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Welcome back to Google Search News, where we bring you the latest updates and insights from the world of Google Search. In this edition, we’ll be discussing some important updates related to Core Web Vitals, tips for news websites, the launch of Search Labs, and much more. Google Search is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest developments to ensure your website stays optimized.
In the article, we’ll delve into details about the recent Core Web Vitals updates, share valuable insights for improving news websites’ SEO, and introduce you to Search Labs and its many functions. We’ll also be sharing useful updates about Google Search Console, changes in site maps, highlights from the community, and documentation and policy updates.
Key Takeaways
- Updates on Core Web Vitals and their impact on the ranking system
- SEO best practices and tips for news websites
- Exciting developments in Search Labs and Search Console updates
Core Web Vitals Update
Dropping Mobile Friendliness
We recently clarified how we use core web vitals in our helpful content ranking system, and we have decided to drop mobile friendliness as a factor. Most sites nowadays are friendly on mobile, so we’ll be removing the mobile usability report and the mobile-friendly testing tool in Search Console, along with its API, at the end of the year.
Interaction to Next Paint
As part of our core web vitals update, we’re introducing Interaction to Next Paint (INP) as a new metric. INP will replace First Input Delay (FID) in March 2024. We’ve already provided data on INP in Search Console, so it’s essential to take the time to prepare and make any necessary adjustments if you spot issues to work on.
Holistic Approach
While it’s crucial to pay attention to core web vitals, a great page experience involves much more than that. Our core ranking systems seek to reward a comprehensive and well-rounded page experience. We highly recommend taking a holistic approach and checking out our documentation to make the most of your website’s performance.
News Website SEO
Best Practices Videos
We have created guidance and best practices for e-commerce websites, and now it’s time for news websites. To help with this, we’ve released two videos on SEO best practices for news sites. These videos offer valuable tips and recommendations to improve the online visibility and performance of news websites.
Search Console for News Sites
We understand the importance of the Search Console for news sites, as it provides site owners with information on how Google crawls, indexes, and displays their website across search and discover. Therefore, we’ve prepared a video guide on how to best use the Search Console specifically for news sites. This information will be invaluable to news site owners and operators looking to leverage the powerful tools available within Google’s Search Console.
Events
In addition to the resources mentioned above, we have also started including news topics in our events. If you’re working on a news site and happen to notice one of our events nearby, it’s certainly worth checking it out. These events offer great opportunities for networking, learning and sharing best practices with fellow news website operators and industry experts.
Search Labs Launch
We recently launched Search Labs, a place where you can sign up and try out new products and ideas that we’re exploring. Search Labs is initially available for users in the US. For more information, you can check out the blog post linked below.
Search Generative Experience
One of the key features in Search Labs is the Search Generative Experience (SGE). This innovative technology uses generative AI to provide more information and context to your searches. While it’s still in its early stages, we are already impressed by what the team has accomplished so far, and the potential for these systems to revolutionize the way we search the web.
Feedback
Your feedback on Search Labs and the Search Generative Experience is invaluable to us. The input we’ve received from SEOs and site owners has been interesting and insightful, helping our teams make improvements and refine our offerings. We encourage you to continue submitting your feedback and staying engaged with the development process. Your input helps shape the future of Google Search and the tools we provide to users like you.
Search Console News
Rich Results Test Update
We launched an update to the Rich Results Test that allows code editing. This makes trying out fixes to your markup much easier and faster. It’s a useful tool to validate your structured data and ensure that it is properly implemented.
Search Console Insights for Non-GA Users
Good news for users without Google Analytics! Search Console Insights now supports you as well. This makes it easier for you or your clients to check out how their site is doing in Google Search. Gaining insights into your website’s performance helps you optimize it accordingly.
Video Indexing Report Update
We recently updated the Video Indexing Report with finer-grained information on video indexing issues that can be resolved. This provides website owners with more detailed insight into how well their videos are being indexed and what issues might be affecting their visibility in search results.
Search Console Training Season
We just wrapped up another season of Search Console Training on our YouTube channel. If you’re interested in learning more about how to make the most of Search Console, the training series is a valuable resource. For example, if you’ve ever wondered about traffic drops, there’s a video specifically addressing this topic waiting for you.
Site Maps Changes
Ping Endpoint Deprecation
We’ve noticed that the data received by the so-called ping endpoint for site maps wasn’t particularly useful. As a result, we plan on turning it off towards the end of the year. We still support site maps; however, the pending deprecation of the ping endpoint is a change you should be aware of.
Submit Site Maps
You don’t need to make any changes in response to the ping endpoint deprecation. You can still submit your site map files through Search Console and robot.txt. We continue to support and evolve Search Console, providing you with the necessary tools to manage your website’s performance in Google search.
Community Highlights
Lily Ray’s Post
We found an insightful post by Lily Ray that discusses preparing for AI features in search engines. It raises thought-provoking questions and ponders various possibilities. Lily assures that SEO isn’t going away, so we can look forward to more exchanges here on YouTube.
Jess Schultz’s Article
Jess Schultz authored a detailed article on website crawling. Although crawling might be a small step in a search engine, it’s vital since, without it, nothing else would matter in the process. We suggest giving it a read or bookmarking it for later perusal.
Brian Casey’s Work
Finally, Brian Casey described how he deleted 80% of the marketing content from IBM’s website. This poses an interesting question: Is less actually more when it comes to SEO? We appreciate the valuable discussions and insights brought forth by Brian, Jess, and Lily.
Documentation and Policy Updates
New Generic Crawler
We’ve recently made an update to our documentation, including information about a new generic crawler. We’ve also reorganized the page about Google crawlers and added the IP addresses that we use for them. This update will help you better understand how our crawling process works.
Spam Report Makeover
In addition to the new generic crawler, we have given the spam report a makeover, along with updated spam policies in our Search Essentials (previously known as the Webmaster Guidelines). We hope this makes it easier for you to report problematic search results and maintain the quality of content on your websites.
AI Top Level Domain Change
Lastly, we’ve made a change to how we treat the top-level domain .ai in Google Search. It is now considered a generic country code top-level domain. This change opens up new opportunities for those looking to create websites related to artificial intelligence or other niche industries. Stay informed about these updates and adapt your website strategies accordingly to stay ahead in the digital landscape.