Core Web Vitals, Generative AI, and more… Google Search News – July 2023

There are many factors to rank high on Google. What needs to be done for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is changing every day. We have compiled John Mueller’s Google Search News (July ’23) video about Core Web Vitals, Generative AI as an article for you.

In the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of Google Search, staying up-to-date with the latest developments is crucial for every SEO professional, web developer, and content creator. In a recent video update, John Mueller, Google’s Senior Webmaster Trends Analyst, shared some critical insights about Google Search, Search Console, and other related topics. Here are the distilled key points and what they mean for your online presence.

Demystifying Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals have been a hot topic in the SEO community. Mueller clarified that Google has detailed how these vitals are used in their content ranking system in a new blog post and documentation. Interestingly, given that most sites are now mobile-friendly, mobile friendliness will no longer be a factor. This change leads to the planned removal of the mobile usability report and mobile-friendly testing tool in Search Console by year’s end.

Moreover, in a significant move, Interaction to Next Paint (INP) will replace First Input Delay (FID) in the Core Web Vitals suite from March 2024. As website owners, it’s time to take a deep dive into understanding INP and preparing our sites accordingly.

Guidance for News Websites

Just as Google previously created a set of guidelines and best practices for e-commerce websites, the focus has now shifted towards news websites. Google has rolled out two videos explaining SEO best practices for news sites and how to effectively utilize Search Console for such platforms. For those operating news websites, these resources are invaluable for optimization.

Generative AI and Search Labs

With the advent of Search Labs, Google has created a playground where users can test new products and ideas. Notably, the Search Generative Experience (SGE) stands out. SGE leverages generative AI to provide richer information and context to your searches. The early days of these systems look promising and underscore the growing influence of AI in the search landscape.

Updates in Search Console

The Search Console isn’t left behind in this wave of updates. Google has added an update to the rich results test that allows code editing, making markup fixes simpler and quicker. Plus, the video indexing report now includes more granular details about video indexing issues. Crucially, Google plans to deprecate the so-called ping endpoint for sitemaps, emphasizing the importance of submitting your sitemap files through Search Console and robots.txt.

Changes in .ai Domain Treatment

For those leveraging .ai domain, Google has updated its treatment. The .ai domain is now considered a generic country code top level domain, an important consideration for international SEO strategies.

Revamped Spam Report

Reporting problematic search results should now be easier, thanks to a significant overhaul of the spam report. This revamp is part of Google’s commitment to ensuring the integrity of search results.

Community Highlights

Lastly, Mueller highlighted some valuable contributions from the SEO community, underscoring the importance of community learning in SEO. Notable mentions include Lily Ray’s post on preparing for AI features in search engines, Jes Scholz’s detailed write-up on website crawling, and Bryan Casey’s work on leading 80% of the marketing content from IBM’s website.

In a nutshell, the evolution of Google’s search landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. By staying updated with these changes and adopting a proactive approach, you can effectively navigate this complex landscape and ensure your online presence remains robust and dynamic.

Thank you to Mueller. Source : Core Web Vitals, Generative AI, and more! – Google Search News (July ‘23)