Craig Hordlow

Google’s John Mueller was asked if Google would penalize a site for old outbound links to a site that once hosted quality content and now changed ownership and hosts shady content. John said Google won’t penalize such links; he said …

Google has updated its Google European Search Dataset Licensing Program page with details on the program. Google has been designated as a “gatekeeper” under the DMA and is thus legally required to share its search data with competing search engines …

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 Search is making AI Overviews fully expanded for some queries, making it …

Rajan Patel, VP of Engineering for Google Search, has confirmed that the Google Search team is still well-resourced in its fight against search spam. The spam team continues to update its spam algorithms, such as the latest Google August 2026 …

Google is now showing shopping ads in a carousel format inline within AI Mode results. Plus, Google is also showing a similar ad unit at the bottom of the AI Mode results. We got a lot of ads in AI …

Google posted a note that it has made enhancements to the Merchant Center’s Popular products reports. Specifically, the coverage and insights sections were improved back in June of this year, but Google just posted about this information on this past …

Microsoft is now forcing all users to log in before using Copilot, but this currently does not apply to Copilot Search answers within Bing Search. When you try to go directly to Copilot, even by clicking on the Copilot button …

Microsoft Advertising is previewing a new design and usability update for its ad platform. This update has a redesigned navigation and improved tables and layouts. This update should make managing your ad campaigns more efficient and intuitive.…

Google Search is testing pushing searchers into AI Mode from the AI Overview by default, without having to click the “Show more” button. The new AI Overview experience that Google is testing shows a much fuller AI answer, like you’d …

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.

A first, Google won’t enforce a spam policy within the European region……

Google will be updating its alcohol advertising policy on September 30, 2026. The update “revises country-specific guidelines, expands allowed advertising locations, and provides clearer details on specific advertiser requirements and responsibilities,” Google wrote.…

Google’s John Mueller said Google “primarily” announces search updates to provide “transparency for site owners.” He added that when Google publishes blog posts, updates policies, and help center documentation, that is an actionable announcement site owners could use.…

Google has two, well, maybe three, features that are being confused as one. The preferred sources, the tailor your feed and also search profiles. All kind of customize what you see across Google Search features including Google Search, AI Mode, …

Another week……

Google is expanding the book button through Reserve with Google partner integration to Google Ads Search and Performance Max campaigns. Previously, I believe, this was only available on Google Local Service Ads and maps ads.…