We hope you are in good health. Here are some of the major SEO news updates of the week that you need to know:
Search Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Maps Launches New Product Search Feature
Google Maps has launched a new product search feature, allowing users to search for specific products and check real-time inventory. This is a significant development for both consumers and retailers. To take advantage of this feature, retailers must use structured data and effectively manage their inventory. By providing accurate store information and regularly updating their inventory, retailers can ensure that users can access the most up-to-date product availability information. This feature has the potential to greatly enhance the shopping experience for users and drive more traffic to retail stores.
Master SEO with Google’s New Machine Learning Courses: What You Need to Know
Google has updated its machine learning crash course, adding new videos and modules focusing on large language models and automated machine learning. These courses provide valuable insights into the technologies that power modern search engines and generative AI. By taking these courses, you can better understand how these technologies work, allowing you to better optimize your website for search engine optimization (SEO). The knowledge gained from these courses will equip you with the necessary tools to improve your website’s visibility and rankings in search engine results pages.
What You Need to Know: 6 Key Takeaways from Google’s November Core Update
The Google November Core Update reveals six critical insights from millions of search queries. First, there’s an increased overlap between organic results and AIO (AI-powered) citations. Second, shopping-related queries are now ranked differently, showing a shift in e-commerce prioritization. Third, downward trends in overlap indicate changes in how Google ranks certain content. Fourth, increased volatility in overlap suggests fluctuating search patterns. Fifth, industry-specific changes highlight how sectors like finance and health are uniquely affected. Finally, new patterns emerge in how AIO citations source and present content, altering how users interact with search results.
Google’s Martin Splitt: Duplicate Content No Longer Affects Site Quality Rankings
According to Martin Splitt from Google, duplicate content does not hurt the overall quality of a website. While it may not harm the site’s reputation, duplicate content can have other consequences. One of these is that it can slow down the crawling process for search engines, making it more difficult for them to index and rank the pages. Additionally, duplicate content can make performance tracking challenging, as it may skew data and metrics. To address this issue, canonical tags should be used to indicate the preferred version of a page, redirects should be managed appropriately, and similar content should be consolidated to avoid duplication. These measures can help improve crawling efficiency and ensure accurate performance analysis.
Google’s John Mueller Cautions Against Relying on Google Trends for Content Strategy
Google’s John Mueller advised caution when using Google Trends for content ideas. While these tools can help generate ideas, it’s important not to go overboard and create pages for every possible related search term. The key is to ensure that the content you publish adds value to the web and doesn’t simply repeat what others have already said. It’s crucial to be selective and focus on your expertise and the needs and interests of your target audience. By doing so, you can create relevant and valuable content for your business.
Google Search Tests Large Thin Fonts for Search Results Snippets
Google is constantly testing and experimenting with new features and designs to provide users with the best search experience possible. One of the tests conducted by Google involves using large, thin fonts for search results snippets. This test aims to enhance the readability and visual appeal of the search results snippets displayed on the search engine results page (SERP). Using larger and thinner fonts, Google intends to make it easier for users to quickly scan and understand the information in the search snippets.
Microsoft Tests New ‘Content From’ Section in Bing Search to Highlight Popular Site Sections
Microsoft is testing Bing Search results to introduce a new section called “content from.” This new section aims to provide users with additional links to popular sections from a specific website, depending on their search query. By doing so, Microsoft seeks to enhance the search experience by offering users more relevant and targeted content. This feature allows users to directly access popular sections of a website without navigating through the entire site. Through this testing phase, Microsoft is continuously striving to improve the functionality and user-friendliness of Bing Search.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google has introduced a new feature called curation, which aims to streamline the process of discovering and purchasing ad inventory for agencies. This new capability allows agencies to easily find and select their ideal ad inventory, making their operations more efficient. Additionally, Google Ad Manager can now handle all billing processes, further simplifying agency operations. This integration of curation and billing streamlines the entire ad-buying process, allowing agencies to focus more on their core tasks. Moreover, the new curation capabilities also assist agencies in better forecasting and budget management across multiple demand-side platforms (DSPs). This helps agencies make more informed decisions and optimize their ad spend effectively.
Google Updates Its Customer Match Policy
Effective January 13, 2025, Google will implement updates to its Customer Match policy. This policy serves as a guideline for advertisers on effectively utilizing the Customer Match feature. Advertisers must be cautious not to misuse this policy repeatedly, as it may result in suspending their accounts. Advertisers must take immediate action to ensure that their data collection methods align with the requirements set forth by the Customer Match policy. By doing so, advertisers can continue to leverage this powerful tool while maintaining compliance with Google’s guidelines.
