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
Bing Experiments with Italicized URLs in Search Results
Microsoft is testing the use of italicized URLs in Bing’s search result snippets, a design change that has drawn attention for its unusual appearance. Observers, such as Frank Sandtmann, suggest this styling might emphasize exact match domains, though the rationale behind the test remains unclear.
Google Restricts Service Area Listings to Exclude Countries and States
Google has updated its Business Profile guidelines, explicitly instructing service-area businesses not to list entire countries or states as service areas. Instead, businesses should define their service regions within approximately a two-hour driving radius from their base location. This change aims to enhance the accuracy and relevance of local search results.
Bing Tests Floating Copilot Search Box to Encourage AI-Powered Follow-Ups
Microsoft is testing a floating Copilot search box within Bing’s search results, designed to prompt users to ask follow-up questions through its AI assistant, Copilot. This feature aims to enhance user engagement by facilitating deeper, AI-driven interactions directly from the search page.
Google Reaffirms: URL Extensions Like .html or .htm Don’t Affect SEO
Google’s John Mueller reiterated that URL extensions such as .html, .htm, or having no extension at all do not impact SEO. This long-standing guidance emphasizes that the choice of URL endings is largely historical and holds no significance in modern search rankings.
Google Tests Placing Social Profiles Above Posts in Business Listings
Google is testing a layout change in Business Profiles, moving social media links above the Google Posts section in local search listings. This adjustment, observed by product expert Syed M. Amir Hassan, is currently in limited testing and may influence how businesses prioritize content in their profiles.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine
Google Discover Tests Price Tracking on Shopping Cards
Google is experimenting with a new price tracking feature within Discover’s shopping cards, allowing users to follow price changes on products directly. This feature includes a “Track Price” button and a bell icon, offering alerts for price drops, and aims to enhance Discover’s usefulness for product discovery and deals.
Google Merchant Center Restores Product Status Change History Report
Google has reinstated the “product status change” report in Merchant Center, allowing merchants to view historical changes in product statuses directly within the default product view. This feature, previously buried in the Merchant Center Next interface, enhances visibility and usability for tracking product listing issues and updates.
