Daily Search Forum Recap: November 17, 2023 -

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 updated its search quality raters guidelines. Google is working on fixing its obituary spam issue in Google Search. Bing may use AI to rewrite your snippets. Google’s Danny Sullivan shared his Google presentation on X. Google Business Profiles adds a new verification method. Yahoo Search will launch its new experience in the coming months. Plus, I posted the weekly SEO video recap.

Search Engine Roundtable Stories:

Google Search Quality Raters Guidelines Updated With Fewer Pages

Google has updated the Google search quality raters guidelines and it is now only 168 pages, down from 176 pages – so it takes less time to read. I scanned through the changes and I did not see any massive changes like with the December 15, 2022 update.

Google Search Actively Working On Fixing Obituary Spam Problem

Google is actively working on fixing the problem it was with showing too much spam for obituary-related queries. Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, said “it’s something we’re actively looking at ways to improve.”

Bing May Now Use AI To Write Your Snippets With AI-Generated Captions

Bing announced this week that it may use AI to create your snippets. Bing is calling this “Generative AI Captions” and if Bing uses AI for your snippet, it will label it as such.

New Yahoo Search Experience May Launch Soon

The new Yahoo Search experience may launch as soon as a few months from now. Brian Provost, the Senior VP and General Manager of Yahoo Search, said the new Yahoo Search experience will be launching in the very early days of 2024.

Google Business Profiles Verification Method: Upload Photo At Customer Location

Google Business Profiles is adding a verification method for some categories of businesses to make it easier for them to verify their business with Google. This one, you can upload a picture of your vehicle in the local area where you meet your customers.

Danny Sullivan Posts His Google Search Presentation On X

Last night, Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liaison, shared the presentation he gave at brightonSEO online on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The presentation covers Google Search results not being perfect, how Google update aim to improve those results, and how Google’s guidance to creators needs to improve.

Smart Google Cupcakes – Google For Education Cupcakes

Here are some really smart looking cupcakes that are from the Google office in Dublin. They say Google for Education on them with the Google for Education logo?

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Buckle-Up, Google Reviews Update Weak, Hidden Gems Rolled Out, Personalized Google, Follow & Notes, SGE, Bing Chat, Copilot, SEO, Local, Ads & More

For the original iTunes version, click here.

It was a very busy week, so I apologize for the length of this video, so buckle up and get ready. Not that Google wanted to say that…