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 Expands Store Ratings Feature to New Markets
Google has announced that it is expanding its store ratings in search results to countries such as Australia, Canada, India, and the UK. This move aims to provide users with more valuable and relevant information when searching for local businesses. With the expansion of store ratings, users can now see customer ratings and reviews directly in the search results, allowing them to make more informed decisions about where to shop or visit. This update will save users time and effort and help local businesses in these countries gain more visibility and attract potential customers.
Google Revamps Robots.txt Policy: Unsupported Fields Will Be Ignored for Better Crawling Efficiency
Google has updated its robots.txt policy, officially supporting only four fields: user-agent, allow, disallow, and sitemap. This change means that any unsupported directives within a robots.txt file will be ignored, streamlining the crawling process and improving efficiency. Website owners should utilize these approved fields to guide Google’s indexing behavior effectively. The update aims to eliminate confusion and enhance clarity in how robots.txt files are interpreted, ultimately helping webmasters optimize their site’s visibility in search results while adhering to Google’s standards.
Google is testing a new “Quick View” feature for recipes in its search results, designed to enhance user engagement without redirecting them away from the search page. This feature places a “Quick View” button overlayed on recipe images, allowing users to click and instantly see a snapshot of the content. By keeping users on Google while providing essential details from the publisher, this innovation aims to streamline the recipe discovery process. However, it also raises concerns about how this may impact traffic to original recipe sites as Google seeks to offer more interactive and efficient search experiences.
Google Tests Card Style Design for Knowledge Panels
Google is constantly improving its user experience, and one of the latest tests involves a card-style design for the knowledge panel on the desktop. The knowledge panel is the information box on the right side of the search results page, providing users with relevant information about a particular topic. This new design aims to make the knowledge panel more visually appealing and easier to navigate. Instead of a single block of text, the information is now displayed in separate cards, making it easier for users to scan and find the specific information they seek.
Google Discontinues Support for Noarchive Meta Tag Directive
Google’s decision to remove the cache operator from its search service has led to the discontinuation of support for the noarchive directive in Google Search. The noarchive meta tag was a useful tool that allowed website owners to instruct Google not to store a cache copy of their pages. However, by removing the cache feature, Google no longer needs this directive. This change reflects Google’s evolving approach to search and its continuous efforts to streamline its services and improve user experience.
Microsoft Tests New Bing Button on Search Homepage
Microsoft is testing adding a Bing button on the Bing Search home page, positioned both beneath the search box and within the expanded autocomplete drop-down as users begin typing. This strategic placement enhances user interaction by providing easy access to Bing’s features and services. By introducing this button, Microsoft seeks to streamline the search experience and encourage users to engage more deeply with the platform.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Local Service Ads Will Require Google Business Profile Verification
Google is set to implement a new requirement for businesses wishing to advertise through Google Local Service Ads. Starting Thursday, November 21, 2024, advertisers must have a matching Google Business Profile to ensure their Local Services ads continue appearing in search results and showcasing customer reviews. This move aims to enhance the credibility and authenticity of local advertising by linking ads directly to verified business profiles. Businesses must take action to create or update their Google Business Profiles to comply with this policy and maintain their visibility in local search results.
Revolutionizing Content Creation: Google Introduces Video Generation Feature in Product Studio
Google has launched a video generation tool in Product Studio for merchants in the United States, enabling them to create dynamic videos effortlessly. This innovative feature allows users to transform existing product images from Google Merchant Center into engaging video content. By automating the video creation process, merchants can enhance their product listings and improve customer engagement. This tool streamlines the content creation workflow and provides a visually appealing way to showcase products, helping businesses attract more attention in a competitive market.
Microsoft Introduces Key Updates to Its Conversational Copilot
Microsoft has announced significant updates to its conversational Copilot experience to enhance user and advertiser interactions. The updated Copilot streamlines the user experience by clearly differentiating between organic content and advertisements, making navigation easier. A new Diagnostics tool feature will also be introduced for Microsoft Ads, designed to boost productivity by providing actionable insights. Another exciting addition is the Performance Snapshot feature, which leverages the conversational capabilities of Copilot to deliver key insights and trends more efficiently for advertising campaigns.
Google Search Prioritizes Competitor Ads Above Local Reviews
Google has started displaying competitor ads above local reviews in its search results. This move has raised concerns among businesses and local establishments that heavily rely on positive reviews to attract customers. With competitor ads taking precedence over local reviews, it becomes challenging for businesses to showcase their credibility and reputation. Customers may be influenced by the ads and overlook the authentic feedback from previous customers. This change in Google’s search results layout could potentially impact local businesses’ visibility and customer perception.
Google Ads Upgrades Keyword Planner With Negative Keyword Tab
Google has introduced a valuable upgrade to its Keyword Planner tool within Google Ads. This enhancement involves the addition of a negative keywords tab, which provides advertisers with more comprehensive data and tools to refine their campaigns. With this new feature, advertisers can easily identify and exclude specific keywords irrelevant to their target audience or may not yield the desired results. By utilizing the negative keywords tab, advertisers can enhance the effectiveness of their Google Ads campaigns by ensuring that their ads are only displayed to users who are likely to be interested in their products or services.
