Google Local Tests Estimated Prices Near You (Local Service Ads)
Google Local, I believe part of the local service ads product, is testing a feature to show estimated prices near you for specific types of queries. Anubhav Garg spotted this box for a query on [roofing companies hackensack] which showed estimated pric…
Yet Another Unconfirmed Google Search Ranking Update Last Night
I know, I know, this is getting ridiculous, at what won’t do I stop reporting on all these Google algorithm updates that are unconfirmed. But the beginning of 2021 is unlike anything I’ve seen from Google in terms of how volatile the organic search re…
Large Unconfirmed Google Local Search Algorithm Update Yesterday
The BrightLocal tool picked up one of the the biggest updates I’ve seen it report in a long time or maybe even ever. It normally runs at the 2.x in terms of local pack changes but yesterday, Wednesday March 11th, it showed 6.78 out of 10 in terms of f…
Google Local Adds Custom Order URLs To Online Order CTA
Google has added a local restaurant or businesses online ordering forms to the call to action overlays it provides in Google Maps and the local pack. Previously, Google only showed 3rd party integrated platforms in this overlay, not the custom URL ord…
Google Recipe Rich Results Images Disappearing Again From Search Results
In 2019, Google had issues with displaying images in the rich results recipe carousel for a nice number of recipe sites. The issue I think was resolved twice and ultimately fixed. But it might be happening again, in 2021.
Microsoft Email: Use The Bing WordPress URL Submission Plugin
Microsoft sent me an email yesterday asking me to use the Bing URL Submissions Plugin for my WordPress site. No, this is not a WordPress site, but the intent was nice. Plus, this site already integrates with the URL submission API directly. So I am n…
Google Posts Spike In Rejection Notices
There may be a bug with the Google My Business Google Posts feature. There is a spike in the number of complaints about rejection notices for Google Posts. So when a business owner posts an update to Google Posts, those updates are more likely to be …
Microsoft Bing Three Column Search Results, A Test Or Bug
Frank Sandtmann, an SEO who sends me tips every now and then, sent me a screenshot of Microsoft Bing showing three columns in the search results interface. I suspect it is a bug because it just looks wrong and when I collapse the screen, the right box …
Google Officially Adds Full Coverage News Links From Search Results
Google announced that full coverage news is now rolling out in Google Search on mobile devices in the United States. I thought it rolled out in 2019 but here is Google’s official announcement that it is now rolling out officially, officially.
Google Local Results Has A New Arrow Directions Icon
Google has updated the directions icon it uses for its local search results. Before the icon had a shape with an arrow in white within it, now it has a simple arrow upwards. This is present both in the local pack and in the Google Maps listings on mob…
Google Preparing For New Search Console Functionality
Google is likely going to keep releasing new features and functionality for Google Search Console over the years. John Mueller of Google kind of confirmed that when he said on Twitter that the Search Console team is preparing for “future functionality…
Google: Technically Indexed vs Practically Indexed
John Mueller of Google wrote something on Twitter that caught my eye (well, everything he writes on Twitter catches my eye but this one more than others). He said “Yeah, the difference between technically indexed, and practically indexed is tricky.” So…
Google Search Console Q&A and FAQ Reports Upgraded
Google has upgraded the Search Console reports specifically for the Q&A and FAQ structured data. Now Google will check the validity of FAQ and Q&A structured data that is below the root entity level.
Google PageSpeed Insights Now Supports HTTP/2 – Scores Might Go Up
Google announced that its PageSpeed Insights tool as of March 3, 2021 uses http/2 to make network requests, that is if the server supports it. If your site is on HTPT/2, you may see your PageSpeed Insights scores go up as a result. No, your rankings …
When Losing A Google Featured Snippet Hurts
A couple of weeks ago we reported a steep dive in the number of featured snippets Google showed in its search results. Those numbers have not improved and not it is settling in that this may be the new norm – for now. Glenn Gabe shared some examples …
Google Search Does Not Use Blockchain (For Timestamps)
Google’s John Mueller asked if it would help if a site timestamped its content and pages using blockchain. John responded “Google doesn’t use that.” In short, he said Google does not use blockchain for search.
Google: When Unindexing Pages From Search Use Noindex, Not Robots.txt
Google’s John Mueller said on Twitter that when you want to “unindex,” remove indexed pages from Google Search, you should not block Google with robots.txt, but rather use noindex. He said only unindex pages when if you don’t care if the page doesn’t…
Google’s New Free Hotel Listings Option
Google has announced that it is now offering a free version of its hotel listings, this is now in addition to the paid option. This is very much like how Google made Google Shopping free last year. Google wrote “we’re improving this experience by makin…
Google: We Won’t Build Alternative Identifiers To Track Users Across The Web
Google announced last week that while other companies are planning to replace third-party cookies with alternative user-level identifiers, Google will not. Google said “we will not build alternate identifiers to track individuals as they browse across …
Microsoft Bing Search More Visual Updates
Microsoft Bing announced a slew of “visually immersive” upgrades to the search results interface. This includes updates to how it shows recipe results, image search similar looking items, expandable search result carousels, infographic knowledge panel…