Google Spam Update, AI Mode Changes, ChatGPT Does Use Google, Search Ad News & More

Search Engine Roundtable Podcast

This week we had our first Google spam update in 8 months, the August 2025 spam update. This update touched down very quickly, likely within 24 hours. I also posted a Google search ranking volatility status report. Google is testing changes to AI Mode to encourage clicks. A new report says traditional search is not dying. A new survey says only 4% of searchers don’t click on links in AI Overviews. Some sites saw a huge decline in crawl rates in Google Search Console, this was a confirmed bug fixed by Google. Google Search Console’s performance report search appearance filter for Android Apps seems broken too. Google Ads PMax channel reporting is now on the account level. Google Ads get audience exclusions for Shopping campaigns. Google Ads has new loyalty goals. Microsoft responds to complaints over its Bing search ads being hard to see. Microsoft is also testing larger title fonts for its search ads over organic listings. Microsoft Advertising shared the dos and don’ts of suspensions and appeals. And I doubt Google is hiring a new Search Liaison. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

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0:00 - Introduction

0:47 - Google August 2025 Spam Update Unleashed

1:29 - Google August 2025 Spam Update Impact Felt Quickly

2:35 - Google Search Ranking Volatility Status Report

2:46 - Google: We're Testing Changes To AI Mode To Encourage Clicks

4:10 - Sparktoro Research: Traditional Search Is Not Declining

4:33 - Survey: Only 4% Of Searchers Don't Click From Google AI Overviews

5:15 - Report: ChatGPT Using SerpApi To Scrape Google Search Results

5:59 - Some Sites Have Huge Crawl Rate Declines In Google Search Console

7:03 - Bug: Google Search Console Performance Report Search Appearance Android App

7:31 - Google Ads PMax Channel Reporting On Account Level

7:45 - Google Ads Gets Audience Exclusions For Shopping Campaigns

8:10 - Loyalty Goal In Google Ads & More Merchant Center Loyalty Offerings

8:44 - Microsoft Responds To Hard To See Search Ad Labels

9:13 - Microsoft Testing Tests Larger Titles For Ads In Bing Search

9:43 - Dos and Don'ts Of Microsoft Advertising Suspensions & Appeals

10:05 - Is Google Hiring Another Search Liaison? Seems Unlikely.

10:42 - Conclusion