaction to Next Paint (INP) metric for websites using popular consent management platforms (CMPs).

Google made this possible by working directly with platforms like OneTrust, Complianz, and Axeptio.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-improves-inp-for-sites-using-consent-management-platforms/513605/

WordPress Discovers XSS Vulnerability – Recommends Updating To 6.5.2

WordPress recommends updating to the version 6.5.2 security and maintenance release that patches an XSS vulnerability

WordPress announced the 6.5.2 Maintenance and Security Release update that patches a store cross site scripting vulnerability and fixes over a dozen bugs in the core and the block editor.

The same vulnerability affects both the WordPress core and the Gutenberg plugin.

Cross Site Scripting (XSS)
An XSS vulnerability was discovered in WordPress that could allow an attacker to inject scripts into a website that then attacks site visitors to those pages.

Read more https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-discovers-xss-vulnerability-recommends-updating-to-6-5-2/513501/

Reminder: Google's Helpful Content Update Is No More - It's A Core Update

As a reminder, with the release of the Google March 2024 core update, the old Google helpful content update is no longer a thing. As we reported, Google has incorporated helpfulness signals into the overall core update, but that old helpful content update is no longer around.

I still see people talking about how this is a helpful content update or that the old helpful content update is simply now part of the core updates. Technically, I believe, Google has probably used elements of the old helpful content update but from my understanding, how Google determines helpfulness in the core system is different from the old helpful content update.

So why have no HCU hit sites seen a recovery yet with this core update? Good question. Maybe this new March core update has stronger signals around what Google considers helpful or not? Maybe the new helpful content aspect of the update has not run yet, as it is still rolling out? Or maybe everything is just broken?

Read more https://www.seroundtable.com/google-helpful-content-update-gone-37196.html