SEO News Digest: Indexing API Changes, Product Snippet Glitch, Schema 28.0, Google Blocks Listings, and more

New week, new round of news! Before we dive in, we’d like to share our latest AI Overviews research with you. This time, it is focused on how AI Overviews and Google Ads appear together in search results. Check out all the insights we’ve gathered!

Search

• Indexing API now under stricter control

Google Search Central documentation has been updated to mention that all requests to the Indexing API will undergo strict spam checks.

Additionally, the search giant has put out a warning that access to the API could be entirely revoked if abuse or attempts to bypass limits, such as making requests from multiple accounts, are detected.

• New labels for image search results coming soon

Laurie Richardson, Vice President of Trust & Safety, announced that Google will introduce new labels for images in search (under the “About this image” section) to bring more clarity in the age of AI and generated content. The labels will include:

• Captured by a camera
• Edited with software
• Created with generative AI

GSC

• Product snippet anomaly (still unofficial)

There’s been an unusual increase in clicks/impressions filtered by "search appearance: product snippets" in GSC, even on pages that aren’t remotely related to products.

Google has yet to comment, but a similar situation occurred back in May when data logging issues were reported on the backend.

Tech SEO

• Schema 28.0 out now

Support has been added for member programs (refers to Google Merchant Center) along with a number of minor improvements.

• Cache -> Wayback Machine

In December 2023, Google announced it would remove links to cached versions of pages from the "About this result" section in SERPs. With advances in technology and internet speed, they claimed it was no longer necessary. They ended up delivering on that promise, and even replacing such links with Wayback Machine archives. Note that the user response to this has mostly been negative.

Side note: Although the cache links were removed from search, typing “cache:URL” into the address bar still works. For now.

Local SEO

• Broken appointment link notifications

Google Business Profile now sends email notifications if the appointment link in your profile is broken. However, no similar notifications are sent for other types of links (such as website or menu links).

• Google blocks local listings

It’s unclear exactly what happened, but GBP listings are being closed in large numbers.

The violation type field simply states: "This Business Profile has been removed by Google," with no further explanation. Categories most affected by this seem to be garage door, trash/dumpster, and personal injury lawyer.

Tidbits

• Google recommends Gemini for SEO

And it looks like someone over at Google is using Gemini to generate posts on Twitter-turned-X as well.

• Discover feed personalization based on search history

Google is testing a Discover widget that shows summaries based on topics you’ve previously searched for.