Skip to content

Features
Pricing
Changelog
Status

Tag: Google

Google Merchant Center Drops “Next” in Simple Rebrand

I’m adjusting how I refer to Google’s shopping platform now that Google has dropped “Next” from Merchant Center Next. Going forward, the product is simply called Google Merchant Center.

Google made the change official in a Merchant Center announcement, saying, “The platform you use today will simply be referred to as Google Merchant Center.” For anyone managing product feeds, shopping campaigns, or merchant accounts, this is mainly a naming update rather than a product change.

I remember when Google Merchant Center Next was introduced in 2023 as the newer version of the old Google Merchant Center. Over the past few years, more merchants, site owners, and advertisers moved into that updated experience.

At this point, it appears that Merchant Center Next has effectively become the standard experience. So Google is removing the “Next” branding and returning to the simpler name: Google Merchant Center.

Rows of illuminated data cabinets and paper files stretch into the distance, capturing the pressure on marketers to turn fragmented customer data into a smarter performance engine.

Google said users will start seeing the “Next” branding removed from Help Center articles, email communications, and the Merchant Center interface.

Google also clarified that no action is required and that the name change does not affect existing accounts. In other words, I do not need to update settings, migrate anything, or make account-level changes because of this rebrand.

Why does this matter? When I talk about Google’s merchant tools now, I can leave off “Next” and just call the platform Google Merchant Center. Honestly, that is what many of us were already calling it anyway.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

July 9, 2026
Mastering Domain Moves: Utilize Google’s Change of Address Tool

I recently explored Google’s updated guidelines for site moves, specifically about handling all domain variants using their Change of Address tool. This update aims to clarify the process of moving your site from one domain to another, ensuring a smooth transition for all domain variations.

Google’s advice is straightforward: enter every domain variant in their Change of Address tool during a site migration. They emphasize this in their documentation to prevent potential indexing issues.

Google’s Note: They encourage submitting requests for each subdomain and the www and non-www variants of your previous domain. For instance, ensure you submit en.example.com, www.example.com, and example.com if you’re moving to new-example.net, even if these variants aren’t actively used. It’s crucial to have them verified in the Search Console for a seamless migration.

Understanding domain variants is key. These include subdomains and different TLDs, allowing for a comprehensive transition from your old site to the new one without hiccups.

Why It Matters: Proper domain migration ensures that all site variants migrate without issues, which Google confirms as the best practice for SEO. Following Google’s guidelines can significantly mitigate the stress associated with site migrations.

For any SEO practitioner or site owner, site moves can be daunting. However, adhering to these detailed steps can make the transition less overwhelming. The Change of Address tool is designed to expedite this process, so making the most of it is essential.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

June 18, 2026
Discover Google’s New Search Profiles for Publishers
Hey there, have you heard about Google’s latest feature within Google Discover? They’ve just launched Search profiles in the U.S., and it’s a game-changer for publishers like me. These profiles act as enhanced landing pages where my audience can not only follow me but also see a collection of my latest articles, videos, and social media posts all in one convenient spot.

Google has been working on this for quite some time, refining and testing it over several months. They’ve even made some tweaks, such as adding shortnames, which make it even easier to share these profiles.

What are Search Profiles? According to Google’s description:

“Search profiles give publishers and creators a central place to showcase their latest articles, videos, and social posts. People can easily follow sources from their profile, so they’re more likely to see that content on Discover, found on the home screen of the Google app.”

It’s described as a “new way for publishers and creators to shape their presence on Search. Search profiles are a dedicated, shareable space to highlight content across platforms and help audiences find accurate, up-to-date information about sources on Search.”

What it looks like: Curious to see it in action? Here’s a video demonstration:

Managing Your Search Profile: If you’re a publisher or creator with a significant following on a major social or video platform, you’re in luck! You’ll be able to claim your Search profile, personalize it with an avatar, bio, and links to your website and social media platforms.

Once you claim your profile, it might even create a Knowledge Panel for you, or enhance your existing one with updated details and a direct link to your profile.

If you’re interested in setting up your own Search profile, check out this guide for creating a profile, claiming an existing one, and managing it.

Availability: Currently, this feature is available in the U.S. for users and publishers who meet a certain follower threshold. Here’s what you need:
- TikTok: 300,000 followers
- YouTube: 100,000 subscribers
- Instagram: 100,000 followers
- X: 100,000 followers
Why This Matters: As a publisher, I’m always looking for ways to get more visibility. Google’s new feature allows us to increase our reach not just on Google platforms but across our entire digital presence. It’s an exciting time, though one has to ponder whether this will be enough in the fast-paced world where AI continues to evolve.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
June 4, 2026
Discover Google Chrome Lighthouse’s New AI Scan Feature

I’ve recently discovered that Google has introduced a new feature in Chrome Lighthouse to check for llms.txt files. Though Google mentions that llms.txt isn’t necessary for AI search visibility, Lighthouse has started flagging sites based on their presence.

Google’s latest Lighthouse audits, under the “Agentic Browsing” category, now focus on a site’s usability for machine interaction. I find this interesting as it aligns with Google’s push towards better machine readability.

The new audits are part of Chrome’s evolving “Agentic Browsing” features, which analyze if sites are prepared for automated interaction. This concept came soon after Google issued guidance on AI search optimization, debunking the necessity of llms.txt files in their new guide on generative AI features.

What Lighthouse Evaluates Now. Lighthouse’s Agentic Browsing tests focus on how well my site is built for machine interactions, incorporating various deterministic audits as per Google’s documentation. These checks include:

– WebMCP integration.

– Accessibility tree integrity.

– Layout stability through CLS.

– Presence of an llms.txt file.

These audits help ensure that there’s a machine-readable summary at the site’s domain root. Google explains that without llms.txt, agents might take longer to understand a site’s main structure.

The impact of these audits doesn’t translate into a traditional Lighthouse score but into a fractional pass ratio related to agentic readiness signals.

The Tension. Interestingly, while these audits don’t directly affect SEO rankings, their mention in Google’s readiness checks could make SEOs reconsider their stance on llms.txt files.

Agentic Engine Optimization. Google’s approach aligns with insights shared by Addy Osmani from Google Cloud AI about Agentic Engine Optimization. Osmani emphasizes creating web content that is semantically structured, token-efficient, and easy for AI to process.

SEO vs. llms.txt. According to Google, creating llms.txt or similar files isn’t necessary for AI search success, as outlined in the guide on Mythbusting generative AI search. The AI systems can discover, crawl, and index a variety of file types encountered on the internet.

John Mueller from Google responded to concerns about the role of llms.txt in a discussion with Lily Ray on Bluesky, stating that the use of these files is more for functionality and not directly linked to search engine optimization.

Google’s Take on AI Agents. Besides llms.txt, Google’s Lighthouse guidelines place strong emphasis on accessibility and interface stability. The insight I gained is that AI agents heavily rely on the accessibility tree as their core data model, focusing on integrity and proper layout.

Ultimately, while Google indicates llms.txt isn’t needed for search, including such files might be beneficial for adapting to Google’s evolving tools that prioritize machine readability.

Further Exploration.

– Meet llms.txt, a proposed standard for AI website content crawling

– llms.txt isn’t robots.txt: It’s a treasure map for AI

– Does llms.txt matter? We tracked 10 sites to find out

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 20, 2026
TurboQuant: Revolutionizing AI with Entity-Driven SEO

I believe the launch of TurboQuant will revolutionize AI and SEO as we know it. This cutting-edge algorithm from Google drastically reduces the computing power and energy needs by allowing the massive compression of LLMs and vector search engines.

Imagine using six times less memory and achieving eight times the speed without compromising accuracy. That’s how TurboQuant dramatically lowers the cost of running AI tasks.

As search engines evolve from simply listing links on a SERP to providing immediate AI-generated overviews, it’s crucial for us in the SEO industry to adapt. We need to focus on creating meaningful, trustworthy content and understand its impact on searches.

Before AI became prevalent, SEO was grounded in basic keywords and topics, which inefficiently represented user intent. High costs and energy consumption hindered mapping true meaning across the web, but now TurboQuant uses an advanced compression method, PolarQuant, to transform data into manageable coordinates. This breakthrough allows Google to process complex ideas far more efficiently.

TurboQuant can match exact search meanings in real time, thanks to its ability to understand user intent using past searches and real-world contexts.

The near-zero indexing lead time of TurboQuant eradicates delays between publication and ranking. Trusted publishers will gain instant recognition for their expertise, while the system also blocks manipulation and spam from appearing.

We must prepare for the fast-approaching era where AI summaries become the norm in responding to most queries. Thin content, which adds no original value, will vanish because AI can now summarize the web almost instantly, making unique viewpoints and genuine data irreplaceable.

Developing trust and authority with original thoughts, data, and experiences will prove essential, as AI-generated summaries merely consolidate existing information.

The focus of our SEO strategies should be to become a source AI recommends reliably, not just rankings based on keywords. TurboQuant maintains a more reliable index of facts by validating them against its real-time knowledge base.

This new system tracks a brand’s strength across various platforms, reinforcing the necessity of improving our knowledge graph as a trusted source.

With TurboQuant handling vast information without delays, hyper-personalization is set to explode in ways we’ve previously not imagined. AI agents could remember extensive user interactions to provide extensive personalization.

TurboQuant’s capability to integrate various signals into a cohesive perception of a brand’s value demands a strategic shift toward consistent, omnichannel representation.

We’ve prioritized quantity over quality for far too long in this industry. TurboQuant signals the end of this era, as it necessitates creating high-quality, meaningful content that establishes us as trusted entities.

Delivering a reliable message with a clear voice will guide how our messages are distributed and our brand credibility.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 13, 2026
Google Rectifies Search Console Data Glitch — Moving Forward

It feels like a moment of relief as Google recently announced a resolution to a longstanding data logging issue within Google Search Console. This glitch affected data between May 13, 2025, and April 27, 2026, spanning approximately 50 weeks. However, it’s important to note that while the root cause has been addressed, historical data from this period remains unfixed.

Google shared this update in a rather understated post, bringing light to a problem that many of us have been grappling with for quite some time. According to their post, “A logging error prevented Search Console from accurately reporting impressions from May 13, 2025, until April 27, 2026. This issue has been resolved.” It was a relief to hear, but also a bit frustrating knowing that impressions, CTR, and average position data were affected for such a significant period. Thankfully, clicks weren’t influenced by this error, which was some consolation.

As I sift through my Search Console data, I must remind myself of this anomaly, particularly when analyzing metrics from that problematic timeframe. The good news is that any data collected from this point forward should be accurate.

Further confirmation came from John Mueller on Bluesky, who reiterated that past data would not be retroactively corrected, but the issue has indeed been resolved going forward.

This development is crucial for all of us who rely heavily on precise data for SEO strategies. If your impressions appear lower and, consequently, your CTR and average position figures seem skewed during this period, this is likely why.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 4, 2026
Stay Updated: AI Transforming Healthcare Innovations

As someone passionate about the convergence of AI and healthcare, I’m thrilled to share monthly updates from the Goodie team. We dive into the latest breakthroughs and trends in artificial intelligence and the medical field. It’s all here, waiting for you to explore.

Inspired by this post on HiGoodie Blog.

May 4, 2026
Google’s Preferred Sources Now Available in Every Language

When I learned that Google’s Preferred Sources feature now supports all languages, not just English, I was thrilled. This exciting update means more people can tailor their news experience, regardless of the language they speak.

According to a recent post on Google’s blog, ‘Preferred Sources is now rolling out globally in all supported languages.’ This gives me, and everyone else, more control over the news we see on Search, allowing us to choose our preferred outlets to appear more frequently in Top Stories.

It’s fascinating to reflect on how this feature initially rolled out in December, but was limited to English. Now, it’s a comprehensive tool available globally, no matter the language.

Interesting Stats: Google shared some compelling data with this launch. For instance, readers are reportedly twice as likely to click on a site after marking it as a Preferred Source. Also, over 200,000 unique sites have already been selected by users—from local niche blogs to major global news platforms.

Preferred Sources: This feature lets me star my favorite publications in the Top Stories section of Google Search. By doing so, Google uses that interest to show more stories from those sources. I learned it started in beta back in June and was initially available in the U.S. and India by August, but now it’s part of a worldwide expansion.

How it Works: It’s simple! I just click the star icon next to the Top Stories header in my search results. This allows me to pick preferred sources, provided these sites are constantly updating their content.

Once selected, Google promises to showcase more updates from my favorite sites in Top Stories, provided they have fresh content relevant to my search.

For more detailed information, I can visit this page.

Why it Matters: In the competitive area of Google Search traffic, marking my site as a preferred source can make a significant impact. Google indicated these users are twice as likely to engage, which could help in driving more traffic to my site.

So, I’m adding the preferred source icon to encourage my audience to sign up. If you’re interested, you can make Search Engine Land a preferred source by clicking here.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

April 30, 2026
Resolving Delays in Google Ads Demand Gen Reviews

I’ve recently experienced frustrations with Google Ads as there’s a known issue causing Demand Gen ads to face review delays of over a week. Google acknowledges this problem and assures us that they’re working on a solution.

Some of us advertising on Google have noticed our ads are lingering in review, taking more than seven days—something that deviates from normal review timelines.

What’s happening. Matthew Skelton, a senior PPC specialist I follow, has pointed out a trending issue: Demand Gen campaigns stuck in review for an unexpectedly long time. This delay is noticeable across various accounts and industries, seemingly without any policy breaches causing it.

Interestingly, other campaign types, like Search and Performance Max, aren’t affected and continue processing as usual, which suggests the problem is isolated to Demand Gen ads.

Why we care. For those of us using Demand Gen to test creatives and drive top-of-funnel results, speed is crucial. Long review times hinder our ability to iterate swiftly, delay launches, and make it challenging to respond to seasonal trends or time-sensitive opportunities.

A delay lasting a week can disrupt our pacing and diminish the effectiveness of campaigns relying on rapid optimization.

The response. Ginny Marvin, a Google Ads Liaison, acknowledged this issue specifically impacting Demand Gen image ads, admitting reviews are taking longer than anticipated. She assured us that Google’s team is actively seeking a solution, but no clear timeline has been provided yet.

Bottom line. If you’re experiencing delays with your Demand Gen ads, know that it’s a widespread issue acknowledged by Google rather than something you can directly address.

First seen. This situation was first reported by Matthew Skelton, who shared his insights on LinkedIn.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

April 24, 2026
Google’s New Stance: Personal Info in Spam Reports Unused
Recently, I noticed a significant change in Google’s approach to handling spam reports. They’ve updated their stance on whether they’ll process reports containing personally identifying information, and it feels like a big shift from what was communicated just a week prior.

On their updated spam report page, Google now clearly states that any spam report containing personally identifying information will not be processed. This revision comes after their previous announcement that such information could be passed on to the site in question.

Here’s What’s Changed: Google has added a highlighted note on their official spam report page, emphasizing two points:

(1) Avoid including personally identifying information in your spam reports.

(2) If you do include such information, your submission won’t be processed.

Google’s explanation reads:

“Don’t include any personally identifying information in your submission. To comply with regulations, we must send the submission text to the site owner to help them understand the context of a manual action, if one is issued. Because of this, we won’t process your submission if we determine it contains personally identifying information to protect privacy. Not including such information fully ensures your information is safe and prevents your submission from being discarded.”

Previously: Just a week ago, as we documented, Google allowed:
- “If we issue a manual action, we send whatever you write in the submission report verbatim to the site owner to help them understand the context of the manual action.”
This policy raised many eyebrows across the industry. Concerns were not just about being flagged for identifying competitors or spammers, but there were also legal implications. It seems Google is now aligning with regulations to avoid sharing personally identifying data.

Why You Should Care: If you’re aiming to submit a spam report to Google, make sure it doesn’t contain any personally identifying information. Should you inadvertently include such information, rest assured that it won’t reach the reported site and the report simply won’t be processed. You can always resubmit your report without these details.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
April 24, 2026

1 2 3