SEO News Digest: Spam Update Rollout Finished, Local Panel UI Changes and Forums Filter in Search

Hi, Community! Your weekly SEO News digest is here:

Updates

THE CORE UPDATE VOLATILITY SPIKES

Various tools have reported waves of volatility spikes on March 9, 12 and 15.

Due to ranking drops, businesses are losing traffic and revenue, and are left scratching their heads wondering what to do next.

Google’s advice? “Be patient, wait until the rollout is complete, and then see if you even need to do anything at all.”

Although it is sound advice, you do kind of feel for the owners of quality websites that got caught in the crossfire. Well, guess that’s just the webmaster’s way of life.

Let me remind you that the core update is still being rolled out.

FAQS ON THE “PURE SPAM” MANUAL PENALTY

Google’s support has posted a detailed explanation on what this pure spam manual action entails and answered the most FAQs.

It was specifically noted that if your site does get hit, don’t give up on it and start all over. Just get your house in order, clean up the content, and only then continue dominating the SERPs.

A fair warning is that you won’t get the desired results by simply updating several web pages. You’ll need to thoroughly review and improve your entire site to have the penalties lifted. Possibly.

By the way, the spam update rollout ended today, March 20. But keep in mind that completing the algorithmic update does not affect manual sanctions.

Interface

“MORE CONTEXT” FOR TOP STORIES

This will summarize the headlines for your keyword search based on the top stories in the carousel.

The feature is only available if SGE is enabled.

(test) IMAGE LIKES

Currently available to a limited number of users, the feature saves your “liked” images in a list. The feature’s additional benefit to users, compared to a saved list, is unclear at the moment.

A wild guess is that it could impact rankings at some point, but your guess is as good as mine.

FAR FEWER SITELINKS IN SERP

Brodie Clark: Google is now showing drastically less sitelinks for pages in Search. From what I can see, this looks to be because of a test where sitelinks aren't showing at all for pages. Good one to keep in mind if we you notice changes in your GSC data.

PERSPECTIVES FILTER SWAPPED WITH FORUMS

..because this is clearer and easier for users.

Perspectives remains a SERP feature for now:

"Other types of content like short videos and UGC, which was previously included in “Perspectives”, will continue to be accessible for relevant queries as carousels, clusters and traditional web page listings on the search results page."

Local

GOOGLE LOCAL PANEL UI UPDATES

Updates from social media platforms are now being pulled into business listings.

The layout has been updated (business name moved to the top, rating summary and stars removed, etc.)

AI answers in the local results

Latest Updates cards

Vertical expanded Google Maps in Search

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been informed of a number of local user interface changes to the Google local panels in the search results.

LINKS TO WEBSITES FOR HOTEL AND RESTAURANT LISTINGS

Google is testing adding the hotel and restaurant website link directly to the Google Search hotel and restaurant listings on the main search results screen. This is instead of making you go through the Google hotel or restaurant results interface to learn more.

BOOK SERVICES DIRECTLY FROM A BUSINESS LISTING

Google Business Profiles now shows services with bookable buttons.

GOOGLE LEARNS TO LINK PHOTOS AND REVIEWS ON LOCAL LISTINGS

When users view a photo on local listings, Google may point you to related reviews. For example, a photo of a dish along with a review of that dish.

(the dish in the example is a Long Island iced tea but it’ll be our little secret)

Similarly, related photos can be pulled up as well.

UPDATED RULES FOR SUSPENDED LISTINGS

You can make another attempt at reinstatement after the initial denial. Follow the link for recommendations on how to prepare for the second review.