Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Heated Spam Update, Web Declines, AI Mode Updates, AI Max Rolls Out & More
This week, I covered the ongoing Google August 2025 spam update and how it heated up this week. Google got into hot water over saying the web is rapidly declining. Google AI Mode also said AI Mode would be the default…
Google Search Quality Raters Guidelines Gains AI Overview & YMYL Definitions
On Thursday, September 11, 2025, Google updated its search quality raters guidelines PDF document. The last time Google updated this document was on January 23, 2025, over seven months ago. This update gives minor clarification as it relates to rating …
Google Search Tests Dropping 100 Search Results Parameter
Google Search seems to be testing dropping the ability to see 100 search results on a single page. When you add the results parameter to the end of your search results URL string, i.e. &num=100, it works about half the time.
Bing Tests Microsoft Sponsored Ads With Three Dots By URL
Microsoft Advertising is testing using three dots, instead of the arrow down, for the sponsored ads URL in the Bing search results. We’ve seen Bing test three dots before but they were horizontal, the new test are vertical three dots.
Google Shows AI Overviews For Currency Exchange Rates
Google may be starting to show AI Overviews when you ask for a currency exchange. I can’t seem to fully replicate this but others are starting to see this.
Google Updated The Merchant Center Pricing Policies
Google has updated the Google Merchant Center pricing policies for September. The changes include updates in the merchant fees, government charges, import and export costs, regional and installment pricing, price mismatches and automated updates.
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 11, 2025
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 announced AI Max is rolling out to all as a beta…
Google Ads AI Max For Search Campaigns Globally Available & More
Google announced a number of updates to Google Ads at Think Retail yesterday, including the global rollout of AI Max for Search campaigns, new Google Merchant Center features, AI updates to Asset Studio, and more.
Bing Testing Link Icons In Sitelinks For Microsoft Ads
Microsoft is testing putting link icons in the sitelinks carousel buttons within the Bing search ads from Microsoft Advertising. Normally, you’d just see the carousel of sitelinks below the search snippet but here Microsoft is testing adding a link ic…
Google Tests Sponsored Ads With Search Refinement Options
Google is testing adding search refinement options in the sponsored ads in a carousel format. The test shows refinements named “fine-tune your search,” “search specific products” and “specify your search.” But I bet there are more.
Google Tests Replacing Hotel Review Stars For Website & Phone Number
Google is testing replacing the review stars at the top of the hotel knowledge panel with listing the hotel’s website URL and the hotel’s phone number.
Google Search Testing New Local Ad Cards Format
Google seems to be testing a new format for local ads in the search results. These look more like that older card format test we saw a year or so ago. There are these two local cards at the top and when you click on them, the local panel for that Goog…
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 10, 2025
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 are seeing a lot of movement and indexing complaints over the past 24 hours…
Google August 2025 Spam Update Heats Up Again
The Google August 2025 spam update seems to be heating up again. I am seeing both chatter within the SEO spike, while also seeing many of the third-party Google tracking tools show heated weather in the past 24 hours or so.
Google Ads Tests Promotion Mode, Campaign Total Budgets & More
Google Ads is testing new ways to maximize budget utilization and hit volume goals during planned or last-minute promotions. There are a few new options Google is testing, including promotion mode, campaign total budget and more.
Google Tests Sitelinks Arrows On Left
Google is testing placing the arrows next to the sitelinks on the left side of the sitelinks. Normally those arrows are on the right side of the sitelinks.
Google Showing AI Mode In Autocomplete Search Suggestions
Google is now showing AI Mode shortcuts in the autocomplete search suggestions. As you type the main Google Search box, Google may try to jump you to AI Mode with shortcuts.
Bing Tests Ads Text That Expands On Hover
Microsoft is testing expanding the text of the Microsoft Advertising search ads on Bing Search. So when you hover your mouse over an ad in Bing Search, the text expands.
Daily Search Forum Recap: September 9, 2025
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 Mode expanded beyond English, into Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean…
Report: Almost All ChatGPT Users Also Use Google
New data from Similarweb shows that almost all ChatGPT users also use Google, but only 15% of Google users also use ChatGPT. This shows that Google, for now, is still super dominant, despite ChatGPT’s growth.