Google & Bing Testing Bolding Snippets On Hover
Both Google and Microsoft Bing are testing hover effects that will bold elements of the search results. Google is testing bolding the description of the snippet and Bing is testing bolding the title of the snippet.
Daily Search Forum Recap: June 26, 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 has not delivered on performing more core updates…
Google Search Ranking Volatility Rumbles On June 25 & 26
Over the past two days it has felt like there was some sort of ranking adjustment made in the Google Search organic results. Yea, I know, organic search doesn’t send clicks anymore, but they are still ranked and it seems like there was some sort of lar…
Google SMS Review & Blackmail Scams
A couple of years ago, we covered a report by the NY Times on the ongoing issues with review scams and blackmail. Well, the issue is not gone, despite Google responding to that report. From what I am told, it is still relatively common and our own Bi…
Google’s More Core Updates, More Often Seem To Not Be Happening
Over 6 months ago, a Google search representative said we should all expect more core updates, more often. And in the past six months, we have had only one confirmed Google update, the March 2025 core update.
Google Discover Shopping Price Tracking Widget
Google is now showing price tracking widgets at the top of the feed. We’ve seen products with price tracking markup notifications within the feed but these widget styles may be new.
Google AdSense for Search Restricted Access Features (RAFs) On August 25
Google posted a new document on the topic of its AdSense for Search Restricted Access Features (RAFs). Google said, “Starting on August 25, 2025, certain AdSense for Search features have limitations depending on an account’s status within the Search Pa…
Bing Tests Italicized URLs In Search Results
Microsoft is testing italicizing the URLs in the Bing Search results. It is a bit weird to look at and I am not sure why Bing is testing this but they are.
Google Disallows Adding Countries Or States To Service Area Businesses
Google updated its service areas business guidelines help document to add “Do not add countries or states as a service area.” Google also updated numerous parts of the document.
Google Expands Posting Reviews Is Turned Off For This Place
Google seems to be expanding the feature where they turn off the ability for some local listings, Google Business Profiles, to allow posting reviews. We covered this before during the UK and limited release, where you would get a notice that says “Pos…
Google Local Service Ads Reviews Often Mention Label
I am not sure if this is new, to be honest, we saw something super similar in the normal local review summaries about fives years ago with “X people mention [keyword].” Now in the Local Service Ads, they have it where it has this people icon with “Revi…
Google To End Self-Service Hotel Rates July 30
Google will be ending the ability for hotels to manage their hotel rates by themselves, instead they will need to partner with a central reservation system, Internet booking engine or other partner to manage those rates on Google Search.
Bing Search Tests Floating Copilot Search Box
Microsoft is testing placing a floating Copilot search box within the Bing Search results page. The aim is to encourage searchers to ask follow-up questions, not in Bing Search, but in Microsoft Copilot.
New Google Search Directions User Interface
Google updated the directions interface within Google Search. Now the drive (car icon), trains (train icon) and buses (bus icon) are in expandable menus, as opposed to tabs at the top of the “Get there” search results section.
Daily Search Forum Recap: June 24, 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 says URL extensions don’t matter for SEO…
Google Still Says URL Extensions Still Don’t Matter
Google’s John Mueller several years after posting a video named “Will removing ‘.html’ from my URLs help my site?” still says URL extensions do not matter for SEO. He said it doesn’t matter if you go with a .htm or a .html or go with no extension at all.
New Google Search Emoji Answer Feature
Google is testing a new feature to replace all those copy-and-paste emoji websites. You know, when you want to know what an emoji is for a specific emotion and you go to Google and it brings up websites that have the emojis and you can click copy to yo…
Google Expands AI Mode To India In Search Labs
Google has made its first expansion of AI Mode outside of the US by announcing AI Mode is now available in Search Labs for those based in India. As you know, AI Mode is fully live, outside of Search Labs, for all US users and now Google is expanding ac…
Google Business Profiles Tests Social Profiles Above Google Posts
Google is testing moving the social profile links above the Google Posts section in the Google Business Profiles / local listings within Google Search. This seems to be being tested right now.
Google Undisclosed Blue Search Answer?
I am not sure what this is but Google is testing (or maybe it is a bug) an answer box of sorts, in a blue highlight background (grayish on dark mode) with an answer. But there is no label on the result, is it an AI Overview, featured snippet or some ot…