Search Engine Roundtable https://www.seroundtable.com en-us Barry Schwartz Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400 Daily Search Forum Recap: June 26, 2026 https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-06-26-2026-41577.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 is rolling out Conversion Value Bidding for Standard Shopping campaigns. Google Merchant Center for Agencies has new security roles. Google Ads API will disallow the creation of Smart Campaigns on August 3rd. Google Ads hosted leads form went live for some. Google Business Profiles added and removed a new messaging feature. And I posted the weekly SEO video recap, covering the June 2026 spam update.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Other Search

PPC

Search Features

SEO

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, 26 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400 Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google June 2026 Spam Update Hits Hard, Google Ads Strength Match Labels, AI Reporting Access & More https://www.seroundtable.com/video-06-26-2026-41573.html Barry Schwartz

This week, Google released the June 2026 spam update, Google said it was a normal spam update but it does feel like this one started a bit earlier and was a big one. Yes, we covered on Sunday what we thought was a Google update that focused on black hat techniques. Google Search Console's AI performance report is rolling out to more users. Google's John Mueller explained when an impression is counted in that AI report. Google also posted a big help document on how the AI controls work in Search Console. Google's page indexing report is delayed over two weeks. Google said when it comes to site moves, it is impossible to know the outcome ahead of time. Google AI Mode ask anything box now is testing autocomplete. Google AI Overviews is testing a button to send searchers to the web only tab. Google Ads is testing strongest match and strong match labels on sponsored results. Google Ads has new data named unique search categories with clicks, conversions and impressions. Google Ads will soon allow some final URLs to redirect to different domains. Google Ads expands financial advertiser verification across 24 EU markets. Google Ads rolls out text disclaimers to all advertisers. Google Ads is rolling out Maximize Conversion Value bidding for Standard Shopping campaigns. Google Ads API version 24.2 is out with new features and security. Google AdSense Multiplex ads ad request reporting is changing. Google Business Profiles has this new Collected info action button. Google added a messages button that has an AI agent to Business Profiles. Google created a new policy document for Subscription linking for news publishers but then removed it. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: This week's video recap is sponsored by Duda, the Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own.

Make sure to subscribe to our video feed or subscribe directly on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favorite podcast player to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube version of the feed For the original iTunes version, click here.

Search Topics of Discussion:

Please do subscribe on YouTube or subscribe via iTunes or on your favorite RSS reader. Don't forget to comment below with the right answer and good luck!

]]> Search Video Recaps Barry Schwartz Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:01:00 -0400 New: Google Ads Maximize Conversion Value Bidding For Standard Shopping https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-maximize-conversion-value-standard-shopping-41576.html Barry Schwartz Google Ads Conversion Hero

Google Ads seems to be rolling out Maximize Conversion Value bidding within Standard Shopping campaigns. You might see under the Budget and bidding optimization setting for your Standard Shopping campaigns, the bid option for "Maximize conversion value."

I spotted this via Yash Mandlesha who posted this screenshot on LinkedIn of the new option - here is that screenshot:

Google Ads Maximize Conversion Value Standard Shopping

Yash Mandlesha wrote, "Until now, if you wanted to optimize towards conversion value, you had to use a Target ROAS. Now it appears you can optimize for conversion value without setting a tROAS target."

"The problem was that if you wanted Google's value-based bidding, you had to give it a ROAS target," Yash added. "Many advertisers were running feed-only PMax campaigns just to get access to Maximize Conversion Value bidding without that constraint. That may no longer be necessary."

We partially covered this in our story about Google Ads Smart Bidding Strategies Target CPA & Target ROAS Updates at the end.

It seems a lot of PPCers are excited to try this new option out.

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

]]> Google Ads Barry Schwartz Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:51:00 -0400 Google Merchant Center For Agencies New Security Controls https://www.seroundtable.com/google-merchant-center-for-agencies-security-41574.html Barry Schwartz Google Retail Store Lock

Google announced new security controls for Merchant Center for Agencies, specifically around user access controls for admins and standard roles. Ginny Marvin, the Google Ads Liaison, said that these changes are "to help streamline workflows and improve security."

Ginny Marvin posted about this news on LinkedIn and X and said the details of the changes are in this Google help document.

Ginny said Admin users have full control and capabilities to securely manage access within the agency account. These admins can link and unlink clients' Merchant Center accounts, and provision and modify Standard users' access to client Merchant Center accounts. Plus there are new custom labels offer more granular control. Agency Admins can group clients in ways that make sense for the agency and assign Standard users access to subsets of clients in bulk.

Here are the "key benefits" Ginny Marvin posted:

  • Smoother client linking: Clients are linked directly to your agency rather than individual users. Grant and remove access to client accounts directly from one centralized place.
  • New custom labels: Agency Admins can group client accounts by brand, vertical or team and manage user views in bulk.
  • Role-based security: Protect your client data by designating Agency Admins with master controls vs. Standard users with restricted permissions.

Forum discussion at LinkedIn and X.

]]> Google Ads Barry Schwartz Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:41:00 -0400 Google Ads API To Disallow Creation Of Smart Campaigns After August 3 https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-smart-campaigns-disallow-41567.html Barry Schwartz Google Ads Api Data Beams

The Google Ads API will stop allowing advertisers to create Smart Campaigns on August 3, 2026. Google has been transitioning from Smart Campaigns to Performance Max campaigns for years now.

Google announced, "Starting on August 3, 2026 you will no longer be able to create new Smart Campaigns using the Google Ads API."

Google said you can continue using the Google Ads API to update your existing Smart Campaigns. Plus, those ads will continue to serve ads on Google.

Google added:

In lieu of new Smart Campaigns, we recommend exploring other campaign types, such as Performance Max, an automated campaign type that serves across Google's advertising channels. Other campaign types, such as Search or Demand Gen, are also available, depending on your business goals.

Here are the technical details Google posted:

Tech Details

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Ads Barry Schwartz Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:31:00 -0400 Google Business Profiles Adds Message Button With AI Agent https://www.seroundtable.com/google-business-profiles-message-button-41575.html Barry Schwartz Google Messages Hero

Google has added the messages button back to the Google Business Profile dashboard within Google Search. Google use to have a feature like this but I believe removed it but now it is possibly coming back. This feature was live for a few hours on Thursday morning and removed later, I assume because it was accidently pushed out to everyone before it was ready.

This was first spotted by Muhammad Hussain who posted about it on LinkedIn and wrote, "Google is quietly rolling out an exclusive pilot program that integrates an automated conversational AI Agent directly inside Google Business Profile Messaging."

Here is the button that I see for my business:

Google Business Profiles Messages Button

When I click on it, I get taken into the messaging system:

Google Business Profiles Messages Section

You can see there is a section named "Handled by your Al agent." This does not seem to be the automated responses feature that Google has reolled out a while ago, but more of an AI Agent to respond to customers - which seems more dangerous.

All the sections are empty for me, including the messages, insights, settings and promote. Promote seems to try to send you to Google Ads.

Do you see it? I do. Well, I did - Google seems to have removed it now.

Forum discussion at LinkedIn and Local Search Forum.

]]> Google Maps Barry Schwartz Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:21:00 -0400 Google Ads Hosted Forms Leads Form Now Live https://www.seroundtable.com/google-hosted-forms-leads-form-live-41537.html Barry Schwartz Google List

Earlier this month, we covered Google's announcement of the Google-hosted lead form. Well, now it is going live for some advertisers in their Google Ads advertiser accounts.

As a reminder, this uses a hosted Google Docs form to bring in leads from your Google Ads campaigns. So many larger advertisers who already connect their CRM software to Google Ads won't be using this.

Arpan Banerjee posted on LinkedIn that the lead form is now active in his account. He wrote that the "Google-hosted form leads now live inside Conversions."

Here is his screenshot:

Google Hosted Forms Leads Form Live

Then I guess you'd be able to create the form and collect the data:

Leads In Google Ads

Forum discussion at LinkedIn.

]]> Google Ads Barry Schwartz Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:11:00 -0400 Daily Search Forum Recap: June 25, 2026 https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-06-25-2026-41572.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 released the Google June 2026 spam update yesterday afternoon, it will take a few days to roll out and it seems like it has been heated thus far. Google posted a deep dive help document on how the new Search Console AI controls work. John Mueller from Google explained how impressions are tracked in the AI performance reports. The page indexing report in Google Search Console is delayed by two weeks. Google is testing an AI Overview button that takes you to the web only tab. Google AI Mode is testing an autocomplete feature for the Ask Anything follow up box. Google Ads API version 24.2 is out with a lot of security updates.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

  • Google June 2026 Spam Update Has Been Released
    Google has just announced the release of the June 2026 spam update and said it should only take a few days to roll out. Truth is, we kind of saw this coming, although Google would say no, we did not.
  • Google's Deep Dive On Google Search Generative AI Controls
    Earlier this month, Google announced new ways to control how Google's general search AI features (like AI Mode and AI Overviews) can use your content and link to your content. Well, Google has released a super detailed help document explaining how it all works, including how to access it, the controls, what it does, the time it takes, the property inheritance, and how to submit feedback.
  • Google AI Overviews Tests Button To Go To Only Web Results
    Google is testing a button in the AI Overview within Google Search that takes you to the web only tab. As a reminder, the web only tab does not have any AI search features or other search verticles, it only has the web search results.
  • Google Ads API Version 24.2 Now Available
    Google has released version 24.2 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with dozens of updates. This update includes "critical security updates, new AI transparency features, reporting enhancements, and powerful planning insights," Google announced.
  • Google: When AI Performance Reports Count Impressions
    Google's John Mueller explained when Google will count an impression for a web page within the generative AI features in Google Search. In short, there needs to be a link to your site being shown in AI Overviews / AI Mode for it to show as an impression in the new Google Search Console AI performance reports.
  • Google AI Mode Ask Anything Box With Autocomplete
    Google is testing autocomplete within the Ask Anything follow-up box within Google Search's AI Mode. So when you start to type a follow-up question, Google will suggest autocomplete suggestions.
  • Google Search Console Page Indexing Report Delayed By Two Weeks Again
    The page indexing report within Google Search Console is now two weeks delayed. It is stuck at June 11, 2026, for me, and has not been updated in 14 days. Google has been reporting issues with Search Console often enough, so this is not unusual, but this delay is significant enough to cover, since we are now at the two-week mark.
  • Doogler Zooming Around The Google Office
    Here is a video of a Doogler, Google dog, running around the office. Google loves to let Googlers bring their dogs, so here is a video of a Scottish dog doings its thing at the Google office.

Other Great Search Threads:

Search Engine Land Stories:

Other Great Search Stories:

AI & LLMs

Industry & Business

Links & Content Marketing

Local & Maps

Other Search

PPC

Search Features

SEO

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, 25 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0400 Google's Deep Dive On Google Search Generative AI Controls https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-generative-ai-control-explained-41569.html Barry Schwartz Google Logo Stuck In Mud

Earlier this month, Google announced new ways to control how Google's general search AI features (like AI Mode and AI Overviews) can use your content and link to your content. Well, Google has released a super detailed help document explaining how it all works, including how to access it, the controls, what it does, the time it takes, the property inheritance, and how to submit feedback.

I don't believe this document was available when Google announced the feature at the beginning of this month, but it is now available. I spotted this via Glenn Gabe who posted about it on X saying, "If you haven't reviewed Google's support documentation for blocking AI Search, there's a lot of info there. And that includes how child properties will inherit the settings from parent properties, but that can be overridden at the child property level."

The document explains that this control went into effect June 17, 2026 and impacts AI Overviews, AI Mode and Generative AI features in Google Discover. If your site supports it, and right now, only UK sites support it, you should be able to access it over here.

There are three options for controls:

  • Include my site's links and content in Search generative AI features: Your site's content can appear in Search generative AI features, including showing up as links and helping to ground AI responses in these features. Your site can receive impressions and traffic from these features. This is the default control for all properties.
  • Exclude my site's links and content from Search generative AI features: Your site's content is prevented from being visible to users in Search generative AI features, including being linked to within these features and helping with grounding AI responses in these features. You won't receive any traffic or impressions from these features. Learn more about what excluding your site means.
  • Inherit control from parent: Your property is following the Search generative AI control value of its parent property. Any changes made at the parent level will automatically apply to your property too. You can override this and manually configure the control for your property at any time. This is the default if your property has a parent property.

If you exclude your site, Google said "to your site and your site's content won't appear in Search generative AI features." Google added, "this control isn't used as a ranking or inclusion signal affecting other parts of Search." Content will be excluded within 1-2 days after the control goes live, but some content may take longer to be excluded due to caching and propagation across Google systems, Google added.

The inheritance section is super details, and you should read through it carefully. By default, a property inherits its Search generative AI control from its closest parent that has changed its control to stop inheriting. For a property in which none of its parents manually-configured their control to stop inheriting, the property is set to inherit the control of its top-level domain property.

Google Ai Control Parent Child Properties

It is worth reading through this new help document even if you don't plan on using it.

Here is a screenshot of this control in Search Console:

Gsc Ai Blocking Controls

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Search Engine Optimization Barry Schwartz Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:51:00 -0400 Google AI Overviews Tests Button To Go To Only Web Results https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-overviews-web-only-button-41566.html Barry Schwartz Google Search Box

Google is testing a button in the AI Overview within Google Search that takes you to the web only tab. As a reminder, the web only tab does not have any AI search features or other search verticles, it only has the web search results.

This was spotted by Sachin Patel who posted screenshots of this on X.

Here is the screenshot of the AI Overview, that has a button in it that says, "See more commercial ramps."

Google Ai Overviews Web Only Button

When you click on it, it takes you to the web tab:

Google Ai Overviews Web Only Buttolead

Interesting that Google would do this...

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Barry Schwartz Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:41:00 -0400 Google Ads API Version 24.2 Now Available https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-v-24-2-41570.html Barry Schwartz Google Ads Api

Google has released version 24.2 of the Google Ads API, this is a minor release with dozens of updates. This update includes "critical security updates, new AI transparency features, reporting enhancements, and powerful planning insights," Google announced.

As part of its security work, Google said it also released minor versions v23.3, v22.2 and v21.2 of the Google Ads API to add additional support for multi-party approvals and synthetic content labeling.

Here is what is new:

Multi-party approvals (MPA) for Google Ads API: We are introducing support for multi-party approval in the Google Ads API. This feature secures sensitive account actions such as user invitations and user access level updates by requiring a second administrator to approve the changes.

AI Transparency: Synthetic Content Labeling: As AI-generated assets become more common, transparency is essential. Google Ads API v24.2 exposes the SyntheticContentInfo and SyntheticContentAttestation structures on both Asset and Ad resources, allowing you to programmatically label AI-generated ad creatives. Both the advertiser and Google systems can attest whether the assets and ads are AI-generated or not, as well as whether they were generated fully automatically, or with advertiser-review. If you're preparing for the EU AI Act taking effect on August 2, 2026, then explore this feature. To help you plan your upcoming integration work for v25, the interface for mutating advertiser attestation fields is being introduced early for versions v22 and later. The interface is visible in these versions, but synthetic_content_info.advertiser_attestation.status and synthetic_content_info.advertiser_attestation.source fields will remain immutable for these versions.

If you attempt a mutate request on either of these fields, one of these errors will be returned:

"The field attempted to be mutated is immutable" or "Field cannot be set". These fields will become fully mutable starting in v25. We recommend using the interface now to build and test your internal logic so your system is ready for full write capabilities when v25 is launched.

PMax Placement Reporting & Video Linkages: This release also includes key reporting and video asset enhancements:

  • PMax Placement Segmentation: You can now segment your performance_max_placement_view reporting by ad_network_type, giving you granular visibility into where your PMax ads are serving across Search, Display, and partner networks.
  • YouTube Brand Channel Links: Create secure YouTube data links associated with a specific brand channel directly via the Google Ads API, enabling richer video asset integrations.
  • Landing page text generation: Opt-in to automatic text asset generation derived directly from your landing page using the new LANDING_PAGE_TEXT_GENERATION AssetAutomationType.

New Experiment Types: We have introduced new experiment types to provide greater testing flexibility.

  • Campaign Mix Experiments: This new workflow supports the COMPARE_CAMPAIGNS experiment type, which is equivalent to Custom mixed campaign types in the Google Ads UI. It allows you to assign existing campaigns across up to 5 experiment arms to compare multiple variables and campaign types within a single experiment. This workflow also supports creating custom Performance Max experiments.
  • Performance Max Feature Testing: The new PMAX_TEXT_CUSTOMIZATION_FINAL_URL_EXPANSION experiment type lets you split traffic within a single campaign to test the impact of text customization (formerly automatically created assets) and final URL expansion.

Documentation updates

We have revamped the release notes format to help you identify the changes introduced in each release. Breaking changes are now listed separately from non-breaking feature updates. The Feature deprecations and unversioned changes guide helps you keep track of feature sunsets.

We hope this new format helps you perform API upgrades more easily. Try it out, and let us know your feedback by clicking the Send Feedback button.

For the full release note, see this document here.

Before this release was version 24.1 in May, before that was 24 in April, then 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.

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Ads Barry Schwartz Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:31:00 -0400 Google: When AI Performance Reports Count Impressions https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-performance-report-count-impressions-41564.html Barry Schwartz Google Impressions Heros

Google's John Mueller explained when Google will count an impression for a web page within the generative AI features in Google Search. In short, there needs to be a link to your site being shown in AI Overviews / AI Mode for it to show as an impression in the new Google Search Console AI performance reports.

Nicola Agius asked John on Bluesky:

1. Does total impressions include AI impressions?

2. If your article isn't shown, but your icon is on the main feed combined card, is that an impression?

3. If your article has been grouped in a cluster, but your icon doesn't show in the main feed, is that an impression?

4. Does total impressions include X posts?

John Mueller replied:

The impressions are based on links to your site being shown in AI Overviews / AI Mode. I don't know if just a favicon would be linked, but if it's linked to a page on your site, that would count. If something needs to be "activated" to see the link, it would only count when users do that.

This is the same logic Google documented in its Performance report (Search results): About the data but this would apply to the AI performance reports. Google recently expanded access to the AI performance reports, so more and more are interested in how these metrics are counted.

Forum discussion at Bluesky.

]]> Google Search Engine Optimization Barry Schwartz Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:21:00 -0400 Google AI Mode Ask Anything Box With Autocomplete https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-ask-anything-autocomplete-41565.html Barry Schwartz Google Search Box

Google is testing autocomplete within the Ask Anything follow-up box within Google Search's AI Mode. So when you start to type a follow-up question, Google will suggest autocomplete suggestions.

This was spotted by Brodie Clark who posted about it on X and wrote, "This is the first time I've noticed Google showing the new autocomplete display (announced at I/O) within AI Mode. The previews they showed seemed to have it showing in the global search bar with autocomplete showing as coloured, so I'm expecting more here."

Here is his video:

I guess it makes sense to put this here, I mean, why not...

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Barry Schwartz Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:11:00 -0400 Google Search Console Page Indexing Report Delayed By Two Weeks Again https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-console-page-indexing-report-delayed-41571.html Barry Schwartz Google Pages Broken

The page indexing report within Google Search Console is now two weeks delayed. It is stuck at June 11, 2026, for me, and has not been updated in 14 days. Google has been reporting issues with Search Console often enough, so this is not unusual, but this delay is significant enough to cover, since we are now at the two-week mark.

Here is a screenshot of the top of my page indexing reports:

Google Search Console Page Indexing June11

Yesterday, the performance reports were a bit backed up but that seems resolved this morning.

And no, Google would say this has nothing to do with the June 2026 spam update that is now rolling out.

I suspect Google will fix this report soon, but if you are trying to debug page indexing issues, you have to wait a bit longer.

Forum discussion at X.

]]> Google Search Engine Optimization Barry Schwartz Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:05:00 -0400 Google June 2026 Spam Update Has Been Released https://www.seroundtable.com/google-june-2026-spam-update-out-41568.html Barry Schwartz Google Spam Update Hero

Google has just announced the release of the June 2026 spam update and said it should only take a few days to roll out. Truth is, we kind of saw this coming, although Google would say no, we did not.

Google wrote:

Released the June 2026 spam update, which applies globally and to all languages. The rollout may take a few days to complete.

Google added on LinkedIn:

Today we released the June 2026 spam update to Google Search.

This is a normal spam update, and it will roll out for all languages and locations. The rollout may take a few days to complete. More information about spam updates can be found over here.

June 2026 Google Spam Update Quick Facts

Here are the most important things that we know right now in short form:

  • Name: Google June 2026 Spam Update
  • Launched: June 24, 2026, 2025 at about 12:00 pm ET
  • Rollout: Will take about a few days to fully rollout.
  • Targets: Sites violating some of the Google search spam policies.
  • Does Not Target: This update does not target link spam, it does not target the site reputation abuse policy and some other policies.
  • Penalty: It penalizes some of spam techniques that are against Google's spam policies.
  • Global: This is a global update impacting all regions and languages.
  • Impact: Google would not tell me what percentage of queries or searches were impacted by this update.
  • Recover: If you were hit by this, Google said you should review its spam policies to ensure they are complying with those.
  • Refreshes: Google will do periodic refreshes to the spam update. It can take many months to recover, Google said.

Google's spam update documentation says:

While Google's automated systems to detect search spam are constantly operating, we occasionally make notable improvements to how they work. When we do, we refer to this as a spam update and share when they happen on our list of Google Search ranking updates.

For example, SpamBrain is our AI-based spam-prevention system. From time-to-time, we improve that system to make it better at spotting spam and to help ensure it catches new types of spam.

Sites that see a change after a spam update should review our spam policies to ensure they are complying with those. Sites that violate our policies may rank lower in results or not appear in results at all. Making changes may help a site improve if our automated systems learn over a period of months that the site complies with our spam policies.

In the case of a link spam update (an update that specifically deals with link spam), making changes might not generate an improvement. This is because when our systems remove the effects spammy links may have, any ranking benefit the links may have previously generated for your site is lost. Any potential ranking benefits generated by those links cannot be regained.

Google Tracking Tools On Google June 2026 Spam Update

Here are what the tools are showing today, the day the Google June 2026 Spam Update was announced:

Google Volatility Chart

Data Sources

AccuRanker Algoroo AWR CognitiveSEO DataForSEO Mangools Mozcast SEMRush Serpstat SimilarWeb Sistrix Wincher Wireboard Zutrix

AWR: AWR

Zutrix Tension: Zutrix Tension

CognitiveSEO: CognitiveSEO

Wireboard - this report shows the aggregate of the tools above and plots them on one chart: Wireboard

AccuRanker Grump: AccuRanker Grump

Wincher: Wincher

Serpstat: Serpstat

Mozcast: Mozcast

DataForSEO SERP Volatility: DataForSEO SERP Volatility

SimilarWeb: SimilarWeb

Mangools SERPWatcher: Mangools SERPWatcher

SEMRush: SEMRush

Algoroo: Algoroo

Sistrix: Sistrix

SEO Chatter on Google June 2026 Spam Update

And over the past day or so, people have noticed ranking volatility here and WebmasterWorld:

Is there possibly a Google update rolling out right now? The recovery of our news site seems to be over; big drop today. I can't say much about the shop yet, but there I'd probably blame the hot weather before anything else.

I know, but something feels seriously off right now. Today I had 27 articles from Amazon Egypt in my Discover feed, basically all ads. In my niche, Top Stories are suddenly showing betting sites I would never have expected to see there, and some obvious spam sites seem to be back as well. The odd part is that yesterday the results looked much cleaner. I just don't understand what Google is trying to achieve with this.

Even by AdSense's metrics, pageviews are down another 12% since last week, yet rankings don't seem to have changed. I predicted this a while back. we are going to hit 0 organic traffic for high ranked sites soon. You are shown on Google, nobody will click.

Today, June 23, I'm seeing very low activity; something must have happened between yesterday afternoon and today. We'll see how it turns out this afternoon.

Something has changed.

Previous Google Spam Updates

Here are the documented previous spam updates:

What are you all seeing with this latest Google spam update?

Forum discussion at LinkedIn and X.

Update: The following day:

]]> Google Updates Barry Schwartz Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:18:00 -0400