Browsing vs Content Fetcher
Google’s AI Mode has two modes of extracting information from the page: browsing and content_fetcher The core difference lies in their input requirements and how they are intended to operate within a workflow. browsing takes a single URL as its primary input, while content_fetcher takes a list of structured SourceReference objects. browsing (browse function) content_fetcher (fetch function) Summary of Differences Feature browsing (browse) content_fetcher (fetch) Primary […]
Search News Buzz Video Recap: 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…
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 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.
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 tes…
Daily Search Forum Recap: November 6, 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 dropped a number of search features and structured data types…
Last-minute Black Friday SEO prepping for ecommerce stores
Black Friday is three weeks away, so it’s time to finalize the last adjustments. Here’s what to focus on now, based on two Yoast Black Friday coffee chats with our own principal SEOs, Carolyn Shelby and Alex Moss. Alex states, “Black Friday isn’t one day anymore, but a season. If you’re not visible to AI […]
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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…
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 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.”
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…
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.
Daily Search Forum Recap: November 5, 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 Overviews continue to shift click-through rates down…
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.