It was a fairly quiet week in paid search and algo updates but massive in SERP layout changes. Some we like and some we don’t but then, at the end of the day all any of us gets to do is try to figure out how to turn a searcher into a buyer.
Google Previews Forum Posts In SERP
If you run a forum site, this is something scary. Google is now showing a preview of forum posts making it unnecessary to click through in many cases. pic.twitter.com/UAL0wrh5qw
— Marie Haynes (@Marie_Haynes) August 14, 2018
Closing in the walled garden just a bit more, Google is now including previews of forums posts in a carousel in the SERPs. The down side of course is that it will limit the traffic to forums further, thus reducing their revenue opportunities.
Google Intros Expandable Featured Snippets
In case you thought all that quality content you’ve been producing might bring you traffic … think again. Alright, it’s not as bad as all that but in a move I question Google has introduced more content in the form of expandable featured snippets directly in the SERP thus further reducing the traffic your content will provide.
Google SERPs ‘View Previous Posts’
Been adding Google Posts but recently stopped? Spotted in the wild is the a link to past posts in the knowledge panel linking to older posts by the company. I presume this is to get us all in the habit of looking for posts and remind owners to continue to publish them.
Google Adds Location Scores & Tab To Hotel SERPs
In another move in travel Google has added location scores and information to hotel results. The score gives an out-of-five rating for the location of the hotel and the tab includes additional details about the area the hotel is in.
Google May Be Stealing Your Local Leads
Shelly Fagin wrote a very important article for anyone involved in local search. In the piece on Search Engine Journal she discusses the inserting of links into local services providers Google My Business listings to a third party site singleplatform.com. The link takes you to a request a quote page BUT if you don’t have an account (which costs money) the leads go unanswered or worse, your competitors may get them.
GMB Posts Showing Up On Local Pack
For some branded queries, posts from the parent company are appearing in a tab within the local pack. This only appears to be on desktop presently and I can’t duplicate it within Canada.
Google has rolled out a new ‘Cameos’ app. The app allows public figures and celebrities to record in their own voice, answers to common questions. The idea is to ensure that the information provided is as close to the source as possible and easily identified as such.