Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Going offline for Passover tonight through Saturday night, don't expect new stories tomorrow or Friday.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Programming Note: Offline For Passover Thursday & Friday
  This is a programming note that I am completely offline for the Passover holiday Thursday and Friday. I am likely not going to schedule any stories, I apologize (still in recovery mode)...
• Google Ask Maps Fully Available In US and India
  Earlier this month, Google rolled out the "Ask Maps" feature. Now, Google said it is "available to everyone in the U.S. and India."
• Google Explains Googlebot Crawling, Fetching & Byte Limits
  Google posted a new blog post named Inside Googlebot: demystifying crawling, fetching, and the bytes we process alongside episode 105 of the Search Off the Record segment named Google crawlers behind the scenes.
• Microsoft Advertising Merchant Center Enables Store & Domain Name Updates
  You can now update your store's name and / or domain name directly in Merchant Center within Microsoft Advertising.

Other Great Search Threads:

• ICYMI last week - Google is testing review count filters in the Google Maps App - This means your review count in relation to your competition could become much more important. h/t to @realTimKahlert for this find, Joy Hawkins on X
• How did we go from using URL shorteners for making it easier & faster to link to stuff, to using them to display an interstitial that makes everything harder & slower?, John Mueller on Bluesky
• I think it might help the sites if we could be more direct though - whoever set up your site should read up on caching, and your hoster should upgrade the servers from 128kb RAM, or perhaps, switch servers / hosters if you want more content indexed + acce, John Mueller on Bluesky
• It's important to be clear about uncertainty in metrics, regardless of whether it's for SEO or anything else. And, it's critical to make room & set expectations for those you work with, that expressing uncertainty is a good thing., John Mueller on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• 20 practical ways to use AI in SEO
• 'Google Zero' misses the real problem: Your next visitor isn't human
• How to reduce cost-per-hire with LinkedIn recruitment campaigns
• SMX Now: Learn how brands must adapt for AI-driven search
• YouTube adds AI creator matching and ad formats to its partnerships platform
• AI search engines cite Reddit, YouTube, and LinkedIn most: Study
• Google Gemini may adapt AI answers to match user tone: Report
• Google expands Merchant Center loyalty features to 14 countries and AI surfaces
• Google explains how crawling works in 2026
• 59% of SEO jobs are now senior-level roles: Study
• Technical SEO for generative search: Optimizing for AI agents
• The push layer returns: Why 'publish and wait' is half a strategy
• ChatGPT enables location sharing for more precise local responses

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• How developers can use Veo 3.1 Lite for AI video generation, Google Blog
• We Need To Have a Conversation About Garbage AI Content, Moz

Analytics

• A Guide to the Analytics Section in Google Merchant Center, JumpFly Digital Marketing Blog

Industry & Business

• Here’s how to change your Google Account username (and change your Gmail address), Google Blog
• Lawyers Seeks $147 Million Fee in Google Privacy Button Case, Bloomberg
• OpenAI closes funding round at an $852 billion valuation, CNBC

Links & Content Marketing

• The content optimization hierarchy: How AI-driven search redefines content strategy, Oncrawl

Local & Maps

• ChatGPT now available via CarPlay with iOS 26.4, AppleInsider
• Google Review Guidelines 2026 Update, SearchLab Digital
• Google widely rolls out 'Ask Maps' feature [Gallery], 9to5Google
• The scammers extorting small businesses with fake Google reviews, The Times

SEO

• 6 Steps to Boost Your E-E-A-T Factor This Year, Bruce Clay
• Introducing llms.txt to Shopify: Give AI a map to your best products, Yoast
• New Location for the Google Crawlers' IP Range Files, Google Search Central Blog
• SEO for Service Businesses: An Essential Guide for Local Success, Wix
• UK publisher Future's shares plummet as changes in Google search traffic hit margins, Reuters
• What AI Userbot Traffic Actually Reveals About Your Website, SISTRIX

PPC

• Google Expands Creator Partnerships With AI Matching, PPC News Feed
• AI Alters Search Behaviors Without Eliminating Search Advertising, PPC News Feed
• How to Fix & Prevent Automation Drift (Part 3), Hopskip Media
• What insights does the smec platform offer, that Google hides?, Smarter Ecommerce
• Why LSA and Google Ads Cannibalize Each Other (And How to Fix It), PPC Hero

Search Features

• Apple Tests Siri Feature That Handles Multiple Commands at Once, Bloomberg
• Gemini app rolls out new glow on Android, moves Temporary chat, 9to5Google
• Google Home updates include Gemini in Spanish, better controls, 9to5Google

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.

This is a programming note that I am completely offline for the Passover holiday Thursday and Friday. I am likely not going to schedule any stories, I apologize (still in recovery mode).

I will be completely offline, so any social media posts, tweets, anything coming from this site or my social channels are all scheduled beforehand.

I won't be able to reply to comments, remove spam or break any stories on those days. I will catch up when I get back online.

Feel free to check out the archives or catch up with the weekly videos or just browse the search pics. Oh, and if you have nothing to do, feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel.

For more on this holiday, check out Wikipedia.

I am also offline for the last days of Passover, which are Wednesday and Thursday of next week.

For all those celebrating the holiday - have a good one and I'll be back on Sunday.

Earlier this month, Google rolled out the "Ask Maps" feature. Now, Google said it is "available to everyone in the U.S. and India."

Ask Maps is a new feature in Google Maps that leverages Gemini to help users research local businesses, plan trips, get recommendations, and more.

Google Maps posted on X saying, "Ask Maps is now available to everyone in the U.S. and India. Here are six prompts to get you started."

I'll embed those now:

Looking for a bar quiet enough to read in? To find this specific atmosphere, Ask Maps sifts through millions of community reviews, cross-references Popular Times, and checks local event schedules to help you find peace and quiet. pic.twitter.com/NmflNyifFz

— Google Maps (@googlemaps) March 30, 2026

Any time you're going for a walk, ask Maps to generate a custom route based on scenery, historical landmarks, or local events. It can even calculate your departure time backwards so you arrive perfectly synced with the sunset. pic.twitter.com/v6SIfHg23h

— Google Maps (@googlemaps) March 30, 2026

When finding a spot to eat, Ask Maps can combine multiple constraints to help you book a reservation instantly. pic.twitter.com/bByNxHw7cR

— Google Maps (@googlemaps) March 30, 2026

Forum discussion at X.

Google posted a new blog post named Inside Googlebot: demystifying crawling, fetching, and the bytes we process alongside episode 105 of the Search Off the Record segment named Google crawlers behind the scenes.

In the article, Gary Illyes from Google explains:

(1) Googlebot isn't a single program

(2) Covers the 2MB limit.

(3) The Rendering the bytes

(4) Best practices for your bytes

Here is the podcast as well:

It is worth reviewing these, if you do SEO.

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

Image credit Lizzi Sassman

You can now update your store's name and / or domain name directly in Merchant Center within Microsoft Advertising.

Navah Hopkins, the Microsoft Advertising Liaison, announced this both on LinkedIn and X. Navah wrote, "Exciting update for ecommerce Microsoft Advertising customers: you can now update your Merchant Center store name and/or domain right from Merchant Center!"

• Store name change requires editorial review before it goes live. Ads continue running with the current approved name while under review.
• Store domain / URL change requires domain ownership verification before it goes live. Ads continue serving on the old domain until the new one is verified. Product URLs must match the new domain after approval.
• Store names or domains can be reused if the store name passes editorial checks and the domain is verified and owned by the merchant.

Here is a screenshot of the interface:

Forum discussion at LinkedIn and X.

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Google explained why core updates take longer to roll out. Bing is testing invisible sponsored labels. ChatGPT enables precise location setting. Google Ads PMax asset group theming. Google Business Profiles may call, text or WhatsApp to confirm information.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google On Why Core Updates Take Weeks To Fully Roll Out
  Google's John Mueller explained, one again, why it takes weeks to roll out a core update. It is often because there are different components to core updates through the rollout stages, and each needs to be pushed individually.
• Bing Tests Sponsored Label That Is Almost Transparent
  Microsoft is at it again with its sponsored labels tests. This time, Microsoft is testing almost transparent sponsored labels within the Bing search results. The labels are super grayed out and super hard to see.
• ChatGPT Enables Location Sharing For More Localized Near Me Results
  Last week, OpenAI announced a new feature for ChatGPT named location sharing. This allows you to share your precise location with ChatGPT, so ChatGPT can give you more localized and near me results.
• Google Ads PMax Asset Group Theming
  Google Ads is rolling out asset group theming for Performance Max campaigns. This lets you copy an asset group and apply this theme to your text and images using Google AI.
• Google May Call, Text or WhatsApp To Confirm Business Details
  Google is sending out emails with updates on how Google Business Profiles may verify your business details. Google said it may "reach out using automated messages via call, text, or WhatsApp to the verified phone number on your Business Profile."

Other Great Search Threads:

• AdSense Updates for 2026 This week I had the monthly internal meeting with the #AdSense forum managers, and they presented the updates coming this year for the program. For now, I can only share what's already active for most publishers, Bruno Ramos Lara on X
• Did you know you can start partnering with YouTube creators for your performance campaigns right in Google Ads? This week, I've been in NYC for the YouTube Newfronts and sat down IRL(!) with Melissa Nikolic whose teams are building t, AdsLiaison on X
• Google now places a call to action button for posts shown in Google Discover from X, 'View on X", Radu Oncescu on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• 5-step Google Business Profile audit to improve local rankings
• A 6-point scorecard for AI-ready product pages
• Google removes Search Engine Land article after false DMCA claim
• Microsoft lets merchants update store names and domains in Merchant Center
• Reddit Pro opens to all publishers, adds new features in public beta
• Google Ads Editor bug links structured snippet languages across accounts
• New Google TurboQuant algorithm improves vector search speed
• Where paid media optimization should stop in long sales cycles
• How to build a custom GPT for business (that your team actually uses)
• How to build FAQs that power AI-driven local search
• What the 'Global Spanish' problem means for AI search visibility

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• AI Citations Explained: How they work and how cited by AI models, Yoast
• Copilot<< Cowork: Now<< available in Frontier, Microsoft 365 Blog
• Target Updates Terms for Google Gemini AI Shopping Integration, Business Insider
• The state of AI safety in four fake graphs, Windows On Theory

Industry & Business

• What 3,900 SEO Job Listings Reveal in 2026: Experiments, AI, and Six-Figure Salaries, Semrush

Links & Content Marketing

• Employee-Generated Content: Tips, Examples, & Benefits, WordStream
• Using AI for PR? Here's Where It Goes Wrong, Koozai

Local & Maps

• Google Maps simplifies battery predictions and trip planning for 350+ Android Auto EV models., Google Blog

SEO

• Are websites getting 'fat'? Page weight, HTML size & Googlebot limits explained, Search Off the Record
• Expose of parasite SEO firm Clickout Media removed from Google, Press Gazette
• What If the Best GEO Strategy Is the One You Stopped Investing In?, Seer Interactive

PPC

• Google Ads Editor Bug Links Copied Structured Snippets, PPC News Feed
• AI in Online Advertising: 5 Key Trends from March 2026, JumpFly Digital Marketing Blog
• GEO & AI Search: From Discovery to Influence (Part 1), Microsoft Advertising
• Google Ads Free Credit Offers Stop Applying Automatically, PPC News Feed
• How SEO and Paid Search can work more effectively together, Majestic SEO Podcast

Search Features

• OpenAI's ChatGPT App Store Took Aim at Apple, But Results Lag So Far, Bloomberg

Other Search

• Announcing ADK for Java 1.0.0: Building the Future of AI Agents in Java, Google Developers Blog
• Apple Intelligence rolling out now in China, per user reports, 9to5Mac

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.

Google's John Mueller explained, one again, why it takes weeks to roll out a core update. It is often because there are different components to core updates through the rollout stages, and each needs to be pushed individually.

This isn't new, Google told us this before with previous core updates.

But John reiterated it on Bluesky saying, "sometimes they have to work step-by-step, rather than all at one time." "It's also why they can take a while to be fully live," he added.

The question came from 'ªJason Kilgore who wrote:

Given the timing, I want to ask a core update related question. Usually, we see waves of volatility throughout the 2-3 weeks of a rollout. Broadly, are different parts of core updated at different times? Or is it all reset at the beginning then iterated depending on the results?

John replied:

We generally don't announce "stages" of core updates.. Since these are significant, broad changes to our search algorithms and systems, sometimes they have to work step-by-step, rather than all at one time. (It's also why they can take a while to be fully live.)

I guess in short there's not a single "core update machine" that's clicked on (every update has the same flow), but rather we make the changes based on what the teams have been working on, and those systems & components can change from time to time.

Here is a screenshot:

As you know, the March 2026 core update started to roll out Friday and we are watching it carefully.

Forum discussion at Bluesky.

Microsoft is at it again with its sponsored labels tests. This time, Microsoft is testing almost transparent sponsored labels within the Bing search results. The labels are super grayed out and super hard to see.

This was spotted by Sachin Patel who posted this example on X:

Microsoft responded to these invisible ad labels before when we previously coverered almost invisibile ad labels and the incredibly hard to see ad labels.

I guess Microsoft continues these tests.

Forum discussion at X.

Last week, OpenAI announced a new feature for ChatGPT named location sharing. This allows you to share your precise location with ChatGPT, so ChatGPT can give you more localized and near me results.

OpenAI wrote:

Users can now choose to share their device location so ChatGPT can provide more relevant information, such as local recommendations, news, and weather. Sharing your device location is completely optional and off until you choose to enable it. You can update device location sharing in Settings > Data Controls at any time.

As Glenn Gabe put it on X, "Let's call this the "Near Me ChatGPT Update."

By enabling location sharing, it will allow ChatGPT more precisely reply to queries like 'what are the best coffee shops near me?', "ChatGPT can use your precise location to provide more relevant nearby results. On mobile devices, you can choose to toggle off precise location separately while keeping approximate device location sharing on for additional control."

This is rolling out to all ChatGPT consumers plans on iOS and web today with Android is coming soon.

I shared about the "Near Me ChatGPT Update" the other day and just let ChatGPT use my device location. This is supposed to enhance results for local queries. I just asked for the "best steakhouses near me" and several of the restaurants are ~45 minutes away. Both restaurants'... pic.twitter.com/gRkMeuzMQt

— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) March 30, 2026

Forum discussion at X.

Google Ads is rolling out asset group theming for Performance Max campaigns. This lets you copy an asset group and apply this theme to your text and images using Google AI.

Asset group theming in Performance Max allows you to quickly create seasonal, holiday, or stylistic variations of your existing ad creatives.

When you apply a theme to a copy of a high-performing asset group, you can generate new, relevant images and text assets with just a few clicks. This helps you efficiently scale campaigns for key moments without altering your original asset group. Learn more About generative images in Google Ads.

This update was spotted by Bia Camargo who posted about it on LinkedIn and wrote, "You can take a high-performing asset group, clone it, and instantly apply a theme like Easter, Valentine's Day, Back to School or a sale. Google then generates themed image variations, suggests headlines and descriptions aligned to the moment and keeps your original asset group untouched so you can test safely.

Here is her screenshot:

Here is a help document from Google on this.

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

Google is sending out emails with updates on how Google Business Profiles may verify your business details. Google said it may "reach out using automated messages via call, text, or WhatsApp to the verified phone number on your Business Profile."

The email was posted by Payal Badhran on LinkedIn who wrote, "I recently received an update from Google regarding changes to how business details are verified on Google Business Profiles (GBP)."

Here is a copy of that email:

The email says:

Confirm your business details via calls or messages from Google

To confirm your business details and keep your profile updated, Google may occasionally reach out using automated messages via call, text, or WhatsApp to the verified phone number on your Business Profile.

Any information you provide in response to these messages, including photos and posts, will be added to your profile on your behalf when applicable. You can edit or remove these updates at any time directly from your Business Profile.

To keep your profile in good standing and visible to customers, ensure any info you share aligns with our content policies. This helps prevent account suspensions to your account that may require an appeal process to reverse.

If you want to change your settings, you can stop automated messages from Google at any time.

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Google Search Console performance reports may be off again. A teen SEO wants to save his family business, but Google thinks it might be too late. Google is testing white background colors for AI Overview citations. Bing is testing AI-based shopping tab recommendations. Bing is also testing larger product ad formats.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Search Console Performance Report Impressions Spiking???
  Google Search Console's performance report may have some sort of bug or tracking issue. When you set some filters, you may see a huge spike in impressions start to show up in the report.
• Google Chimes In On Teen SEO Wants To Save Family Spain Vacation Rental
  Google's John Mueller chimed in on Reddit when a teenager of a family vacation rental business said he was trying to save his family business through SEO after being burned by previous SEOs. In short, it seems the family has a vacation rental in Spain, and business is significantly down due to the loss of Google traffic.
• Is Google Ditching Blue Background For AI Citations?
  New test places AI Overview citations on a white background without throwing any shade behind it.
• Bing Shopping Tests AI-Based Recommendations
  Bing is testing a new AI-based recommendations section in the Shopping Tab. Bing adds this block to the top of the results, and shows AI-citations at the top right.
• Bing Gives Product Ads Some Cushion
  Bing spotted testing more listings in the sponsored product section at the top of its results.

Other Great Search Threads:

• AdSense Updates for 2026 This week I had the monthly internal meeting with the #AdSense forum managers, and they presented the updates coming this year for the program. For now, I can only share what's already active for most publishers, Bruno Ramos Lara on X
• Did you know you can start partnering with YouTube creators for your performance campaigns right in Google Ads? This week, I've been in NYC for the YouTube Newfronts and sat down IRL(!) with Melissa Nikolic whose teams are building t, AdsLiaison on X
• Google now places a call to action button for posts shown in Google Discover from X, 'View on X", Radu Oncescu on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Heidi Sturrock shares how a costly mistake became a competitive advantage
• Google brings its Veo video generation model to Google Ads globally
• YouTube test replaces video titles with AI summaries
• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Stop chasing Reddit and Wikipedia: What actually drives AI recommendations
• ChatGPT hits $100 million in ad revenue and is opening self-serve access in April
• ChatGPT ads are showing up '" a lot
• How SEO maturity unlocked a 133x ROAS in medical device marketing
• AI-forward campaigns are a B2B growth gold mine '" if you're patient
• Google released v23.2 of the Google Ads API

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• OpenAI upgrades Codex to automate your workflows - and compete better with Claude Code, ZDNET
• AI overly affirms users asking for personal advice, Stanford Report
• llms.txt Was Step One. Here's the Architecture That Comes Next, Duane Forrester Decodes

Analytics

• Tracking Telephone and Email Clicks in GA4, KRM Digital Marketing
• The GA4 Audit That Used to Take 4 Hours Now Takes 4 Minutes With AI & Claude, MeasureU
• Google Tag Manager Constant Variable, KRM Digital Marketing

Industry & Business

• Apple hires Google exec to lead AI marketing, Axios
• Google's Real Time Ad Bidding Settlement Gets Final Court Nod, Bloomberg

Links & Content Marketing

• How to Find Content Ideas with Semrush, Semrush
• Measuring Content Marketing: Let the AI Agents Listen, Content Marketing Institute

SEO

• This Test Revealed an Unexpected SEO Signal Hiding in Plain Sight, Search Pilot
• Why Google's New "Google-Agent" is the Biggest Mindset Shift in SEO History, Marie Haynes
• How Google Click Signals Drive SEO Rankings and AI Answers, Zyppy Marketing
• How to Build SEO Habits that Deliver Consistent Results, Women in Tech SEO
• March 2026 Core Update: Radar, Visibility Analysis and Background, SISTRIX

PPC

• Ads Advisor AI Agent Promoted Via Email, PPC News Feed
• Increase in Batch Job Service Request Size, Google Ads Developer Blog
• New Google Ad Manager API read-only scope, Google Ads Developer Blog
• Five Ways To Boost Campaigns With Google Ads Advisors, PPC News Feed

Other Search

• TurboQuant has the potential to fundamentally change how Search (and AI) works, Marie Haynes
• Meta to Launch New AI Glasses Aimed at Prescription Wearers, Bloomberg
• How Many Google Searches Are There Per Day? Feb 2026, Exploding Topics

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.

Google Search Console's performance report may have some sort of bug or tracking issue. When you set some filters, you may see a huge spike in impressions start to show up in the report.

This may be similar to that num 100 spike we saw last year.

Brodie Clark was the first to post about this and wrote on X - he said, "there is something bizarre going on with Google Search Console data right now." He said this happens when he filters by the merchant listing filter, "using the 'merchant listings' search appearance filter, which has historically been independent of the influence of rank trackers (because of an impression being recorded only after a grid result is selected), is now a mess," he wrote.

Here is his screenshot:

Brodie added that this is across several large-scale eCommerce sites, "CTR data is no longer accurate for desktop, with there now being many queries appearing that are clearly related to tools, with significant increases in impressions from this past week in particular."

I am not sure how widespread this is, if it is limited to just the merchant listing filter or not...

Here is his post:

Heads-up: there is something bizarre going on with Google Search Console data right now.

Similar to the changes that came to light after the disabling of &num=100, impressions are again skyrocketing for specific surfaces on desktop.

For example, using the 'merchant listings''... pic.twitter.com/1uYaHiW7rh

'" Brodie Clark (@brodieseo) March 30, 2026

Forum discussion at X.

Google's John Mueller chimed in on Reddit when a teenager of a family vacation rental business said he was trying to save his family business through SEO after being burned by previous SEOs. In short, it seems the family has a vacation rental in Spain, and business is significantly down due to the loss of Google traffic.

The teenager asked a number of very specific SEO questions and added, "I am really lost and dont know how to proceed, and I CANT AFFORD to FAIL HERE."

The problem is, those specific SEO questions most likely won't make any difference. John Mueller from Google chimed in and wrote:

SEO is not magic:

Fundamentally, I think you need to keep in mind that any website with magical SEO won't necessarily rank highly in search results quickly, or necessarily drive clients to a business. If there were such a thing as making a website with perfect SEO that drives all the clients to one business, everyone here would be retired and living in ... idk, Spain :).

Competition is rough:

The online market for vacation rentals it hard, there's very strong competition from large aggregators, not just in terms of ranking, but also in terms of brand recognition. This is not to say that you can't get 40-50% more traffic from search (it really depends on the situation of the site), but this is (usually!) not a matter of just putting some meta-tags on a SEO optimized page that comes out of ChatGpt, targeting "house", "surroundings", "family vacation", etc. (Aside, keep in mind that many GenAI-made sites end up with JS frameworks that are traditionally more complex for SEO.)

And his advice:

My recommendation would be to find some more experienced folks who have time & interest in helping you check out the overall situation (what's the real headroom vs what has just changed in today's world? what's a realistic timeline - in the best/worst cases?), and help you to figure out a reasonable plan of attack. I don't think this is something that random reddit comments can solve (unless ... your site is actively blocking search engines, which it doesn't sound like it is). Ultimately, there's no guarantee that doing SEO well can solve this, so IMO it makes sense to go at this in a thoughtful & realistic way -- and perhaps, spend enough time working out alternative approaches.

You can scan through the thread and see John chime in more based on some advice around migrating stuff, which he thinks might be a bad idea.

These posts are always heartbreaking to read...

Forum discussion at Reddit.

Bing is testing a new AI-based recommendations section in the Shopping Tab. Bing adds this block to the top of the results, and shows AI-citations at the top right.

This was spotted by Sachin Patel who posted about it on X - here is one of his screenshots:

Here are some more:

Bing has introduced AI-based recommendations in the Shopping tab. @rustybrick @glenngabe pic.twitter.com/G6dslww3xk

'" Sachin Patel (@SachuPatel53124) March 13, 2026

I cannot seem to replicate this.

Forum discussion at X.

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Google released the March 2026 core update this morning. Google Search Live is now global. Google Merchant Center to highlight vehicle ads data quality issues. Google Ads expands loyalty program. Google Ads PMax has new exclusions and reporting. Bing is testing rounded corners on short videos. And I posted the SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google March 2026 Core Update Is Rolling Out - First Core Update Of Year
  Google officially announced the rollout of the March 2026 core update early Friday morning at around 5:14 ET. This core update is expected to take up to 2 weeks to roll out. Google said this is a regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites.
• Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google March 2026 Core & Spam Update, AI-Generated Title Links, Bing AI Reports Update & Much More
  This week we covered the release of the Google March 2026 core update that rolled out this morning and will take about two weeks to finish. We also covered Google March 2026 spam update that launched on March 24th and finished 19.5 hours later on March 25th...
• Google Search Live Goes Global
  Google announced Search Live has launched globally, for all languages and locations where AI Mode is available. Google said this is possible by its "new audio and voice model, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, which delivers even more natural and intuitive conversations."
• Google Merchant Center Will Highlight Vehicle Ads Data Quality Issues
  Google announced that it will begin to highlight data quality account issues related to Vehicle ads within Google Merchant Center. This will begin in mid-April 2026.
• Google Ads Expanding Loyalty Program
  Google Ads and Merchant Center is expanding the Loyalty program features to highlight key perks, expand local and regional visibility, expand internationally and within AI Mode and Gemini.
• Google Ads PMax Audience Exclusions & New Reporting
  Google announced several new steering updates for Google Ads Performance Max including first-party audience exclusions, budget reporting, full audience reporting and network segmentation in placement reporting.
• Bing Testing Rounded Corners On Short Videos
  Microsoft Bing is testing using rounded corners on short videos and normal videos within the Bing search results interface. Bing used to show these as squared-off edges.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Google is sending out an email titled "Updates to how we verify your business details" to contact business owners. Issue: This is the same exact way scammers contact biz owners, Len on X
• Google is now nudging advertisers to apply seasonal themes (like Easter) directly inside asset groups., Arpan Banerjee on LinkedIn
• If you're still keeping an eye on ranking factors, remember that patience is at the top of the list., Marinella Himari on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google adds seasonal creative theming to PMax asset groups
• If your local rankings are off, your map pin may be the reason
• Google March 2026 core update rolling out now
• Google Search Live expands globally where AI Mode is available
• Google PMax gets new exclusions, expanded reporting features
• Automated traffic is growing 8x faster than human traffic: Report
• Google-Agent user agent identifies AI agent traffic in server logs
• SMX Now: Learn how brands must adapt for AI-driven search
• The parts of Performance Max you can actually control
• Report: Clickout Media turned news sites into AI gambling hubs
• How to use first-party data to find high-impact content ideas
• Google updates structured data for forum and Q&A content
• How GSC's branded query filter changes SEO reporting and analysis
• LinkedIn Ads on a budget: How one playbook drove sub-$10 CPL

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Beyond the Spreadsheet: Omnimedia Content Audits for the AI Era, iPullRank
• What AI Writing Tools Get Wrong (And The Stack I Use Instead), Ahrefs
• Where do Americans look first for breaking news information?, Pew Research Center
• 4 Prompt Tracking Mistakes — Whiteboard Friday, Moz

Industry & Business

• EU backs nude app ban and delays to landmark AI rules, The Verge
• OpenAI Surpasses $100 Million Annualized Revenue From Ads Pilot, The Information
• Publishers lose Google case, for now, The Seattle Times

Links & Content Marketing

• Content Health Gains Importance in AI World, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Whitespark's Guide to Unstructured Citations for AI Visibility, Whitespark

SEO

• The Google Helpful Content Update And Its Relevance in 2026, Hobo
• An Ecommerce SEO Audit You Can Run Using Only Google, Intergrowth
• What is a Query Fan-Out and How Does it Work?, Foundation Inc

PPC

• Support Updates Available Via Whatsapp, PPC News Feed
• Google Ads Rolls Out Passkey Security for Account Access, PPC News Feed
• Upcoming Improvements to Offline Conversion Imports, Google Ads Developer Blog
• Veo Video Generation Now Available in Google Ads, PPC News Feed
• Data Manager Adds ActiveCampaign Integration, PPC News Feed
• Google Pickup Later Ads: Expand Local Reach Easily, Optmyzr
• I Asked ChatGPT 500 Questions. Here Are the Ads I Saw Most Often, Wired
• Themed Asset Cloning for Performance Max, PPC News Feed

Search Features

• Apple Plans to Open Up Siri to Rival AI Assistants Beyond ChatGPT in iOS 27, Bloomberg
• Gemini now lets you import chats and memory from other AI apps, 9to5Google
• Google Web Guide: What It Is, How It Works, and What It Means for SEO, Ahrefs
• How to switch to Gemini: Import your chats and data from other AI apps, Google Blog

Other Search

• Transform your headphones into a live personal translator on iOS., Google Blog

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.

This week we covered the release of the Google March 2026 core update that rolled out this morning and will take about two weeks to finish. We also covered Google March 2026 spam update that launched on March 24th and finished 19.5 hours later on March 25th. We also covered Google's confirmation of using AI to generate title links in search results. Bing Webmaster Tools AI performance report added grounding queries on the page level. Google Search Live went global. Google is testing pushing web guide with larger promotion. Google is testing a huge block of citation at the bottom of the AI Overviews. Google AI Mode changes some of the links to overlay cards, hurting clicks. The first ChatGPT ads share little information with advertisers. Google added sponsored stores to AI Mode results. Google Ads PMAX added audience exclusions and new reporting. Google Ads API version 23.2 is out. Google Merchant Center requires you gray out your buy now button for out of stock products. Bing is testing a new AI Image search. Google is testing a feature to reply to local reviews using AI. Google Business Profiles performance metrics shows offer data. And local ads are coming to Apple Maps soon. 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
• 0:54 - Google March 2026 Core Update Is Rolling Out - First Core Update Of Year
• 2:05 - Google March 2026 Spam Update Unleashed (& Finished)
• 2:57 - Google Using AI to Create Title Links on SERP
• 3:22 - Bing Webmaster Tools AI Performance Reports Add Grounding Queries To Pages
• 4:05 - Google Search Live Goes Global
• 4:31 - Google Tests "Skip Digging, Start Guided Research" Driving Users to Web Guide-like Results
• 4:44 - Google Tests Huge Block of Citations at Bottom of AI Overviews
• 5:02 - Google AI Mode Tests Changing Some Links To Overlay Cards - Reducing Clicks
• 5:42 - First ChatGPT Ads Share Little Data To Advertisers
• 6:08 - Sponsored Stores Spotted in AI Mode As Google Expands Ads Across AI Surfaces
• 6:20 - Google Ads PMax Audience Exclusions & New Reporting
• 6:52 - Google Ads API Version 23.2 Now Available
• 7:00 - Google Merchant Center: Out-of-Stock Products Need Grayed Out Buy Button
• 7:22 - Microsoft Bing Tests New AI Image Search
• 7:45 - Google Tests Reply To Reviews With Al
• 8:03 - Google Business Profile Performance Metrics Offer Data Added To Help Doc
• 8:37 - Local Ads Coming To Apple Maps
• 9:02 - Conclusion

Please do subscribe on YouTube or subscribe via iTunes or on your favorite RSS reader. Don't forget to comment below with the right answer and good luck!

Google announced Search Live has launched globally, for all languages and locations where AI Mode is available. Google said this is possible by its "new audio and voice model, Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, which delivers even more natural and intuitive conversations."

With this expansion, people in more than 200 countries & territories can have real-time conversations with Search in AI Mode, using both voice and camera.

Google also added, "The new model is also inherently multilingual, which means that people around the world can now speak with Search in their preferred language."

To go Live with Search, simply open the Google app on Android or iOS and tap the Live icon under the Search bar. From there, you can ask your question out loud to get a helpful audio response, then continue the conversation with follow-up questions or dive deeper with helpful web links.

Here is Rajan Patel from Google talking about it:

Search Live is going global! ð Starting today, people around the world can have conversations with Search using their voice and camera. And thanks to Gemini 3.1 Flash Live, it's faster, more natural, and fully multilingual.

It's my favorite way to use AI Mode - and a total'... pic.twitter.com/0rbI9IxMGL

— Rajan Patel (@rajanpatel) March 26, 2026

Forum discussion at X.

Google announced that it will begin to highlight data quality account issues related to Vehicle ads within Google Merchant Center. This will begin in mid-April 2026.

Google said this is "to make sure your vehicles comply with Google's Vehicle ads data quality requirements, we evaluate both the submitted vehicle data and the associated website content for every vehicle uploaded to your account."

Vehicles will be disapproved if the vehicle data across your data source and landing page doesn't match. In the Merchant Center account issues page, Google will display what the issue is and how to fix it. To maintain listing approval, please monitor and resolve all warnings on the account issues page of your Merchant Center.

Here are some examples of data quality issues:

Vehicle availability mismatch:

Your vehicle's availability must be highlighted or visible on your vehicle description page.

Learn How to fix: Vehicle availability mismatch.

Vehicle condition mismatch:

The condition[condition]attribute in your data must match the condition on your vehicle description page.

Learn How to fix: Vehicle condition mismatch.

Vehicle price mismatch:

The price[price]attribute value provided in your product data and the corresponding values on your vehicle description page must match.

Learn How to fix: Vehicle price mismatch.

Vehicle mileage mismatch:

The vehicle mileage on your vehicle data and your vehicle descriptions must match.

Learn How to fix: Vehicle mileage mismatch.

Mismatched vehicle information:

The vehicle identification number (VIN), brand or model on your vehicle data and your vehicle description pages must match.

Learn How to fix: Vehicle Mismatch.

Vehicle landing page error:

The link_template, link, or ads_redirect attributes must have the correct and expected URL values for your vehicle landing pages.

Learn How to fix: Landing page error.

Forum discussion at X.

Google Ads and Merchant Center is expanding the Loyalty program features to highlight key perks, expand local and regional visibility, expand internationally and within AI Mode and Gemini.

Google wrote, "We are now expanding Loyalty program features to help you build stronger customer relationships and drive long-term growth. By integrating your loyalty benefits directly into your product listings, you can reward existing members and encourage new shoppers to join your program."

Here is what is new:

• Highlight key perks: Showcase member pricing to display exclusive discounts and member shipping to feature special delivery options directly on your listings.
• Expanded local and regional visibility: Loyalty annotations are now available for local inventory ads and regional Shopping ads, allowing you to promote in-store or region- specific member benefits.
• International expansion: Loyalty features have expanded to 14 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• AI-First shopping surfaces: Loyalty benefits are also showcased to shoppers on Google's AI-first surfaces, such as AI Mode and Gemini.

I spotted this via Arpan on LinkedIn who wrote, "more clicks, more loyalty is Google's 20% boost."

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.