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 is rolling out the new Google News design with more features, plus after 8 years, Google News is back in Spain. Google said it no longer lowers the importance of content not visible on the page. Google also said that underscores in URLs are still not recommended for separating keywords. Google is testing two rows of story boxes in the search results. Google is testing “in store nearby” as an expandable menu.
Search Engine Roundtable Stories:
- Google News Launches New Design
We knew this was coming when we spotted a massive design for the Google News home page and now it is officially here. Google has launched a revamped design this morning where the search company says they “made it easier for you to catch up on the most important news by bringing Top stories, Local news and personalized picks for you to the top of the page.” - Google Says Content Not Visible On Page Is No Longer Less Important
In the recent Search Off The Record podcast, Gary Illyes of Google said Google no longer assigns less importance to content or items that are not visible on the page. It just needs to be in the HTML or “immediate JavaScript” and it matters to Google. - Google: Hyphens Still Recommended Over Underscores In URLs For SEO
Gary Illyes from Google reiterated that it is still best for SEO purposes to use hyphens as separators in your URLs over using underscores are separators in your URLs. Why? Gary explained “we can’t easily segment at underscore and that’s why we are recommending dashes.” - Google Tests Two Rows Of Brand Story Boxes Under A Snippet
I am not even sure what to call this, maybe a brand story snippet, maybe story boxes, I am just not sure. But Google seems to be testing showing two rows of article boxes with images (even including social media sites) about a brand below the brand’s search result snippet. - Google In Store Nearby Local Results That Expand In Collapsible Menu
Just like when Google was testing an expandable locations section that is in a collapsible menu in the Google Search results, now Google is testing an “in-store nearby” section that is expandable within a collapsible menu. - Stan, The Google Dinosaur, Dressed For Pride Month
Stan is the Google dinosaur that has lived outside of the main Google headquarters for a couple decades or so. Looks like Stan took off his mask and got dressed up for Pride Month.
Other Great Search Threads:
Search Engine Land Stories:
Other Great Search Stories:
Analytics
Industry & Business
Links & Content Marketing
Local & Maps
Mobile & Voice
SEO
PPC
Other Search
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