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 Ads now uses your PMax campaigns for Waze ads. Google also expanded channel performance reporting to all PMax campaign users. Google Finance added a ton of new AI features. Google Merchant Center has new preferred audience targeting for promotions. Google Merchant Center also added a new content creative section. Google Discover has numerous ongoing tests. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Performance Max Gains Waze Ads & Channel Performance Reporting
  Google announced it has added Waze ads inventory to Performance Max for store goals campaigns and Channel performance reporting is now available in all Performance Max campaigns in Google Ads.
• Google Finance Gets Live Audio, Instant Transcripts & AI Insights
  Google has been adding AI features to Google Finance - like what can go wrong? Recently Google's Rose Yao announced Google Finance added live audio, instant transcripts and AI insights.
• Google Merchant Center Adds Creative Content Section
  Google added a new navigation button to Google Merchant Center labeled "Creative Content." I believe this is where you access Product Studio, and all your videos and assets for your Merchant Center campaigns.
• New Google Merchant Center Preferred Audience Targeting For Promotions
  Google added a new promotion targeting option to Google Merchant Center for audience targeting. The option is labeled "preferred audience" and is available when setting up a promotion.
• Google Discover Numerous Experiments Documented
  As VP of Engineering for Search at Google, Rajan Patel said months ago - "We're experimenting with various approaches to X in Discover." Google has been super busy with testing various approaches to Google Discover. Here are some of the more recent tests I found via Damien (andell) and Gagan Ghotra over the last few weeks.
• Halloween Decorations At Google Hong Kong Office
  Since we are still posting photos from the various offices from Google's Halloween parties and events. Here are some photos from the Google Hong Kong office of some of the office decorations for Halloween.
• Video: Google Drops Search Features, Tests AI Mode Responses, Ad Click Trickery & More
  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...

Other Great Search Threads:

• "I don't care about how much content you produce or how quickly you can produce it, I care if people actually trust your brand.' Being visible in AI / search doesn't matter if 'nobody believes you.' @wilreynolds #mozcon, Lily Ray on X
• Another #MozCon, another killer keynote from @lilyraynyc '" demystifying #SEO vs. AI Search with the hilarious story of the SEO swamp. And of course, setting a new gold standard for keynote decks (again)., Romain Damery on X
• Using the house metaphor - build your house on a strong foundation, without it, no amount of design or tech will make it strong or useful.., Janet Bartoli on Bluesky
• A new kind of search to optimise for... But AEO is probably still just another flavour of SEO... probably, Andy Beard on X
• SEO Salt, when a client asks you to just add some SEO., John Mueller on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google expands PMax reach with Waze ads
• Google Ads pushes 'Investment Strategy' planning for budget-limited campaigns
• ChatGPT boosts brand mentions as Google AI Mode narrows focus: Report
• Exploring the real risk AI brings to the internet (and SEO with it)
• How to build authority when no one knows you yet
• 4 times PPC automation still needs a human touch
• Google's double-serving dilemma: Who really wins when one advertiser gets two spots?

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Google announces support for JSON Schema and implicit property ordering in Gemini API., Google Blog
• Microsoft Lays Out Ambitious AI Vision, Free From OpenAI, Wall Street Journal
• OpenAI unveils blueprint for teen AI safety standards, Axios
• The New Comet Assistant, Perplexity
• Towards Humanist Superintelligence, Microsoft AI
• 9 Ways You Can Use Google's AI to Give Your Learning a Powerful Boost, Google Blog

Analytics

• Google Analytics Adds Cross-Channel Budgeting Tools for Marketers, AdWeek
• User-provided data attribution improvement, Google Analytics Help

Industry & Business

• Google unveils Ironwood, seventh generation TPU, competing with Nvidia, CNBC
• Google's Ruth Porat on the Employee Habit That Drives Her Nuts, Wall Street Journal

Links & Content Marketing

• Audiences Moved. Has Your Distribution Strategy?, Content Marketing Institute
• What Happens when AI Content is Added with a Disclaimer?, Search Pilot

Local & Maps

• Google Maps could soon let you choose shady streets, literally (APK teardown), Android Authority
• Google Maps reveals trends data for navigating the 2025 holidays, Google Blog

SEO

• ChatGPT's Entity Update: Fewer Mentions, Tougher Competition, Profound
• From Found to Cited: Analysis of ChatGPT Ranking Factors (400K Pages), Sellm
• GEO, AEO, LLMO: Separating Fact from Fiction & How to Win AI Search, Amsive
• How to perform a technical SEO audit, Google Search Central YouTube
• Last-minute Black Friday SEO prepping for ecommerce stores, Yoast
• Traditional SEO vs AI SEO: What You Actually Need to Know, Semrush
• Why Sentiment Matters More Than Ever, Celeste Gonzalez
• AI answer engines: How brands are "hacking" zero-click search, Digiday

PPC

• 2025 Partner Awards: North America partner of the year winners announced, Microsoft Advertising
• 3 Holiday Tips with Google's Commerce Media Suite, Google Blog
• How to Know If Your Ad Traffic Is Low Quality (And What To Do About It), Adworld Experience
• New monetization and AI tools for publishers, Google Blog

Search Features

• Google's Preferred Sources Tool Is Jammed With Spam, Search Engine Journal

Other Search

• Google's November 2025 frauds and scams advisory, 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.

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 dropped a number of search features and structured data types, but Google did not give us the full list of changes Google Ads Editor version 2.11 is now out. Google Maps got a big update from Gemini. Google is testing AI Overviews in place of the definition box. Google is testing a yellowish tinted background color for the search results.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Drops Support For More Structured Data Types & Search Features
  Google's John Mueller announced Google is "simplify the search results page" by removing "some features that aren't being used very often and aren't adding significant value to users." This means more structured data types will be removed, but for some reason, Google did not specify exactly which ones are going away.
• Google Search Tests Tinted Colored Background
  Google is testing a tinted brownish/yellowish background color for the search results page. It turns the white background into a brownish/grayish/yellowish background and then the gray boxes into a darker color.
• Google Definitions Box Tests Swapping In AI Overviews
  Google is testing replacing the definitions box in the search results with AI Overviews. I am personally able to replicate this but this was posted in Reddit a couple of months ago - I didn't think it was new, but yea, this is been an ongoing test for some time.
• Google Ads Editor Version 2.11 Is Now Available
  Google has released version 2.11 of the Google Ads Editor, which includes over 15 new features and removes a couple of older features.
• Gemini Coming To Google Maps For Directions, Traffic & Places
  Google Maps is getting an update from Gemini where you can ask Google Maps questions about locations, where Google Maps can give you more human directions and Google Maps with Lens can tell you more about a store or location.
• Google Ads Fake Info For Advertiser Verification Programs Disallowed
  Google updated its Circumventing systems policy to add a new section for Advertiser verification. In short, and as Google wrote, "Providing false or fraudulent information as part of our Advertiser verification programs is not allowed."
• Powerpuff Girls At Google Hong Kong
  Here is a photo from a Halloween party at the Google Hong Kong office of some Googlers dressed up as The Powerpuff Girls. They wrote on Instagram, "Another year of Googleween with my cutest teammates."

Other Great Search Threads:

• Are 'Google Docs backlinks' a real SEO play? (came up in a Threads convo), Reddit
• How it works: It automatically delivers the most relevant ads and matches advertisers against additional queries they weren't reaching before. Rolled out globally in Sept & it's already unlocked billions in net new queries, Vidhya Srinivasan on X
• "Validate fix" for things like this is basically just a note for yourself. With structured data, it's possible to go from "invalid" to "valid" markup, but a 404 page isn't something you need to fix (if it doesn't exist). 5XX errors are a bit different, so, John Mueller on Bluesky
• If you work in eCommerce SEO, make sure you're getting the credit you deserve. Misattribution is common with free listings within Google Search due to sites misusing old tagging methods within their feeds. This can apply to feature, Brodie Clark on X
• No amount of technical work is going to make a website useful if none of the content is useful., John Mueller on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google Merchant Center adds 'Creative Content' section with video assets
• Google to remove more search features including practice problems, nutrition facts, nearby offers and more
• How agentic AI threatens to upend OTAs' dominance in search
• How APIs extend data access and automation in Google Ads and Meta Ads

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• 1 million business customers: the fastest-growing business platform in history, OpenAI
• Apple Plans to Use 1.2 Trillion Parameter Google Gemini Model to Power New Siri, Bloomberg
• Gemini Deep Research can tap into your Gmail and Google Drive, 9to5Google
• Google is preparing Nano Banana 2 for the upcoming release, Testing Catalog
• Introducing Profound Index, Profound
• Threat actors misuse AI to enhance operations, Google Blog
• Microsoft built a fake marketplace to test AI agents '" they failed in surprising ways, TechCrunch
• The Hidden Entity Layer of ChatGPT: From Named Entities to Products, WordLift
• The History of Ecommerce: From Amazon to ChatGPT and Preparing for the Future, iPullRank

Analytics

• Using Attribution Paths To Transform Your Google Ads Strategy, Search Engine Journal

Industry & Business

• Exclusive | OpenAI Isn't Yet Working Toward an IPO, CFO Says, Wall Street Journal
• Google confirms it is behind data center plan in rural Morgan County, WRTV
• Google Hit With Patent Suit Over Phone, Smart Home Tech, Law360
• PTAB Upholds Shopping Patent After Google Challenge, Law360
• Snap Inks $400 Million Perplexity Deal to Add AI Search to Chat, Bloomberg
• Google Is in Early Talks to Deepen Its Investment in Anthropic, Business Insider
• Google planning powerful AI data centre on tiny Australian Indian Ocean outpost, Reuters
• Google to announce biggest-ever investment in Germany on Tuesday, Reuters
• Meet the power broker of the AI age: OpenAI's 'builder-in-chief' helping to turn Sam Altman's trillion-dollar data center dreams into reality, Fortune

Links & Content Marketing

• How Marketers Are Planning to Use AI, Influencers and More in 2026, Social Media Today
• Marketing 360 Launches Content Marketing Pro Plan, Yahoo Finance
• How to Optimize Content for AI Search Engines [2026 Guide], Semrush

Local & Maps

• Drive with 'Now You See Me' on Waze, Google Blog
• Multi-Location SEO: How to Scale Without the Chaos, Backlinko
• We Analyzed 8,186 Businesses in 200 Cities. Here's What Actually Gets You Ranking for 'Near Me' in 2025, Sterling Sky

SEO

• How Google is Integrating AI in Organic Search, Ann Smarty
• IndexWatch Q3 2025: UK Winners & Losers, SISTRIX
• SEO to AEO: What's Different and What's Stayed the Same, seoClarity
• Should You Keep Your Black Friday Pages Live All Year?, Koozai
• The Evolving Role of an SEO in the AI Era, StepForth
• Top 10 SEO mistakes agencies still make, Hallam

PPC

• Google Launches Help Pages for Video Assets in GMC, PPC News Feed
• Google Is Pushing Creating Investment Strategy in Ads, PPC News Feed
• Launching international paid search campaigns, PPC Live

Search Features

• AI Mode is easier to use in Chrome on iOS and Android, 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.

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 AI Overviews continue to shift click-through rates down, which is not a good thing. Google is testing a new version of AI Mode. Google Merchant Center promotion section added a top performing products option. Google is testing review summary box updates. Google AI Mode added three new agentic capabilities.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Report: Google AI Overviews Continue To Drive CTR Downwards
  Earlier this year, we covered that Google's AI Overviews are killing click-through rates from the Google Search results. Well, Seer Interactive updated the numbers and that CTR decline has continued to decline and get even worse.
• Google Tests A New Version Of AI Mode
  Google is testing a new version of AI Mode responses in the wild, directly in the Google Search AI Mode interface. Google even tells the searcher, "You're giving feedback on a new version of Al Mode. Which response do you prefer?"
• Google Merchant Center Adds Promotions For Top Performing Products
  Google added a new promotion method in Google Merchant Center for Top-performing products. This lets you just promote your best performing products in Google Shopping and Google Search.
• Google Reviews Updates Services Summary Box
  Google is testing an update to the reviews services summary box. We know Google does ask for services attributes and other attributes from both the business owner and reviewers but this review box seems newish.
• Google AI Mode Gains 3 New Agentic Capabilities
  Google's Robby Stein announced three new agentic capabilities within AI Mode - (1) booking event tickets (2) booking beauty appointments and (3) wellness appointments.
• Googleween - Videos & Photos From The Google Halloween Party
  Here are some photos and videos I found on Instagram from the big Google Halloween Googleween party. I'll just embed them below.

Other Great Search Threads:

• For quite a while, broad match was the thing everyone avoided. But Google's changed how it works, and it's finally getting better at understanding what people mean, not just what they type. That doesn't make it, Menachem Ani on X
• Let's hear it for lead gen! I got to chat with agency experts Pauline Jakober @GrpTwentySeven, Patrick Ortenzio @Tinuiti and Grace Mante @KeplerGrp about their top strategies for generating high-quality leads. * How to adapt tactics for, AdsLiaison on X
• Okay, heads up to those who are interested - Search Central Live is coming to Zurich again On December 9!, Martin Splitt on Bluesky
• [New data]: Traffic from ChatGPT keeps growing every month, while traffic from Google keeps falling. [Based on data from ~67k websites connected to @Ahrefs' free Web Analytics product '' chatgpt-vs-google(DOT)com] Don't g, Tim Soulo on X
• Strategic inputs are definitely important to optimize toward the conversions you deem valuable to your business. As Patrick says, "good data in, good data out" and Grace underscores the impo, AdsLiaison on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• YouTube locks sidebar on mobile ads, removing close option
• Google AI Overviews drive 61% drop in organic CTR, 68% in paid
• GEO startup Lorelight shuts down: 'The problem didn't need solving'
• Google's 'Smart Cropping' may be trimming your Shopping Ad images
• Aja Frost on AI search, content strategy, and AEO success metrics
• Social and UGC: The trust engines powering search everywhere
• 5 Google Ads tactics to drop in 2026

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Introducing MAI-Image-1, debuting in the top 10 on LMArena, Microsoft AI
• Introducing voice in Microsoft 365 Copilot: a more productive way to work on the go., Microsoft Community Hub
• People Inc. IAC Google AI Overviews Microsoft, Digiday
• The Nonprofit Feeding the Entire Internet to AI Companies, The Atlantic
• Shopify says AI traffic is up 7x since January, AI-driven orders are up 11x, TechCrunch

Analytics

• How GA4 records traffic from Perplexity Comet and ChatGPT Atlas, MarTech

Industry & Business

• Alphabet Sells $25 Billion of Corporate Bonds in US, Europe, Bloomberg
• Amazon Demands Perplexity Stop AI Agent From Making Purchases, Bloomberg
• Google transfers ownership of new aquifer storage and recovery facility to The Dalles, Columbia Gorge News
• Google: DOJ bows to industry with 'unprecedented' breakup demands, Global Competition Review
• Perplexity AI accuses Amazon of bullying with Comet legal threat, CNBC
• The DOJ And Google Sharpen Their Remedy Proposals As The Two Sides Prepare For Closing Arguments, AdExchanger
• Epic and Google agree to settle their lawsuit and change Android's fate globally, The Verge
• Google Clears DOJ Antitrust Hurdle for $32 Billion Wiz Deal, Bloomberg

Links & Content Marketing

• How Moorings Park Used AI and SEO to Strengthen Content Strategy, seoClarity
• GitHub Cracks Code With Fresh Twists for Corporate Blog, Content Marketing Institute
• Why student influencers are reshaping brand marketing, Content Grip

Local & Maps

• Google Maps Alternative Gets Big Update With Three New Features, AutoEvolution
• Google Maps, Polestar introduce live lane guidance, Google Blog
• Some Android Auto users report issues after updating to Android 16, 9to5Google

SEO

• Duplicate meta titles or meta descriptions in Shopify, Ilana Davis
• Is Schema Any Good for SEO? (And Why), Sara Taher
• Managing faceted navigation at scale, Oncrawl
• Rethinking YouTube SEO: Winning Visibility in Google's AI Overviews, JumpFly
• How LLMs Learn from Structured Data '" and Why Schema.org Matters for AI SEO, GPT Insights

PPC

• Merge Google Ads Campaigns for Better ROAS, Practical Ecommerce
• The Difference Between Search and Display Campaigns (and Why It Matters), JumpFly

Search Features

• Google's Search Live could soon stop listening when you want it to, Android Authority

Other Search

• Alexa+ comes to the Amazon Music app, TechCrunch
• Exploring a space-based, scalable AI infrastructure system design, Google Research Blog
• Goodbye, Assistant: Google prepares to make Gemini your only option, Android Authority
• Google Removed 749 Million Anna's Archive URLs from its Search Results, TorrentFreak
• How Does Social Media Traffic Compare to Organic and AI in 2025?, SE Ranking

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.

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 added a new user agent to the list, the Chrome Web Store user agent. Google Search Console's API has a long-standing bug when filtering by search appearance. Google Merchant Center has smart cropping, but you can opt out of it. Google is testing infinite endless scrolling for Google Discover. I posted the large Google Webmaster report for November.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• November 2025 Google Webmaster Report
  We had a few unconfirmed but big Google search ranking updates but we are still waiting on an official core update...
• Google Merchant Center Smart Cropping - You Can Opt Out
  Did you know that Google Merchant Center will automatically crop your product images in Google Shopping if it thinks it will look better in Google Search? Did you know that you can also opt out of what they call "Smart Cropping"?
• Ongoing Google Search Console API Bug Impacts Search Appearance Filter
  Google Search Console has a bug with its API when filtering on the searchAppearance dimension. This bug occurs when using the notEquals or notContains operators, it will only return rows with the excluded value, instead of excluding those rows.
• Google Adds Chrome Web Store Google-CWS User Agent To Docs
  Google added a new user agent to the Googlebot's user-triggered fetchers documentation. The new user agent is for the Chrome Web Store named Google-CWS.
• Google Discover Tests Infinite Endless Scroll
  Google is supposedly testing an endless, infinite scroll for Google Discover. When I scroll through Google Discover, it eventually just stops and doesn't keep going. But Gagan Ghotra said he is seeing it go on and on forever.
• Google Indoor River Boat Desk
  Here is an interesting workspace at the Google office in Germany. It is like a river boat that has desks that Googlers can work in. It is indoors, but also in the water, boxed in with glass, a wood deck and the boat.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Apparently, a 0% Google Ads optimization score is possible. My previous low was under 35%, Nate Louis on X
• Google Discover is testing larger publisher icons. Comparing the favicons reveals several interesting points. Google keeps both in its memory. The first: - Very lightweight, small PNG (originally 57x57 pixels, resized). - Google, Damien (andell) on X
• Interesting Google Patent I came across that was published 5/8/25. And btw, whatever happened to Google Perspectives? I think AI Mode and AIOs ran it out of town :) I have not analyzed this patent heavily but it talks about gathering, Glenn Gabe on X
• Our preliminary data shows that ChatGPT is set to surpass the 6 billion total monthly visits benchmark for the first time. Between October 1'"30, it generated 5,986,912,477 visits., Similarweb on X
• You can also do a site-removal in Search Console and immediately hide the whole site in the search results, if you mess something up. (For the rare times that people have gotten something wrrong in staging ... :-)), John Mueller on Bluesky
• Will removing a subdomain (cpanel.mydomian.com) in GSC affect my main site?, Reddit

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google adds Chrome Web Store user agent
• 7 focus areas as AI transforms search and the customer journey in 2026
• Google says verify your cloud hosting provider with Search Console
• Google Local Services Ads vs. Search Ads: Which drives better local leads?
• Google AI Overviews guide research, but Search still wins the sale
• Want to write for Search Engine Land?
• How Google's AI Overviews are accelerating change in paid search

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• ChatGPT's October Update: Fewer Mentions, Tougher Competition, Profound
• In a First, AI Models Analyze Language As Well As a Human Expert, Quanta Magazine
• Google AI Overview Holiday Shopping Test: 57% Pullback Reveals 2025 Strategy, BrightEdge
• LLM Citations and Brand Mentions are Vanity Metrics, Crawl Space Blog

Industry & Business

• Google's metasearch crackdown: A win for fair play in the price accuracy game, Koddi
• How Google fooled Brussels: the tech giant's playbook exposed, Follow the Money
• Microsoft Vows to Spend $8 Billion in UAE Through 2029 on Cloud, Chips, Bloomberg
• OpenAI Seeking Rejected DOJ Search Fixes, Google Says, Law360 UK
• OpenAI signs $38 billion deal with Amazon, first partnership with AWS, CNBC
• Opponents of Google's Fort Wayne data center plan strategy, Journal Gazette
• Yes, Brussels<< really<< wants Google to be broken up, POLITICO

Links & Content Marketing

• 4 Ways to Use ChatGPT or LLMs for Publisher Newsletters, Adam Riemer
• Mapping news creators and influencers in social and video networks, Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
• The Creator Economy Just Moved Into the Newsroom, Are You There Yet?, Newzdash
• What If Your Best Content Comes From Complaints?, Zoomsphere
• Why the ROI Obsession is Killing Content Marketing, SALT.agency

Local & Maps

• Expert Tips for GBP Suspensions, Verification, and Local Ranking, BrightLocal
• Here's your first look at new gradient icons for Google Maps and Photos, Android Police

SEO

• Differentiated Delivery: Evolving and Cloaking Your Robots.txt into an Active Bot Gatekeeper, Search Engine World
• Research: Which page types are cited most frequently by AI in the travel sector?, SALT.agency
• Should SEO Be A Marketing Team's Job Or Is It Wasting Their Time?, Nikki Pilkington
• Staying Grounded in an AI-Driven SEO World | MJ Cachón, Advanced Web Ranking
• Strategic SEO: The real evolution of SEO isn't technical, Level343
• 26 AI SEO Statistics for 2026 + Insights They Reveal, Semrush
• JavaScript SEO Checklist, Cloud22

PPC

• Performance Max Brand Exclusions: A Guide to Clarity, Hopskip Media
• Suggested Assets Tab Now Fully Explained, PPC News Feed
• Transition to IAB TCF v2.3, Google AdSense Help

Search Features

• Google releases Holiday 100 gifting list driven by Search trends, Google Blog
• Google updates Search Live with floating controls on Android, 9to5Google
• Save time with new Chrome autofill enhancements, Google Blog
• Which Countries Have the Most AI Overviews? 108 Million Queries Analyzed, Ahrefs

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.

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 new ad layout is driving accidental clicks on search ads. Google and Bing are indexing Grokipedia, the AI-generated online encyclopedia, like crazy. Raptive sued Google saying they use its data to cheat them, it can cost billions. Reddit said its search traffic is flat, AI is not a traffic driver and 50% of its traffic comes from Google. John Mueller of Google issued a PSA saying verify your cloud provider with Search Console.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• The New Google Search Ad Layout Is Causing Accidentally Clicks
  A few weeks ago, Google launched a new ad layout with the large "Sponsored results" label that groups numerous ads under that one label, and then sticks a "Hide sponsored results" button after you have already seen the ads. Well, it is leading to accidental ad clicks based on what I am reading and hearing across the industry.
• Google PSA: Verify Your Hosted Cloud Provider Host In Search Console
  Google's John Mueller posted a PSA yesterday, reminding SEOs and developers to verify the host name of cloud providers they are using to host images, videos, and other content. Specifically, you should use a DNS CNAME to the bucket, then verify with DNS with Search Console.
• Publishers Say Google Used Their Data to Cheat Them, Raptive Lawsuit
  Raptive, an advertising-sales company representing thousands of websites (content publishers), filed a 93-page complaint against Google in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit says "Google has carried out a sophisticated, anticompetitive, and deceptive scheme for well over a decade" by "manipulating auctions for ad space across the Internet."
• Reddit: Search Traffic Flat, AI Not Traffic Driver & 50% Of Traffic Is From Google
  Reddit announced earnings late last week and it boggles me how people love this stock. I am not a financial expert of analysis but Reddit has been saying for some time that 50% of its traffic comes from Google Search. Reddit also said on this Q3 earnings call that its search traffic is flat and that AI is not a traffic driver, at least not yet.
• Google & Bing Are Indexing Grokipedia - AI Generated Wikipedia / Encyclopedia
  Grokipedia, an AI-generated online encyclopedia launched a week ago with over 800,000 AI-generated pages, and both Google and Bing have already indexed hundreds, if not thousands, of those AI-generated pages.
• Clippy Walking Around Microsoft Office
  On Thursday of last week, the night before Halloween, Clippy was walking around the Microsoft office. Here is a photo of it from Michael Schechter, VP of Bing and Microsoft, that he posted on X.

Other Great Search Threads:

• I am going to say this again... I think we are in for a very rough Q4. All the signs are very much there. Would love to be very wrong about this, but I've been at this a long time., Julie F Bacchini on X
• I just love this single purpose domains/sites. This one is golden. stopcitingai.com, Stefan Judis on Bluesky
• Like I've always said, it works until it doesn't. Spammy site I've been keeping an eye on since it recently surged. Started tanking the other day. Now doesn't rank for any of those core queries anymore. Actually, it's deindexed. Poof, Glenn Gabe on X
• I'm not sure what you're showing in the screenshot, but it seems expected that different search features use things differently. Especially very visible elements like video previews / thumbnails seem like the kind of thing where you wouldn't want to do th, John Mueller on Bluesky
• We wanted to share more information about Gemma in AI Studio: First, to clarify the distinction between our AI products. Our Gemma models are a family of open models built specifically for the developer and research community., News from Google on X
• AdSense Earnings and Observations - November 2025, WebmasterWorld
• From Ilya's deposition'" '¢ Ilya plotted over a year with Mira to remove Sam '¢ Dario wanted Greg fired and himself in charge of all research '¢ Mira told Ilya that Sam pitted her against Daniela '¢ Ilya wrote a 52 page memo to g, toucan on X
• I helped turn the thing you left for dead into what should be the largest non-profit ever. you know as well as anyone a structure like what openai has now is required to make that happen., Sam Altman on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Google VP: SEO and AI search optimization have 'a lot of overlap'
• Google's Robby Stein: Ads aren't going away in AI search
• The rise and fall of FAQ schema '" and what it means for SEO today
• How to monitor your website's performance and SEO metrics

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Perplexity signs multi-year deal to use Getty's images for AI-powered search, Reuters
• Perplexity's new AI tool aims to simplify patent research, The Verge
• Reddit CEO says chatbots are not a traffic driver, TechCrunch
• Study: How do stadium sponsorships impact localized AI visibility?, Seer Interactive
• The Man Who Invented AGI, Wired
• Microsoft Plays 'Me Too' Again to OpenAI on AI Browser, Bloomberg
• Google pulls Gemma from AI Studio after Senator Blackburn accuses model of defamation, TechCrunch
• How AI Browsers Sneak Past Blockers and Paywalls, Columbia Journalism Review
• New Version of Siri to 'Lean' on Google Gemini, MacRumors
• The great AI buildout shows no sign of slowing, Reuters

Industry & Business

• Big Tech Is Spending More Than Ever on AI and It's Still Not Enough, Wall Street Journal
• Microsoft earnings suggest $11.5B OpenAI quarterly loss, The Register
• AI turned Google Cloud from also-ran into Alphabet's growth driver, Reuters
• Google and Microsoft Face Less AI Spending Risk Than Meta, Amazon, The Information

Links & Content Marketing

• 18 Lessons Coaches Learned From Big Content Marketing Mistakes, Forbes
• 7 Game-Changing Content Marketing Trends to Watch, Small Biz Trends

Local & Maps

• Is the Google real estate lead generation program real?, SEO Savvy Agent
• Whitespark's Guide to the Perfect Small Local Business Website, Whitespark

SEO

• How Entity SEO Supports Brand Authority in AI Search, Schema App
• GSC Freeze: How LLM Scraping Disrupts SEO Metrics Today, RS Websols
• Survival Strategies for Publishers in Google's Current Search Environment, Women in Tech SEO
• The New Optimization Stack: Where SEO Meets AI Retrieval, Duane Forrester Decodes
• The Old Rules are Dead (ChatGPT Scrapes Google and Leaks Your Prompts), Quantable Analytics
• Why I'm Shutting Down Lorelight (And What It Taught Me About GEO), Grow With Less

PPC

• Developers Get Instant Production Access with Google Ads API's Explorer Tier, PPC News Feed
• Transparency Center Now Covers Political Ad Spend and Creatives, PPC News Feed
• Goodbye, Legalese. Hello, Easy Privacy Fixes?, AdExchanger

Search Features

• Google says Search AI Mode will know everything about you, Bleeping Computer
• Gemini in Google Docs can now use your linked files as a source of truth for writing help, Chrome Unboxed
• Google Translate adding Advanced' or 'Fast' model picker, 9to5Google
• Forget Gemini: Google Home users just want the basics to work again, Android Authority

Other Search

• 6 places where Google's Gemini is still missing, Android Authority

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.

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 says Google Ads is not going away, in this AI world. Google's Robby Stein said traditional SEO overlaps mostly with AI Mode SEO. Google Ads has a new overview report for cross campaign metrics. Google Merchant Center promotions section has a download option. Bing is testing see more links in the image snippet carousel. Plus, I posted the weekly SEO video recap. Finally, I should note that the Google search ranking volatility we covered a couple of days ago is still super heated and something must be going on.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google's Robby Stein On SEO For AI Mode & AI Overviews
  Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, was interviewed on the Silicon Valley Girl channel by Marina Mogilko about AI Search at Google. And one of the questions she asked was on how to show up in these Google AI responses. Robby Stein essentially said there is a lot of overlap between normal SEO for web search but the key difference are the "the kinds of questions" people ask AI versus traditional search.
• Google: Google Ads Not Going Away With AI Mode As The Future
  Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, was interviewed on the Silicon Valley Girl channel by Marina Mogilko about AI Search at Google. He explained how to do SEO for AI Mode and he was crystal clear that Google Ads is not going away with the release of these new AI features.
• Cross Campaign Metrics In Google Ads Overview Tab
  Google may have a new chart in the Google Ads overview tab named cross campaign metrics. It seems similar to the Cross-Media Reach Measurement but this is shown in the overview tab and not in that specific report.
• Video: Google & Microsoft Earnings, Query Group Report, Disney Sitelink Hack, Reviews Disappearing & Ranking Volatility
  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...
• Bing Tests Snippet Image Carousel With See More Link
  Microsoft is testing a "see more" link within the Bing Search image carousel on search result snippets. Sometimes Microsoft will show an image carousel below a search result snippet, sometimes it will show product results and sometimes it won't show at all.
• Google Merchant Center Promotions Adds Download Option
  Google seems to have added a download option to the Google Merchant Center promotions section. when creating promotions in Google Merchant Center, the download button will be on the bottom right of the screen.
• Google Halloween Decorations On Stan & Android Figurines
  Google has put out the Halloween decorations this week, here are some photos of a couple Android figures and Stan the dinosaur all ready for the event.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Data point: My team at Google would run 3-5 experiments per week (so they were very well versed at it). Instrumentation problems caused issues with the results larger than the measured effect in about 20-30% of cases, Malte Ubl on X
• Looking for a last-minute DIY Halloween costume? May we suggest an original @Microsoft cult classic: Clippy! Find inspiration images and get tips and instructions using Copilot Search, Microsoft Bing Dev on X
• "When traffic isn't traffic, yet you're billed for that traffic." -> Have you received hosting overage notices over the past few months based on 'visits' that aren't human? You're not alone. After nearly two decades of blogging,, Glenn Gabe on X
• Ecommerce SEO Tip: if you work with a site that has an online store and physical locations, this is a no-brainer to have in place (many sites don't). Many stores use their GBP listings to load products manually using the 'edit prod, Brodie Clark on X
• I'm not aware of anything at the moment but checking into it., AdsLiaison on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Blogging, AI, and the SEO road ahead: Why clarity now decides who survives
• Regex for SEO: The simple language that powers AI and data analysis

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• How to Earn LLM Citations to Build Traffic & Authority, Ahrefs
• More partnerships coming soon to enhance Apple Intelligence, AppleInsider
• OpenAI's Atlas browser falls for AI-targeted Cloaking Attack, SPLX
• Partnering with Reliance to bring the best of Google AI to more people across India, Google Blog
• Tim Cook says new, improved Siri coming in 2026, AppleInsider
• Samsung and Nvidia to build an AI Megafactory to transform semiconductor manufacturing, SiliconANGLE

Analytics

• How to Run a Web Analytics Audit: Examples & Tools, Measure Minds Group

Industry & Business

• Big Tech tests investors' patience with $80bn AI investment spree, Financial Times (Sub)
• Google v Microsoft: the battle of AI business models, Economist
• Google's First AI Ad Avoids the Uncanny Valley by Casting a Turkey, Wall Street Journal
• Microsoft AI CEO Has Nine New Reports. Five Are Ex-Googlers., Business Insider

Links & Content Marketing

• Google Labs and DeepMind launch AI marketing tool Pomelli, Google Blog
• How To Control the Narrative and Get Marketing Buy-In, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Google Maps for Android prepares 'Power saving mode', 9to5Google
• Why Android Auto is still the most "Google" thing Google makes, Android Police
• Waze vs. Google Maps: A single road trip just changed my mind about who wins, Tom's Guide

SEO

• AI Can't Replace SEO Tools. But It Can Use Them, Ahrefs
• Another Way You're Being Lied to About GEO (AI Search), Lily Ray on LinkedIn
• Brand Gap Analysis: Find Out Why You're Invisible in AI Search, Ahrefs
• How Search Off the Record tackles SEO and web development, Search Off the Record
• Leverage onboarding flows for SEO, Product Led SEO
• Stop the AI Tool and scraper madness - Set up Cloudflare today and watch expensive automated traffic disappear [Case Study], GSQI
• Upgrading Content Optimization with the AEO Content Score, Profound
• Optimising for the surfaceless web, Jono Alderson

PPC

• 25 years of Google Ads, Google Blog
• Learn what's new in Demand Gen with October's Drop, Google Blog

Search Features

• Chrome's New Tab Page Adds Nano Banana and Deep Search AI Buttons from Google Gemini, Windows Report

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.

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 and Microsoft announced earnings and they both had really good quarters, Google broke $100 billion for the first time in a quarter and ad revenue and queries keep growing. The Disney account Google Sitelink hack is still live, believe it or not. Microsoft Advertising advertiser console was down for a while. Google Merchant Center added promotion analytics. Google Ads bans sweepstake casino ads. Google spoke about case sensitivity for URLs in Google Search. Bing is testing a country/region selector option.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Ad Revenue Up 13% & Bing Ads Revenue Up 16%
  Both Google and Microsoft reported its earnings today; Alphabet's Q3 2025 earnings and Microsoft's Q1 2026 earnings. Google reported ad revenues up by 13% with $74 billion and Microsoft reported ad revenues up by 16%.
• Disney Google Sitelinks Blackhat SEO Hack Still Live
  About a week ago, if you searched for [disney account] and looked at the Disney search result listing in Google Search, you'd see a sitelink that reads, "Black hat SEO approaches..." And guess what, that sitelink is still live.
• Reminder: Google On Case Sensitivity For URLs
  Google's John Mueller reminded us about when case sensitivity matters for Google Search and SEO when it comes to your URLs. In short, Google will probably figure it out based on two URLs having the same content on it but why leave it up to Google, so make sure to be consistent with your URLs so Google doesn't need to figure it out.
• Google Merchant Center Next Adds Promotion Analytics
  Google Merchant Center Next added new analytics data to the Promotions tab/section. This shows you two new analytics charts including "Your promotions at a glance" and "Performance in the last 28 days." These are summary cards to see how well your promotions are performing in Google Search.
• Microsoft Advertising Web User Interface Is Currently Down
  Microsoft Advertising advertiser web interface is down and Microsoft's Navah Hopkins said the "engineering team is investigating this issue with priority." This only impacts the web interface, according to Hopkins and ad serving does not seem to be impacted.
• Bing Search Adds Country/Region Selector
  Microsoft is testing a way to change the country and region you are in when doing searches on Bing. There is a new country/region selector for this, similar to how Google handles it.
• Google Ads: Sweepstake Casinos Are Not Social Casino Games
  Google updated the Google Ads Gambling and Games policy this week to define that sweepstake casinos are not social casino games. Google said this update was added on October 28, 2025. This now prohibits sweepstake casinos from using Google Ads for advertising.
• Putting Green At Google Germany
  Here is a photo from the Google office in Germany. You can see in this little corner of the office they put a small putting green with a flag pole.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Another Google Discover update with titles in images, but also image format with rounded images that don't fill the entire screen., Damien (andell) on X
• Exactly 1 year ago today, I was sitting at Google's HQ attending its "Web Creators Summit" In one ear I listened to 2 Google Search execs sitting in front of me -- they were apologizing to the 20 small & independent web publishers in, Nate Hake on X
• Grokipedia provides dofollow backlinks. Make sure you are there..., SEO Wins on X
• New YouTube thumbnail size update Thumbnail limit = 2MB '' 50MB. That means real 4K (3840Ã-2160) thumbnails on every living room TV. - Design native 3840Ã-2160 (or 1920Ã-1080 min) - JPEG/PNG <50MB, with zero compression, David Altizer on X
• The irony that I can't get to the page to download Microsoft Ads Editor while using Bing to find the page, in the Edge browser, on a Windows laptop. WTH Microsoft?, Robert Brady on X
• Update: this has now been updated with the AI summary label in search results after previously showing without it. This was confirmed to be a bug by @rajanpatel at the time of the original test and has now been fixed. cc @rustybrick, SERP Alert on X
• Fun fact [*]: they're called "tag"s because the "<" is shaped like the lid used to make "tagine"., John Mueller on Bluesky
• Want to know how to use the new hashtag#GoogleAds MCP server? TBH I recommend watching this video from Cory Liseno even if you don't quite know what an MCP server is. It's a really good basic intro to just some of what's possible., Ginny Marvin on LinkedIn

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Microsoft Advertising advertiser console down
• SerpAPI calls Reddit lawsuit a threat to the 'free and open web'
• How to use Google Ads Promotion assets (a step-by-step checklist)
• Why your SEO and PPC teams need shared standards to unlock mutual gains
• The new SEO sales tactic: Selling the AI dream

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Apple releases Pico-Banana-400K image editor training data, AppleInsider
• Making JavaScript websites AI and LLM crawler friendly, SALT.agency
• NotebookLM adds custom goals, upgrades performance, Google Blog
• Sam Altman says OpenAI will have a 'legitimate AI researcher' by 2028<< , TechCrunch

Industry & Business

• Big Tech lobby budgets hit record levels, Corporate Europe Observatory
• Google and Internet2 launch AI leadership program for higher education, Google Blog
• Google Loses Bid To Transfer Monopolization Case To Calif., Law360
• Google Search continues to face AI threat, MarketWatch
• Meta, Google Endorse Transparency on Government Communications, Bloomberg Government
• OpenAI lays groundwork for juggernaut IPO at up to $1 trillion valuation, Reuters
• YouTube announces AI reorg and layoffs - by Alex Heath, Sources News
• YouTube Announces Voluntary Buyouts for Employees, The Information

Links & Content Marketing

• How To Create Content Both Humans and AI Agents Trust, Content Marketing Institute
• How we built an AI ecosystem to amplify our event content, MarTech
• How to spot fake AI-written press releases, Press Gazette

Local & Maps

• 7 Ways To Turn 1-Star Reviews Into More Sales (Yes, Really), Sterling Sky
• AI Has Made Google Business Profile and The Knowledge Panel Your New Homepage, BrightLocal
• Android Auto may soon support app widgets and more, 9to5Google
• Google launches new theme page to honor Route 66, Google Blog

SEO

• Negative and Link Based SEO Still Working Magic in Site Links, Search Engine World
• What is a robots.txt file and Common Issues With Implementation, Search Atlas
• Why Wikipedia Is Losing Traffic to AI Overviews on Google, CNET
• Why you don't need a magic GEO hack, Fast Company

PPC

• Channel Partner Spotlight: FeedOps, winners of Microsoft Advertising's 2025 AI Innovation Award, Microsoft Advertising
• 3 Ways To Improve Lead Quality in Google Ads, JumpFly Digital Marketing Blog
• Demand Gen Placement Report Now Shows Gmail and Discover Separately, PPC News Feed
• Google Adds Help Pages for Itinerary Value Rules in Hotel Ads, PPC News Feed
• Publishers based in China and Argentina can now use PayPal Hyperwallet to get paid, Google AdSense Help

Search Features

• Play the PAC-MAN Halloween Google Doodle game, Google Blog

Other Search

• ChatGPT Pulse on Web, ChatGPT Release Notes

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.

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 ranking volatility is heating up again, this was kicked off yesterday. Google is rolling out early access to Gemini for Home voice assistant. Google Merchant Center added preferred audience for promotion targeting. Google Local Service Ads is testing reviews and overviews buttons. Google has an undocumented Google user agent named GeminiiOS. And Google partially lost in its ad tech monopoly case.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Search Ranking Volatility Around October 28th
  There may have been another Google Search ranking algorithm tweak around October 28th or so. I am seeing some rumblings both within the SEO community chatter and the third-party Google tracking tools. It seems some are noticing big search ranking swings...
• Ad Tech Monopoly: Judge Rules Google Can't Relitigate Core Antitrust Facts
  A judge has ruled, giving Google a blow in its ad tech monopoly legal battle. This ruling should help the plaintiffs suing Google not get hung up in court as long as some expected, plus Google can't relitgate the core facts in that antitrust case.
• Google Local Service Ads Tests Reviews & Overview Buttons
  Google is testing adding to the call and message button on Local Service Ads a reviews and sometimes overview button. Reviews takes you to the reviews but the overview button to the local listing for that business.
• Google Merchant Center Preferred Audience For Promotions Restrictions
  Google Merchant Center now lets some merchants and advertisers define an audience for a promotion. This allows you to restrict who sees the promotion in Google Search for your Merchant Center shopping listings.
• Google Rolls Out Early Access To Gemini For Home Voice Assistant
  We all knew it was coming and now Google is roll out early access to Gemini for Home voice assistant in the U.S. You can either say "Hey Google" to your speaker or display to request specific help or answers, or talk naturally with Gemini Live by saying "Hey Google, let's chat."
• Undocumented Google User Agent For GeminiiOS
  There may be an undocumented Google user agent named GeminiiOS. GeminiiOS is apparently used when a user clicks on a source link from the Gemini app on their iPhone.
• Human-Sized Google Doll
  Here is a human-sized massive doll. The dress the doll is wearing has the super G Google logo and the doll is in Googley colors.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Nano Banana in Google Lens can do some remarkable things. For e.g. in transforming a black cat into a chrome cat, you'll see how the model can grasp the physical world. In this case, it used its knowledge of how this cat is likely, Robby Stein on X
• Technical SEO: don't just submit the sitemap index file in Google Search Console, you'll need to submit all important sitemaps individually also. When I get access to a clients GSC, often for very large sites, I unfortunately don't, Brodie Clark on X
• This will be interesting to follow over time. Just launched, only 26 urls indexed, no favicon in the SERPs yet, no search visibility yet, and a handful of links. Google even thinks you meant 'wikipedia' when searching for Grokipedia, Glenn Gabe on X
• YouTube's strengthened approach to online gambling and graphic violence in gaming, YouTube Community

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google DeepMind's BlockRank could reshape how AI ranks information
• Google Business Profiles What's happening feature expands
• LLM optimization in 2026: Tracking, visibility, and what's next for AI discovery
• How to balance speed and credibility in AI-assisted content creation

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• 67% of ChatGPT's Top 1,000 Citations Are Off-Limits to Marketers (+ More Findings), Ahrefs
• ChatGPT Go now available in Brazil, ChatGPT Release Notes
• Google Home acting "pretty creepy" as users report fake identities and hallucinated chores, Tom's Guide
• I Worked at OpenAI. It's Not Doing Enough to Protect People., New York Times
• OpenAI offers free ChatGPT Go for one year to all users in India, TechCrunch
• Who Rules AI Search? What 3 Months of AI Visibility Index Data Tells Us, Semrush

Analytics

• From .com to .anything: introducing Top-Level Domain (TLD) insights on Cloudflare Radar, Cloudflare
• How does GA4 help drive SEO strategy?, Majestic SEO Podcast

Industry & Business

• Sergey Brin Nonprofit Gets $261 Million Lift in MapLight IPO, Bloomberg
• Built to benefit everyone, OpenAI
• Google Accused of Infringing Earth, Maps, Street View Patents, Bloomberg
• Google has officially petitioned the Supreme Court in Epic v. Google., The Verge
• Google investors high hopes after stock's sharpest rally in 20 years, CNBC
• Judge hands Google partial defeat in ad tech monopoly case, Courthouse News Service
• Moving Traffic Media Acquires SpiderBoost to Unite SEO, Development, and Media for the AI Era, PR Newswire
• PayPal, OpenAI sign ChatGPT payments deal, CNBC
• The next chapter of the Microsoft'"OpenAI partnership, Microsoft Blog
• OpenAI's Promise to Stay in California Helped Clear the Path for Its IPO, Wall Street Journal

Links & Content Marketing

• Adobe brings AI deeper into content workflows, MarTech
• Invisible' Product Turned Into Emotional Storytelling, Content Marketing Institute
• Inaugural Adobe Creators' Toolkit Report: 86 Percent of Global Creators Use Creative Generative AI, See it Boosting Creator Economy, Adobe

Local & Maps

• The hidden Google Maps trick that keeps me from overspending, Android Police
• Google sued by University of Southern California over imaging technology, Reuters

SEO

• AI-First Browser from ChatGPT: What Does It Mean for SEO?, Ann Smarty
• Creating a modular approach to json schema in an eleventy website, Simon Cox
• How To Show GEO ROI in the AI SEO Age - New Metrics to Measure, Jenny Munn
• Why SEO Writers Using AI Still Aren't Earning More in 2025, SuccessWorks
• 100+ Questions That Show AEO/GEO Is Different Than SEO, Metehan
• When Can Skinny Pages Help Your Local SEO?, Local Visibility System

PPC

• 7 key trends set to shape your ecommerce PPC strategy in 2026, PPC Hero
• Explorer access is now available for Google Ads API developers, Google Ads Developer Blog
• Forrester: Open Web to Lose 30% of Ad Dollars in 2026, AdTechRadar
• How Platform Loyalty Is Killing Your PPC Edge, PPC Live
• Updates to Google TV Masthead format requirements: United Kingdom and Brazil (November 2025), Google Advertising Policies Help
• Bid Limits Quietly Added to Max Conversion Value Strategies, PPC News Feed
• Brands Rush to Reddit, Boosting Ad Spend and Gaming AI Search, AdWeek

Other Search

• Google promotes fake content to millions on Discover news platform, Press Gazette
• Google's Gemini for Home voice assistant: 100 things to try, Google Blog
• HTTPS by default, Google Online Security Blog
• Google is set to release the new Home Speaker next spring. Should you buy it? These are the potential pros and cons of the upcoming smart speaker, based on what we know so far, Android Central

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.

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 has a new query grouping report, which looks excellent. Google Business Profiles What's Happening feature expanded. Google Ads now shows phone call lead data. Google Ads show map pin clicks data as well. Google's John Mueller commented on the best content management system for SEO - there is none.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Query Groups Report Comes To Google Search Console Insights
  Google added a very useful feature to the Google Search Console Insights report named query groups. It does what it is named, it groups similar queries together as one, so you can see how your site is performing for that specific topic, instead of individual queries.
• Google Business Profiles What's Happening Feature Expands
  Google has expanded access to the Google Business Profiles' what's happening feature to multi-location restaurants and bars in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. When it launched in May it was only available for single-location restaurants.
• Google Ads Interface Gains Local Service Ads Phone Call Leads
  Google Ads has supposedly added more integration between the main Google Ads platform and reporting and the niche Local Service Ads platform. Some can now see conversion tracking actions in the Google Ads interface.
• Google Ads Showing Maps Pin Clicks In Reports
  Google is rolling out map pin clicks in the Google Ads and Google Local Service Ads reporting. This can be found under Campaigns view, then under Segment, and then under Click Type.
• Google's John Mueller On Best CMSs For SEO
  Google's John Mueller was asked what is the best CMS, content management system, is for SEO and ranking well on Google Search. John replied that all the modern CMS platforms are fine and there are no big differences, SEO-wise, between any of them.
• Google Hay Bale Seating
  Here is a photo from the Google office, where there is outdoor seating for some event. The seating is made up of hay bales. It caught my eye. I found this on Instagram.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Google.com/ai or http://google.ai both work '" whatever is easier to remember, Robby Stein on X
• Testing titles on Google Discover feeds. On YouTube videos, the title appears at the top of the Discover card, just below the site name. And on other cards, the title appears directly on the image, not below it, Damien (andell) on X
• A lot of SEO involves understanding the website that you're working on. Crawling it yourself (with permission, of course), keeping track of data, and monitoring for changes is a big part of this. Here's a set of slides from the recent BrightonSEO event., John Mueller on Bluesky
• Was honored to host Research@ our Mountain View HQ last week. Over the past two weeks, we've seen a flurry of new results from Google Research, from genomics to quantum computing to geospatial understanding. Research is our chance, Yossi Matias on X
• Search Central Live is coming back to Tel Aviv in November! If you're based in the region, and you're interested in Search, join us for a day focused on Search Console, Google Trends, and other Search best practices., Google Search Central on LinkedIn

Search Engine Land Stories:

• The future of SEO teams is human-led and agent-powered
• Google Search Console adds Query groups
• Search Engine Land Awards 2025: And the winners are'...
• Why a lower CTR can be better for your PPC campaigns
• The agentic web is here: Why NLWeb makes schema your greatest SEO asset

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• A Growing Rift Between Microsoft, OpenAI This Time Centers over 'Sexbot', Techstrong
• AI Search Trends for 2026 & How You Can Adapt to Them, Semrush
• Cloudflare's Matthew Prince wants Google to play ball with AI rivals., Digiday
• E-Commerce in the Age of AI and Omnichannel Search | Marco Loguercio, Advanced Web Ranking
• Study: ChatGPT sales referrals still trail traditional digital channels, Digital Commerce 360
• The AI Wildfire Is Coming. It's Going to be Very Painful and Incredibly Healthy., Dion Lim

Analytics

• GA4 Views vs. Sessions, KRM Digital Marketing
• What Are GA4 Content Groups? (And How to Set Them Up), KRM Digital Marketing

Industry & Business

• Uncertainty Grows Around Google's $19 Billion Downtown West Project in San Jose, Realtor
• A Second Home in San Francisco, Profound
• Alphabet's Page, Brin Are $50B Richer in 3 Months, Only Trail Ellison, Business Insider
• Microsoft Needs to Open Up More About Its OpenAI Dealings, Wall Street Journal
• NextEra Energy partners with Google to restart Iowa nuclear plant, Reuters
• OpenAI says U.S. needs more power to stay ahead of China in AI, CNBC

Links & Content Marketing

• Thought Leadership as a Platform for B2B Marketing ROI, TopRank
• Why AI Thought Leadership Hurts Content Teams, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Ford Bronco Helps Bring TransAmerica Trail to Google Street View, Motor1
• Google Maps Is The Best Software Included With Samsung Galaxy XR, UploadVR
• Tourist falls into Venice canal when following Google Maps in viral video, Fox News

SEO

• AEO Orgless SEO: Digital Steganography, SEO Lady
• Google AI Mode = Zero-Clickpocalypse? How to Adapt Your SEO in 2025, SEO Sherpa
• Google Discover Just Got a Glow-Up: Follow Buttons and Social Posts Are Here, SEO Sherpa
• How Google Discover REALLY Works, Leadership SEO

PPC

• October 2025 update to Display & Video 360 API, Google Ads Developer Blog
• Verisign clarifies how Google Adsense for Domains changes could affect its business, Domain Name Wire
• Personalize Your Merchant Center Promotions with Audience Targeting, PPC News Feed

Search Features

• Chrome's New Tab Page adds AI Mode and a + button to ask with context in Canary, Windows Report
• Strengthening ChatGPT's responses in sensitive conversations, OpenAI

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.

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 local reviews are disappearing, it appears to be a bug Google is working to fix. Google Posts is testing a scheduler option. Google Ads has a new investment strategy tab. Google Ads may soon support campaign level audience exclusions in Performance Max campaigns. Google Merchant Center for Agencies is now available.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Reviews Disappearing Within Google - Google Fixing
  Over the past couple of weeks, there have been numerous reports of reviews disappearing, being removed, or being deleted from local business profiles on Google Search and Google Maps. Supposedly, this is now a known bug and is being actively worked on by the Google team.
• Google Ads Campaign Level Audience Exclusions To Performance Max
  Google Ads seems to be bringing the ability to do campaign level audience exclusions to Performance Max (PMax) campaigns. A new Data Exclusions feature is showing up for some advertisers under campaign settings.
• Google Ads New Investment Strategy Recommendation Page
  Google Ads added a new tab on the Recommendations page named Investment Strategy. This tab "provides account-level suggestions to help you understand the potential impact of increased investment on your key metrics, such as clicks, conversions, or conversion value," Google wrote.
• Schedule Google Posts In Google Business Profiles Tests
  Google seems to be testing the ability to schedule your Google Posts within Google Business Profiles. At the bottom of the add Google Posts overlay, Google is testing a new option named "Schedule this post" that lets you toggle it on and schedule when you want the post to go live.
• Google Launching Merchant Center For Agencies
  It looks like Google is launching a special agency version of Google Merchant Center named Merchant Center for Agencies. Google explained this version is a "tailored experience designed specifically for agency users. The product allows for the management of multiple Merchant Center accounts at scale."
• YouTube Latte Art
  Here is a photo from a video I found on Instagram of a latte machine making custom YouTube logos into these drinks. I think the brand is Brewani.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Disney doing some advanced SEO? :) probably some SEOs having fun? via George Kamide, Barry Schwartz on Bluesky
• International SEO: expanding a website into new regions and languages can get messy real quick without the correct foundations. The language/region selector is a good example of this, where it is not uncommon for large sites to link to, Brodie Clark on X
• told you already! just took Google 5 days and they again blocked the workaround from dataforseo that enabled them to scrape 100 results with just 2 crawls, Gagan Ghotra on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• 90% of businesses fear losing SEO visibility as AI reshapes search
• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Your ads are dying: How to spot and stop creative fatigue before it tanks performance
• Your Q4 ecommerce checklist for peak holiday sales
• Google working on fixing Search Console performance report delay

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• OpenAI made ChatGPT better at sifting through your work information, The Verge
• AI chatbots use different sources than Google search and often cite less-known websites, The Decoder
• Altman taps leading researcher for BCI startup Merge Labs, Sources News

Analytics

• My Beef with GA4 Channel Groupings, Brie E Anderson

Industry & Business

• Google to pay $190 million in legal fees to Texas' law firms in privacy settlement, Reuters
• Google Investigates Weekslong Security Breach Involving Contractor, The Information
• Google leases massive Gurugram office space in 'one of the biggest office space transactions of the year', The Times of India
• Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas says: Let's not leave internet in Google's hands, it is too, The Times of India

Links & Content Marketing

• Here's Why I Love "AI Slop", SEO Agency
• Use AI to call your SMEs and create content with substance, not slop, Seer Interactive
• Making the case for an integrated content marketing strategy, SALT agency

Local & Maps

• No more CarPlay as GM cuts phone ties in all cars, not just EVs, ArenaEV
• Apple Maps will add adverts in 2026, AppleInsider
• Germany's defamation laws skew Google reviews, Fast Company
• Google Maps finally adds this Waze-like radar trick and it changes everything, Talk Android

SEO

• Quick Hits for AI Overviews: 8 Tips & Tricks to Try, JumpFly
• SEO For AI/LLM (GEO) Stats: 90% of Businesses Are Worried About the Future of Organic Findability, Smarty Marketing
• The Best of Published Decks from the Latest BrightonSEO [October 2025], The SEOFOMO Hub

PPC

• Microsoft Ads Impersonated in New Scam Campaign on Google, PPC News Feed
• New Customer Acquisition in Demand Gen Live, PPC News Feed

Search Features

• Chrome New Tab Page adds AI Mode, Incognito shortcuts, 9to5Google

Other Search

• Apple's Smart Home Command Center: What We Know So Far, MacRumors

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.

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 confirmed testing AI-generated snippets but the missing AI label is a bug. Bing is testing an animated Copilot response. Google Business Profiles tests a Get Google QR code button. Google Business Profiles also tests related to your search section. Google local listings for hotels has track price changes by email. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Video: Google Search Volatility, ChatGPT Atlas Browser, Google Ads Turns 25 & More News
  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...
• Google Confirms Testing AI Generated Snippets But Missing AI Label A Bug
  We covered Google testing using AI to generate snippet summaries and snippet descriptions, but all of those had a Gemini logo next to them, as to label them AI-generated. Now, Google was caught not showing the AI-label on these AI-generated descriptions in the search results.
• Bing Copilot Answers Animated Response
  I believe generally when you search Bing and get a Copilot answer at the top, Bing will just immediately show you the answer. Now, Microsoft is testing an animated response where Bing writes out the answer like a chatbot.
• Google Business Profiles With Updated Related To Your Search Box
  We've seen at least two variations of Google local and Business Profiles showing related to your search boxes, but this new one looks a bit more tidy than the Q&A carousel and Google Posts carousel version.
• Google Local Hotel Listings With Track Price Changes By Email
  Google is testing showing the option ot track price changes for hotel results by email. We saw Google announce a similar feature back in March but now it is showing in the local hotel pack results in core search.
• Google Business Profile With Get Google QR Code Button
  Google is testing showing a "Get Google QR" code button when you search for your business in Google Search. This button is with the Edit Profile, reviews, photos, posts, performance, and other buttons you see to manage your Google Business Profile.
• Google Office With Ted Lasso Cut Out
  There is a full size cardboard cut out of Ted Lasso at the Google office. This one is at the Google office in Austin, Texas. I spotted this on Instagram.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Very strange that the 'manage this brand profile' link sometimes shows on merchant knowledge panels, and you can see a preview of the attached email address that manages the business. The strange bit is that this business is not a, SERP Alert on X
• Google has introduced a new feature allowing users to customize both their display name and profile image when posting reviews on Google Maps and Google Search, Hiroko Imai on LinkedIn
• Please, please don't use 'font-display: swap' with icon fonts. I mean, as a rule, don't use icon fonts '" SVGs are so much better '" but if you must, then don't use 'swap'. It doesn't make sense to see random fallback letters for icons., Barry Pollard on Bluesky
• Yesterday we launched ChatGPT Atlas, our new web browser. In Atlas, ChatGPT agent can get things done for you. We're excited to see how this feature makes work and day-to-day life more efficient and effective for people. ChatGPT agent i, DANE on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Jack Hepp talks about getting fired from his first PPC job
• ChatGPT Atlas browser could drain ad budgets by mimicking human clicks
• Google Ads turns 25: A look back at the biggest changes and advances in search
• Black hat GEO is real '" Here's why you should pay attention
• ChatGPT, LLM referrals convert worse than Google Search: Study
• Why Google Search Console impressions fell (and why that's good)

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Adobe Discussed $3 Billion Acquisition of AI Video Startup Synthesia, The Information
• AI companies steal traffic then hit trust by getting answers wrong, Press Gazette
• Copilot is getting more personality with a 'real talk' mode and group chats, The Verge
• Human-centered AI, Microsoft Copilot Blog
• Meet Mico,<< Microsoft's AI version of Clippy, The Verge
• Gemini redesign moves model switcher into the prompt bar, 9to5Google

Analytics

• When a New Browser Launches: What I See in Google Analytics for ChatGPT's Atlas, KP Playbook
• Apple threatens to turn off App Tracking Transparency in Europe, 9to5Mac
• Looker Studio Adds New Google Ads Metrics for Reporting, PPC News Feed
• Microsoft Ads to Looker Studio via Google Sheets Connector, PPC News Feed

Industry & Business

• Google and Anthropic announce cloud deal worth tens of billions, CNBC
• Google's search empire under fire, CNBC
• OpenAI acquires Software Applications Incorporated, maker of Sky, OpenAI
• Yelp Advances Tying Claim in Google Search Antitrust Lawsuit, Bloomberg

Links & Content Marketing

• Content Strategy Refinement Gets Top Billing for Wins, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• 46 Weird And Unexpected Things Spotted On Google Maps, Bored Panda
• New updates and more access to Google Earth AI, Google Blog
• Google Maps and Apple Maps aren't your only options when you're driving '" here's the 6 best alternatives, Tom's Guide

SEO

• Branding-Driven B2B Keyword Research: Journey & SoS, David Carrasco Pamies
• SEO Bloggers Just Make Up Nonsense '" Don't Believe Any Of It, SEO Theory

PPC

• 3 Ways SMBs Are Using AI for Advertising, According to Google, Inc
• Automatic Shipping Updates Appear Outside US, PPC News Feed
• Key Takeaways on AI Max from the Experts: Navigating the New Frontier of Paid Search, ZATO Marketing

Search Features

• Alibaba prices AI glasses at $660 and launches ChatGPT rival, CNBC
• Amazon's new AI shopping tool tells you why you should buy a recommended product, TechCrunch
• Google's New BlockRank Democratizes Advanced Semantic Search, Search Engine Journal
• OpenAI teases ChatGPT Atlas tabs, profiles, ad blocker, and other fixes for its new AI-powered browser, The Verge
• Project sharing is available to all ChatGPT users, ChatGPT Release Notes
• We let OpenAI's 'Agent Mode' surf the web for us'"here's what happened, Ars Technica

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.

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 report chart is stuck. Google again says you can't fix quality issues with links, site moves or technical SEO. Google AI Mode was updated for fantasy sports queries. ChatGPT for signed out users got an update for GPT-5 Instant. Google Business Profiles is missing a few days of call data. Google Ads celebrates its 25 birthday today.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google: Links, Site Moves & Technical SEO Don't Fix Quality Issues
  Google held the Search Central Live event in Dubai just a couple of days ago. It seems like the vast majority of what was presented at the event was presented at prior events. But I wanted to share that Google again said that links or site moves or technical SEO won't fix your rankings if you have overall quality issues with your site.
• Google Search Console Performance Report Stuck At Sunday October 19
  The Google Search Console performance reports seem to be stuck and not updating since October 19/20th for all profiles and websites. The weird thing is that the 24 hour view does seem to have data but when you view it over the 7 day filter, it doesn't show anything from October 19th and onwards (some see October 20th).
• Google Ads (Formerly AdWords) Launched 25 Years Ago
  Google Ads is celebrating its 25th birthday/anniversary today. Yes, Google launched AdWords 25 years ago today in 2000. In 2018, Google renamed AdWords to Google Ads and the ad labels and technology have drastically changed over the years.
• Google AI Mode Fantasy Sports Updated & ChatGPT GPT-5 Instant Improved
  Google has updated AI Mode for fantasy sports including adding in integration with FantasyPros. And OpenAI has improved the GPT-5 Instant model for signed-out users.
• Google Business Profile Performance Report Missing Oct 14 - 16 Call Data
  Google Business Profile performance reports seem to be missing a chunk of call data from last week. The call data is missing from October 14 through October 16, 2025.
• Witch Broom Moving Around At Google Halloween
  Google had a Halloween party at the GooglePlex, the Google office in Mountain View, California. At that party was a witch broom that was sweeping by itself, moving around the party, cleaning up.

Other Great Search Threads:

• @WSJ The issues here mostly deal with claims related to hallucinations in Bard that we addressed in 2023. We know LLMs aren't perfect, and hallucinations are a known issue, which we disclose and work hard to minimize. But, News from Google on X
• Like we thought could happen, AI tools are already experimenting with new packages and pricing. E.g. check out the new packages from @tryprofound, and one is just $99 per month... It's only 50 prompts tracked (and only ChatGPT) so ba, Glenn Gabe on X
• Oh boy... Adobe has a new GEO product. :) -> Adobe Delivers LLM Optimizer for Businesses to Boost Visibility Across AI-Powered Chat Services and Browsers Enables companies to gain relevance and authority? What?? -> "It enables busin, Glenn Gabe on X
• Same-language, different-country content is always challenging. I'd make sure it's not duplicative, and add a conditional banner that appears depending on the user's location (perhaps with robotted JavaScript)., John Mueller on Bluesky
• SEO is DEAD? Can SEO ever really die?, Reddit

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Reddit sues Perplexity, SerpApi over scraping Google Search data
• Engineering the AI resume: SEO's new path to the C-suite
• How connected TV advertising drives search demand

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• AGI or Bust, Spyglass
• Amazon unveils AI-powered augmented reality glasses for delivery drivers, GeekWire
• Google is working to fix one of Gemini's biggest pet peeves, Android Authority
• Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time '" regardless of language or territory, BBC News

Analytics

• How to Run a Cookie Audit: Examples and Tools, Measure Minds Group

Industry & Business

• Activist Robby Starbuck Sues Google Over Claims of False AI Info, Wall Street Journal
• Anthropic and Google in Talks to Strike Multi-Billion Dollar Cloud Deal, The Information
• Google and Apple face stricter UK rules on mobile platforms, Financial Times (Sub)
• Google and The Dalles, Oregon complete water storage system, Google Blog
• Google hardware is powering quantum breakthroughs, Google Blog
• Google Is Flattening Management Layers Again '" This Time in Ad Sales, Business Insider
• Google Rebounds in Search Market Share as AI Competitors Stall'"Billions at Stake, BrightEdge
• Google's AI Crawler Monopoly Could Face UK Regulatory Heat, Technology Org
• Google's Quantum Computer Makes a Big Technical Leap, New York Times
• Reddit Accuses 'Data Scraper' Companies of Theft, New York Times
• The CMA's designation of Google's mobile ecosystem, Google Blog
• Yelp can proceed with 'tying' claim in antitrust case against Google, Courthouse News Service

Links & Content Marketing

• How Agencies Are Steering Brands Through AI Chaos, Content Marketing Institute
• When Everyone Has AI How Does Anyone Stand Out? Top B2B Marketing Skills to Differentiate, TopRank

Local & Maps

• Android Auto users are celebrating this Google Maps change, Android Authority
• ChatGPT Can't See Your Google Reviews, Optimisey
• GM plans to launch eyes-off driving, Google AI, other tech by 2028, CNBC
• Google Maps for Android Auto shows 'Report' button, hides location, 9to5Google
• Local SEO that Works: Practical Tactics for SMBs in the Age of AI BrightLocal, BrightLocal

SEO

• 5 Pillar Page Examples & Why They Work, Semrush
• 96.98% of Clicks Happen in the Top 10 Search Results, Ahrefs
• A recap of the October 2025 SEO Update by Yoast, Yoast
• AI Optimization: How to Rank in AI Search (+ Checklist), Backlinko
• Survey: SEO for AI (or GEO), SEO Is Alive & Well, SEO Budgets Increasing, Everyone is Concerned, Ann Smarty
• The SEO Impact of Business Hours on Local Heatmap Rankings, Search Atlas

PPC

• Beyond blue links: Navigating ad placements in Google's AI surfaces, Smarter Ecommerce
• Getting Holiday ready with smart planning and AI-powered tools: Partner Q&A, Microsoft Advertising
• Google Ads Policy Video Warns Against Dangerous Product & Services Promotions, PPC News Feed
• Image-to-Video Conversion Now Rolling Out for Demand Gen, PPC News Feed
• Managing Google Ads accounts in the AI era, Adalysis
• Update to the Inappropriate Content: Child Sexual Abuse Imagery policy (CSAI) (October 2025), Google Advertising Policies Help

Search Features

• 37% of Google AI Finance Answers Are Inaccurate in 2025, The College Investor
• ChatGPT in WhatsApp will stop working in January, Engadget

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.

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.

OpenAI released its web browser named ChatGPT Atlas, its search features use Google. Google is testing different colored pins on map embeds in Google AI Mode. Google Business Profiles has this AI Mode history button. Google is testing different size recipe cards in Search. Google AdSense added a confirmed click status breakdown to reporting.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• OpenAI Launches Browser - ChatGPT Atlas With Search Powered By Google
  As you may have heard, the latest AI-powered web browser launched yesterday, the much-anticipated OpenAI ChatGPT web browser. OpenAI named its web browser Atlas. The built-in search features seem to be mostly powered by Google Search, for some reason.
• Google AI Mode Tests Different Colored Map Pins
  Google is testing using different colored map pins in the map embed within Google AI Mode. The map pins can be in red, blue, yellow and maybe orange?
• Google Local Profile AI Mode History Button
  Google is testing showing an AI Mode history button within the local panel in Google Search. When you are viewing a specific business or organization, there may be an AI Mode button in a history enclosure under the call, directions, buttons.
• Google Tests Different Recipe Card Sizes Or Is It A Bug
  Google may be testing displaying different-sized cards for recipe results in the Google Search results. The cards show large and small graphics that make the results look misaligned.
• Google AdSense Adds Confirmed Click Status Breakdown To Reports
  Google AdSense added a new breakdown option named Confirmed Click status breakdown. This breakdown is available on all your reports under the "Breakdowns" dropdown selector at the top left.
• Google Light Bulb Tree
  Here is a fancy looking tree I spotted at the Google office in Mountain View, California. They have these light bulbs, lit up, within the tree, in one of the lobby areas.

Other Great Search Threads:

• SEO Tip: when it comes to using Schema for the homepage on a site, there are two types that I gravitate towards and recommend (especially for eCommerce stores). The two types are Organization and WebSite Schema, being tags that I s, Brodie Clark on X
• When you rank too well in Google Search for a high volume keyword that is totally unrelated to your site's topic, Barry Schwartz on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Yelp's new tools help brands connect faster and engage customers in real time
• OpenAI launches a web browser '" ChatGPT Atlas
• Google Merchant Center adds centralized Issue Details Page
• Google Ads quietly tests auto-setting 'New Customer Value'
• How to use YouTube Ads to drive B2B conversions
• How to avoid marketing mix modeling mistakes that derail results

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Adobe Delivers LLM Optimizer for Businesses to Boost Visibility Across AI-Powered Chat Services and Browsers, Adobe
• Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Says ChatGPT Integration Not Ready for Airbnb App, Bloomberg
• OpenAI Looks to Replace the Drudgery of Junior Bankers' Workload, Bloomberg
• YouTube's likeness detection technology has officially launched, TechCrunch
• Harry, Meghan join hundreds to call for AI superintelligence ban, NBC News

Industry & Business

• Apple Attacks EU Crackdown in Digital Law's Biggest Court Test, Bloomberg
• Satya Nadella's pay tops $96M as Microsoft stock soars; Walmart CFO set to join board, GeekWire

Links & Content Marketing

• Ha and you all said backlinks were dead, SEO for Lunch
• Content Marketing for Startups: How To Get Started, Shopify
• Data Company Turns Hero Content Model Into Big Numbers, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Introducing Yelp Host and Yelp Receptionist: Never miss a customer call, Yelp
• Transforming Yelp with AI: Smarter search, seamless connections, instant answers and a more conversational experience, Yelp

SEO

• Forget SEO. Welcome to the World of Generative Engine Optimization, Wired
• Google Ranking Factors and How to Optimize for Them, Semrush
• News SEO Guide: How to Optimize News Articles for Search, Semrush
• The Brutal Homepage Test That Shows Why Google Ignores Your Website, Nikki Pilkington

PPC

• Checking Merchant Center Product Availability, Pure Visibility
• How to achieve early clicks and bigger wins with AI before Black Friday, Microsoft Advertising
• Merchant Center's RAAP Now Live in 86 Countries With Postal Code Support in 22, PPC News Feed
• The Key Differences Between SEO and PPC, PPC Live
• Google's AdX unit has begun striking deals with media agencies, Digiday
• Melatonin policy update: Expanded availability for dietary supplements (Germany, France, and Spain), Google Merchant Center Help

Search Features

• Google Doppl: How AI Try-Ons Could Redefine Fashion Discovery, SALT agency
• Influential Nielsen Norman Group Tees Off on Google AI UX, Search Engine World
• OpenAI launches new web browser, Atlas, Axios
• AI Mode - Google testing some new UI/UX elements (Oct 2025), Gagan Ghotra

Other Search

• Oakley Meta Vanguard Review: The Do-It-All Smart Glasses, Wired
• Galaxy XR: The first Android XR headset, Google Blog
• Google Discover now showing YouTube channel posts, Gagan Ghotra

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.

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 told us we would get more core updates, more often - that did not happen. Google Ads accounts without campaigns will be deleted in 6 months. Google Ads AI MAx gains a source column in the search term report. Google AI Mode has a new what to know section, that might not be new. Google Ads tests setting your new customer value, without your permission.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google's More Core Updates, More Often, Seems Unlikely
  Ten months ago, Google said on stage at Google Search Central Live event in the Google Zurich office that we should expect more core update, more update. We now have about two months left of the 2025 year and we are in no way going to see more core updates, more often from Google.
• Google Ads Experiments With Settings New Customer Value
  Google Ads seems to be experimenting with setting the New Customer Value within New Customer Acquisition campaigns without the consent of the advertiser. Technically, New Customer Value can be turned off, but this is confusing some advertisers and impacting reporting and ad performance for some.
• Google Ads AI Max Adds Sources Column in Search Term Report
  Google added a new "sources" column to the AI Max search term report. This helps you understand where your traffic was matched from in AI Max searches.
• Google Ads To Delete Accounts Without Campaigns After 6 Months
  Google posted a new help document that says it will delete accounts without any campaigns after 6 months. "If an account does not have any campaigns, it'll be permanently deleted by Google Ads 6 months after cancellation," Google wrote.
• Google AI Mode What To Know Section: AI Product Summary
  Google is testing another variation of the AI-generated product summaries in Google AI Mode, this one is named "What to know." It is made up of user reviews and web sources, according to the disclaimer.
• Google Team Journey Mural
  I found a series of photos of the progression of the painting of a number of blank walls at the Google office. It shows artist Alia Follett painting a Google team journey mural at the Google Boulder office.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Lily nails it here! The fundamental issue isn't just that LLMs hallucinate, it's that AI companies have completely failed to educate users about what these tools actually are & how they work. What users need to know: LLMs are pat, Britney Muller on X
• Today marks the end of my 9+ years at Google, where I was able to play a role in bringing some truly incredible Ads launches to market alongside some truly incredible marketers. It's hard to summarize a decade of experiences in one LinkedIn post, so I won, Eric Couch on LinkedIn
• I am sure this will be hugely unpopular with a lot of people; but I think AI prompt visibility tracking is generally a big and expensive waste of time., Mark Williams-Cook on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google Ads' new text guidelines feature begins rolling out
• Google Ads to permanently delete canceled accounts after six months
• Google officially shuts down Privacy Sandbox
• SEO in the black box era: Why reports will look more like Mad Men than Search Console
• Search Engine Land Awards 2025: Complete finalists list
• How AI media partnerships influence your brand visibility in genAI: Research
• Google crawl stats report is missing a day of data
• What they don't teach you about marketing at Harvard Business School: Being positionless

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• For jobs, AI skills training will be essential, Washington Post
• Google AI Overviews 'leading to affiliate revenue drop of 20-40% at some publishers', Press Gazette

Analytics

• TikTok Tackles Attribution's Blind Spot, Starting With Google Analytics, BeetTV

Industry & Business

• Google searching for bed bugs as outbreak hits New York HQ, PageSix
• Trial opens in Klarna's $8.3-bn lawsuit against Google, Citizen Tribune
• Why Google, Amazon, and So Many Others Have Gotten Worse, NY Magazine

Links & Content Marketing

• How (and When) to Start Building Your Content Team, Intergrowth
• How To Manage Your Marketing Leader (for Now), Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• 7 ways Google Maps can point you straight to lower costs and savings, Android Police
• Google Maps Rival Gets a Waze-Inspired Feature for Better Navigation, AutoEvolution
• Is Your iPhone Secretly Tracking You? Here's How to Stop Apple Maps from Logging Every Place You Visit, Techlusive

SEO

• How and Why Google Rewrites Your Hard-Earned Headlines, Leadership SEO
• How to tell if you were impacted by the August 2025 spam update (and what to do about it), Marie Haynes
• Quick Tip: How OpenAI's Product Feed Redefines Commerce Data, iPullRank
• SEO Is Dead (and Other Bollocks LinkedIn Gurus Want You To Believe), Nikki Pilkington
• Topical Authority: Site Radius & Site Focus Score from the Google Leak, Hobo
• What publishers need to do about zero-click search, SEO For Journalism
• Wikipedia Traffic Shifts Highlight Big Impact of Google's AI Overviews, Search Engine World

PPC

• Creative Differentiation in Paid Media: The Hidden Cost of Blending In, Hallam
• Google Ads Rolls Out AI-Powered Asset Suggestions, PPC News Feed
• Google Merchant Center Adds Centralized Issue Details Page, PPC News Feed
• How Managing PPC is like Managing Fantasy Football, JumpFly

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.

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.

We noticed a lot of Google Search ranking volatility late last week. Did your site see a boost? Google Search Console's crawl stats report is missing a day of data. Google Ads rolled out text guidelines beta. Google AI Mode now lets you select text of the AI response, to do a follow up question. Google is testing paperclip icons in the snippet. Google Search adds a price tracker graph by retailer. Google LSAs now support sitelinks in the maps view.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up From October 15th To 17th
  There may have been another unconfirmed Google search ranking update that occurred between October 15th and October 18th. The bulk of the volatility seemed to be around Thursday, the 16th.
• Google Search Console Crawl Stats Missing Day Of Data
  The crawl stats report in Google Search Console is missing a day of data again. The data gap is for October 14, 2025. If you look at the chart, you will see a hole in the data, where it is missing a full day of data.
• Google Local Search Ads In Google Maps Now Supports Sitelinks
  Google now supports Sitelinks for local search ads in the Google Maps interface. They show in the form of a carousel, under a sponsored ad listing in the Google Maps interface.
• Google AI Mode Tests Text Selection For Follow Up Questions
  Google is testing the ability to highlight portions of the response, to do a follow-up question on what you highlighted. It is similar to past tests on the AI Overview, but this is within AI Mode.
• Google Ads Text Guidelines Now Rolling Out?
  Five weeks ago, Google announced a new feature named "Text'<<¬'<<­ guidelines'<<¬'<<­" at the Think Retail event. Google said these would roll out "over time this Fall." Well, some are now seeing the new feature.
• Google Search Adds Price Tracking Graph For Each Retailer
  Google has added price tracking data charts for each retailer within Google Search. On the right side, after you click on a product, Google may show a price chart with pricing over time. Google may also let you click on the available merchants and retailers to see how the price has changed for that specific merchant over time.
• Google Tests Clickable Paperclip Icon In Search Snippets
  Google is testing the paperclip style icon in the search results, by the search result snippets and description. Clicking anywhere on the paperclip or the snippet will take you to the webpage.
• Massive Spinners In Google Office
  Here is a photo from the Google Bayview where they have these absolutely massive spinners/tops in a lobby area in that office. Of course this photo from Instagram caught my eye.

Other Great Search Threads:

• What is everyone's thoughts on organic vs ad GLP pins? You can click/hover over either type of pin to get info even if the business is not showing on the (4) GLP results. The downfall if you advertise here, there is no organic pin, Nate Louis on X
• How do i deindex the bulk spammy pages from my website?, Reddit
• Ah, interesting! I can see on my Discover feed the return of "Explore Places" on Discover cards. I know it's not really new, but when you click on this button, you see a new page that opens with other complementary articles,, Damien (andell) on X
• i don't know - that seems like a pretty generic query, and I'd at least also expect travel blogger type content there. There's room for a lot of different kinds of insights in search :)., John Mueller on Bluesky
• Small Business Bulletin - October 2025 - 5 Key Tips & Treats for the Holiday Season, Google Business Profile Community
• Wirecutter update: It seems that robots.txt change for Wirecutter might have worked. Visibility has been steadily creeping back since they made that change on 9/6. I need to update my post about this., Glenn Gabe on X
• GenAI Traffic Share Update Takeaways: - ChatGPT continues to lose share. - Perplexity exceeds 2.0% threshold. 12 Months Ago: ChatGPT: 87.1% Gemini: 6.4% Perplexity: 1.7% Claude: 1.7% Copilot: 1.1% 6 Months Ago: ChatGPT, Similarweb on X
• Raptive just dropped its pageview requirement from 100K per month to just 25K per month "Raptive's long-time requirement was 100K page views per month in order to qualify. This has to be verifiable by Google Analytics. This week Raptive, Glenn Gabe on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google Ads to auto-generate videos from existing Demand Gen image ads
• AI search isn't the end of SEO '" it's the next era
• Google Maps Ads get scrollable sitelinks boost
• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Susan Yen talks account structure & PMax fails
• Google adds 'Sources' column to AI Max search term reports
• The future of SEO: Why optimization still matters, whatever you call it
• Agentic PPC: What performance marketing could look like in 2030
• Why incrementality is the only metric that proves marketing's real impact
• The AI Visibility Index: Here's who's winning AI search

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• ChatGPT's mobile app is seeing slowing download growth and daily use, analysis shows, TechCrunch
• Inside the web infrastructure revolt over Google's AI Overviews, Ars Technica
• Microsoft and OpenAI invest millions in AI training for teachers, AP News
• Siri's long-awaited update allegedly 'concerns' iOS 26.4 testers, AppleInsider

Analytics

• What is the first_visit event, KRM Digital Marketing

Industry & Business

• Google readies Gemini 3, Perplexity hits its goal, Alex Heath
• Google Data Centre: Local Protests Halt $1bn US Project, Deccan Herlad

Links & Content Marketing

• How to grow publishing revenue in a world of declining traffic, Press Gazette

Local & Maps

• Grounding for Google Maps now available in the Gemini API, Google Blog
• Gemini removes @Google Maps & @YouTube apps, 9to5Google

SEO

• How We're Driving LLM Visibility at Semrush, Semrush
• The Anatomy of a Winning SEO Content Strategy Framework, The SEO Adventure
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider Update '" Version 23.0, Screaming Frog
• SEO Myth: Local SEO Is Just About Google Business Profile!, Nikki Pilkington

PPC

• First Look: Screenshots Reveal New Campaign Creation Flow, PPC News Feed
• Google Adds Handling Cutoff Time Feed Attribute for Accurate Delivery Estimates, PPC News Feed
• Google's Privacy Sandbox Is Officially Dead, AdWeek
• Your guide to Google's Power Pack: AI Max, PMax, Demand Gen, Smarter Ecommerce

Other Search

• Apple's iPhone 17 Is Selling 14% Better Than Predecessor in US and China, Bloomberg

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.

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's head of search, Liz Reid, was interviewed about Google Search, AI, ad clicks, publishers, AI slop and more. Google Posts now let you post to numerous Google Business Profiles. Google is sending push notifications to users to search on AI Mode. Google Ads updated its prescription drug terms policies. Google Merchant Center now lets you sell physical goods subscriptions. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap, sorry for being sick.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Watch Google's Liz Reid Interviewed By WSJ On AI Search, Ad Clicks, Publishers
  Liz Reid VP, head of Search at Google, was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal's Bold Names podcast. They spoke about AI, AI Search, how ads are impacted by AI results and other Google features, and AI-generated content's impact on the web and search, plus more.
• Google Business Profiles Quick Google Posts Across Multiple Profiles
  Now if you manage multiple Google Business Profiles, when you add a Google Post, Google will let you quickly add that same Google Post to other Google Business Profiles that you manage.
• Google Sending Push Notifications That Go To AI Mode Searches
  Google is now sending push notifications to some users that direct that user to a search within AI Mode. Yes, Google is pushing users to do queries in AI Mode using push notification services from the Google app.
• Google Ads Updates Medicines Policy Regarding Prescription Drug Terms
  Google Ads will be updating the Google Ads Healthcare and Medicines policy to reflect the changes it will require to the approach to advertiser use of prescription drug terms.
• Google Merchant Center Now Supports Physical Goods Subscriptions
  Google has updated its Google Merchant Center policies to now allow for the sale of physical goods subscriptions. Google said this "will be available to all eligible Shopping ad merchants in the United States."
• GoogleBox - The Google Telephone Booth
  The GoogleBox, a Google telephone booth is located in the Google London office. This isn't new but it is still around and still in use. Here is a more recent photo I found of it on Instagram.
• Video: Google Deceptive Hide Ads Interface, Google Goldmine, Bing data-nosnippet & More
  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...

Other Great Search Threads:

• Discover update. Seems like you cannot tap through to publisher profiles anymore. That started today... @rajanpatel Just wanted to make sure Google knew about that. Several people on LinkedIn are saying the same thing., Glenn Gabe on X
• I vibe coded this website and got 90+ upvotes in 2 hours on product hunt :), Reddit
• What do I see on Google Discover?! Linkedin is on Google Discover, but not only that. Note: LinkedIn isn't the only thing appearing on Discover. But rather under what I call the "content creator" icon sub-thumbnail, as we saw w, Damien (andell) on X
• I think these would basically stand on their own like any other website., John Mueller on Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google opens Shopping Ads to physical goods subscriptions
• Google Ads API v22 adds generative AI, smarter bidding, and more
• Google's Liz Reid: The real search shift is behavioral, not AI
• Google's Liz Reid on AI Overviews: Less ad clicks, more searches
• 3 key AI search limitations for B2B SaaS marketing
• How to plan for GEO in 2026 and evolve your search strategy

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Direct messaging could soon let you talk to humans in ChatGPT, Android Police
• Relevance Engineering for YouTube Video and AI Search, iPullRank
• Similarweb Web Intelligence 4.0: Data You Can Trust to Help You Win Your Market, Similarweb

Analytics

• AI Traffic Analysis: Beyond Basic Reports to Audience Insights That Matter, KP Playbook
• Excluding a Country, KRM Digital Marketing

Industry & Business

• Anthropic Nears $7 Billion in Annualized Revenue, The Information
• DeepSomatic accurately identifies genetic variants in cancer, Google Blog
• Italian news publishers demand investigation into Google's AI Overviews, The Guardian
• OpenAI's Growing Ecosystem Play, The Information
• Google's data centre push in India exposes gaps in AI safeguards, Financial Times (Sub)
• Reddit expands its AI-powered search to five new languages, TechCrunch

Links & Content Marketing

• Do Backlinks Still Matter in AI Search? Insights from 1,000 Domains [Study], Semrush
• Site Explorer '" Advanced Query Filters BETA Update, Majestic
• Hidden links: why your website traffic is declining, Securelist

Local & Maps

• EP 228 - AI & Local: How AI Is Rewriting Location Management; Interview with Ana Martinez, P2, Near Media
• I use Google Maps every time I drive, even if I know where I'm going '" here's why, Tom's Guide
• Electrify America Adds Real-Time EV Charger Info To Google Maps, InsideEVs
• Google Maps could make it easier to see when you'll get home, Android Authority

SEO

• Ecommerce Agentic Search for SEO Strategies Today, I Love SEO
• Quick SEO Fixes, Small Traffic Wins, And Why Retainers Aren't Always The Answer, Nikki Pilkington
• The Definitive Guide to SEO Audits post-Google Leak, Hobo
• Trading Traditional SEO Personas for Smarter AI Regional Marketing<< (with Help from Custom AI Analysts), Seer Interactive
• How I Used Vibe Coding to Build Custom SEO Tools (Without Writing Code!), Moz
• What is Index Bloat? '" Whiteboard Friday, Moz

PPC

• From targeting to trust: How privacy-first PPC turns GA4 into a customer compass, PPC Hero
• Q4 holiday ROI opportunities for publishers, Microsoft Advertising

Search Features

• Google prepares Gemini Agent to perform tasks for you, Testing Catalog

Other Search

• Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors, 404 Media

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.

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.

Bing now supports the data-nosnippet HTML attribute, giving you more control on what content it indexes. Google's people also ask are AI-generated 38% of the time. Google Nano Banana is now in Google Search. Google Ads API version 22 is now available. Google read aloud user agent updates its list of Google services.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Bing Gains Support For data-nosnippet HTML Attribute
  Microsoft has added support for the data-nosnippet HTML Attribute for Bing Search. This was previously not supported but yesterday, Microsoft announced it is "introducing the data-nosnippet HTML attribute."
• AI-Generated Google People Also Ask Almost Doubles In 3 Months
  New data from AlsoAsked put AI-generated people also ask in Google Search at 38%. These are people also ask responses labeled as AI generated and that number jumped from 17.8% just a few months ago.
• Nano Banana Comes To Google Search Via Google Lens
  Google added Nano Banana Gemini image features to Google Search through Google Lens. There is a new option named Create mode that unlocks the Nano Banana feature.
• Google Ads API Version 22 Now Available
  Google has released version 22 of the Google Ads API, this is a major release with dozens of updates. Updates include smart bidding exploration expansion, improvements to DemandGen, PMax campaigns, App campaigns for installs, and more.
• Google Read Aloud User Agent Updates Which Services Use It
  Google has updated the list of Google products and services that use the Google Read Aloud user agent. The updated page also says that the "service provides an audio version of web pages by understanding their content through help of AI" but adds, "no data from the page is retained for AI model training."
• Ao Dai Festival At Google
  Google had an Ao Dai festival at the GooglePlex. Ao Dai Festival is a vibrant celebration of Vietnamese culture, traditions, and the iconic áo dài, showcasing fashion, music, art, and dance.

Other Great Search Threads:

• the embeddings depend on the algorithm used, and an LLM can't map text to a list of embeddings, without access to the functions used., John Mueller on Bluesky
• This is continuing to roll out. As with any launch, it's not uncommon to see original versions during the rollout process., AdsLiaison on X
• We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue w, Sam Altman on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google says you need certification for prescription drug advertising
• Microsoft Bing finally supports the data-nosnippet HTML attribute
• ChatGPT performs a search in 31% of prompts, new data reveals
• Google Search rebounds as Amazon steps back: Q3 ad report
• Google Ads PMax: The truth about audience signals and search themes
• Why AI still runs on search '" and SEO still runs the show
• Optimizing for ChatGPT Shopping: How product feeds power GEO
• Google Performance Max adds support for vertical 9:16 image ads
• Google Discover gets AI summaries; Search gets 'What's new' sports feed
• Google Ads tests 'View-Through Conversion Optimization' for Demand Gen campaigns
• Tracking AI search citations: Who's winning across 11 industries
• How to know if your GEO is working
• Google Search gets Nano Banana in Google Lens

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• A first look at Gemini Enterprise / Gemini for Business: A review, Marie Haynes
• Firefox Adds Perplexity AI as a Desktop Search Engine Option, Search Engine World
• Microsoft AI announces first image generator created in-house, The Verge
• The Future Report, Google Blog

Industry & Business

• Apple's Head of ChatGPT-Like AI Search Effort to Leave for Meta, Bloomberg
• Google to Invest $24 Billion in AI in U.S., India, Wall Street Journal
• OpenAI Keeps Doing Deals, Bloomberg
• 'Of course it's a bubble': AI start-up valuations soar in investor frenzy, Financial Times (Sub)

Links & Content Marketing

• The intersection of SEO, Content and PR, Hallam
• Strategic Pillars Behind Every Winning Content Strategy, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• Android Auto update breaks media 'Quick Controls' for some, 9to5Google
• Drive with Sonic on Waze, Google Blog
• Reviews and the law: what US businesses need to know, BrightLocal
• Seoul weighs approval for Google, Apple high-resolution map requests, TechCrunch

SEO

• Google's AI Reshapes Organic Listings, Practical Ecommerce
• AI Search and the growing importance of developing strong core visibility systems, site-level quality scoring, and anti-spam systems, GSQI
• Content Chunking: What Is It & Should You Care?, Semrush
• Google &num= and Changing SERP lengths in Moz Pro, Moz
• How Creativity Future-Proofs Your SEO Content, JumpFly
• How to rebrand your SEO agency for the new world of search, Wix SEO Hub
• Mastering SEO in a query fan-out world, Oncrawl
• Next-Level Sitemaps: Advanced Strategies and Creative Uses for SEO, Women in Tech SEO
• SEO Is No Longer The Cloth That Polishes A ð'© Into ð'°, SEO for Lunch
• Soft Skills are the Hard Skills in Enterprise SEO, SearchnStuff
• Using GEO to Address Brand Misconceptions, Seer Interactive
• UX for SEO: Optimizing Core Web Vitals & Mobile-First Indexing, Sitebulb
• Shopify - suddenly noticed -remote in robots.txt, Gagan Ghotra

PPC

• Google Ads AI Max: A Smarter Way to Run Search Campaigns, Know Agency
• Google Ads Audience Targeting: Strategies That Work, KP Playbook
• Google AI Mode: What Changes for Ecommerce Ads (2025), Smarter Ecommerce
• Updated Cannabis-Related Content Policy (October 2025) Canada, Google Advertising Policies Help
• Why Your Responsive Search Ads Underperform (and 8 Ways to Fix Them), Optmyzr
• How Regional Service Providers Can Win with PPC, JumpFly

Search Features

• AI Citations, User Locations, & Query Context, Yext
• Some users report Google Search stuck in partial dark mode, Piunika Web

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.

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.

There is new campaign type in Google Ads channel performance reporting. Bing is testing search refinements above the shopping ads. Google Search Console's API speed is unchanged. Google AI Mode is based on your Google activity.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Campaign Type Selection In Google Ads Channel Performance Report
  Google was spotted showing a "Campaign Type" selection option in the Google Ads Channel Performance report attributes section. This showed up for some advertisers, without Google announcing it.
• Bing Tests Search Refinements Above Shopping Ads Directing To Bing Shopping
  Microsoft is testing placing search refinement tabs or buttons above the shopping ads within the Bing Search results. And when you click on those refinements, you are taken into Bing Shopping Search.
• Google Search Console API Update Speed Unchanged
  Google's John Mueller said that there was no change to how fast and frequently the Google Search Console API sends data. This comes after some are questioning the speed of the API and why there may be recent data slowdowns.
• Google AI Mode Based On Your Google Activity When Signed In
  When you go to the Google AI Mode home screen, the quick way to do that is to go to google.com/ai. You may see a small disclaimer under the search box that says "Based on your Google activity."
• Google Bus Stop Ad
  Here is a bus stop near the Google offices in Mountain View, California. You can see there is a digital ad on this bus stop signage. It is something about the G Bus...
• Programming Note: Offline For Simchat Torah On Tuesday & Wednesday
  This is a programming note that Tuesday and Wednesday are Simchat Torah and I will be offline the next two days. I will be offline on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14th and October 15th.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Google Business Profiles In Ai Mode Now Showing Up Far Right., Anthony Higman on X
• Google has begun rolling out 'Analytics Advisor' to standard GA4 properties, marking the most significant update in GA4's history since its launch. This is the GA4 built-in Conversational AI Agent. It displays inter, Himanshu Sharma on X
• Google's systems still at work. Some big drops recently. And with those drops, AIOs, featured snippets, and People Also Asked dropped (as expected). This is also why you don't want to ignore Google and do things just for AI platform, Glenn Gabe on X
• Mistake in your video? Add a correction!, YouTube Liaison on X
• Over the last few months, I've become more attuned to just how many things I just need done with reasonable quality and doing which won't actually make me learn/think more - and AI is getting shockingly good at doing those bett, Satyajeet Salgar on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google to expand ads in AI Overviews to more markets
• Google rolls out new global 'Sponsored results' ad label
• Google's Robby Stein on AI Mode, GEO, and the future of Search
• 5 ways to drive action with your PPC report
• SEO strategy in 2026: Where discipline meets results

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Apple sued over use of copyrighted books to train Apple Intelligence, Reuters
• ChatGPT safety systems can be bypassed for weapons instructions, NBC News
• ChatGPT's Platform Play + a Trillion-Dollar GPU Empire + the Queen of Slop, New York Times
• Future AirPods will gain cameras and improved audio, AppleInsider

Analytics

• How to Track AI Search Traffic in Google Analytics 4: A Step-by-Step Guide for Law Firms, JDSupra

Industry & Business

• Bringing the best AI to university students in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, at no cost, Google Blog
• Google announces new $9 billion investment in South Carolina, Google Blog
• OpenAI, Broadcom Forge Multibillion-Dollar Chip-Development Deal, Wall Street Journal

Links & Content Marketing

• AI Search Surpasses SEO in How B2B Buyers Find Content, Demand Gen Report
• Forgeting Funnels and Building Feelings - The Future of Content Marketing, HackerNoon
• The ROI of B2B Thought Leadership: Beyond B2B Marketing with Cindy Anderson, TopRank Marketing

Local & Maps

• Don't like Apple Maps Voice? Here's How to Change It, Mac Observer
• Google tests a very welcome change to the Android version of Google Maps, PhoneArena
• The genius behind every turn: How Einstein keeps Google Maps accurate, India Today
• Venice tourist blames Google Maps after toppling into canal, NY Post

SEO

• 15 Ahrefs MCP Use Cases for SEOs & Digital Marketers, Ahrefs
• Mapping of Google Updates to Leaked Ranking Signals, Hobo
• Provide A Detailed Summary, Chris Spann's Technical SEO Blog
• Reddit SEO: 5-Step Guide to Search Engine & AI Visibility, Semrush
• The Ultimate 82-Point Checklist for SEO & AI Visibility, Ahrefs

PPC

• Perplexity Presses Pause on Ads: A Recalibration of AI Monetization Strategy, Open Tools

Search Features

• Google's new Home Brief feature is a hit for some, miss for others, Android Police

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.

Note: This was pre-written and scheduled to be posted today, I am currently offline for Simchas Torah.

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 launched the grouped ad label sponsored listing interface after months of testing. Google may have said ads are coming to AI Mode in the EU soon. Google Merchant Center clarified its misrepresentation policy. Google Ads has new optimization insights recommendations. Google is hiring a Google Discover software engineer to improve UGC content in Discover. And, a reminder, this newsletter was pre-written and scheduled, I am offlien today.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google Ads Officially Launches Grouped Ad Label For Search Ads
  Google has officially launched the new grouped sponsored label in the search results. This is where Google groups multiple ads under one larger sponsored label, and then places a "hide" button at the end of the sponsored results.
• Google: Ads Coming Soon To AI Mode In EU
  There is a report coming out of a Google event named Google Access that has a Googler saying that ads are coming to AI Mode very soon in the EU. The thing is, ads in AI Mode, even in the US, is just a test, and is not fully live.
• Google Merchant Center Clarifies Misrepresentation Policies
  Google has updated its Misrepresentation policy for both Shopping ads and free listings within Google Merchant Center. Google said the "update provides additional examples of what the policy covers, more guidance on how to be compliant, and more information about our appeals process."
• New Google Ads Optimization Insights Recommendations
  Google is testing a new optimization insights layer or recommendation interface for Google Ads. This has three columns named (1) build a foundation, (2) drive performance and (3) expand and grow.
• Google Hiring Google Discover User Generated Content Engineer
  Google is looking to hire a software engineer with the responsibility of improving the quality of User Generated Content (UGC) contents in Google Discover.
• Google Take Home Free Flowers
  At the Google office in Korea, on this desk in the background, is a sign that says "Take home free flowers." I guess Google wants to get rid of some of its flowers?
• Programming Note: Offline For Simchat Torah On Tuesday & Wednesday
  This is a programming note that Tuesday and Wednesday are Simchat Torah and I will be offline the next two days. I will be offline on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14th and October 15th.

Other Great Search Threads:

• A lot of Home Assistant is pretty easy and doable in a web UI, and you can run it locally. There are sometimes things which are hacky (integrations, functionality), but the up-side is it's still possible (albeit hacky). There's a big community around it, , John Mueller on Bluesky
• Last week Microsoft Advertising hosted our NYC customers for a wonderful afternoon of learning. Here are the main takeaways (and photos) from a truly great day with the best humans!, Navah Hopkins on LinkedIn
• This is a neat history of cwv, Dave Smart On Bluesky

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google updates Misrepresentation policy for Shopping Ads and free listings
• Ayisha Yousef talks turning Black Friday fails into lessons
• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Google Ads now flags low-quality images
• CMA designates Google Search with 'strategic market status'
• Instant Checkout in ChatGPT brings agentic commerce to life
• How different AI engines generate and cite answers

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• Browser wars, a hallmark of the late 1990s tech world, are back with a vengeance'"thanks to AI, Fortune
• Your Brand Is Being Cited by AI. Here's How to Measure It., Duane Forrester Decodes

Industry & Business

• Google accused of 'free-riding' on Korean networks, The Korea Herald
• Google says Australian law on teen social media use 'extremely difficult' to enforce, Reuters
• Who owns OpenAI? Blockbuster deals complicate investor payouts, Financial Times (Sub)

Links & Content Marketing

• The Definitive Guide to Linkbuilding after the Google Content Warehouse Leak, Hobo
• Elevate Your Law Firm's Content Marketing Workflows: AI Tools Worth Exploring, JDSupra

Local & Maps

• An Indian alternative to Google Maps? 'Mappls' fuels the Swadeshi tech push, Hindustan Times
• The offline Google Maps routine that saves me on every road trip, Android Police

SEO

• The CRAPS System: How Users Shape Google Results, Hobo
• The Definitive Guide to On-Page SEO after the Google Leak, Hobo

PPC

• Google Shopping duplication tactic sparks policy compliance warnings, PPC Land
• Pinterest introduces Top of Search ads and new advertising tools to power visual shopping decisions, Pinterest Newsroom
• Walmart.com's search results put ads front and center '" a playbook Amazon pioneered, Modern Retail

Search Features

• Google apps on iOS get Account menu redesign, 9to5Google

Other Search

• [FREE CODE INSIDE] How to Run Visual Query Fan-Out Analysis in Screaming Frog Using OpenAI, Metehan

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.

Note: This was pre-written and scheduled to be posted today, I am currently offline for Simchas Torah.

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 local results without the call button, might be the Web Guide layout or a bug. Google's Robby Stein was interviewed again about AI Search. Google's goldmine search content ranking system was exposed. Google has a new help page for Discover feed source. Google Ads auto-apply recommendations setting was updated. And I am offline again this week, Tuesday and Wednesday, anything posted was pre-written and scheduled.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

• Google's Robby Stein On AI Not Replacing Search, AI Within Search, SEO For AI
  Lenny Rachitsky interviewed Robby Stein, VP of Product at Google, who we cited here numerous times over the past couple of years. The interview covers how AI is not replacing search, search is not dead, how AI Mode will be incorporated within Google Search, how to do AEO or SEO for AI answers, how AI Mode came to market and more.
• Google Goldmine Search Content Ranking System?
  Have you heard of the Google Goldmine Scoring System? It supposedly looks at your page, your content, and Google gives it a goldminePageScore, title tag factor, body factor, anchor factor, heading factor and more.
• Google Local Results Without Call Button - Web Guide Or Bug?
  Over the past few days, the local SEO community is pretty upset that Google appears to be testing removing the call button from the local results. I am not sure if this is a bug or part of the design of the new Web Guide interface that more people are seeing. Either way, I do think this must be an oversight and the call button should be added back, I would hope.
• Google Adds Help Page For Discover Feed Source
  A couple of weeks ago, Google added a new help page titled Discover feed source overview. This page discusses those cards in the Google Discover feed and when Google gets the source name wrong, like for those entity Discover pages.
• Google Ads Auto-Apply Recommendations Setting Updated
  Google has updated its Auto-Apply Recommendations setting within the Google Ads interface. The button moved to just above the regular recommendations section.
• Cheese Monster At Google
  Google had some sort of cheese event, or the event had cheese, and that cheese was provided by Cheese Monster. This was at the Washington, D.C. office.
• Programming Note: Offline For Simchat Torah On Tuesday & Wednesday
  This is a programming note that Tuesday and Wednesday are Simchat Torah and I will be offline the next two days. I will be offline on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 14th and October 15th.

Other Great Search Threads:

• Friendly PSA: emails coming from the domain "http://e-mails.microsoft.com" are not official Microsoft emails. Do not click on links from that domain, Microsoft Ads Buddy on X
• We are back, LIVE from Dublin! Day 2 of #PESummit25 starts now on PES@Home!, Google's Product Experts Program on X

Search Engine Land Stories:

• Google updates Misrepresentation policy for Shopping Ads and free listings
• Ayisha Yousef talks turning Black Friday fails into lessons
• The latest jobs in search marketing
• Google Ads now flags low-quality images
• CMA designates Google Search with 'strategic market status'
• Instant Checkout in ChatGPT brings agentic commerce to life
• How different AI engines generate and cite answers

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

• OpenAI says GPT-5 is its least biased model yet, Axios

Analytics

• Breaking Free from Misleading Ad Results: Using First-Party Data for Smarter Measurement, PPC Hero

Industry & Business

• Tea in the courtroom: the gossipier side of the remedies trial over Google's ad tech monopoly, Digiday
• The CMA's designation of Google Search, Google Blog
• UK triggers new powers to regulate Google search, Reuters

Links & Content Marketing

• B2B Content and Marketing Trends: Insights for 2026, Content Marketing Institute

Local & Maps

• I drove over 1,000 miles to test out Apple Maps vs. Google Maps for a month '" here's the winner, Tom's Guide
• Your car is about to get a lot smarter, thanks to Mercedes and Google, ArenaEV

SEO

• E-E-A-T Decoded: Google's Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust, Hobo
• Featured Snippets: How to Capture Position Zero in Google, Backlinko
• We Tested Breadcrumbs '" Was Mobile-First Indexing the Real Story?, Search Pilot
• What's new in Lighthouse 13, Chrome for Developers Blog
• Redirects: Permanent 301 vs. Temporary 302, Stepforth
• What is 'Firefly'? Google's Scaled Content Abuse System: QualityCopiaFireflySiteSignal, Hobo

PPC

• Google Clarifies Misrepresentation Policy '" What Merchants Need to Know (2025 Update), FeedArmy
• Ads in AI Overviews Expand Beyond the US by End of 2025, PPC News Feed

Search Features

• Google Translate is testing a more expansive look for your translations, Android Police
• How do we tackle AI Mode becoming the default Search experience?, SALT agency
• Reducing notification overload for a quieter browsing experience in Chrome, Chromium Blog
• Nano Banana image editing comes to AI Mode and Google Lens, 9to5Google
• Inside Apple's Glasses Pivot; When Apple Is Launching M5 MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Bloomberg

Other Search

• Google's Robby Stein talks about AI Search on Lenny's Podcast, Gagan Ghotra
• OpenAI, Software's Grim Reaper?, The Information

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.