Google Web & Local Ranking Updates, Quality Changes Coming, FAQ/How-To Rich Results, Perfect SEO, Author Bylines & More

We reported on three different Google algorithm updates this week, a bug one on January 9th and 10th, another one on January 5th and 6th, and also a local search ranking update on January 4th. Google reiterates that more changes are coming to deal with the search spam you see in Google’s search results. Google has dropped the FAQ and how-to rich results in the search results again. Google said there is no such thing as a perfect formula for search rankings. Google also said author bylines don’t help you rank better in search. Google said the primary source for your snippets are from the page content. Google said it does not use GA for ranking even within Search Console. Google is still working on site name issues. Google Search Console’s crawl rate setting is gone. Google sitemaps ping endpoints no longer work. We have some data on the Google Perspectives feature. Google talked about the Japanese keyword hack. Google Assistant is dropping a ton of features, does this help us with Google Search. Microsoft may extend Bing Chat’s memory beyond 90 days. Bing Search is testing replacing the Chat menu item with Chat w/GPt-4 and Copilot. Google Ads updated the auction insights box. Google LSAs has a new direct business search feature. Google has updated its sensitive event policy. Microsoft Advertising is moving Hotel Center to Lodging campaigns. Google is shutting down Websites made from Google Business Profiles. Google Search has a bug for zip code searches. And if you want to help sponsor those vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable. Sponsored by Similarweb, the all-in-one- strategic SEO software. Get clarity of the SEO landscape through competitor analysis, keyword research, rank tracking, SERP insights and more. With industry-leading traffic and keyword data, based on real user journeys, Similarweb gives SEO professionals the whole picture so they can strategize smartly and drive sustainable business growth. 0:00 - Introduction 1:01 - Mid-Week Google Search Algorithm Ranking Volatility January 9th & 10th 1:54 - Google Search Algorithmic Volatility Friday On January 5th & Saturday 6th 2:07 - Google Local Ranking Algorithm Update On January 4th (Unconfirmed) 2:34 - Google Reiterates: We Have Changes Coming To Deal With Search Spam 3:03 - Google Search FAQ Rich Results Drop Out Again 3:29 - Google How-To Rich Results Dropping Out Of Search Results Again 3:48 - Google: No Such Thing As Perfect Formula For Ranking 4:48 - Google: Author Bylines Don't Help You Rank Better; Google Doesn't Check Credentials 5:56 - Google Says Search Result Snippets Generated Primarily From Page Content 6:27 - Google: We Don't Use Google Analytics Data For Ranking Even When In Search Console 6:44 - Google Still Working On Site Name Issues Within Google Search 7:14 - Google Search Console Crawl Rate Setting Is Officially Gone 7:23 - Google Sitemaps Ping Endpoints Officially No Longer Work 7:38 - Report: Google Perspectives Dominated By Twitter, YouTube & Reddit 8:16 - Google On The Japanese Keyword Hack 8:44 - Did Search Win With The Google Assistant Feature Loss 9:24 - Microsoft May Extend Bing Chat's History Beyond 90 Days 9:55 - Bing Search Menu Tests Chat Button That Says Chat w/GPT-4 & Copilot 10:21 - Google Ads PMax Auction Insights Box Adds Competitive Data 10:39 - Google Local Services Ads Direct Business Search Shows Your Ad On Branded Queries 11:06 - What's Google Ads Sensitive Event Policy 12:11 - Microsoft Advertising Dropping Hotel Center Accounts For Lodging Campaigns On Feb 6 12:27 - Google Shutting Down Google Business Profiles Websites - Redirects Only A Few Months 13:09 - Google Search Bug Returns Products For Zip Code Searches 13:28 - Conclusion