Here are some freshest developments in the world of search engines, including updates from major players like Google, Bing, and others. We have gathered a collection of recent news from diverse sources to offer you a consolidated view all in one place.
Google Updates URL Structure, Favicon & Adds Google Trends Docs
Google has introduced a new search document for Google Trends and made minor updates to the URL structure, best practices documentation, and favicons documentation.
The URL Structure best practices documentation was updated "to make it easier to find guidance about URL parameters, as it was previously only mentioned in the faceted navigation blog post," according to Google.
Google has updated the favicon documentation, stating that "favicons must have a 1:1 aspect ratio and be at least 8x8px in size, with a strong recommendation for using a higher resolution favicon of at least 48x48px," according to Google.
Google has added new documentation for Google Trends, explaining that "Google Trends can help you better understand how people find information on Google Search, which can help you to develop your content strategy and refine how you talk to your audience," according to Google.
Bing Recommends Against Batch Mode For IndexNow
Bing Webmaster Tools has issued a warning against using batch mode for IndexNow URL submissions. According to Bing, batch mode can overload their servers and delay indexing. It's recommended to submit URLs individually or in smaller groups to ensure efficient processing and timely indexing.
Google to Sunset Call Ads
Google Ads is phasing out call-only ads in favor of responsive search ads. This change is expected to occur sometime next year. While existing call ads without final URLs won't be automatically migrated, Google encourages advertisers to transition to responsive search ads to take advantage of new features and simplified asset management.
Google Search Snippet With Shop Nearby To Open Business Profile
Google is currently testing a new rich result type in search snippets called "Shop nearby." This feature provides a link that opens the Google Business Profile associated with the business's website.
Similar snippets have been observed previously, incorporating city names or "shop nearby" functionalities. However, this appears to be a distinct variation of those features.
Core Web Vitals Documentation Updated
The official Core Web Vitals documentation was recently updated to provide new insights into how Interaction to Next Paint (INP) scoring thresholds were determined. This update offers a deeper understanding of INP, shedding light on the factors that influenced the choice of scoring thresholds and enhancing clarity around how INP impacts page performance.
AI Overviews in Search are Coming to more Places Around the World
Google has announced the largest expansion of its AI Overviews in Search, rolling it out to more than 100 countries and adding support for multiple languages. Since its launch in May, and international expansion in August, AI Overviews have received positive feedback, with users finding search results more helpful and relevant. This latest expansion aims to improve global search experiences, potentially reaching over 1 billion users monthly.
New Reports for Sales & Lead Conversion in Google Ads
Google is introducing new reports for sales and lead conversions within the Google Ads advertiser console. These reports can be found under Goals > Conversions > Summary, with toggles to switch between sales and lead data.
Sticky Filters and Reset Option in Google Search Console
Google Search Console has introduced a new feature that will save users time and effort. The Performance report filters are now sticky, meaning that once you've set a filter in one of the three reports (Search results, Discover, or Google News), it will remain applied when you switch between them.
Additionally, a "reset filters" option has been added, allowing users to quickly remove all filters at once. This feature is a direct response to community feedback, highlighting Google's commitment to user experience and incorporating user suggestions.
Google Search Console Introduces New Recommendation Feature
Google Search Console has introduced a new feature called "Search Console recommendations." This feature provides website owners with optimization opportunities and actionable suggestions to improve their website's visibility on Google Search.
The recommendations are based on Google Search systems data, such as indexing, crawling, and serving. They can help website owners prioritize their SEO efforts, including using structured data, adding sitemaps, and identifying trending queries and pages.
The recommendations will appear on the Search Console overview page. However, it's important to note that this is still an experimental feature and not all websites will have recommendations at this stage. Google plans to gradually roll out this feature over the coming months.
Google Search Now Supports AVIF Image Format
Google Search has officially added support for the AVIF image format, both in Google Images and other image-based search features. This means that websites can now use AVIF files without any special configurations for Google to index them.
AVIF is an advanced image format based on the AV1 video compression standard. It offers superior compression compared to traditional formats like JPEG and PNG, resulting in smaller file sizes and faster loading times. This benefits both website performance and user experience.
However, it's important to note that while AVIF is widely supported, it's not recommended to blindly convert all your images to this format. It's crucial to evaluate the specific needs of your website and choose the best format for each image. If you decide to switch to AVIF, ensure that you set up proper server-side redirects to avoid any potential issues with indexing and ranking
Google Rolls Out November Core update
Google rolled out its third core update of the year, the November 2024 update, on November 11, 2024. This update is expected to take approximately two weeks to fully deploy.
While Google has not provided specific details about the changes or improvements in this update, it aligns with typical core update behavior. Notably, Google has confirmed that sites affected by previous Helpful Content Updates are unlikely to see recovery with this update.
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