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 Says LLMs.Txt Comparable To Keywords Meta Tag
Google’s John Mueller likened the proposed LLMs.txt file to the obsolete keywords meta tag, implying it has limited practical value. Although designed to offer cleaner content for AI models, it may not impact how LLMs or search engines interpret website data.
Google’s New Domain Structure: What’s Next For Hreflang?
Google is consolidating its country-specific domains (like google.fr or google.ca) into a single global domain, google .com, while still delivering localized search results. Despite this shift, Google clarified that hreflang implementation and international SEO strategies for websites remain unaffected. SEOs may notice changes in referral traffic sources, but no structural changes are required for hreflang tags.
Google Confirms That Structured Data Won’t Make A Site Rank Better
Google’s John Mueller clarified that while structured data (like Schema.org markup) helps search engines better understand content, it does not directly influence rankings. He likened it to directions to a party—not an invitation—emphasizing that structured data supports visibility but isn’t a ranking factor in itself.
Google Updated Documentation For EEA Structured Data Carousels (Beta)
Google has revised its structured data guidelines for the EEA carousel beta, expanding access to all European Economic Area countries beyond the initial few like Germany and the UK. The update not only broadens geographic eligibility but also improves documentation clarity by simplifying content and removing outdated references, such as specific mentions of flight queries.
Google Testing New Label In Search Results
Google is experimenting with a new “New” label in search result snippets to highlight recently updated or newly published content. This label appears selectively—mainly on news or article websites—and its presence seems to correlate with how recently the content was modified. The test was first noticed by members of the SEO community and shared via social media.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Ads PMax Age Exclusions Rolling Out
Google is rolling out a new feature for Performance Max (PMax) campaigns that allows advertisers to exclude specific age brackets directly in campaign settings. Previously, demographic exclusions were limited to asset groups and only allowed one age range, limiting precision. The update gives advertisers greater control over ad targeting and budget efficiency, enhancing relevance and performance.
Google Ads API Version 19.1 Now Available
Google has released version 19.1 of its Ads API, introducing 11 new features and 23 changes across assets, campaigns, Demand Gen, conversions, LSAs, Shopping, and video formats. Key additions include enhanced lead feedback tools for Local Services Ads, new reach forecasting capabilities for Demand Gen campaigns, brand exclusion overrides for PMax Shopping ads, and expanded metrics for video reach reporting. This update empowers advertisers with deeper insights and greater control across a broader range of ad formats and targeting strategies.
