Today, on one of the most significant shopping days of the year, Shopify has been hit by a major login outage. This unexpected issue has left many of us merchants locked out of our stores, unable to access our dashboards, POS systems, mobile apps, or even reach Shopify Support.
What’s happening. Reviewing Shopify’s status page, I noticed a series of alerts starting at 14:54 UTC, indicating potential login issues for merchants. Minutes following the initial alerts, it was confirmed that the outage impacts POS, mobile logins, and support access.
By 15:26 UTC, Shopify advised us to remain logged in on any currently active devices to avoid further issues, which has been an essential tip for many as we navigate this situation.
Why we care. A login outage on a critical sales day, such as during the Cyber Week spillover or December promotions, is a nightmare for any retailer. It can halt operations, block order fulfillment, delay in-store checkouts, disrupt customer service, and lead to significant revenue losses in just minutes. It’s a stark reminder of how reliant we are on these systems for smooth business operations.
What’s next. According to Shopify’s status updates, their team is actively investigating the issue, though they haven’t provided an estimated time for resolution. Many of us are anxiously refreshing the status page, hoping for updates as our sales windows narrow.
I’ve recently encountered an issue with Google Search Console that’s affecting many of us in the SEO community. The index coverage report, also known as the page indexing report, is experiencing delays of about two weeks. It’s important to note that while this impacts reporting, it doesn’t affect the actual crawling, indexing, or ranking of websites.
The page indexing report is crucial for me as it shows the pages Google can find and index on my site. It alerts me to any indexing problems encountered, and I can submit fixes to see if my resolutions are recognized by Google. Given the current delay, I won’t know if my fixes have worked until the report updates.
Here’s a screenshot of my report, last updated on November 17th, although some users are seeing updates as late as the 18th. You can check out the screenshot here.
In a statement on LinkedIn, Google confirmed the issue, saying:
“FYI – Page indexing report delays We’re currently experiencing longer than usual delays in the Search Console Index Coverage report. This only affects reporting, not crawling, indexing, or ranking of websites. We’ll update here once this issue is resolved. Thanks for your patience!”
This delay is particularly inconvenient as I prepare client reports at the beginning of each month. While I anticipate the report will catch up soon, it does mean delaying my own reporting to clients and stakeholders. Until then, it’s good to remember that this is just a reporting glitch.
Last week, I was eager to see if Google would incorporate Gemini 3 into their AI systems. Now, it’s official: some responses in AI Mode are powered by Gemini 3, but it’s only available to Google AI Pro & Ultra subscribers in the U.S.
Nick Fox, Google’s SVP of Knowledge and Information, mentioned on X that the rollout of Gemini 3 in search is ongoing. He highlighted that they’ve implemented intelligent automatic model routing to Gemini 3 Pro, aimed at tackling the most challenging questions in AI Mode.
Previously, Fox included AI Overviews in this rollout. However, his latest updates have corrected this to focus solely on AI Mode. If you are a subscriber, you’ll know this feature is available if it’s an option within the AI Mode tab’s carrot menu.
From a recent blog post by Google’s Head of Search, Liz Reid, there’s an emphasis on enhancing automatic model selection in Search with Gemini 3 over the coming weeks. This means your complex queries in AI Mode could soon be channeled to this advanced model.
Introduced on November 18, 2025, Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, described Gemini 3 as their most intelligent model yet. It combines all of Gemini’s capabilities, aiming to bring any idea to life.
I’m particularly excited because some users might notice more visual and comprehensive results in AI Mode, especially if you’re an AI Pro or Ultra subscriber in the U.S. These changes indicate that Gemini 3 is already reshaping the search landscape.
Eventually, all AI responses will be powered by Gemini 3 until the next update is rolled out by Google. I can’t wait to see how this further enhances search experiences.
I’m excited to share insights from the rigorous testing of Google Ads’ new AI tool, Nano Banana Pro. This innovative tool is creating quite a buzz with its ability to swiftly generate seasonal, mood, and lighting variations for visual assets, making it perfect for brainstorming and quick asset production.
Incorporating conversational image generation and editing, Nano Banana Pro easily integrates directly into campaigns. This tool empowers advertisers to create visuals that are seasonally, mood-oriented, and material-specific without needing an extensive photoshoot. This functionality aligns with Google’s larger strategy, alongside its AI writing tool, Opal, to speed up content creation across Performance Max, Display, and other automated campaigns.
Driving the news. This extensive testing was spearheaded by Ameet Khabra, founder of Hop Skip Media, who evaluated the tool’s performance across industries such as mattresses, HVAC, and real estate. Her findings reveal that while Nano Banana Pro delivers impressive visuals in certain aspects, advertisers should be aware of its limitations before relying on it exclusively.
The good:
Accurate seasonal transformations and lighting adjustments.
Material and finish edits, especially for items like kitchen cabinets and furniture, maintain texture and perspective.
Reliable guidance for adding larger objects and achieving correct placement in general marketing contexts.
Able to refine prompts, offering richer instructions.
The bad:
Brand constraints limit the use of logos, branded products, and detailed text overlays.
Persisting issues with demographic bias and object placement errors.
Combining unrelated images or zooming out can sometimes result in unrealistic outputs.
The weird:
Mixing seasons or literal misinterpretations of prompts like “luxury” or “masculine” can occur.
Strong holiday-themed additions may overshadow subtle messaging.
Bottom line for advertisers. Ameet Khabra suggests that Nano Banana Pro is most effective for ideation, seasonal changes, or asset-heavy campaigns such as Performance Max or Display. It’s not yet ready to replace professional creatives in high-stakes or brand-sensitive campaigns. Advertisers should continue to conduct tests in isolated asset groups and rely on human reviews.
Why advertisers should care. Quickening the pace of creative production can alleviate campaign bottlenecks and boost testing volumes—but caution is necessary to avoid off-brand visuals, poor click-through rates, and misaligned automation signals. When used judiciously, Nano Banana Pro can be a valuable tool for creativity; if used indiscriminately, it might lead to subpar imagery.
I’ve just learned that Google Ads has introduced an exciting update that now allows us to create up to five custom views on the Overview tab. This change makes it so much simpler for us to track the key metrics that are crucial for our advertising campaigns.
Google Ads is really stepping up its game by letting us customize the Overview tab. Now, we’re not limited to a single static view. Instead, we have the power to tailor our dashboards, ensuring that we focus on the data that truly impacts our campaigns.
Driving the news. I’ve seen a post on LinkedIn, complete with screenshots, that highlights this new update. Users can now add multiple tabs and fully personalize their Overview pages, fitting their unique needs.
What’s changing. In the past, the Overview tab had a fixed layout. This was restrictive for us, especially when we wanted more detail on our performance. Now, with these custom views, we can organize metrics, charts, and reports in a way that really fits our workflow, allowing for better efficiency and insights.
Why we care. For those of us managing Google Ads, the ability to custom-tailor the Overview tab means we can focus directly on the metrics that matter, saving time and cutting down on the hassle of digging through various reports. For agencies handling multiple clients, this allows us to create personalized dashboards for each account, enhancing our efficiency and insight. Over time, this adjustment helps us spot performance trends more quickly and make data-driven decisions with greater confidence.
First seen. This new feature was first unveiled by Adrian Dekker.
Bottom line. This update makes account monitoring much more streamlined, enabling us to focus on the key performance indicators without having to filter through numerous reports. With custom views, organizing campaigns and spotting trends becomes a breeze.
I recently heard about Google’s discreet update on December 12th to its Personalized Ads policy. This change seems to be expanding access to Custom Segments for certain Display campaigns, opening up possibilities previously restricted under the policy.
The information dropped into my inbox through a mandatory service email from Google. However, it left much to the imagination as it only confirmed the policy update but failed to provide specifics. It made it clear, though, that the change targets campaigns limited by the Personalized Ads policy, not every Display campaign.
As someone who closely follows these updates, I noticed the buzz among industry experts. Google Ads Coach Jyll Saskin Gales pointed out that Custom Segments have mostly been available for Display campaigns, suggesting that this update focuses on previously blocked advertisers gaining access.
PPC Freelancer Sofia Akritidou raised critical questions, voicing the confusion many of us felt:
Could this mean a breakthrough for health-related advertisers who faced audience targeting blocks?
What about user comfort with ads tailored to sensitive conditions?
Does “Display campaigns” mean all GDN formats, possibly including Demand Gen?
Why hasn’t Google clarified these changes?
These are not just speculative queries—they are vital considerations for adjusting our strategies and campaigns. Google’s move could mean a broader reach with Custom Segments, allowing us to potentially engage with niche markets, including sensitive areas like healthcare. But it does raise the issue of user privacy.
I’m keen to know whether this change extends to Demand Gen campaigns. Clarity there could significantly influence strategic decisions as December 12th approaches.
What could this mean for advertisers like me? Well, here are a few possibilities:
Access to new targeting options for campaigns previously restricted by limited audience tools.
The advantage of crafting segments based on intent or interest, even with stringent policy guidelines.
The change was initially noticed by Chris Ridley, the Head of Paid, who shared the news on LinkedIn.
The bottom line here is clear: if your Display campaign falls under the Personalized Ads policy, you’re in for an upgrade in targeting capabilities. For others, it’s business as usual—for now.
I’m excited to extend an invitation to join our 2026 contributor team! At Search Engine Land, we’re seeking knowledgeable voices in SEO, PPC, AI, and analytics to share valuable insights with millions of marketing professionals around the globe.
Being part of Search Engine Land is a unique opportunity. For over two decades, our publication has been a trusted resource for search marketing information, reaching more than 1 million professionals each month. I’m thrilled to share that we’re once again expanding, and we want to amplify our coverage with diverse and reliable perspectives—be it from someone with five years of experience or someone who remembers the Google Florida update like it was yesterday.
We’re looking for contributors with at least five years of hands-on experience who can offer practical insights and thought leadership on the latest trends in:
SEO
Generative AI (GEO, AI SEO, etc.)
PPC (paid search, paid social, display, video)
Data and analytics
While this contributor role is on a volunteer basis, the benefits are significant. You’ll have the chance to:
Establish yourself as a subject matter expert in your field.
Enhance your professional visibility.
Expand your network and reputation.
Enrich your LinkedIn profile or resume with this prestigious experience.
Propel your career forward.
If you’re interested, I encourage you to fill out this form to apply. If selected, you’ll hear from us directly via email. Don’t miss this opportunity to make your mark.
In the past day, I’ve noticed that ChatGPT and Perplexity have launched new AI-driven shopping tools designed to create more intuitive and personalized shopping experiences. These innovations focus on helping us effortlessly discover, compare, and purchase items using conversational queries tailored to our preferences and history.
ChatGPT
Shopping Research. OpenAI is revolutionizing the way I shop by transforming ChatGPT into my personal product researcher.
When I describe what I need, like a “quiet cordless vacuum” or a “gift for my art-obsessed niece,” ChatGPT kicks in to ask clarifying questions and pulls relevant data from the web. In no time, I receive a customized buyer’s guide.
Using my preferences and previous interactions, ChatGPT updates recommendations as I react to items with “More like this” or “Not interested.” It’s a truly adaptive experience.
This feature uses a specialized GPT-5 mini model that’s optimized for shopping and sources reliable information from trusted sites.
It’s available now for both free and paid ChatGPT users, on web and mobile, with extensive use available through the holiday season.
Next up, I’ll be able to purchase items directly within ChatGPT thanks to upcoming Instant Checkout integrations.
Perplexity
New Shopping Experience. Perplexity has rolled out a free, U.S.-based shopping feature centered around enhancing my shopping without replacing the experience.
I simply initiate searches with conversations like “best winter jacket for San Francisco ferry commute,” and Perplexity maintains context even when my needs shift.
It remembers my style and preferences, adjusting future product suggestions accordingly, all while avoiding endless scrolling by providing clear, intent-driven product cards.
Purchases are quick and seamless, thanks to a partnership with PayPal, while still allowing merchants to manage customer relationships.
Retailers might pay attention to this, as conversational shopping reportedly increases purchase intent, although some studies caution that AI-driven conversions aren’t always more successful than traditional methods.
This innovative experience is available now on desktop and web, with mobile apps arriving soon.
AI shopping assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity are changing the ecommerce landscape. ChatGPT focuses on deep research while Perplexity offers smooth discovery and integrated checkout, both striving to be our go-to platforms by providing personal and custom shopping recommendations.
This Thanksgiving has become a turning point for me as a food blogger. Google’s AI, particularly through Gemini 3, is reshaping my recipes and diverting precious traffic, leaving me and my fellow creators in a tough spot.
For over a decade, we could count on holiday traffic, something integral for our revenue. Now, with AI answers usurping our well-tested recipes, home cooks are left following confusing, misaligned instructions that I’ve heard can be quite problematic.
Recently, I’ve noticed how Google’s AI Overviews pull information from various bloggers, often overshadowing the actual sources. Many creators, myself included, have experienced traffic declines ranging from 30% to 80%, making this one of our most challenging seasons yet.
AI-generated content is also cluttering platforms like Pinterest and Etsy, blending genuine cooking expertise with poorly conceived AI inventions.
Google has described their AI Overviews as merely a starting point, but I, along with others, see a different story. For example, Eb Gargano reported a staggering 40% drop in traffic because of AI summaries making grievous errors like suggesting over-baking a cake. Adam Gallagher finds his recipes amalgamated with competitors’, resulting in a 30% decline in his cocktail click-through rate.
I have also seen Gemini 3 utilizing our photos in new interactive graphics, leaning dangerously close to what feels like plagiarized content.
Experts like Sarah Leung have shared similar experiences, with AI summaries dominating search results, diminishing years of hard work to just another step in someone else’s AI-driven process.
Some bloggers have even found their content being mirrored by AI-run sites, tweaking their original ideas and altering personal images.
The big picture is concerning. More households trust AI for their holidays’ meals, unaware that they’re deviating from traditional cooking principles. We, the creators behind today’s culinary content, feel like we’re fading into the background, overshadowed by technology that ironically relies on our own innovations.
In essence, AI still can’t replace the foundational promise of a recipe—a human touch and tested insight.
Holidays like Thanksgiving are at risk of being distorted through algorithm-driven remixing, alienating genuine tradition-driven cooking.
I share in the sentiment of Bjork Ostrom from Pinch of Yum, who calls this an existential moment for us as content creators, not just in terms of visibility but the very creation process itself.
Recently, I’ve noticed a sharp rise in phishing attacks targeting Google Ads Manager accounts (MCCs). These sophisticated scams allow attackers to seize control over numerous client accounts, quickly spending massive amounts of money without detection.
Driving the news. Agencies on platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit, and Google’s forums are continuously reporting an increase in MCC takeovers, even affecting teams with two-factor authentication. The attackers excel with nearly flawless phishing emails that impersonate Google’s account-access invitations.
Victims explain how hijackers insert fake admin users, connect their own MCCs, and start fraudulent high-budget campaigns that can go unnoticed for far too long.
In some cases, support requests take too long to process, leading to severe financial loss, with some agencies reporting upwards of tens of thousands of dollars in expenses within just 24 hours.
How it works. These scams expertly mimic standard client-access invites, using similar branding and format. However, the provided link redirects to a fake Google login page on Google Sites, allowing attackers to capture full MCC access once credentials are entered.
Why it’s getting worse. Many advertisers highlight how the phishing emails closely resemble authentic Google messages. Some agencies admitted they nearly clicked through but noticed small discrepancies in the sender domain or login URL just in time.
The impact:
Fraudulent ads run immediately, depleting budgets.
Malware exposure becomes a real risk, as these ads often direct to harmful sites.
Account damage results from invalid activity flags and disapprovals, with trust issues potentially lingering for months.
Operational chaos erupts as agencies lose access to every client account within the MCC.
What Google says. The Google Ads Community team issued a help document instructing advertisers on steps to take if accounts are compromised, especially highlighting risks during the holiday season. However, there hasn’t been acknowledgment regarding the widespread nature of MCC takeovers.
Why we care. These MCC hijacks represent serious financial and operational threats, swiftly wiping out budgets, compromising client accounts, and requiring days for containment by Google’s support. With attackers now bypassing two-factor authentication through nearly perfect phishing techniques, even the most secured teams face risk. Just one mistake by a team member can put an entire portfolio at risk, impacting spend, performance, and client trust.
What experts recommend. Marc Walker, the founder and managing director of Low Digital Ltd, offers several strategies to safeguard your accounts from being hijacked:
Always verify the URL since Google doesn’t use Google Sites for login purposes.
Confirm invites within the MCC itself and avoid relying solely on email.
Remove dormant users and inactive accounts to reduce potential vulnerabilities.
Educate teams to recognize phishing red flags, especially during peak seasons like holidays.
Between the lines. In a large MCC, if even one user falls for the scam, the attacker gains full access to the entire portfolio, enabling them to deplete budgets much faster than Google’s response time.
Bottom line. Google Ads hijacks pose a substantial operational threat for both agencies and in-house teams. Until stronger protections are implemented, vigilance remains our strongest defense.
