Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Search Volatility, AI Mode Taking Over Search, Search Console AI Configurator & 22 Year Anniversary
This week, we, of course, covered the ongoing Google Search ranking volatility. Google is now blending AI Mode directly into AI Overviews. Google’s home page search bar added a new upload feature to take you into AI Mode…
Google API Doc Hints Service Areas Not A Local Ranking Factor
Over the years, we have written that service areas are not used as a local ranking factor by Google Search. Well, the API leak document also implies this to be true.
Google Search Console Performance Report Tests AI Powered Configurator
Google is testing a new AI-powered configuration tool, as it calls it, to help you build instant reports based on your natural language questions. So basically Ads and Analytics Advisor but for Search Console, plus this just builds reports and doesn’t …
Google Search Console Average Impression Increased For Many
If you look at some of the profiles/sites in your Google Search Console performance reports, you may notice a significant increase in the average position being reported. This happened when Google removed the num=100 parameter and is likely due to scra…
Google Merchant Center New Regional Member Pricing (Beta)
Google Merchant Center is now beta testing regional member pricing, where you can offer different member prices based on the shopper’s regions. This will essentially override the member price in the regional inventory feed.
Google Ads Learn More Button At Top Right
Google Ads may be testing placing an ad extension button at the top right of the sponsored result on the desktop interface. This button, in this example, shows the text “Learn more.”
Did We Pass Peak AIO? — Whiteboard Friday
Has Google reached “Peak AI Overview”? In this episode of Whiteboard Friday, Tom analyzes late 2025 data, revealing a drop in AIO frequency for informational queries and a new trend of AI results appearing below position one.
How do people use AI assistants?
Carried by the inertia of “search query” mentality, AI SEO professionals often oversimplify how people interact with their AI assistants in chat sessions. To help us define the primary interaction types we surveyed the major AI platforms and compiled the following list AI chat type list: Funnel Mode Let’s flip that around and reorganize it […]
Daily Search Forum Recap: December 4, 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 Search rankings are volatile again and heating up. Plus…
Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up December 3rd & 4th
I am seeing some signs of a Google Search ranking update and intense volatility that kicked in late yesterday. The SEO community started chattering about it over the past several hours and some of the tools are showing a spike in volatility with the Go…
Google Ads WhatsApp Support Notifications
Google Ads may be testing the ability to subscribe to support updates via WhatsApp. Google has rolled out a new option to get real-time support case updates directly on WhatsApp, at least some folks are seeing this.
Google Discover Gains AI Mode Features
Google is adding more AI features to Google Discover, specifically pushing people from articles in Google Discover into Google AI Mode. When you click on an article from Google Discover and then click on the three dots at the top right of the screen, y…
Google Search Console Performance Reports & Page Indexing Delayed Again
I know, we just reported the page indexing report within Google Search Console is very delayed, about two weeks. Well, it is still delayed two weeks, I thought it would catch up by now, but it only got three days of data and then stalled again. And th…
Bing Tests New Search Bar With Advanced Tools Menu
Microsoft is testing a new search bar with a more powerful tools menu button. This tools menu is larger, has a plus sign and gives you options to click search with your voice, search with an image and even make an image.
Google Ads Channel Reporting For PMax Rolling Out To Some
Back in May, Google said it will be giving advertisers more visibility into the search partner network with channel reporting for Performance Max campaigns. Well, now some are seeing it live in their accounts for some of the campaigns they manage.
Google Ads Launches Products At This Location Link Unit
Google has launched a new link on some search / sponsored ads named “Products at this location.” Google confirmed this “relatively new feature” and can show up on listings for service businesses and other types of businesses.
Google Search Bar Adds Upload Image/File That Goes To AI Mode
Google is pushing even more ways directly into AI Mode from the main Google home page’s search bar. Now when you select to upload an image or file, it will take you into AI Mode by default.
Google Search Bar Adds Upload Image/File That Goes To AI Mode
Google is pushing even more ways directly into AI Mode from the main Google home page’s search bar. Now when you select to upload an image or file, it will take you into AI Mode by default.
Google Adds LLMs.txt To Search Developer Docs Portal
Google has been saying that no one uses the LLMs.txt file, that Google won’t use it, that it can be useless, and you probably should noindex it if you do use it. Well, Google itself uploaded an LLMs.txt file for the Google Search Central portal.
Google Adds LLMs.txt To Search Developer Docs Portal
Google has been saying that no one uses the LLMs.txt file, that Google won’t use it, that it can be useless, and you probably should noindex it if you do use it. Well, Google itself uploaded an LLMs.txt file for the Google Search Central portal.