Schema Markup Validator launches, replacing Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool
Google will be deprecating its Structured Data Testing Tool soon. Its replacement, the Schema Markup Validator, quietly went live as a beta version.
Neeva first look: What the ad-free Google Search alternative is like
Neeva is a privacy-first ad-free and tracking-free search engine created by ex-Googlers. The search engine is still being developed, is currently in the alpha stage, and requires an invite and onboarding experience to use it.
Google awarded patent for dynamic knowledge panels in productivity apps
A U.S. patent recently awarded to Google describes integrating dynamic knowledge panels into apps, like Google Docs. The feature enables users to research without leaving the app and provides Google another channel for its shopping and ad networks.
DOJ suit against Google renews Apple search engine speculation
The Department of Justice lawsuit against Google has the tech industry further speculating that Apple may be readying the launch of a new search engine.
Apple showing signs it may soon launch a search engine to compete against Google Search
Changes in Spotlight Search on iOS and iPadOS 14 beta, a significant update to its Applebot support page, and an increase in crawling from AppleBot signify that Apple may be launching a search engine soon.
Google adding “Fast page” label to Chrome browser
Google is utilizing Core Web Vitals to label web pages as fast in the next version of its Chrome browser.
Google testing $50 monthly fee for ‘Google Guaranteed’ badge in organic GMB local search results
The 'Google Guaranteed' consumer protection program has been reserved for businesses using Google Ads. Google has started testing making the badge available to profiles using Google My Business (GMB) for a fee.
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 betas bypass Google Search on iPhones and iPads with Spotlight Search
Apple introduced a new Spotlight Search feature to iOS and iPadOS 14 that enables users to search and go directly to a site, completely bypassing Google’s search result pages.
Head of Google Ads to run Search. Move concerns SEO veterans about the future of search
Google announced Prabhakar Raghavan, former head of Google Ads, is changing roles to head Google Search while simultaneously overseeing Ads. The move diminishes the traditional separation of product teams and has SEOs concerned about how it might affect organic search results.
Google significantly changes how it measures page performance with the release of Lighthouse 6.0
A new version of Google’s Lighthouse auditing tool dramatically changed how it calculates its score by removing two metrics and adding three new ones. The change in metrics signals a major shift in how Google is determining page performance.
How SEO has made the web more accessible for everyone
Search engines like Google are dependent on the same accessibility attributes that many people depend on to comprehend and navigate sites. Search engine optimizers have unwittingly made the web more accessible, and they are in the best position to make it even better.
Google brings YouTube timestamp bookmarks (Video Segments) to its search results
YouTube’s test of timestamp bookmarks has become a feature in Google Search. Video producers that don’t publish videos on YouTube will be able to use Schema structured data to achieve the same results.
WordPress 5.3 includes fix to feature that helps keep sites from appearing in search results
A WordPress feature that is commonly used to keep search engines from including development and staging sites in their search results has been fixed in version 5.3.
FAQPage Schema may be driving more traffic to sites, not decreasing it
A common concern by search engine optimizers is losing search visits after adding FAQPage or HowTo Schema.org structured data to their pages. Distilled is reporting that they saw more traffic after implementing it on several sites.
Google leveraging AMP to help its visitors from accidentally leaving Google and using the Back button
Google announced the launch of a new feature in its Image Search that helps publishers help Google visitors not leave Google by using AMP.
Site analysis of 150k SMBs reports Yelp in 92% of local SERPs but GMB still dominates
The study identified potential trust signals for local SEO and also revealed that Yelp continues to have the most visibility in organic local results.
Google adds ‘short names’ to GMB, hinting that it may have big social plans for businesses
Google My Business' new short names are reminiscent of how businesses used Google+ profiles and they may represent yet another attempt by Google to create a viable social platform.
YouTube testing timestamp jump links in its search results
YouTube is parsing timestamp lists from video descriptions and displaying them as jump links in search results, potentially creating a new search optimization tactic.
Yoast, Google, and others propose integrating XML sitemaps into WordPress Core
The XML sitemap proposal for WordPress Core would generate basic sitemaps without the need for a plugin and would also allow plugin-makers to build on top of the core functionality.
Google adds Guidelines for favicon use in its search results
The immediate misuse of favicons and reports of hate symbols appearing in Google's new mobile search results prompted Google to take quick action on how favicons can be used with its search engine.
