This week we covered a new Google Search spam penalty for back button hijacking. Google also updated its spam report, it may now be used for manual actions. Google is aware of self-serving listicles and warns not to manipulate LLMs. Google Search Console seems to be testing an AI contribution report. Google Ads is retiring Dynamic Search Ads in place of AI Max. Google Ads removed 8.3 billion ads according to its safety report. Google Ads is simplifying by consolidating enhanced conversions with an off/off switch. A new study shows there are issues with accuracy for AI Overviews. Google Maps blocked 292 million reviews and removed 13 million back Google Business Profiles. Google Posts repeat option is now live. Google updated its reviews policy to restrict staff mentions and solicitations. Google Business Profiles also updated the identity change policy. Google updated the Merchant Center product specs for 2026. And Google Ads and Google Analytics updated its data controls. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This episode is brought to you by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo’s take on AI search is pretty interesting—it’s an answer engine that doesn’t hide the sources. You get clear, AI-powered answers with context, but also strong citations and links so you can dig deeper and verify for yourself. It’s built around trusted sources and the idea that the open web still matters. Check out Yahoo Scout at scout.com.

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - Google Search Goes After Back Button Hijacking With New Spam Penalty

1:49 - Google: We May Use Spam Report Submissions For Manual Actions

2:26 - Google Is Aware Of And Warns Against Self-Serving Listicles

3:00 - Google Search Console Testing AI Contribution Report

3:30 - Google Ads Retiring Dynamic Search Ads For AI Max

3:53 - Google Ads Removed 8.3 Billion Ads - Up Over 60% (Most Before Serving)

4:18 - Google Ads Consolidating Enhanced Conversions With On/Off Switch

4:30 - New Study Points to Holes In AI Overviews

4:58 - Google Maps Blocked 292 Million Reviews & Removed 13 Million Fake Profiles

5:16 - Google Posts Repeat Posts Feature Now Live

5:38 - Google Updates Reviews Policy To Restrict Staff Mentions & Solicitations

6:08 - Google Business Profile Updates Identity Change Policy Language

6:43 - Google Updates Some Merchant Center Product Specs For 2026

6:51 - Google Ads & Google Analytics Data Controls Update

7:17 - Conclusion

Today we covered that Google Ads Dynamic Search Ads are being replaced by AI Max. Google spam reports may now be used for manual actions. Google Search Console had an unfortunate email bug. Google Ads is simplifying enhanced conversions with a new on and off toggle.

0:00 - Introduction

0:38 - Google Ads DSAs deprecating to AI Max

2:58 - Google spam reports used for manual actions

5:01 - Google Search Console email bug

6:25 - Google Ads enhanced conversions toggle.

7:50 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered the new Google search spam penalty for back button hijacking. Google said don’t try to manipulate LLM results. Google Ads updated its analytics sources and more. Plus, did you see the PMax channel reporting insights page.

0:00 - Introduction

0:47 - Google back button hijack spam

4:18 - Listicles and other LLM manipulation

7:56 - Google Ads updates analytics usage

9:01 - PMax reporting update view

10:14 - Wikipedia deleted me

12:56 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered how we spotted hints of a new Google Search Console report for AI contribution. Google AI Overviews study shows there are problems with accuracy. Google Ads enhanced conversion lets you toggle to a single switch. Google Chrome reusable skills.

0:00 - Intro

0:31 - Google AI contribution report

1:56 - Google AI Overviews have accuracy problems

4:12 - Google Ads simplifies enhanced conversions into a single switch

5:36 - Google Chrome reusable skills

7:47 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered the conclusion of the March 2026 Core update, new location assets spotted in Google Ads and AI Mode takeover from the "show more" button in AIOs.0:00 - Intro0:46 - The March 2026 Cord Update is over2:30 - Swipeable Location Assets in Google Ads?4:43 - Major test with AI Mode taking over the AIOs7:10 - ConclusionA daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

Today we covered ChatGPT hitting $100 million in ad revenue and ads are showing up very often. Google is testing AI Overview changes with the background. Bing is testing larger product ads. Google released the March 2026 core update - seems quiet so far.

0:00 - Intro

0:34 - ChatGPT ad revenue

3:16 - Google tests new AI Overview citations

4:08 - Bing tests larger product ads

5:32 - Google March core update

6:18 - Conclusion

A daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.

This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.

This week we covered the release of the Google March 2026 core update that rolled out this morning and will take about two weeks to finish. We also covered Google March 2026 spam update that launched on March 24th and finished 19.5 hours later on March 25th. We also covered Google’s confirmation of using AI to generate title links in search results. Bing Webmaster Tools AI performance report added grounding queries on the page level. Google Search Live went global. Google is testing pushing web guide with larger promotion. Google is testing a huge block of citation at the bottom of the AI Overviews. Google AI Mode changes some of the links to overlay cards, hurting clicks. The first ChatGPT ads share little information with advertisers. Google added sponsored stores to AI Mode results. Google Ads PMAX added audience exclusions and new reporting. Google Ads API version 23.2 is out. Google Merchant Center requires you gray out your buy now button for out of stock products. Bing is testing a new AI Image search. Google is testing a feature to reply to local reviews using AI. Google Business Profiles performance metrics shows offer data. And local ads are coming to Apple Maps soon. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: This week's video recap is sponsored by Duda, the Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own.

0:00 - Introduction

0:54 - Google March 2026 Core Update Is Rolling Out - First Core Update Of Year

2:05 - Google March 2026 Spam Update Unleashed (& Finished)

2:57 - Google Using AI to Create Title Links on SERP

3:22 - Bing Webmaster Tools AI Performance Reports Add Grounding Queries To Pages

4:05 - Google Search Live Goes Global

4:31 - Google Tests "Skip Digging, Start Guided Research" Driving Users to Web Guide-like Results

4:44 - Google Tests Huge Block of Citations at Bottom of AI Overviews

5:02 - Google AI Mode Tests Changing Some Links To Overlay Cards - Reducing Clicks

5:42 - First ChatGPT Ads Share Little Data To Advertisers

6:08 - Sponsored Stores Spotted in AI Mode As Google Expands Ads Across AI Surfaces

6:20 - Google Ads PMax Audience Exclusions & New Reporting

6:52 - Google Ads API Version 23.2 Now Available

7:00 - Google Merchant Center: Out-of-Stock Products Need Grayed Out Buy Button

7:22 - Microsoft Bing Tests New AI Image Search

7:45 - Google Tests Reply To Reviews With Al

8:03 - Google Business Profile Performance Metrics Offer Data Added To Help Doc

8:37 - Local Ads Coming To Apple Maps

9:02 - Conclusion

Mordy and Greg talk about the newest Spam update, breakdown the "Dig Deeper" guides that Google is leaning into (only if opted in!) and uncover some good news for news publishers about AIOs.0:00 - Intro1:12 - Google Spam Update2:29 - Google’s Web Guides6:40 - Jeter vs Arod8:10 - AIOs showing less for Breaking News?9:57 - ConclusionA daily recap video summarizing a few of the top search marketing headlines covered at the Search Engine Roundtable.This recap is called It's New - A quick, daily dose of the latest in SEO with Anu Adegbola of Search Engine Land, Mordy Oberstein of SE Ranking and Greg Finn of Cypress North (and Marketing O’Clock) and Barry Schwartz.