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
AI Overviews Prioritizes Reputable Sources like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Government Sites
AI overviews now prioritize reputable sources such as YouTube, LinkedIn, and government websites. This shift in prioritization aims to ensure that the information provided by AI systems is reliable and trustworthy. As a result, the length of these overviews has decreased by 40%, with an average of 2,633 characters. This reduction in length allows for more concise and focused summaries of the content. Additionally, 93.67% of AI overviews now link to the top 10 organic search results, further enhancing the accuracy and relevance of the information presented. These AI algorithms and data source improvements provide more reliable and efficient information retrieval.
Google’s Gary Illyes and Lizzi Sassman Discusses 3 Ways To Make Googlebot Crawl More
During a discussion, Google’s Gary Illyes and Lizzi Sassman shed light on three key factors that can significantly impact Googlebot crawling. The first factor they mentioned is the impact of high-quality content on crawling frequency. Googlebot tends to crawl websites more frequently if they consistently publish high-quality content that provides value to users. The second factor discussed is increased publishing activity. When a website publishes new content more regularly, it signals to Googlebot that it is actively updating its information. Lastly, Illyes and Sassman highlighted the consistency of content quality as a factor that triggers increased crawling. Googlebot tends to crawl websites that consistently produce high-quality content with greater frequency.
Google Search Tests Mini Knowledge Panel Cards in The Google Search Results
Google Search is constantly evolving to improve user experience, and one of its recent tests involves the introduction of miniature knowledge panel cards. These smaller cards are displayed in the top right corner of the search results page rather than the usual massive knowledge panel at the top. This change allows the main search results to occupy the prime position at the top left of the page, providing users with a more streamlined and efficient search experience. Users can easily access important information by compacting the knowledge panel without overpowering the main search results.
Google Search Lists srsltid URL Parameters From Merchant Center
In recent weeks, there has been a surge in complaints regarding Google Search listing URLs that contain the srsltid URL parameter as the canonical URL. This issue has caused frustration among users as these URLs are displayed in the search results under that parameter. It seems that Google is matching hundreds of thousands of these URLs, significantly increasing their visibility. This unexpected behavior has prompted concerns about the accuracy and relevance of search results. It remains to be seen how Google will address this issue and ensure the quality of its search listings.
Google’s Martin Splitt Says We Don’t Track How Expensive it is to Crawl, Render, Index & Serve Pages
In a statement by Martin Splitt from Google, the company does not track the cost of crawling, rendering, indexing, and serving pages. According to Splitt, Google does not track how expensive it is to process and display web pages. He reassured users that they need not worry about the expense of rendering, as Google has it covered. While crawling and other aspects of search can be costly, Google’s primary objective is to provide users with the most relevant content for their queries. Regardless of the cost, Google aims to deliver its users the best search results.
Bing Search Tests Opening Searches In New Window in The Search Results
Microsoft is conducting tests to enhance the user experience of Bing Search results. One of the tests involves changing how search results are displayed when a user searches from the home page. Instead of loading the search results on the same tab, Bing is exploring the option of opening them in a new window. This approach aims to provide a seamless browsing experience by allowing users to easily navigate between search results and the original page without losing their place. Additionally, Bing is experimenting with opening a new window when users click the next page of the search results, further streamlining the search process.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Ads Won’t Pause Keywords in Ad Groups or Paused Campaigns
To streamline advertising campaigns and improve the user experience, Google Ads has implemented a new feature that automatically pauses low-activity keywords. Specifically, keywords that were created over 13 months ago and have not generated any impressions during the past 13 months will be affected by this change. However, it is important to note that if these keywords are already part of paused campaigns or ad groups, they will not be paused. This allows advertisers to retain control over their keyword selection and ensures that the system respects any intentional pausing of campaigns or ad groups. This update aims to optimize advertising efforts by removing underperforming keywords and focusing on more effective strategies.
