The GEO conferences worth attending in 2026 and 2027
The first problem with finding a good GEO conference is deciding what the field is actually called, believe it or not. Some organizers use generative engine optimization. Others prefer answer engine optimization, AI search, LLM SEO or AI visibility. The terms overlap, the definitions move around, and a few events appear to choose whichever acronym […]
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Google To Charge For Missed & Subsequent Calls On LSAs
Google sent out emails to some advertisers notifying them that starting October 1st, Google Local Service Ads will charge for some missed and subsequent calls over the platform. “On October 01, 2026, we are updating how and when you are charged for cal…
Google Shows AI Overviews Above Stock Charts For Stock Price Queries
Google seems to be showing AI Overviews at the top of the search results page when you specifically search for stock price queries – such as for [GOOG stock] or [MSFT stock] and so on. I was able to replicate this myself and it is just weird to show t…
Google Ads Tests Loading Sponsored Results Using Gemini With Animation
Google Ads is testing loading the sponsored results in the mobile search results interface with an animation. It shows that Gemini is also involved by saying, “Evaluating sponsored results” and has a Google and Gemini logo as the ads load in.
Google changes call lead charging policy for Local Services Ads
Google has informed Local Services Ads customers that the charging policy for call leads will change starting October 1, 2026. The major change is that missed calls received during business hours can now also be considered charged leads. Joe spotted this and shared it on X. Here is what the screenshot shows: “On October 1, […]
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Google: There Is Nothing Special To Do For Generative AI Responses In Search
Google’s John Mueller said on Bluesky that there is nothing special for one to do for generative AI responses within Google Search. He wrote, “from our POV there’s nothing really special you need to do for generative AI responses in search.”
Google Says Google’s Crawlers Don’t Parse JSON
Gary Illyes from Google reiterated this morning that Googlebot, Google’s crawler, does not parse JSON files. Instead, Googlebot just downloads the files and then the indexer does the rest.
Google Copyable Emojis In AI Overviews
About a year ago, Google added the ability to copy emojis directly from the search results in an answer box. Now, Google is also showing copyable emojis to AI Overviews in the Google Search results.
Google tests new loading animation for sponsored ads on mobile
Google is testing a new animation for sponsored ads on mobile. When a user searches for something, the sponsored results now show a loading animation before the ads actually appear. We spotted this today. Here is a screenshot of how it looks. This kind of loading animation is a small visual touch, but it […]
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Bing tests bold https in sponsored result URLs
Bing is testing bold URLs for sponsored results, though the entire URL isn’t bold just the “https” portion appears in bold. Previously, Bing tested several other variations for sponsored results, including fully bold URLs, a “Sponsored” label, and light grey styling. Today, we spotted this half-bold version, where only “https” is bold and the rest […]
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Google answers whether some industries don’t need GEO
A user asked John Mueller a question about GEO on Bluesky: are there any industries where GEO isn’t required? The user, @galloni.net, cited examples from industries like adult, gambling, and others where Google remains a major source of discovery. Here’s what the user asked: “are there industries where GEO simply doesn’t matter yet? I’m thinking […]
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Google expands AI Max for search campaigns
Google is expanding AI Max for Search campaigns, giving advertisers new tools to test changes to budgets, ROI targets, and campaign settings before actually rolling them out. Google announced this update on its blog. There are three changes worth knowing about. 1. Test multiple campaigns at once Starting in September, advertisers will be able to […]
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Search Engine Watch is back: a new independent chapter begins
Thirty years after a webmaster’s question became Search Engine Watch, the publication is under new independent ownership. Here is what we owe its history, and what we intend to build next. The first thing to say about relaunching Search Engine Watch is that this story does not begin with me. I did not create this […]
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Daily Search Forum Recap: August 24, 2026
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 fixed two bugs, the favicon bug and the crawl stats bug in Search Console…
Google Makes Minor Updates To Canonicalization Help Docs
Google has made some minor updates to the canonicalization help documents including the What is canonicalization and Fix canonicalization issues. I am not sure if anything fundamentally is different on the page outside of making it easier to understand…
Google Search Console owners receive emails about new account owners
Google Search Console owners have been receiving emails from Google notifying them of a new owner on their Search Console accounts. Barry Schwartz received one of these emails and shared a screenshot along with an article on SER. Here is the screenshot of how it looks. Barry noted: “Again, it seems like these folks already […]
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Google Merchant Center Product Images Minimum Size Will Be 500×500 Pixels
Google sent out an email to Google Merchant Center advertisers and users that the minimum size for product images is going up to 500 x 500 pixels starting on January 31, 2027. Google recommends at least 1500×1500 pixels or above, but the minimum size …
Google Aware Of Reviews Missing After Google Business Profile Reinstatement
Google is aware of and in the process of addressing an issue where reviews are missing after a Google Business Profile gets reinstated after it was suspended. Google is reportedly actively working on a resolution but there is no estimated time for when…
Google Tests Pink Highlights In Featured Snippets
Typically, when Google highlights phrases in a featured snippet or AI Overview within Google Search, the highlighter color is blue. We’ve seen Google test other colors before, but here is a new one – a pink highlight.
Google Ads Reduces Conversion Cycle For Maximize Conversion Value Bidding
Google has updated the Google Ads help document for About Maximize conversion value bidding with a number of changes. The change that stood out the most was Google lowering the conversion cycles requirement from three cycles to one or two conversion cy…