We hope you are in good health. Here are some of the major SEO news updates of the week that you need to know:
Search Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Search Console Expands Generative AI Performance Report
Google has expanded access to the Generative AI Performance report in Search Console, making it available to many more properties. The report provides insights into impressions, pages, countries, devices, and performance over time for appearances in Google’s generative AI features. However, it currently does not provide click or query data, and the report may not appear for sites that do not have sufficient impressions from generative AI features.
Google Clarifies How Hreflang URLs Are Treated in Indexing
Google’s Gary Illyes clarified that hreflang URLs are not indexed in the traditional sense. Instead, Google treats them as alternate URLs connected to the canonical page, allowing the appropriate language version to appear in Search when relevant. This means a hreflang URL may appear as “not indexed” in Search Console while still being used by Google as an alternative version of the canonical page.
Google Updates Business Profile Guidelines for Bilingual Names
Google has updated its Google Business Profile guidelines to clarify that businesses should not repeat the same name in multiple scripts or languages. The new guidance applies even when a bilingual or multi-script name appears on the business’s physical storefront signage, so businesses operating in multilingual regions should review their profile names to ensure they follow the updated guidelines.
Google Explains Spammy URLs in Selected Canonical Reports
Google’s John Mueller explained that spammy or unexpected URLs can sometimes appear as the Google-selected canonical in Search Console. He noted that this can happen when a domain previously used the same interstitial or parked page and suggested waiting a few weeks to see if Google updates the selected canonical URL as the site settles.
Google AI Overviews Cite Low-Quality Listicles for Local Results
Google’s AI Overviews for local search results have been spotted citing low-quality and self-promotional listicle articles as sources for information about local businesses. In some cases, a single promotional article is used as the primary source for multiple businesses in the local results, raising concerns about the quality and reliability of information shown in Google’s AI-generated local search responses.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Platforms
Microsoft Advertising Introduces Bulk Editing for Disapproved Assets
Microsoft Advertising has introduced Bulk edit disapproved assets, allowing advertisers to edit and appeal multiple disapproved text and image assets at once. The feature is now available globally across Microsoft Advertising accounts and can simplify the process of resolving asset-level disapprovals. Advertisers can also request up to 5,000 ad exceptions when an appeal is more appropriate than changing the creative.
Google Introduces New Local Customer Optimization Help Document
Google has published a new Optimization Help document for Local customer optimization within Performance Max campaigns for store goals. The guidance explains how the feature can help advertisers prioritize potential customers who are near their business or actively searching for local services on Google Search, Maps, and Waze. The document also provides details on how the new optimization works as Google prepares to transition Local Services Ads into the Google Ads platform.
Google Adds New AI Features to Google Ads and Google Analytics
Google has introduced new AI-powered features for Google Ads and Google Analytics to help advertisers and marketers understand performance and simplify reporting. The updates include AI Overviews with personalized insights, AI-powered reporting dashboards that turn data into visualizations using text prompts, and new benchmarking tools in Google Analytics that compare performance with anonymized averages from similar businesses.
Google to Migrate Travel Campaigns to New Search Campaigns in Q3 2026
Google has announced that existing Travel campaigns will be migrated to the new Search campaigns for Travel starting in Q3 2026. As part of the migration, Google will automatically create new Search campaigns that closely mirror the settings of the original Travel campaigns. Advertisers can also manually transition their campaigns before the automated migration, with exact migration dates to be shared through account notifications and email.
