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Daily Search Forum Recap: October 16, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Google Poisoning Tracking Tools, Google AI Results Updates, Discover To Change, Google Ads, ChatGPT & SEO
For the original iTunes version, click here. Google seems to be poisoning the third-party tracking tools with fake data and paywalls; this is wreaking havoc on keyword tracking. Google launched Gemini 4 Argon and it is in AI Mode. Google made several updates to links in AI Mode and AI Overviews, but it won't matter. Google is testing the AI Mode left sidebar in Google Search. Google Discover will transform into a personalized concierge. Google spoke about how Google Search handles URLs and PDFs.
Google Search Ranking Volatility & Chatter October 16
It has been a while since I reported on a Google Search ranking update. I blame the tools, but in all seriousness, I am seeing a spike in volatility and, now probably more importantly, a spike in chatter over the past 24 hours, related to Google Search ranking changes, referral traffic changes and overall disruption in the Google Search results.
Google Ads To Allow Certification For Online Gambling Advertisers
Google Ads will allow some advertisers to apply for certification for the category of online gambling. This started this month, October 2026, and will gradually be available to some advertisers in Google Ads.
Bing Tests Read More Links In Search Result Snippets
Microsoft is testing placing “read more” links within the Bing Search result snippets, like Google officially did a year or so ago. I am able to replicate this on some browsers, where Bing adds a “Read more” link at the end of the search result snippet that links to the same place the main title links to.
Google Ads Lead Form With Lead Scoring For Lead Qualification
Google added the ability to add lead scoring by indicating answers that qualify a lead for your business to get higher-quality leads. You can add up to 12 answers per question and check off whether they qualify under the lead scoring section. This is for the newish Google Ads lead management feature.
Bing Testing Popular Links
Microsoft is testing adding the label "Popular Links" to the Bing search results sitelinks. This reminds me of the Google top pages test and variations of that. This test was spotted by Khushal Bherwani who posted the following screenshot on X: Here is his post: ð Bing is testing 'Popular Links' within sponsored ads. We've previously seen a similar test with Google Ads showing 'Top Pages' links. Google story Coverver by @rustybrick here - https://t.co/hDuePhfAzM https://t.co/tymxAoto3V
Google Ads API Updates Expected Twice A Month
Google Ads is planning on pushing twice as many Google Ads API updates for the remainder of this year and into 2027 compared to its previous schedule. Last year, Google said it would release an Ads API update monthly and now Google is switching that to two updates per month.
Google Updates Indexing API Quota Information
Google has updated the indexing API documentation; this includes three different pages within the documentation. I think the big takeaway is that Google removed the old approval process and initial testing explanation, the sitemap recommendation, and, most importantly, the default quota details.
Google Dataset Search Not Returning Search Results
For the past several hours, Google Dataset Search has not been able to return any search results or matches. Google Dataset Search returns a response that says "Your search - [keyword phrase here] - did not match any datasets."
Google Updates Links In AI Mode & AI Overviews Again
Google, for the umpteenth time, has updated how it shows links and carousel link cards in AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google always says this is to encourage searchers to click from the AI response to the publisher or creator, but it feels as if those efforts to drive clicks from AI search continue to fail.
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 15, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Universal Cart Launches In Google Search
Google has launched its Universal Cart today in Google Search and Gemini within the United States. This is powered by the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and it was launched right before the big holiday shopping season.
Google Automotive Model Feeds On Search Ads (Vehicle Top Ads)
Google has a new Google Ads beta format named automotive model feeds on search ads, also known as Vehicle Top Ads (Beta). This is a new search ad format designed specifically for vehicle manufacturers to showcase vehicles with rich visuals and key details in the search results.
Google Tests New Search Bar In Google App
Google is testing a redesigned search bar within the Google mobile app. The new search bar is now has the + sign in it, and instead of saying "Search," it says "Ask Google." The search bar is also white, as opposed to gray and is thinner and higher up on the page.
Google Ads API Version 26 Now Out
Google Ads has released version 26 of the Google Ads API. This is a major release of the Google Ads API updates including SMS messaging, local services, hotel center accounts, lift measurements, EU political items, conversion features, and so much more.
Google Ads Updates Sexual Content Policy
Google Ads has updated the sexual content policies to "provide additional examples and clearer information to advertisers," the company wrote. The main section that was updated was the "Sexually suggestive elements and themes" section.
Bing Tests Related Searches Based On Your Browsing
Bing is testing showing "Related searches based on your browsing" similar to how Google is/was showing this a few months ago. In Bing's test, this is below the Microsoft Ads in the search results.
Google Ads Channel Prioritization and Budget Allocation
Google Ads is rolling out two new "controls" in the advertising platform named channel prioritization and budget allocation. These are rolling out globally across Google Search, Google Shopping, Performance Max, and soon Demand Gen.
Google Search On URLs: Ranking Factor, Hyphens vs Underscores & Emojis
Google posted its first video in a series of what they are calling The Non-Canonical Cabinet. In this video, Cherry Prommawin and Gary Illyes discussed how Google Search deals with URLs. They discuss URLs as a ranking signal, hyphens versus underscores, emojis and much more.
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 14, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google has rolled out its latest Gemini model, Argon 4
Google Ads Search Terms and Ad Combinations Report
Google Ads seems to be testing a new report named the Search terms and ad combinations report. This report shows how search queries, ad creatives, and landing pages work together.
Google Tests AI Mode Left Sidebar On Main Google Search Results Page
Google is testing placing the left vertical sidebar you see in AI Mode results on the main Google web search results page. This places the small super G Google logo on the left, with the chat history lines, a way to start a chat with AI Mode and the settings icon all on the left side.
Bing Tests Large Single Sponsored Ad Unit At Top Of Search Results
Microsoft Bing is testing placing a large single ad unit at the top of the Bing Search results page. The sponsored ad has a gray background, with an image and call to action button, and of course, the url, title and ad description. This was spotted by Khushal Bherwani who posted this screenshot on X, he wrote, "Bing testing a dedicated placement for sponsored ads at top of serp." Here is his screenshot: It almost looks like a malware ad but it is not, right? Forum discussion at X.
OpenAI ChatGPT Ads Account Manager
OpenAI has humans who are reaching out to advertisers to help them manage their ChatGPT Ads. These ad representatives are called ChatGPT Ads Account Managers and I guess are real humans who help agencies manage ads for their customers?
Google Ads Policies Adds Prediction Markets Section
Google added a section for prediction markets to the main Google Ads policies documentation last week. Google has posted updates and policies on advertising for prediction markets on Google Ads numerous times before, but now it has been added to the main policy document.
OpenAI Removes UTM Parameters From ChatGPT Results
OpenAI seems to have removed or replaced the UTM parameters it placed on links within the ChatGPT results. This makes it harder to know if a click came from ChatGPT versus some other platform. This seems to have started with the release of GPT''6, which was a week ago.
Google Search On PDFs - Deep Dive Podcast
Google's Martin Splitt and John Mueller just posted a Search Off the Record podcast on the topic of PDFs, it is named PDFs in Search: Indexing, AI & Pitfalls. It goes over how PDFs are converted for crawling and indexing, how Google processes links, images, what are the file limits and do they rank in search and AI search.
Gemini 4 Argon In Google Search Via AI Mode
Google announced Gemini 4 Argon a couple of weeks ago and today announced that it is now an option in Google Search via AI Mode for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers globally.
Topics Portfolio In Bing Webmaster Tools AI Reports
Microsoft Bing just announced a new addition to the AI performance reports in Bing Webmaster Tools named Topics Portfolio. Topics Portfolio shows you the "presence is distributed across themes, how much demand each theme represents, how competitive each theme is and where your site has room to grow."
Daily Search Forum Recap: October 13, 2026
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google spoke about a domain migration that seemed to migrate back four months later. Google may now show prescription drug ads in AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google Discover may transform into a proactive
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