SEO Updates: Google Volatility, Bing AI Rollout, and Key Search Policy Shifts - Date: October 4th, 2024

Google SEO News

October 2024 Google Webmaster Report

This past month marked one of the most volatile periods in Google Search history, with constant fluctuations following the August 2024 core update. Unconfirmed ranking changes and updates continue to stir up the “not so-calm” search landscape. Key updates include changes to spam policies, the end of Google’s cache operator, and discussions around fake review notices. Interviews with Google’s Search Liaison and Merchant Center experts added insight into these shifts, while significant changes in AI overviews and search features further disrupted traditional SEO.

SEO Recommendations by Jason

Over the next few months, the AI Overview will create more disruptions and volatility in search results. This is far from over, but the “Google Core Update” of 2024 has reached its peak, and we should see at least this calm down! With this being said, understanding your key positions and Search Rankings will help you identify which ones are winning vs losing. Creating a search position report and tiering your search terms will help analyze which areas of your site you may need to focus on.?

Sticky Google Search Console Performance Report Filters

Google introduced a new feature in the Search Console where performance report filters will now persist between sessions. Users can return to their reports without resetting their custom filters. If needed, filters can be quickly reset via a button, enhancing report continuity and ease of use.

SEO Recommendations by Jason

I love this rollout! I saw it earlier this week and think the update is good! Google Search Console is so important; as I point out in the video below, working in SEO and content and not using the search console would be missing out big time! These filters help get better visibility of what you need to analyze to make informed decisions.?

Check out my YouTube Video about "4 Reasons Why You Need To Use Google Search Console For Your SEO Strategy":

Google: Avoid Generic Server Holding Pages for New Sites

John Mueller from Google advised against using generic server or CMS holding pages for new sites, as these can delay Google's recognition of the site. He recommended either disabling DNS or using custom-holding pages to avoid slower discovery and indexing issues.

SEO Recommendations by Jason

This is a solid recommendation, and using properly structured sitemaps with the correct schema type will allow search engines to index and view content faster and more efficiently.?

Bing SEO News

Bing Generative Search Experience Rolling Out

Microsoft expanded the rollout of its Bing generative search experience, now covering more informational queries. Powered by GPT-4 and proprietary models, Bing’s AI-driven search enhances answers with deeper insights and organizes results with features like answer summaries and document indexes. This development aligns with Bing's broader AI and Copilot initiatives.

SEO Recommendations by Jason

As we have pointed out in other news articles, these AI overviews or SGE updates in search engines will have a major impact on search in the long term. Website must focus on showcasing authority in its niche and consolidating rich, up to date and valuable content in its niche if they hope to gain the value of SGE search engines, which will catapult some websites to the next level due to the user-friendly experience of searching and getting a nice preview of the content or filtered version before heading to a site.?

The aspect of this is Time on Site: as I talk about in the video below, time on site is a key metric for SEO and long-term organic visibility. One hugely positive aspect of GSE and AI Overview will be time on site. As users who click through to the final web result will spend more time and engagement, as technically, they have a better understanding and expectation of what they are going to get, as the preview snippets will be richer. This should see an increase in time-on-site and increased DA, leading to better long-term organic visibility.?

Check out my YouTube Video about "Why High Bounce Rate Is A B**** For Your Long-Term SEO":

General Search Marketing News

Google Volatility With Gains & Losses, Updated Web Spam Policies, Cache Gone & More Search News

Google Search Ranking Volatility

- There are ongoing ranking fluctuations following the August 2024 core update. While some sites saw improvements initially, many report that these gains have since been wiped out. Volatility was particularly noted around September 25.

Google's Web Spam Policy Update

- Google revised its web spam policies, particularly expanding details about site reputation abuse.?

Google Cache Operator Removal

- Google has completely removed its cache operator. The feature had been phased out earlier, and by September 24, it was officially gone. SEOs now have to rely on tools like the Wayback Machine and Google's URL inspection tool.

Google Image Search Site Command Bug

- There’s a bug with the site command in Google Image Search, which fails unless a query is added. Google’s John Mueller acknowledged the issue and passed it along for fixing.

Google Search Console Product Snippets Report Fix

- Google fixed an issue with its product snippets report in Search Console, where some sites had unusually high impressions for snippets, even if they didn’t have product-related content.

Fake Review Notices in Google Maps

- Google has begun displaying fake review notices on business profiles, indicating that suspected fraudulent reviews have been removed. This feature is currently visible in the UK but may expand to other regions.

Spike in Google Reviews Removal

- There was a noticeable spike in the removal of Google reviews around mid-September.?

Re-Verification Triggered by Small Business Profile Updates

- Small changes to Google Business Profiles may trigger re-verification, a trend noted by several SEOs. This could mean extra caution is needed when making profile adjustments.

Google Merchant Listings Update

- Google updated its Merchant Listings documentation to include new properties related to pricing and sales examples. These updates aim to better align with Merchant Center practices.

Importance of Embedded Pages for Image SEO

- John Mueller’s advice on the importance of the page where an image is embedded for SEO. The context and relevance of the page play a key role in image ranking.

Google Shopping and E-Commerce Card Test

- Google is testing a new e-commerce widget that displays product pricing and reviews in a compact card format at the top of search results. This could offer a streamlined shopping experience.

Small Business Carousel Test in Search Results

- Google is testing a "From Small Businesses" carousel, which showcases products or services from smaller businesses in search results.

"States in the News" Feature Test

- Google is testing a filter that lets users view news stories by state. This is primarily seen for politically focused search queries.

Backstory Section in Top Stories

- Google introduced a "Backstory" section in news-related searches, providing additional context or background on the top story.

Product Detail Grid with Labels

- Google is testing labels like “Most Popular” and “Best Price” in its product detail grid, offering more detailed comparisons for online shoppers.

"For You" Label in Search Results

- Google is experimenting with a “For You” label on search snippets, suggesting that a particular result is tailored to the user’s preferences or needs.

Preferred Source Label

- Google is testing a “Preferred Source” label, which sparked discussions about whether this suggests an endorsement from Google for certain snippets.

Google Ads Sitelinks Bug

- A bug was spotted where Google ads were showing up with ten site links, far more than usual. Google has since acknowledged and resolved this issue.

Decline in Traditional Search Usage

- 55% of respondents from a poll said they use traditional search engines like Google less often due to the rise of generative AI search platforms like ChatGPT. This reflects a shift in user behavior away from conventional search.