Tech & SEO Updates: Google Spam Update, Bing AI Integration, and Apple’s AI Push - Date: July 3rd, 2024
Google SEO News
Google June 2024 Spam Update Completed
Google has finalized the rollout of its June 2024 spam update, which began on June 20 and concluded on June 27. This broad spam update, targeting sites violating Google search spam policies, did not address link spam or site reputation abuse. Global in scope, the update’s impacts remain unspecified. Recovery for affected sites may take months and involves adherence to Google’s spam policies.
SEO Recommendations by Jason
Check your site's backlink profile, run tests to verify the backlink profile has no domains or back links associated with it that could be considered highly toxic or non relevant. Often apps like Semrush or Ahrefs can mark a domain as spam or high toxic score, but it could just be a low authority site that is genuinely linking to your site. Take action and monitor your domain authority through the next few weeks and months of July and August.
Weekend Ranking Volatility Following Spam Update
Following the conclusion of Google's June 2024 spam update, significant ranking volatility was observed on June 28 and 29. This unconfirmed update displayed heightened fluctuations in Google Search rankings, surpassing the activity seen during the spam update but less intense than a core update. Increased tracking tool reports highlight the volatility.
SEO Recommendations by Jason
As site owners become aware of site volatility it’s important to also analyze your seasonal fluctuations (see link to last week's update discussing this) it’s important to analyze the window of volatility and mark if the traffic fluctuations surpass the seasonal traffic threshold (lowest lows and highest highs).
Google Chrome Introduces Five New Mobile Search Features
- Chrome Actions for Local Places Google Chrome has introduced Chrome actions for local places, enabling users to directly interact with search results. With options to call businesses, get directions, and read reviews, this feature enhances user engagement and benefits local businesses by converting searchers into customers.
- Redesigned Address Bar on Tablets The redesigned address bar on tablets now aligns with Google's Material You design. It keeps the website visible below the drop-down, offering a cleaner, more intuitive user interface. This update aims to reduce bounce rates and increase user satisfaction.
- New Shortcut Suggestions Chrome now offers shortcut suggestions in the address bar, promoting frequently visited websites to the top of the list. This personalization enhances user experience and boosts targeted traffic, leading to higher engagement rates and better SEO performance.
- Trending Searches on iOS Chrome has added trending search suggestions to iOS, aligning with its Android counterpart. This feature provides insights into current popular searches, helping SEOs to create timely content that captures ongoing interest, thus improving user engagement and traffic.
- Live Sports Cards in Discover Feed The Discover feed in Chrome now includes live sports cards, offering real-time updates on favorite teams directly on the new tab page. This feature aims to keep sports enthusiasts engaged and drive significant traffic through regular updates.
SEO Recommendations by Jason
These features all contribute to Google search engine’s goal of being able to retain the user within the search engine and create a unique and immersive experience. Google has no interest in the user not engaging with their features therefore as they roll out these new updates and SEO features we see a consistent trend of Google aspiring to maintain the user experience as their top priority.
Bing SEO News
Bing's "People Also Ask" Now Includes AI Content
Microsoft's Bing has started incorporating AI-generated content in its "People Also Ask" sections. This expansion follows Bing's earlier use of AI to generate search snippets. The AI-generated content is labeled with a disclaimer, indicating Microsoft's ongoing integration of AI technologies in search functionalities.
SEO Recommendations by Jason
Very similar to our last week's edition, where we discussed google sge or now known as AI overview, these platforms are starting to create short condenses answers to questions that they have the AI capability to respond to in a short form. This does not mean that site links and featured snippets cannot be shown by websites, but as we see more AI features rolled out I feel that the AI “people ask” in the case bing will potentially over take the featured snippets from websites. When we don’t know, but for broad keywords or “Wikipedia type searches ', AI can easily generate a rich result without the user having to click through to a site.
It’s vital for websites to focus on long tail variations for their keywords and create immersive and rich content, that doesn’t always need to be “long form” but more so focused on a specific keyword with a specific intent. Additional to this we need to analyze gaps in the search results to optimize our content for. Versus always targeting search terms that have highly saturated results and competition.
Bing Webmaster Guidelines Update: Prompt Injection
Bing has updated its Webmaster Guidelines to include prompt injection, a cyberattack targeting large language models. This new guideline warns against adding content designed to exploit LLMs, with potential penalties including demotion or delisting from Bing's search results. Prompt injection can be direct, where malicious prompts are fed directly to the LLM, or indirect, where payloads are hidden in data consumed by the LLM.
SEO Recommendations by Jason
It’s critical that business and organizations stay ahead of the curve with AI. And primarily the safe and sustainable use of AI within their business or organization. Training, educating and instructing staff on the safe use of AI is essential.
We will shortly be rolling out our AI for SEO program! Stay tuned for more.
General Search Marketing News
Apple’s AI Push: Integrating ChatGPT and Its Implications
Apple has unveiled potential new AI-powered features, including the integration of ChatGPT into Siri and system-wide tools, at its annual developer conference. These advancements raise concerns about content visibility, discoverability, and the potential creation of a more closed ecosystem. While promising user convenience, these AI features could impact publisher traffic and revenue, necessitating critical examination of their broader implications. Apple's new AI capabilities will be available this fall for users with the latest iPhones and Macs, with more features to follow.
SEO Recommendations by Jason
Although Elon Musk has recently stated that this would be a “bridge too far” and has also been known to make comments about building a phone which would not be integrated with Chatgpt, these features clearly highlight the trend and direction AI is taking.
Acceptable usage protocols and safety will be required for Apple to roll this out and from an SEO stand point it makes sense for the search engines such as Safari to integrate features such as AI overview and others.
