Recent Google scandals have raised concerns about search result fairness, accuracy, transparency and the ethics of big brands’ dominance. This article explores how these factors collide by examining Google’s use of search engine results page (SERP) list-based features to further their monetary gains while going against their own content guidelines and advice. By the end,…
TikTok is taking a direct shot at Google with the launch of TikTok Search Ads Campaign in the U.S. Advertisers can now target users on its search results page. Previously, ads on TikTok’s search page were more generic. But now brands can tailor their ads to align with specific search behaviors. Why it matters. TikTok…
There is a large, confirmed, Google Search ranking bug is affecting a large number of search results today. This is unrelated to the last core update, the August 2024 core update, that was announced yesterday at around 11 am ET. When. This ranking bug was confirmed at around 2 am ET this morning, Google posted:…
Earlier this month, we reported that Google was testing three-different citation and link formats in the Search Generative Experience AI-generated answer. It seems that as of yesterday, Google has pulled back that test and removed the links from those answers. Britney Muller noticed they went away yesterday afternoon and posted about it on Twitter. “Have…
The rapid advance of artificial intelligence has generated a lot of buzz, with some predicting it will lead to an idyllic utopia and others warning it will bring the end of humanity. But speculation about where AI technology is going, while important, can also drown out important conversations about how we should be handling the…
Google may soon be facing fresh legal action over copyright issues from the owner of the Daily Mail. The search engine allegedly has illegally taken hundreds of thousands of the newspaper’s articles to train its ChatGPT rival, Bard. Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), the publishing house owned by Lord Rothermere, has reportedly already sought…
A new study reveals the promise and limitations of interactive TV advertising. The key findings: 36% stronger unaided brand recall vs. standard video ads 95% of viewers prefer adding products to cart over immediate purchase Higher CPMs: 10-15% above industry standards Why it matters. As CTV ad spend is projected to reach $33 billion by…
SMX Advanced, the premier conference for experienced senior-level search marketers, returns online June 11-12. As you know, 2023 was an unprecedented year for search and the pace of change will continue through 2024. There’s a growing sentiment that Google search is not serving search marketers well. How do we continue to optimize search efforts and…
Google has stopped showing Web Stories in image search, the carousel view in Google Discover, plus the grid view is now a carousel view in the Google search results. Plus Google made some other availability changes to Web Stories. Announcement. “To make sure our documentation aligns with how the feature appears in Google Search. Web…
Google’s product data specification requirements guarantee that all product data submitted to the Merchant Center is formatted correctly to optimize success for both Shopping ads and organic Shopping listings. Each year, the search giant updates these specifications in a bid to try and improve shopping on its platform. The updates for 2024 have now been…