We hope you are in good health. Here are some of the major SEO news updates of the week that you need to know:

Search Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine

Google Announces Several New AI-Powered Features for Google Maps

Google announced several new AI-powered features for Google Maps, enhancing the user experience and making navigation more immersive. One of the notable additions is the Immersive View feature, which provides users with detailed 3D previews of their routes. This feature allows users to understand their journey better and plan accordingly. The Maps Lens tool, which utilizes AI and AR technology, is expanding to over 50 more cities worldwide. This tool enables users to explore their surroundings with the help of augmented reality overlays.

Moreover, Google Maps is now introducing new visual Search results, including photos for thematic queries like “animal latte art.” This enhancement will give users a more visually appealing search experience and make finding specific information related to their interests easier.

Google Announces a New Way to Communicate Structured Data Formats

Google recently made an important announcement regarding the communication of Structured Data using Syntax Graph Merge. This new method allows mixing different Schema formats, such as JSON-LD, Microdata, and RDFa. The update has been received with great enthusiasm by professionals in the industry, including Jarno, who initiated a discussion on LinkedIn. He highlighted the significance of this update, stating that it fulfills a long-standing desire to be able to combine entities described in multiple syntaxes. This development will significantly impact the Rich Result Test and Schema.org’s validator, providing more flexibility and options for representing entities in structured data.

Google Rolls Out New Image Fact-Checking Tools Globally

To combat misinformation and improve user experience, Google announced its plans to expand tools within its Search Engine. These updates aim to assist users in evaluating the credibility of images and sources. The first update focuses on image fact-checking, allowing users to verify the authenticity of images they come across online. This feature will be particularly useful in the age of fake news and manipulated visuals. Additionally, Google will provide contextual information about lesser-known websites, giving users more insight into the reliability of the sources they encounter. Lastly, the company plans to integrate image verification into products for journalists, enabling them to easily verify the authenticity of images they use in their reporting.

Google’s Search Generative Experience Responses Reduce In Search Results

Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) has seen a decline in its presence on the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). While the exact reasons for this decrease are still speculative, two possible factors contributing to this are accuracy and user trust. As an experimental feature in Google Labs, SGE is constantly evolving and being refined based on user feedback. It is worth noting that SGE is currently available in the US until December 2023 and in India until February 2024, indicating that Google is actively testing and evaluating its performance before making any long-term decisions regarding its presence on SERPs.

What Google’s John Mueller Explains About The “Hostload Exceeded” Issue With Indexing?

Google’s John Mueller has addressed the concerns surrounding the “Hostload Exceeded” issue with indexing, reassuring website owners that there is no need to worry. According to Mueller, normal crawling and indexing are functioning properly, and this issue is primarily affecting low-quality sites. In response to a request for more information, Mueller retweeted a tweet that suggested the problem arose due to people spamming the Inspect URL / Submit to the Indexing tool. This clarification from Mueller should provide some peace of mind to website owners who may have been concerned about the impact of this issue on their site’s visibility in search results.

Google Unconfirmed Search Algorithm Ranking Update on October 25

On October 25, Google rolled out an unconfirmed search algorithm ranking update, leaving webmasters and SEO experts speculating about its impact. While Google has not officially confirmed the update, many websites reported fluctuations in their search rankings and organic traffic during this time. This unconfirmed update highlights the ever-evolving nature of search engine algorithms and the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest SEO best practices. Webmasters and SEO professionals must closely monitor their website’s performance and make adjustments to ensure optimal visibility and ranking on Google search results.

Google Updates its Google Business Profile Suspension Notice Emails

Google made updates to its suspension notice emails for Google Business Profiles. This means that if your business is suspended, you will now receive an email from Google explaining the reason behind the suspension. This update aims to provide more transparency and clarity to business owners regarding the policies they may have violated. By clearly stating the policy violation in the email, Google aims to help businesses understand the specific issue and take appropriate actions to rectify it. This update will benefit business owners as it allows them to clearly understand the violation and work towards resolving it to reinstate their business profile on Google.

Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, Provides Signs of Unhelpful Content

Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, has shed light on unhelpful content and shared examples of such content types. According to Google, unhelpful content refers to content primarily created to rank well in search engines rather than providing value to the readers. Sullivan emphasized that content should be written for a human audience and not solely for search engine rankings. By prioritizing user experience and addressing their needs, writers can ensure their content is helpful and relevant. This highlights the importance of creating high-quality content that genuinely serves the target audience’s interests rather than focusing solely on search engine optimization strategies.

Google Shows How Soon You Can Get A Doctor Appointment in Local Listings

Google has introduced a new feature that displays the estimated wait time to get an appointment at certain medical facilities, including urgent care and other clinics. This information is visible in the local pack and the specific local listing. Joy Hawkins recently noticed this update and shared her findings on a popular platform. Google seems to be retrieving this data from the booking software integrated with the Google Business Profile of these healthcare providers. This new justification provides users with valuable information about how quickly they can secure an appointment, enhancing the overall user experience when searching for medical services on Google.

PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine

Google Rolls Out New “Search Themes” Feature for Performance Max Campaigns

Google introduced a new “Search Themes” feature for its Performance Max campaigns. This feature enables advertisers to provide specific topics and categories to guide Google’s AI system. The primary objective behind the introduction of Search Themes is to assist Performance Max campaigns in capturing more relevant search traffic. By allowing advertisers to provide explicit guidance to Google’s AI, this feature enhances the campaign’s ability to target the right audience and thus improve its overall performance. With Search Themes, advertisers can optimize their campaigns and ensure they reach the most relevant audience for their products or services.

Google Launches a New Advertising Product, “AR Beauty Ads”

Google’s new advertising product, AR Beauty Ads, is set to revolutionize how beauty brands promote their products. By harnessing the power of augmented reality (AR) technology, these interactive ads offer users a unique virtual try-on experience. With the ability to showcase lip and eye makeup products and foundation products soon to be added, AR Beauty Ads provide a more engaging and immersive platform for brands to connect with their target audience. Instead of static product images, brands can offer a customized try-on experience tailored to each user’s preferences and needs. This innovation not only enhances the user experience but also allows beauty brands to demonstrate the true potential of their products in a captivating and personalized way.

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