🔍 Deep dive into Google's "Interesting finds"

Mar 12, 2020

Good morning search marketers, we've got some deep dives and quick reads for you today.

Contributor Glenn Gabe has been digging into the "Interesting finds" module in Google mobile search results. While it is tough to track, Glenn says this section could be driving a lot of traffic to your site. His analysis is very interesting (yes, I said it) and he's got some tips to better understand how it might be affecting your own organic traffic.

If you're a developer looking to deepen your SEO skills or an SEO looking to deepen your programming and coding skills, you'll want to get to know Detlef Johnson. Barry Schwartz sat down with the veteran SEO and developer to talk about his work to connect the two disciplines. Detlef is spearheading an SEO for Developers track at SMX Advanced this year with a lineup of experts that complements his SEO for Developers column on Search Engine Land. We'll be posting the SMX Advanced agenda this week, so stay tuned.

Google has banned all ads for face masks due to a rise in fraud and price gouging by bad actors. The ban is global and as I said on Twitter yesterday, this appropriate action given the circumstances affects legitimate advertisers and scammers alike. Facebook banned face mask ads on its platform last week and it appears Microsoft might have done the same, but we are awaiting word on that.

We've heard from several readers in response to our story Tuesday on the effects of the coronavirus on business and ad budgets. We'll be sharing them as part of our ongoing analysis. If you have insights or a story to tell, email me at gmarvin@thirddoormedia.com.

Below you'll see a quick (promise) reader poll in addition to your daily Pro Tip, chatter about a possible Google update and more.

Ginny Marvin
Editor-In-Chief

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Pro Tip

In our feedback economy, we must prioritize customer reviews

"If your resources and budget are limited to manage reviews, prioritize Google and Facebook – especially Google," explains Adam Dorfman of Reputation. "No other site in the world can match Google for amplifying both a review and a company's data simultaneously. No other site can match Google for influencing a business's location information and customer reviews at the same time."

"Google and Facebook hold similar principles: people need to find accurate, compelling content, and they need to see that your business is responsive to customer reviews. In addition, unstructured data on Google and Facebook (in the form of reviews) provides outstanding real-time feedback on your operations. Also, maintain a presence on secondary sites such as Yelp and vertical sites. You cannot be everywhere, but you can certainly choose the sites that are most important to your vertical and manage your reputation on those sites."

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Search Shorts

Possible Google update, not confirmed.

Google search update chatter. We are seeing chatter and other signals of a smaller Google search ranking update over the past few days. Have you noticed anything?

3D images and ranking. Having 3D/AR based images does not give you a ranking boost, John Mueller from Google said.

Site links. You can no longer communicate to Google about controlling your site links. Instead, you need a solid site architecture with good internal links and a clear hierarchy said Mueller.

Improve your SEO with new technical training at SMX Advanced

Don't miss the brand-new SEO for Developers track coming to Seattle June 8-10, featuring highly-technical sessions — many in live-coding format — focused on using code libraries and architecture models to develop applications that improve SEO.

Learn more »