Google Clarifies Structured Data Rules For Returns & Loyalty Programs
Google updates its structured data documentation to clarify how merchants should implement return policies and loyalty programs.
About
Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s degree in communications, Matt specializes in gathering details, checking facts, and making complex subjects easy to understand. In addition to writing articles, Matt oversees strategy development for SEJ’s news department.
Articles
TikTok Denies Report Claiming It’s Building a Standalone US App
TikTok has denied a Reuters report claiming it’s building a standalone U.S. app with a separate algorithm.
ChatGPT Recommendations Potentially Influenced By Hacked Sites
An investigation by SEO expert James Brockbank shows that ChatGPT may cite hacked websites and expired domains in business recommendations.
YouTube Clarifies Monetization Update: Targeting Spam, Not Reaction Channels
YouTube says its July 15 monetization update won’t specifically target reaction or clips channels, but warns enforcement will increase for repetitive or spam-like content.
Google Adds Forum Rich Results Reporting In Search Console
Google Search Console now shows performance data for Discussion Forum rich results as a distinct search appearance.
Ahrefs Study Finds No Evidence Google Penalizes AI Content
A new Ahrefs study of 600,000 pages finds no correlation between AI content and Google rankings, easing concerns about algorithmic penalties.
Relying Too Much On AI Is Backfiring For Businesses
Businesses adopting AI tools without proper planning are facing costly setbacks. Experts and research warn: AI needs human oversight.
YouTube Targets Mass-Produced Content in Monetization Update
YouTube is updating its monetization policies to target mass-produced and repetitious content. Here’s you need to know.
Cloudflare Sparks SEO Debate With New AI Crawler Payment System
Cloudflare’s new pay-per-crawl feature blocks AI crawlers and allows publishers to charge for access, sparking debate in the SEO industry over content visibility and monetization.
YouTube Adds New Viewer Metrics To Track Audience Loyalty
YouTube is replacing the “returning viewers” metric with new viewer segments to help creators better understand long-term audience engagement.
Study: Google AI Mode Shows 91% URL Change Across Repeat Searches
A study finds Google’s AI Mode returns different URLs 91% of the time for the same query, offering insight into how sources are chosen.
Google’s John Mueller: Core Updates Build On Long-Term Data
Google says core updates rely on long-term patterns, not recent link spam. Should you disavow? Here’s what John Mueller told SEO professionals.
Google: Many Top Sites Have Invalid HTML And Still Rank
Most top-ranking websites fail HTML validation. Google explains why perfect code isn’t required, and what matters instead.
Google Rolls Out June 2025 Core Update
Google’s June 2025 core update is now rolling out and may take up to three weeks to complete.
Google Integrates Search Console Insights Into Main Platform
Google has launched a new integrated version of Search Console Insights, offering simplified performance data in the main dashboard.
YouTube Tests AI Features To Improve Search & Discovery
YouTube rolls out experimental AI features to improve video discovery, including a search carousel and conversational assistant.
Google Tests ‘Preferred Sources’ To Personalize Top Stories In Search
Google’s new Preferred Sources lets users customize Top Stories with favorite publishers. How could this shift impact search visibility?
Google Launches Offerwall To Expand Monetization Options
Google’s new Offerwall feature lets publishers monetize through surveys, ads, or micro payments. Could this reshape your revenue strategy?
Google’s ‘srsltid’ Parameter Appears In Organic URLs, Creating Confusion
Google’s srsltid parameter is showing on blog and homepage URLs, affecting reporting and analytics, but not affecting rankings.
Sam Altman: ChatGPT Has Evolved Beyond A “Google Replacement”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says ChatGPT is no longer just a “Google replacement,” describing its shift toward task completion and assistant-style workflows.
YouTube Analytics Updated With Saved Reports & New Interface
YouTube updates Advanced Mode in Studio Analytics with saved reports, a simplified layout, and built-in performance tools for creators.
How Much Code Should SEO Pros Know? Google Weighs In
Google’s Martin Splitt and Gary Illyes discuss how much technical knowledge SEO professionals need, and why coding isn’t always essential.
TikTok Ban Delayed Again, Will Remain Active Until September
TikTok gets third 90-day extension, staying active until Sept 17 as ownership talks continue.
YouTube Reports 200 Billion Daily Views For Shorts Format
YouTube Shorts hits 200 billion daily views as platform unveils AI video tools and TV viewing leadership.
Google Launches ‘Search Live’ Real-Time Voice Search In AI Mode
Google Search Live with real-time voice conversations is now available in AI Mode for U.S. users. Talk to search, get audio responses plus web links.
Google Adds AI Mode Traffic To Search Console Reports
Google updates documents to show that it now includes AI Mode traffic in Search Console Performance reports
Google Launches Audio AI Overviews In Search Labs Test
Google begins experimenting with Audio Overviews in search results. US searchers can opt in to the experiment via Search Labs.
Google Retires 7 Structured Data Features To Streamline Search Results
Google retires seven structured data features including Book Actions, Course Info, and Claim Review to streamline search results. Rankings unaffected.
Google Outage Disrupts Lens, Discover, & Voice Search Results
Google confirms Lens, Discover, and Voice Search are experiencing disruptions, potentially affecting traffic for many sites.
Google Search Team Explains The “It Depends” Response
Why Google’s SEO advice often sounds vague: Search Relations team explains the reasons behind “it depends” answers.