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 Expands Review Guidelines and Warns of Manual Actions
Google has updated its review content guidelines by adding three new practices that can trigger manual actions: publishing reviews without firsthand experience, using AI-generated or copied reviews presented as original, and manipulating ratings or review content. The update reinforces Google’s focus on authentic, original reviews and warns that violations may result in rich results being removed or other manual penalties.
Google Shares Guidance on CMS-Generated URLs and SEO
Google’s John Mueller said that automatically generated internal URLs created by CMS platforms like Squarespace do not negatively impact SEO and generally don’t require any action. He explained that these URLs are part of the platform’s internal architecture, and website owners can safely ignore them if they aren’t intended for users or search engines.
Google Advises Fixing Conflicting Metadata Instead of Testing It
Google’s John Mueller advised website owners to fix conflicting metadata—such as inconsistent canonical tags, robots directives, or structured data—instead of leaving it in place to see how Google responds. He explained that conflicting signals can lead to unpredictable crawling and indexing behavior, and recommended providing clear, consistent metadata to help Google process pages correctly.
Google Adds Five Trust Signals to Open Knowledge Format
Google has released Open Knowledge Format (OKF) v0.2, introducing five optional trust and provenance signals—including authorship, ownership, certification, source provenance, and verification metadata—to help AI agents assess the reliability of shared knowledge. The update is designed to improve transparency and trust while maintaining OKF as an open, vendor-neutral standard for organizing and exchanging structured knowledge
Google Search Console Platform Properties Now Fully Live
Google has completed the global rollout of Platform Properties in Search Console, allowing creators and businesses to track how their Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube content performs across Google Search, Discover, and Google News. Google also published a new guide with best practices for analyzing search audience trends, comparing platform performance, spotting trending content, and optimizing social and video strategies.
PPC Related News and Updates from Major Platforms
Google Ads Editor 2.13 Now Available with New Features
Google has released Google Ads Editor version 2.13, introducing 17 new features including AI Max support for Shopping campaigns, Customer Retention Goals for Performance Max, Maps placements for Demand Gen, enhanced video ad branding, AI content attestation, and new reporting capabilities. The update also removes support for creating new Video Action campaigns, reflecting Google’s ongoing transition to Demand Gen.
Google Updates Conversion Measurement Documentation
Google has updated its Google Ads conversion measurement documentation with clearer guidance on Smart Bidding learning periods, conversion data sources, and setup requirements. The revised documentation explains recommended data sources, account permissions, event import timing, and configuration best practices to help advertisers improve conversion tracking accuracy and campaign optimization.
Google Tests Household Income Exclusions for Performance Max Campaigns
Google is testing household income exclusions in Performance Max campaigns, allowing advertisers to exclude users based on estimated income brackets, including the Top 10%, Lower 50%, and Unknown. If rolled out broadly, the feature would give advertisers greater audience control while continuing to use Performance Max’s AI-driven optimization.
Google to Allow Social Casino Games Ads with Certification
Google has announced that eligible advertisers will soon be able to apply for certification to promote Social Casino Games through Google Ads. The rollout begins in August 2026 and will be introduced gradually, with certification available through either the Google Ads Help Center or directly within the Google Ads interface. Existing gambling certifications and pending applications will not be affected.
Google Publishes Guide for Offline Conversions Using GBRAID
Google has published a new help document explaining how to set up offline conversion tracking using the GBRAID URL parameter, a privacy-preserving identifier for measuring ad performance. The guide outlines how to capture, store, and import GBRAID values to improve offline conversion measurement and provide stronger signals for Smart Bidding, particularly when GCLID is unavailable.
