Search Engine Roundtable https://www.seroundtable.com en-us Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400 Daily Search Forum Recap: April 24, 2026 https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-04-24-2026-41213.html Barry Schwartz Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Google now won't use spam reports with personal identifiable information. Google's head of search, Liz Reid was interviewed again. Google to fix an AI Mode bug that changes title links. Google is testing audio overviews in the wild. Google Business Profile photos are now sorted in order of recent. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

Analytics

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

SEO

PPC

Search Features

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.

]]> Search Forum Recap Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400 Search News Buzz Video Recap: Heated Google Ranking Volatility, Commodity Content, Getting SEO Right, Search Ads https://www.seroundtable.com/video-04-24-2026-41209.html Barry Schwartz

This week, we covered new heated Google search ranking volatility. Google's Danny Sullivan spoke about commodity versus non-commodity content. Google now wont use spam reports with personality identifiable information. Google said you can do a lot of SEO that doesn't work and still do fine. Google said no one knows everything about SEO. Google posted documentation on the read more deep links. Google Search Console confirmed a bug with job listing reporting. Google Ads Advisor added some new AI safety features. Google Ads API version 24 is out. Google Ads has new AI-qualified call conversions. Google Local Search Ads tests immersive video ads. Microsoft Advertising also released a bunch of AI features. ChatGPT's ad manager seems to be rolling out. OpenAI launched a new bot for ads, OAI-AdsBot. Google local review replies now seem to be moderated. Google Business Profiles now sorts photos by recently uploaded. Google posted a job listing to hire an GEO, generative engine optimization, partner manager. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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]]> Search Video Recaps Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:01:00 -0400 Liz Reid Of Google Interviewed By Bloomberg On Google Search & AI https://www.seroundtable.com/liz-reid-of-google-interviewed-by-bloomberg-41210.html Barry Schwartz Liz Reid Google Interview

Here is another interview from Google's head of search, Liz Reid. This one was done on the Odd Lots Bloomberg podcast and is titled "Google's Liz Reid on Who Will Own Search in a World of AI."

I watched the whole thing, I am not sure if there is anything "new" from the interview to pull out. But it is probably worth a listen to. Danny Goodwin summarized it on Search Engine Land.

Here is what was covered based on the YouTube chapters:

  • 00:00:01 - Opening AI Search Context
  • 00:02:36 - The Search Disruption Dilemma
  • 00:07:12 - AI's Evolution in Search
  • 00:08:30 - The Click-Out vs. Direct Answer Tension
  • 00:12:09 - AI Overview Decision Logic
  • 00:15:20 - User Behavior Patterns Across Platforms
  • 00:17:44 - Fact-Checking and Search Evolution
  • 00:19:31 - Search Result Timeliness Issues
  • 00:22:20 - Query Sophistication Evolution
  • 00:24:48 - Privacy and Technical Challenges
  • 00:27:19 - AI Impact on Software Engineering Recruitment
  • 00:29:55 - Future Interface Predictions
  • 00:34:20 - Token Usage and Productivity Metrics
  • 00:37:45 - Measuring AI Impact on Business
  • 00:42:31 - Monetization of AI Features
  • 00:45:49 - Single vs. Multiple Search Interfaces
  • 00:48:56 - AI Slop and Content Quality

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:51:00 -0400 Google To Fix AI Mode Bug Where It Changes Title Links https://www.seroundtable.com/google-fix-ai-mode-citations-bug-41211.html Barry Schwartz Google Ai Bug

Google is working to fix a bug in AI Mode where it is changing the title links and citations. This bug was spotted by Lily Ray who wrote on X, "Google is changing title links / citations in AI Mode - just the name of the person, with a link to the place they were mentioned."

She shared this video of the issue - which again, does look super weird.

Rajan Patel from Google confirmed it was a bug and Google will work to fix it. Rajan replied on X saying, "It is a bug. Thanks for pinging, we'll fix."

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:41:00 -0400 New: Google Won't Use Spam Reports With Personally Identifying Information https://www.seroundtable.com/google-spam-reports-personally-identifying-information-41212.html Barry Schwartz Google Spam Logo

About a week ago, Google stunned many by saying that they updated their spam report to pass along all information to the site that you enter in the spam report. There was a lot of backlash to that and Google reverted, now saying if there is personally identifying information, it won't process the spam report at all.

Google noted it "futher clarified" to "address feedback we received about the change on using spam reports to take manual action."

It now has a new box that says:

Don't include any personally identifying information in your submission. To comply with regulations, we must send the submission text to the site owner to help them understand the context of a manual action, if one is issued. Because of this, we won't process your submission if we determine it contains personally identifying information to protect privacy. Not including such information fully ensures your information is safe and prevents your submission from being discarded.

Google is saying:

(1) Don't include personally identifying information.

(2) Google won't process your submission if we determine it contains personally identifying information to protect privacy.

Here is a screenshot:

Google Spam Report Update Clarify

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Search Engine Optimization Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:31:00 -0400 Google Testing Audio Overviews In The Wild (Not Just In Labs) https://www.seroundtable.com/google-testing-audio-overviews-wild-41207.html Barry Schwartz Google Audio Overviews Header

About a year ago, Google announced you can opt in, within Search Labs, to see Audio Overviews within the Google Search results. But now, I saw two different people say they saw it without opting into the experiment. So Google may be testing this in the wild.

Google says, "Audio Overviews, which uses our latest Gemini models to generate quick, conversational audio overviews for certain search queries."

Here is what it looks like:

Google Search Audio Overviews

You can opt into these over here, if you want.

Now, some are seeing this in the wild - here are two examples:

Maybe Google will be rolling these out more widely at Google I/O?

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:21:00 -0400 Google Business Profiles Sorts Photos By Most Recent https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profiles-photos-most-recent-41198.html Barry Schwartz Ai Google Office

Google Business Profiles lets you upload photos of your business to your Business Profile. Those photos can be viewed on Google Search and Google Maps. And now, these photos are reportedly sorted by most recently uploaded.

Claudia Tomina posted on LinkedIn, "Well it looks like Google is now sorting photos by putting the most recent ones uploaded at the top." She said this was confirmed by Michael G., a Product Manager at Google.

Here is her full post on this:

Yea, previously, photos were not sorted this way.

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

]]> Google Maps Barry Schwartz Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:11:00 -0400 Daily Search Forum Recap: April 23, 2026 https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-04-23-2026-41206.html Barry Schwartz Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

We are seeing Google volatility get heated again, it is early on. Google's Danny Sullivan spoke about commodity vs. non-commodity content. Google local review replies are now moderated. Google's Chrome tab is more Gemini now. Google is hiring a GEO. And Google Ads API version 24 is out.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

Analytics

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

SEO

PPC

Search Features

Other Search

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.

]]> Search Forum Recap Barry Schwartz Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400 Google On Publishing Commodity Content https://www.seroundtable.com/google-commodity-content-41200.html Barry Schwartz Danny Sullivan Google Commodity Content

Danny Sullivan from Google spoke at the Google Search Central event in Toronto a couple of days ago and a few of his slides spoke about it is important to produce "unique, authentic and non-commodity content." And then Sullivan dug into what commodity content is.

Sullivan spoke about what is good non-commodity content:

  • Unique: Brings a viewpoint, information or has content that other lack or can't easily replicate.
  • Specific: Taks about a specific instance, situation or thing, not general rules, steps or generic information
  • Authentic: Demonstrates first-hand knowledge or expertise.

Then he went into the differences between commodity vs non-commodity content by some industry types:

For a running store: Commodity content would be "Top 10 Things to Consider When Buying Running Shoes." "Standard advice on sizing, arch support, and cushioning." Non-commodity content would be "Why This Customer's Shoes Collapsed After 400 Miles: A Wear Pattern Analysis." "A deep-dive video analyzing the wear pattern on a customer's shoes after 400 miles, explaining exactly why their specific gait caused the foam to collapse laterally."

For a real estate agent: Commodity content would be "7 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers." "General tips on pre-approval, location, and budgeting." Non-commodity content would be "Why We Waived the Inspection (And Saved $15k): A Look Inside the Sewer Line." "A breakdown of a specific bidding war you won last week: "We offered $15k under list but waived the sewer scope because I personally crawled the line and saw it was PVC, not concrete."

For an interior designer: Commodity content would be "2024 Kitchen Trends You Need to See." "Photos of green cabinets and brass hardware found on Pinterest." Non-commodity content would be "Marble vs. Grape Juice: Why I Refused to Install Stone for a Family of Five." "A video explaining why you refused to let a client put marble countertops in a house with three toddlers, showing the stain tests you did with grape juice and turmeric to prove your point."

Here are some of the slides I found on X:

JC Chouinard also published all his notes on the talks at this event.

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Search Engine Optimization Barry Schwartz Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:51:00 -0400 Google Local Review Replies Are Now Moderated (ReviewReplyState) https://www.seroundtable.com/google-local-review-replies-moderated-41203.html Barry Schwartz Google Review Stars

Google may now hold your review replies for approval before showing them in Google Maps or Google Search. Previously, those replies were immediately shown but that may have changed.

Michel van Luijtelaar posted on LinkedIn that he spotted the change in the Google API where there is this new ReviewReplyState field. The values include:

  • PENDING: Google is screening your content.
  • REJECTED: Google has blocked your reply.
  • APPROVED: You're cleared for public view.

Michel wrote, "For years, your reply was live the second you hit send. No longer. Google has introduced ReviewReplyState, meaning every reply is now moderated."

Also new in the API are:

(1) Customer-uploaded images are finally accessible via the API.

(2) Scheduled Recurring Posts

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

]]> Google Maps Barry Schwartz Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:41:00 -0400 Google Search Ranking Volatility Heating Up April 23rd https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-heating-up-41205.html Barry Schwartz Heated Google Logo

I know it has been a while since I covered the Google Search ranking volatility and algorithm twitches but I am now seeing signs of the volatility heating up. These signs are mostly coming from the tools; the community seems busier with other things.

Lets not forget that the March 2026 core update started on March 27, 2026 and completed April 8, 2026.

It seems to be early on, so it might take a day for you to see it?

So what am I seeing?

Let's start with the tools and notice that some of the tools recalibrated based on the continued high volatility...

Google Tracking Tools

Here are what the tools are showing:

Semrush:

Semrush

Advanced Web Rankings:

Advancedwebranking

Wincher:

Wincher

Zutrix:

Zutrix

Accuranker:

Accuranker

Sistrix:

Sistrix

Mangools:

Mangools

SimilarWeb:

Similarweb

Wiredboard's Aggregator of Tools - this report shows the aggregate of the tools above and plots them on one chart:

Wireboard

Mozcast:

Mozcast

Data For SEO:

Zutrix

Algoroo:

Algoroo

SERPstat:

Serpstat

SEO Chatter

Like I said above, the community is pretty quiet but maybe that will change as things heat up more.

Here is what is going on at WebmasterWorld:

Let's just say it like it is: Organic search is as good as dead. Anyone who relies on it is in big trouble. However, there are differences. Here in Germany, the situation isn't as bad as it is in the U.S., at least judging by the comments here in the forum

I think what a lot of people are seeing here is not just ranking volatility but traffic redistribution.

Are any of you seeing anything?

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

]]> Google Updates Barry Schwartz Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:34:00 -0400 Google Chrome Tab Transforming To Gemini With Deep Search & Create Images https://www.seroundtable.com/google-chrome-tab-deep-search-images-41201.html Barry Schwartz Google Browser Laptop

Google is experimenting with the new tab view in Chrome. This view brings more Gemini features to the forefront, such as Deep Search and Create Images.

This was spotted by Glenn Gabe, I cannot replicate it right now, and he shared some screenshots on X. Glenn wrote, "The 'New tab' page in Chrome is looking more and more like Gemini... Check those options for Deep Search and Create images right under the search box. And those take you directly to AI Mode after entering your prompt. Again, all part of the roadmap to AI Mode as the default..."

Here are his screenshots:

Google Chrome Deep Search Create Images

Google Chrome Deep Search

Google Chrome Create Images

This should surprise no one.

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Barry Schwartz Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:31:00 -0400 Google Job Listing For Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Partner Manager https://www.seroundtable.com/google-hiring-geo-partner-manager-41199.html Barry Schwartz Ai Job Interview Google

Google recently posted a new job listing for a GEO Partner Manager. The position calls for you to be responsible for the "transition Google's engagement model from Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) discovery to formal ecosystem advocacy."

It goes on to say:

You will manage relationships with GEO players, treating them as an influencer channel to steer the GEO ecosystem and support brands and Google. Utilizing your technical experience with the Measurement and AI stack and cross-functional teams, you will simplify Google for partners, shape the GEO ecosystem to prioritize Google surfaces, and provide feedback to internal Product and global strategy teams. Additionally, you will lead C-Suite strategy and product initiatives.

Gagan Ghotra posted about this on X and the reactions are pretty funny:

Here is a screenshot of the job listing:

Google Geo Partner Manager

Forum discussion at X.

Update: The job is no longer...

]]> Misc Google Barry Schwartz Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:21:00 -0400 Google Ads API Version 24 Now Available https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-version-24-41204.html Barry Schwartz Google Ads Api

Google has released version 24 of the Google Ads API, this is a major release with dozens of updates. This update includes changes to Demand Gen, travel feeds, conversion types, shopping, reporting, videos, and much more.

Google wrote, "Today, we're announcing the v24 release of the Google Ads API."

Before this release was version 23.2 in March, then v23.1 in February and then 23 at the end of January, then version 22 on October 15, 2025, then version 21 on August 6, 2025 , then 20 on June 5, 2025, 19.1 in April 2025, then 19 in February 2025, then version 18 in October 2024. Before that was 17.1 in August 2024 and then before that was version 17.0 in June 2024 and then before that was version 16.1 and then Version 16 in February 2024. Before that was version 15 back in October 2023. Then before that was version 14.1 which was released in August. Version 13.1 preceded this new version, which was released in April 2023. Version 12.0 was released in October 2022, Version 11.0 of the Google Ads API was released in June, and version 11.1 was in August. Also Version 10.1 was released on April 27, 2022 and version 10.0 was released on February 9, 2022. And Google has sunset the AdWords API on April 27th which will completely stop working at the end of July.

Here are the release notes:

Ads: The following fields are now required:

  • In the DemandGenVideoResponsiveAdInfo object: videos, logo_images
  • In the VideoResponsiveAdInfo object: videos, business_name, logo_images
  • The VideoResponsiveAdInfo is now mutable.

Assets:

  • Added the field travel_feed_data to the AssetSet resource. This new field allows reading travel feed data from a travel feed asset set, exposing read-only information such as hotel_center_account_id, merchant_center_id, partner_center_id, subset_id, and travel_feed_vertical_type.

Campaigns:

  • Removed the Campaign.video_brand_safety_suitability field. The control is still available on the Customer level. See Customer.video_brand_safety_suitability.
  • Added the Campaign.view_through_conversion_optimization_enabled field, which is false by default, to allow enabling VTC (View-Through Conversion) Optimization in Demand Gen and App Campaigns.
  • Enabled gender exclusions for Performance Max campaigns. This exclusion is now available for Performance Max campaigns on all Google Ads API versions.

Conversions:

  • Added support for Lead Gen conversion types. These are the new ConversionActionType. enums in v24:
  • Removed the LOYALTY_SIGN_UPS user list customer type category.

General:

  • Added UserListErrorEnum.DUPLICATE_LOOKALIKE, which is returned when attempting to create a lookalike UserList that is identical to an existing one.

Planning:

  • Changed the InsightsAudience.topic_audience_combinations type definition from InsightsAudienceAttributeGroup to common.InsightsAudienceAttributeGroup. For typed client libraries, this is a breaking change and requires updates to existing integrations. Removed the youtube_select_lineups field from the ReachPlanService.ListPlannableProducts service.
  • Users should switch to using lineups from youtube_select_lineup_targeting.
  • Removed the is_brand_connect_creator field from the ContentCreatorInsightsService.GenerateCreatorInsights and ContentCreatorInsightsService.GenerateTrendingInsights services.
  • Users should instead look for a creator to have the CREATOR_PARTNERSHIPS option available instead in partnership_opportunities.
  • Added new fields to the ReachPlanService.ListPlannableProducts response to include more details about each plannable product. Most of these fields are returned in the new ProductCoreAttributes field within ListPlannableProductsResponse. New response fields are...
  • Removed various fields from KeywordPlanIdeaService.GenerateKeywordForecastMetrics:

Reports:

  • Removed the ad_sub_network_type segment for the campaign_budget resource.
  • Removed the click_type segment from the AdGroupAsset, CampaignAsset, and CustomerAsset views.
  • Added a new resource CartDataSalesView. It allows segmenting conversion metrics not only by the product clicked, but also by the product sold, with segments like product_sold_brand.
  • Added non-biddable metrics, which are metrics that also include the conversions your campaigns are not actively optimizing towards, for example all_cost_of_goods_sold_micros. The new metrics are added to all resources supporting corresponding biddable metrics.
  • Added the conversion_attribution_event_type segment to the ShoppingPerformanceView resource.

Shopping:

  • Added support for App campaigns in the ShoppingProduct resource. Note that the status and issues fields are not supported for App campaigns.
  • Introduced tag-based product filtering using logical expressions for Shopping Campaigns.

Videos:

  • Updated ShareablePreviewService.GenerateShareablePreviews to not use partial failure anymore. Requests will throw an error if they fail for any ID. Returning new error codes for asset groups to align with ad group ad errors:

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Ads Barry Schwartz Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:11:00 -0400 Daily Search Forum Recap: April 22, 2026 https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-04-22-2026-41197.html Barry Schwartz Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.

Google Ads Advisor added some new AI features. Microsoft Advertising also added new AI features. Google Ads has new AI-qualified call conversions. OpenAI is rolling out its ChatGPT ad manager and we have videos and screenshots. OpenAI also has a new bot for ads named OAI-AdsBot.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

  • OAI-AdsBot - New OpenAI Ads Bot
    We've been keeping track of the bots, spiders, OpenAI has been releasing. OpenAI just posted about a new bot for ads, it is named OAI-AdsBot.
  • ChatGPT Ad Manager Interface
    Here are some early screenshots and videos of the ChatGPT ad management interface that some OpenAI advertisers have access to. You can see that you can create campaigns, ad groups, budgets, CPC limits, conversions and much more.
  • Microsoft Advertising Releases New AI Features
    Microsoft Advertising has announced the launch of several new AI features and upgrades across the ad platform. This is to "To help businesses succeed across all three eras of the human, LLM, and agentic web," Microsoft wrote.
  • Google Ads New AI-Qualified Call Conversions
    Google Ads has a new help document on AI-Qualified Call Conversions. Google says AI-qualified call leads use Google AI to evaluate call recordings to determine the actual quality of the conversation.
  • Google Ads Advisor Gains Troubleshooting, Security Monitoring & Instant Certification
    Google Ads Advisor, which officially began rolling out last November, is rolling out three new features. These features include proactive troubleshooting, 24/7 security monitoring and instant certifications.

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

Analytics

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

SEO

PPC

Other Search

Feedback:

Have feedback on this daily recap; let me know on Twitter @rustybrick or @seroundtable, on Threads, Mastodon and Bluesky and you can follow us on Facebook and on Google News, add as a preferred source on Google and make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or just contact us the old fashion way.

]]> Search Forum Recap Barry Schwartz Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400