Google dropped a number of search features and structured data types. Google is testing a new version of AI Mode. Google AI Mode gained three new agentic capabilities. Google AI Overviews continue to result in a drop in click-through rates, a report says. Google is testing replacing the definitions box with AI Overviews. Google's John Mueller issued a PSA on verifying your cloud URLs with Search Console. Google and Bing are eating up Grokipedia. Google is testing a yellow-tinted parchment-like background for Google Search. I posted the monthly Google Webmaster Report. The new Google ads label is causing accidental clicks. Google ads Waze ads inventory to PMax campaigns and campaign reporting for PMax is fully available. Google Ads Editor version 2.11 is now out. Google Merchant Center added top performing products and audience targets for promotions. Google Merchant Center also added creative content section. Google Merchant Center has smart cropping, which you can opt out of. Google Maps added Gemini support to make it smarter. Google reviews is testing a new summary box. Reddit said its search traffic is flat, AI is not yet a traffic driver and Google makes up 50% of its search traffic. Raptive sued Google over using its data to cheat publishers. Google Discover is testing endless scrolling and I posted a number of ongoing Google Discover tests. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Sponsor: BruceClay one of the founding fathers of the SEO space, doing search marketing optimization since 1996. Bruce Clay is big into SEO training, check out seotraining.com to learn more and check them out at bruceclay.com. Also, check out their new product, Prewriter.ai - this tool empowers writers to write better and more efficiently, so check it out.

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Search Topics of Discussion:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 0:57 - Google Drops Support For More Structured Data Types & Search Features
• 2:19 - Google Tests A New Version Of AI Mode
• 2:59 - Google AI Mode Gains 3 New Agentic Capabilities
• 3:28 - Report: Google AI Overviews Continue To Drive CTR Downwards
• 4:45 - Google Definitions Box Tests Swapping In AI Overviews
• 5:10 - Google PSA: Verify Your Hosted Cloud Provider Host In Search Console
• 5:46 - Google & Bing Are Indexing Grokipedia - AI Generated Wikipedia / Encyclopedia
• 6:28 - Google Search Tests Tinted Colored Background
• 6:54 - November 2025 Google Webmaster Report
• 7:09 - The New Google Search Ad Layout Is Causing Accidental Clicks
• 8:47 - Google Performance Max Gains Waze Ads & Channel Performance Reporting
• 9:23 - Google Ads Editor Version 2.11 Is Now Available
• 9:46 - Google Merchant Center Adds Promotions For Top Performing Products
• 10:08 - New Google Merchant Center Preferred Audience Targeting For Promotions
• 10:22 - Google Merchant Center Adds Creative Content Section
• 10:33 - Google Merchant Center Smart Cropping - You Can Opt Out
• 11:02 - Gemini Coming To Google Maps For Directions, Traffic & Places
• 11:49 - Google Reviews Updates Services Summary Box
• 12:08 - Reddit: Search Traffic Flat, AI Not Traffic Driver & 50% Of Traffic Is From Google
• 12:41 - Publishers Say Google Used Their Data to Cheat Them, Raptive Lawsuit
• 13:15 - Google Discover Tests Infinite Endless Scroll
• 13:30 - Google Discover Numerous Experiments Documented
• 13:50 - Conclusion

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This week, we covered more Google Search ranking volatility mid-week. Google Search Console launched query groups reports. Disney's sitelinks in Google Search seemed to have been hacked. Google reminded us about case sensitivity with URLs in Google Search. John Mueller spoke about the best content management system for SEO. Robby Stein from Google spoke about doing SEO for AI Mode. Google rolled out early access to Gemini for your home voice assistant. Google reviews started to go missing and we don't know why. Google Business Profiles is testing a way to schedule Google Posts. Google Business Profiles expanded the What's Happening feature. Google Ads has campaign-level audience exclusions for PMax. Google Ads has a new investment strategy recommendation page. Google is launching Merchant Center for agencies. Google Merchant Center Next added new promotion analytics and a new preferred audience for promotion restrictions. A judge did not rule in favor of Google in the ad tech monopoly case. Google made over $100 billion in revenue according to its earnings report and Microsoft had a great quarter too. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: This week's video is sponsored by Semrush. Did you know Semrush launched Semrush One. This new solution unites traditional SEO and AI Search into a single offering to help brands measure and grow performance across virtually every search '" from Google to AI discovery engines, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other major large language models (LLMs).

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Search Topics of Discussion:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 0:54 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Around October 28th
• 1:19 - Query Groups Report Comes To Google Search Console Insights
• 2:09 - Disney Google Sitelinks Blackhat SEO Hack Still Live
• 2:42 - Reminder: Google On Case Sensitivity For URLs
• 3:35 - Google's John Mueller On Best CMSs For SEO
• 3:56 - Google's Robby Stein On SEO For AI Mode & AI Overviews
• 4:31 - Google Rolls Out Early Access To Gemini For Home Voice Assistant
• 4:50 - Reviews Disappearing Within Google - Google Fixing
• 5:22 - Schedule Google Posts In Google Business Profiles Tests
• 5:51 - Google Business Profiles What's Happening Feature Expands
• 6:12 - Google Ads Campaign Level Audience Exclusions To Performance Max
• 6:36 - Google Ads New Investment Strategy Recommendation Page
• 7:03 - Google: Google Ads Not Going Away With AI Mode As The Future
• 7:30 - Google Launching Merchant Center For Agencies
• 7:48 - Google Merchant Center Next Adds Promotion Analytics
• 8:12 - Google Merchant Center Preferred Audience For Promotions Restrictions
• 8:34 - Ad Tech Monopoly: Judge Rules Google Can't Relitigate Core Antitrust Facts
• 9:10 - Google Ad Revenue Up 13% & Bing Ads Revenue Up 16%
• 9:56 - Conclusion

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This week, surprise - surprise, we covered more Google Search ranking volatility. OpenAI launched its web browser, ChatGPT Atlas - it uses Google. Google Search Console performance reports are stuck again. Google said links, site moves and technical SEO do not help with quality issues. Google did not give more core updates more often, despite what they said a year ago. Google Ads celebrated its 25th birthday. Google AI Mode updated for fantasy sports. ChatGPT updated GPT-5 Instant for signed-out users. Google Search added price tracking graph for each trailer. Google Business Profiles performance report is missing call data. Google Ads for AI Max added a sources column in the search terms report. Google Ads will delete accounts without campaigns after 6 months. Google Local Search Ads in Google Maps supports sitelinks. Google AdSense has a new confirmed click status breakdown in reports. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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Search Topics of Discussion:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 0:33 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up From October 15th To 17th
• 0:58 - OpenAI Launches Browser - ChatGPT Atlas With Search Powered By Google
• 2:11 - Google Search Console Performance Report Stuck At Sunday October 19
• 2:48 - Google: Links, Site Moves & Technical SEO Don't Fix Quality Issues
• 3:37 - Google's More Core Updates, More Often, Seems Unlikely
• 4:40 - Google Ads (Formerly AdWords) Launched 25 Years Ago
• 5:37 - Google AI Mode Fantasy Sports Updated & ChatGPT GPT-5 Instant Improved
• 6:08 - Google Search Adds Price Tracking Graph For Each Retailer
• 6:31 - Google Business Profile Performance Report Missing Oct 14 - 16 Call Data
• 6:57 - Google Ads AI Max Adds Sources Column in Search Term Report
• 7:17 - Google Ads To Delete Accounts Without Campaigns After 6 Months
• 7:31 - Google Local Search Ads In Google Maps Now Supports Sitelinks
• 8:06 - Google AdSense Adds Confirmed Click Status Breakdown To Reports
• 8:33 - Conclusion

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This week we covered the new Google Ads label, which Google says improves navigation but in my opinion, is a deceptive way to get searchers to click on those ads. Google Goldmine leaked as a search content ranking system. Bing now supports the data-nosnippet HTML attribute. Google's Robby Stein spoke about AI not replacing search, AI within Search, SEO and more. Liz Reid, Google's head of Search was interviewed on similar topics by the Wall Street Journal. Google's people also ask is using AI a lot more often now. Google will use push notification to drive queries on AI Mode. Google local results, in some cases, drop the call button. Google Search now supports Nano Banana. Google is hiring a Google Discover engineer for UGC content. Google Ads has a new optimization insights recommendations. Google Ads released version 22 of the API. Google Merchant Center now supports physical good subscriptions. Google Ads updated its prescription drug terms policy. Google Merchant Center clarified its misrepresentation policies. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Thank you to our sponsor, Yahoo Search. Yahoo knows the way people are searching is changing '" and as one of the top search engines in the US, with hundreds of millions of users, Yahoo Search is constantly evolving to deliver a simplified, innovative, and helpful search experience. Yahoo Search gives you quick, AI-powered summaries, plus AI chat when you want to dive deeper. Whether it's news, finance, sports, shopping or instant answers, get connected to what you need.

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Search Topics of Discussion:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 1:01 - Google Ads Officially Launches Grouped Ad Label For Search Ads
• 2:23 - Google Goldmine Search Content Ranking System?
• 3:18 - Bing Gains Support For data-nosnippet HTML Attribute
• 4:00 - Google's Robby Stein On AI Not Replacing Search, AI Within Search, SEO For AI
• 4:20 - Watch Google's Liz Reid Interviewed By WSJ On AI Search, Ad Clicks, Publishers
• 5:11 - AI-Generated Google People Also Ask Almost Doubles In 3 Months
• 5:33 - Google Sending Push Notifications That Go To AI Mode Searches
• 6:01 - Google Local Results Without Call Button - Web Guide Or Bug?
• 6:58 - Nano Banana Comes To Google Search Via Google Lens
• 7:23 - Google Hiring Google Discover User Generated Content Engineer
• 7:50 - New Google Ads Optimization Insights Recommendations
• 8:11 - Google Ads API Version 22 Now Available
• 8:28 - Google Merchant Center Now Supports Physical Goods Subscriptions
• 8:45 - Google Ads Updates Medicines Policy Regarding Prescription Drug Terms
• 9:00 - Google Merchant Center Clarifies Misrepresentation Policies
• 9:15 - Conclusion

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This week we covered some big Google Search ranking movement and volatility. Google earlier confirmed a serving issue with Google Search. Google AI Mode expanded to 35 new languages and 40 new countries. Google added shoes to the Try On feature and supports three new countries. Google is testing a more publisher-friendly recipe AI Overview. Google is testing an Ask AI Mode anything carousel. Google is testing AI Overviews that jump faster to AI Mode. Google is testing AI-generated search result snippets. Google Voice Search is now powered by Speech-to-Retrieval. Microsoft Ads blog has a post about how to optimize for AI Search. Google Business Profiles is testing a new Insights feature. Bing Places rolled out a new dashboard. Google Merchant Center has a new wallet promotion option and also allows you to use your own brand in short titles. Google Ads has a new missed growth opportunities tab. Google Ads auto-apply recommendation setting has moved. Google revealed the dates for when call-only ads will go away. Microsoft Advertising ad grant program is shutting down. Google AdSense authorized buyers will replace the ad networks blocking controls. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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Search Topics of Discussion:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 1:25 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up October 7th & 8th
• 2:25 - Google Confirms Google Search Serving Issue
• 3:03 - Google AI Mode Expands To 35 New Languages & 40 Countries
• 3:33 - Google Try On Adds Shoes & Expands To Australia, Canada and Japan
• 4:00 - Google Tests More Publisher Friendly Recipe AI Overviews
• 4:45 - Google Ask AI Mode Anything Explore Carousel
• 5:04 - Test: Google AI Overviews Show More Button Jumps Into AI Mode
• 5:35 - Google Tests AI Generated Search Snippet Descriptions
• 6:02 - Google Voice Search Now Powered By Speech-to-Retrieval (S2R)
• 6:37 - Microsoft Ads Posts On How To Optimize For AI Search Answers
• 7:10 - New: Google Business Profile Report Negative Review Extortion Scams
• 7:39 - New Google Business Profiles Insights
• 7:57 - Bing Places New Dashboard Rolling Out
• 8:42 - Google Merchant Center Adds Google Wallet Promotion Option
• 9:08 - Google Merchant Center Lets You Use Your Own Brand In Short Title
• 9:26 - Google Ads Missed Growth Opportunities Tab
• 9:42 - Google Reveals Dates For Call Ads Going Away
• 10:11 - Microsoft Advertising Ad Grant Program To Be Shut Down
• 10:35 - Google AdSense Authorized Buyers To Replace Ad Networks Blocking Controls
• 10:56 - GA4 Surge In Organic Search Traffic But Search Console Flat
• 11:37 - Conclusion

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This week we covered the Google AI Mode news that it is more visual for many queries, including shopping queries. Google AI Mode agentic capabilities can now be opted into. Google AI Overviews tests a sticky citations box. Google Shopping Ask Stores feature is being tested. Google's Liz Reid as interviewed again about AI Search. Google said the old domain history sometimes needs to be shaken off. I posted the monthly Google webmaster report. Google Search rolled out the emoji answer box. Google is testing removing the underline from the title link in the search results. Google Business Profiles has a spike in suspensions. Google is testing product reviews labeled as incentivized. Google Ads Performance Max has introduced new segmentation options in asset reporting and channel reporting features. Google Ads has new message asset requirements. Google Ads reporting may not be impacted by the num 100 change. Google will remove more lodging listings with inaccurate pricing. Google AdSense has a new traffic source breakdown report. Bing has new large image ads in Copilot boxes. ChatGPT launched Instant Checkout with Agentic Commerce Protocol. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

Sponsor: BruceClay one of the founding fathers of the SEO space, doing search marketing optimization since 1996. Bruce Clay is big into SEO training, check out seotraining.com to learn more and check them out at bruceclay.com. Also, check out their new product, Prewriter.ai - this tool empowers writers to write better and more efficiently, so check it out.

Make sure to subscribe to our video feed or subscribe directly on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favorite podcast player to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube version of the feed. For the original iTunes version, click here.

Search Topics of Discussion:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 0:46 - Google AI Mode With More Visual Responses & Visual Fan-Out Technique
• 1:41 - Google AI Mode Agentic Capabilities Opt In
• 2:29 - Google AI Overviews With Sticky Citations As You Scroll
• 2:43 - Google Shopping Ask Stores AI Chat
• 3:05 - Google's Elizabeth Reid Interviewed On AI, Search, Blue Links, SEO & More
• 3:40 - Google: Old Domain History/State Needs Time To Be Shaken Off
• 4:32 - October 2025 Google Webmaster Report
• 4:42 - Google Search Rolls Out Emoji Answer Box
• 5:04 - Google Tests Dropping Underline From Search Result Snippets On Hover
• 5:23 - Google Business Profile Suspensions Spike
• 5:57 - Google Reviews Labeled Incentivized
• 6:20 - Google Ads PMax Segmentation In Asset Reporting & Channel Reporting Features
• 6:55 - New Google Ads Message Assets Requirements
• 7:25 - Is Google Ads Reporting Also Impacted By Num=100 Change?
• 8:10 - Google To Remove More Lodging Listings With Inaccurate Prices
• 8:33 - New Google AdSense Traffic Source Breakdown Report
• 8:48 - Microsoft Tests Large Images In Bing Search Copilot Ads
• 9:01 - ChatGPT Gets Instant Checkout With Agentic Commerce Protocol
• 9:36 - Conclusion

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This week we covered the completion of the Google August 2025 spam update and then we saw ranking volatility heat up again post spam update. Google Search Console impressions are impacted by Google blocking bots. Google Darksteel AI search test. Google AI Mode product listings with AI-generated product summaries. Google Search Live is now out of beta. Google AI Mode travel planning gained more features. Google AI Mode has now rolled out agentic features. Cloudflare wants you to block Google's AI Overviews, but will it work? John Mueller of Google posted about authentication for SEO tools and personal crawlers. Google is pushing its large sponsored results label to group ads together, but is it deceptive? Google Ads has a new campaign set-up screen. Google Ads updated its dishonest pricing practices policy. Google may label some search ads with not a government website. Google Search is testing a featured stores section for ads. Google AdSense dropped session-related metrics. Google is testing a local pack at the top of the Google shopping results. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: This week's video recap is sponsored by Duda, the Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own.

Make sure to subscribe to our video feed or subscribe directly on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favorite podcast player to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube version of the feed For the original iTunes version, click here.

Search Topics of Discussion:

• 0:00 - Introduction
• 0:34 - Google's Wild August 2025 Spam Update Finished Rolling Out
• 1:30 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heated After August Spam Update
• 2:15 - Google Search Console Impressions Drop Impact With Google Blocking Bots
• 3:20 - Google Darksteel AI Search Option Test
• 3:56 - Google AI Mode Product Listings Tests AI-Generated Product Summaries
• 4:12 - Google Search Live No Longer Requires Labs Opt-In Within US
• 4:49 - Google AI Mode Travel Planning Gains More Features
• 5:11 - Google AI Mode Agentic Features Go Live For Some
• 5:36 - Cloudflare Tries To Give Sites A Way To Block Google AI Overviews - Will It Work?
• 6:31 - Google: Authentication For SEO Tools & Personal Crawlers
• 7:06 - Google Large Sponsored Results Grouping Label Rolling Out To More
• 7:53 - Google Ads New Campaign Set Up Screen Updated
• 8:11 - Google Ads Dishonest Pricing Practices Policy Updates
• 8:48 - Google To Label Some Search Ads With "Not A Government Website"
• 9:08 - Google Search Tests Featured Stores Sponsored Ads Section
• 9:21 - Google AdSense Dropping Session-Related Metrics
• 9:33 - Google Local Pack At Top Of Google Shopping Tab
• 9:49 - Conclusion

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