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 Ranks AI-Generated Content Above Original News
In a recent report, it was claimed that Google is favoring AI-generated duplicate content over original journalism written by humans. However, Google’s Search Liaison has responded to these allegations by stating that the ranking of content is determined based on factors such as recency, quality, and relevancy rather than the method of production. This means that Google does not manually manipulate search results to prioritize certain pieces of content. The response from Google’s Search Liaison clarifies that there is no deliberate boosting of AI-generated content and that Google’s search algorithm treats all content fairly based on its relevance and quality.
Google’s John Mueller Answers How To Trigger A Complete Re-Indexing
In a recent discussion, Google’s John Mueller addressed the question regarding the possibility of triggering a complete re-indexing of a website. Mueller’s response was disappointing for website owners and developers as he stated that, currently, there is no method to initiate a recrawl and reprocessing of an entire website simultaneously. However, he reassured that when significant changes are made to a website, search engines will naturally update these changes over time without any additional actions required from the website owner.
Google Tests a “Chat With a Live Agent” Button in the Search Result Snippets
Google is testing a new feature called the “Chat with a live agent” button in the search result snippets. This new addition aims to provide users with immediate assistance and support by connecting them directly with a live agent. By incorporating this feature, Google is offering a more personalized and interactive search experience. Users can now have their queries answered in real-time, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple web pages.
Bing Tests Bubble Style Search Bar Menu & Bullets For Sitelinks in the Bing Search Interface
Bing is conducting tests on the Bing Search interface to enhance user experience. One of the changes being tested is the implementation of a bubble style for the search bar menu. This new design aims to provide a more visually appealing and intuitive interface for users to navigate through their search queries. Additionally, Bing is also experimenting with using bullets for the site links in the search result snippets. By incorporating bullets, Bing intends to make it easier for users to quickly scan and identify relevant site links within the search results.
Google Cancels its Contract With Appen, Thousands Of Search Quality Raters Drops In Latest Cuts
Google has decided to cancel its contract with Appen, leading to a significant drop in the number of search quality raters. Appen, a leading provider of human-annotated data for machine learning and artificial intelligence, announced this news in a PDF statement. The company received notice of contract termination on January 20th, with the agreement set to end on March 19th, 2024. This decision by Google is part of their latest cost-cutting measures, which have resulted in the reduction of thousands of search quality raters.
Google Tests a New Local Search Box Titled “Nearby Events and Deals”
Google is constantly innovating and improving its search features to provide users with the most relevant and useful information. One of its latest tests involves a new local search box called “Nearby events and deals.” This box aims to help users discover local stores and places that are offering events or deals in their area. By clicking on the links provided, users can easily access more information about these events or deals, allowing them to make the most of their local community.
Google Shows New Phone Number Buttons For Some Search Results
Google introduced a new feature that allows users to access phone numbers easily for certain search results. This feature is aimed at improving user experience and making it more convenient for individuals to reach businesses or organizations directly. When users search for specific companies or service providers, they may now see a prominent phone number button displayed alongside the search result. By clicking on this button, users can quickly initiate a call without the need to search for or dial the phone number manually.
Social Media Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Meta Rolls Out New Tools To Help Brands Fight IP Infringement
Meta introduced a range of tools and services designed to assist brands in safeguarding their valuable intellectual property. By launching an updated Brand Rights Protection suite, Meta aims to identify and promptly address any instances of infringing content. This suite equips brands with the necessary tools to take appropriate action against unauthorized use. Additionally, Meta has established an Intellectual Property Reporting Center where brands can conveniently submit complaints regarding any infringement of their intellectual property.
LinkedIn Announces to Discontinue its Lookalike Audiences Feature Starting February 29, 2024
In a recent announcement made by LinkedIn, it has been stated that starting from February 2024, advertisers will no longer have the ability to create new lookalike audiences or make any edits to the existing ones. This means that any current lookalike audiences will become static and will no longer be refreshed with new data. However, LinkedIn has assured that active ad campaigns utilizing lookalike audiences will continue to run, albeit being delivered to the now static audience pool. It is important to note that after 30 days of inactivity, any unused lookalike audiences will be automatically archived by LinkedIn.
Meta Plans to Give Users More Options to Control How They Use Instagram and Facebook in Europe
In response to upcoming regulations from the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is planning to provide users in European Union countries, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland with more options to control their usage of these platforms. This move reflects Meta’s commitment to ensuring user privacy and data protection. With these new options, users can choose to link their Instagram and Facebook accounts through Meta’s account management portal or separate the accounts altogether. By doing so, users will have the ability to prevent their information from being shared across the platforms.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin Explains “Other” Search Terms Issue
Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin recently addressed the issue of the “other” search terms line in Google Ads. She explained that queries that do not meet privacy thresholds are aggregated within this category. This means that certain search terms are not included in the search terms report for privacy reasons. However, advertisers can still gain insights into the query themes and categories driving activity through the Search Terms Insights on the Insights page. These insights take into account all search terms, including those that are not included in the report.
Google Ads Launches Gemini-Powered Campaign Creation Tool to Enhance Advertising Performance
Google Ads has introduced a new campaign creation, Gemini, aiming to enhance advertising performance. By integrating Gemini into Google Ads, the platform is expected to undergo a transformative change, enabling more natural and conversational interactions. This advancement will ultimately make it easier for users to create search advertising campaigns. Currently, the beta version of the conversational ad creation tool has been made available to English-speaking advertisers in the United States and the United Kingdom. However, Google plans to roll out this tool globally to all English-language advertisers in the coming weeks and intends to offer support for additional languages in the future.
