Google explains why hreflang alternate URLs show as “not indexed”
Gary Illyes clarified how Google handles hreflang and alternate URLs during canonicalization, explaining that these alternate versions aren’t indexed in the traditional sense. This came up in a LinkedIn thread started by Faiez Javaid, who asked: “If Google is choosing by itself one /lang/ as canonical and ignoring others showing in GSC as not indexed, […]
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Bing tests See more and Visit site buttons for sponsored results
Bing is testing new “See more” and “Visit site” buttons appearing for sponsored results. We spotted this yesterday, with these buttons showing up for the Forbes website specifically. This looks like a recent test from Bing, though we couldn’t find it appearing for other websites at this time. Clicking the button takes users to the […]
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Google tests sponsored results with new subheading.
Google is now testing a change that displays the websites name directly under sponsored results. Normally, sponsored results just carry the “Sponsored Results” heading, but this test adds a subheading “from website icon and website name.” For example, when searching for ‘SEO,’ three sponsored results appeared, and under the main ‘Sponsored Results’ heading, we saw […]
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AI Mode ads now show non-clickable sitelinks
Google is testing sitelinks appearing in ads in AI Mode. This is the first time we’ve seen this style of ad the links aren’t clickable, but they appear alongside the ad in a format similar to traditional sitelinks, which is why we’re referring to them as such. Here is a screenshot of how they look. […]
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Bing tests clickable underlined text in organic result descriptions
Bing is testing clickable, underlined text within the descriptions of its organic search results. When clicked, this text doesn’t take you to the website’s landing page like you might expect instead, it redirects you to a new search query within Bing’s own results. Here is a screenshot of how it looks. This suggests Bing may […]
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Google tests blue hyperlinks in sponsored results ads
Google keeps rolling out changes to its Shopping and sponsored results ads. Last week, we saw AI-generated descriptions being tested in shopping ads, along with underlined links appearing in sponsored results. Now we’ve spotted another test: a blue hyperlink within sponsored ads that, when clicked, takes you to the same landing page as clicking the […]
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Meta/Facebook Crawling Web & May Be Building Search Engine
Meta, the social media company that operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads, is allegedly crawling the web and in the process of building its own search engine. Pieter Levels posted about this pattern on X and wrote, “Meta is ALL…
Google Local Disallows Repeated Bilingual Names & Transliterations
Google has updated its guidelines for representing your business on Google in the Google Business Profiles help documentation to add a new rule. Google said for your business name you cannot repeat “the same business name in multiple scripts or languag…
Google: Hreflang URLs Not Indexed In The Proper Sense
Google’s Gary Illyes said that hreflang alternates, hreflang URLs are not “indexed in the proper sense.” In short, Google just keeps the hreflang URL as alternate URLs. So the URL is not what is getting the page indexed, it is just being stores as an a…
Google AI Labels On Local Pack & Google Discover Ads
A month ago, Google said it would now label ads created or edited with AI with an AI label within the ad or on the ad itself (depending on the region). We soon saw those AI labels roll out on ads in the Google Search sponsored results but now we are a…
Microsoft Advertising Bulk Edit/Appeal Disapproved Assets
Microsoft has released the ability to adjust and appeal disapproved assets in bulk. This feature is named Bulk edit disapproved assets and should be live globally in all Microsoft Advertising accounts.
Google Home Page Create Images, Ask About Files & Brainstorm Buttons
The Google home page is testing or rolling out now, new AI features and buttons in place of the Google Search and I’m Feeling Lucky buttons. There is now “Create images,” “Ask about files,” and “Brainstorm” buttons below the big search box. This is in…
Google’s classic Search button is gone in a new AI-first homepage
Google appears to be testing a more AI-focused version of its homepage for people who are not signed into a Google Account. The homepage adds Create images, Ask about files, and Brainstorm below the search box instead of the usual Google Search button, while an AI Mode button appears inside the search field. We spotted […]
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What is AI slop? How to spot it, why it spreads and how to avoid making it
AI slop is low-value content made wholly or substantially with generative AI and released with too little human judgment, verification, craft, or accountability. It is commonly produced because speed, scale, traffic, engagement, or cost reduction matters more to the publisher than usefulness to the person receiving it. That definition includes the disposable articles clogging search […]
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Serpstat review: what we learned after using it for a year
In my career spanning over 20 years in SEO, publishing, and content, I’ve used, as you might guess, quite a lot of SEO tools. Even when I had stepped away from the day-to-day activity and handed my duties over to an SEO manager, I was still interested in the advances in SEO tools Now, after […]
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11 best alternative search engines to Google in 2026
In recent years, Google has made significant changes that have particularly impacted publishers and other content creators. At the same time, we’ve witnessed the rise of alternative search engines. Although Google continues to dominate the market, there are many reasons you might consider exploring other options. We’ve compiled and tested a list of alternatives in […]
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Google tests AI-generated descriptions in Shopping ads
Google is testing AI-generated descriptions in Shopping and product ads. This follows a similar test spotted last month in regular sponsored text ads, which Google confirmed was a small experiment and now the same approach appears to be showing up in Shopping ads as well. Brodie Clark and SERP Alerts spotted this on X, with […]
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Google says Reddit gets no special preference in search
Google communications representative Jennifer Kutz confirmed to The Verge that Reddit gets no preferential treatment in Google’s search rankings or AI search features. Kutz told The Verge: “Google’s AI search features don’t aim to display content from any specific site or platform and that Reddit ‘gets no special preference’ in Google’s ranking system.” Kutz also […]
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ChatGPT Rolls Out Product Carousel Ads at Bottom of Results
ChatGPT is testing new variations for how ads appear at the bottom of its results. The latest version shows multiple product feed ads within a single, prominent unit a shift from simpler single-ad placements. This was spotted by Brodie Clark and shared on X. Brodie wrote: “ChatGPT is now showing multiple product feed ads within […]
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Cloudflare releases its own AI visibility tool because … why not?
The AI visibility gold rush has reached Cloudflare. The company best known for keeping websites online, and unwanted bots out, is beginning to look like an SEO software provider. As Adweek reported, Cloudflare launched its AEO Visibility Dashboard in early access on August 6. It measures whether AI assistants mention or cite a brand, how […]
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