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
What Google’s Gary Illyes Says on The SEO Impact Of 503 Status Codes?
According to Google’s Gary Illyes, serving a 503 status code for a prolonged period will result in a decrease in crawl rate. However, he reassures that occasional 10-15 minute downtimes are not considered extended periods, so there should not be any significant negative impact on SEO. Illyes emphasizes the importance of following best practices, such as ensuring the website remains resolvable and minimizing actual downtime. By doing so, any changes in configuration should not have adverse effects on the rankings of your pages in Google’s search results. It is crucial to prioritize maintaining website accessibility and minimizing downtime to mitigate any potential SEO impacts.
Google Ends Support For The Video Carousel (Limited Access) Rich Results
Google announced that it will no longer support the video carousel (limited access) rich results. This decision came after conducting tests with a group of site owners and realizing that this feature was not beneficial for the overall ecosystem. While Google is ending support for this particular markup, they encourage site owners to keep it on their websites as it can still help search engines and other systems better understand the content of their web pages. While the video carousel may no longer be supported, it is still important for website owners to optimize their content for search engines and improve the overall user experience.
Google’s John Mueller Answers a Question About Hyphenated Domains
Google’s John Mueller addressed the topic of hyphenated domains. He explained that in the past, domain names with multiple hyphens were often considered unfavorable by users or assumed to be so by SEOs. However, with the availability of various top-level domains now, this perception has changed. Mueller’s main recommendation is to choose a domain name that is sustainable in the long term and not overly focused on keywords. Instead of relying on keyword optimization for SEO purposes, he encourages website owners to create something truly remarkable that people will naturally search for by name. If including a hyphen in the domain name helps achieve this goal, then it is worth considering.
Google Updates Maps and Search to Show Greener Travel Options And Highlight Emissions Data
Google made updates to its Maps and Search features in order to promote greener travel options and raise awareness about emissions data. With these updates, Google Maps will now suggest eco-friendly transit and walking options alongside driving routes, allowing users to make more environmentally sustainable choices when planning their journeys. Additionally, Google Search and Flights will prominently display train routes as alternatives to certain flights, encouraging travelers to consider more sustainable modes of transportation. Furthermore, Google is also making estimated flight emissions data more widely accessible across its products, providing users with valuable information about the environmental impact of their travel choices.
Google Core Ranking Volatility Hits
Google Core Ranking Volatility has caused a stir in the SEO community, with many attributing it to the March 2024 core update. However, what is concerning is the heightened level of volatility observed in the past 24 hours, specifically related to this update. This increased fluctuation has led to a deeper impact on websites that were negatively affected. It is disheartening to witness the profound consequences faced by those whom this update has impacted. The implications of such movements on organic search rankings and website traffic can be significant, making it crucial for businesses to monitor and adapt their SEO strategies accordingly closely.
Google Allocates Crawl Budgets Based on Hostnames
Google allocates each hostname its crawl budget. This means that every domain, subdomain, and so forth has its own unique crawl budget assigned to it. This topic came up in a LinkedIn post where Tony McCreath queried Google about the crawl budget, particularly regarding a scenario where a page on domain A fetches a resource from domain B (hosted on a different server). John Mueller from Google clarified that they are indeed independent. Pedro Dias, a former Googler, added to this by stating that, as far as he knows, the allocation is done based on hostname. He pointed out that even within the same domain, multiple subdomains could have their own crawl-rate limits. Gary Illyes from Google affirmed this statement, confirming that it’s correct.
Social Media Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Meta’s AI Assistant Integrates Real-Time Search Results From Google and Bing
Meta’s AI assistant, powered by the new Llama 3 model, is set to revolutionize the search industry with its integration of real-time search results from Google and Bing. By incorporating these search results into its platform, Meta AI is taking a significant step forward in enhancing its capabilities and delivering a more comprehensive and seamless user experience. With access to Meta AI available across popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and the newly launched Meta.ai desktop experience, users can easily harness the power of this intelligent assistant across multiple devices and platforms.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Ads Introduces Generative AI Tools to Create Images for Demand Gen Campaigns
Google Ads introduced new generative AI tools that will revolutionize the way advertisers create images for demand-generation campaigns. Powered by Google’s advanced artificial intelligence technology, these tools enable advertisers to quickly and easily generate high-quality image assets using simple text prompts. This innovative feature aims to enhance visual storytelling and enable brands to effectively generate new demand across various Google platforms such as YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Discover, and Gmail. With just a few steps, advertisers can now create compelling visual content that captures the attention of their target audience and drives engagement and conversions.
Google Ends Ad Customizers for Text Ads and Dynamic Search Ads
Google announced that it will be discontinuing ad customizers for text ads and Dynamic Search Ads. This decision requires advertisers to transition their ad customizers to responsive search ads by the provided deadline. This move is in line with Google’s ongoing efforts to promote and prioritize responsive search ads as the primary ad format. Advertisers will need to adapt to this change and ensure that their ads are compatible with the new format in order to continue reaching their target audience effectively. By embracing responsive search ads, businesses can take advantage of the flexibility and customization options they offer to create more engaging and relevant advertisements.
Google Ads New “Similar Product” Carousel
Google Ads introduced a new feature called the “Similar Product” carousel, which aims to enhance the shopping experience for users. This carousel displays a selection of products that are similar to the one the user is currently viewing, allowing them to explore other options easily. By presenting users with a range of similar products, Google Ads helps to increase engagement and improve the chances of a purchase. This feature can be particularly beneficial for advertisers, as it provides an additional opportunity to showcase their products and attract potential customers.
