Showing posts with label Google. Show all posts

Saturday, July 11, 2026

Google Canonical Evaluation Can Take Up To 2 Weeks

Google has updated the canonicalization troubleshooting guide. This guide explains how long Google takes to reevaluate cluster pages. It is common practice that pages leave cluster pages quickly after submission. You need to manually ask Google for indexing to re-evaluate cluster pages.

Google’s canonical troubleshooting guide explains that you need to wait up to 2 weeks after fixing content to index it in search.

It also explains that pages get out of cluster pages quickly but only when there is a difference between the new content.

Google Canonical Evaluation Can Take Up To 2 Weeks: eAskme
Google Canonical Evaluation Can Take Up To 2 Weeks: eAskme

 

Why Does Google Keep Cluster Pages for Two Weeks?

Google groups similar content pages in a cluster and selects only one as canonical. The new updates guide explains that the only way to make your page leave cluster group is to publish content which is different than cluster pages.

If your new content is different than grouped pages, then it will leave the cluster quickly.

Rather than redirecting or misinformation, google wants you to fix the content on these pages to add real value.

It is best to check Google selected canonical URL to find out if it is the best page for users or not.

Google Canonical Guidance:

Google updates canonical documents in the JavaScript docs. It has updated the canonical document multiple times in recent months.

Why Canonical Guidance Matters:

If you have updated content, your pages are in the group of pages. You should know that Google has set the waiting period up to 2 weeks to fix and reevaluate the content.

After Google’s revaluation your content may get reindexed.

Conclusion:

Google has made it clear that a waiting period can take up to 2 weeks. You need to fix content to ensure that it does not match the other pages. The quicker you can edit and submit your pages, the faster they can get out of the Google cluster pages group.

Other helpful articles:

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Google’s SEO Starter Guide Getting New Update

Google’s SEO Starter guide is going to get a fresh update. Google’s John Mueller, Gary Illyes, and Lizzi Sassman have discussed the need for an updated SEO starter guide during a podcast episode of “Search Off the Record.”

The new SEO Starter guide will remove all the outdated SEO tips and streamline SEO for beginners. It also simplifies the complex SEO topics for newbies.

Google’s SEO starter guide was launched to help newbie SEOs and beginners understand the fundamentals of SEO. But it’s been years since the SEO Starter guide was updated.

Google Search Relations teams have discussed the updated new SEO Starter guide on a podcast.

John Muller, Garry Illyes, and Lizzi Sassman have discussed the need for an updated SEO Starter Guide.

Google’s SEO Starter Guide Getting New Update: eAskme
Google’s SEO Starter Guide Getting New Update: eAskme

What is Google's New SEO Starter Guide?

Google Starter Guide is an 8000-word SEO tip for beginners. It is available on Google’s Search Central website.

Glossary for SEO newbies:

  • Index: Google fetch and index web pages.
  • Crawl: Google visits new and updated pages, follows links, and reads sitemaps.
  • Crawler: Google crawler that visits the site for carling content.
  • Googlebot: Name of the Google crawler.
  • SEO: The process of search engine optimization of the site and content.

Google SEO Started Guide explains how to index your website, improve SEO for better ranking, debug issues, and follow site-specific guidelines.

It’s been years since the Google Started Guide was updated last time.

SEO has changed a lot. It is required to update the SEO Started Guide.

Why SEO Started Guide?

Google SEO Started guide is essential because it comes from the biggest search engine.

Google shares tips from SEO experts and search teams working for Google. There is no space for misleading or outdated SEO tips when Google is there to help you.

Here are the reasons why SEO Professionals trust the SEO Started Guide:

Google SEO Started Guide ranked at the 3rd position when looking for the best SEO resource to learn Search engine optimization. People are spending time reading SEO from Google. The guide is ranking for the “SEO” keyword.

Due to massive searches and the need for guidance, it is necessary to enrich the SEO Started Guide with the latest content and eliminate outdated tips.

Learn Fundamental SEO:

Google search team has simplified the SEO tips for website owners and newbie SEOs.

It is time to make the Google SEO Started Guide filled with relevant and concise tips.

Harvey said that the Google search team already has an updated 3000-word SEO tips draft for the starter guide page. The new content will replace outdated content from the SEO guide page.

Garry Illyes wants the new SEO Started Guide to focus on general SEO topics rather than making it technical.

Popular CMS services like Wix and WordPress make SEO easy without technical coding skills.

Best SEO Practices:

SEO is there to help web admins optimize their websites. With the new SEO guide, fixing SEO issues within the website and its content will become easy.

SEO Started Guide is the best place to learn modern and best SEO practices.

Clean Guidance:

The focus of the new SEO Started guide is to simplify SEO. It is best to say one thing at once rather than say it multiple times on the same page.

Conclusion:

Google’s new SEO Started Guide with updated SEO tips will be released soon.

You will get new tips and clean guidance in the latest SEO guide and eliminate outdated SEO tips.

It will become a necessary guide for SEO beginners and experts to improve the overall SEO of websites.

Are you ready for the SEO in 2024?

Stay tuned with us for more helpful content that can impact your life and business.

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Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Google Adds AI Content Verification to Search: Everything You Need to Know

Every day, you watch hundreds of images without knowing the difference between human-created and AI-generated images.

It is the unsettling reality of modern image designs. To make things easy for you, Google has added AI content verification SynthID watermarking technology to Search.

It is not a minor feature update. It is one of the most important features to build digital trust. It will help every user who is wondering if the image is AI-generated or not.

Google Adds AI Content Verification to Search: Everything You Need to Know: eAskme

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Google AI Content Verification to Search:

Google announced that it is expanding the SynthID verification tool into Google search. It is also part of Google Chrome.

The company also announced the launch of a new AI Content Detection API on Google Cloud. It also adds C2PA Content Credentials verification in the Gemini App.

Google is also expanding its partnership with AI image generation tools.

Let’s find out everything about the announcement.

What Is SynthID, and Why Should You Care?

If you are not aware of what Google SynthID is, then you have a lot to learn.

Google introduced SynthID in 2023. It is a digital watermarking technology that scans AI-generated images.

It does not add a label or digital stamp to images, but it embeds signals into AI-generated content at the time of creation.

You cannot see any watermark. You also cannot remove it. It is only for Google to verify using tools.

Google has integrated SynthID across its digital media products and models.

Google is using SynthID to mark more than 100 billion images and videos. It is equivalent to 60,000 years of audio content. It is not a program but an infrastructure.

Now, Google announced that SynthID verification is a part of the search to check if the images were AI-generated or not.

You can use the following tools:

  • Google Lens
  • AI Mode
  • Circle to Search

You can also upload the image to Google and ask, "Is this made with AI?" or "Is this AI generated?"
Google will check the content for SynthID watermarks.

There is no separate app or third-party tool. It is part of your search experience.

C2PA Content Credentials:

SynthID detects AI-generated images. But it's C2PA Content Credentials that verify if something is real or not. It is an industry standard to record how media was created or modified.

No matter if it was captured through a camera, edited in Photoshop, or enhanced using AI tools.

Google has added C2PA Content Credentials verification to the Gemini app. It is also a part of Google Search and Chrome.

It lets users check if something is AI-generated or altered using AI tools.

Here is how it matters:

  • C2PA verification can confirm that the viral image claiming a real news event was taken by a camera or generated by AI.
  • It also helps insurance companies to verify the image evidence before processing the claims.
  • It also helps voters verify that the political images spreading on social media are genuine or fake.

Google has already tested this with Pixel phones. Notably, Pixel 10 was the first smartphone with C2PA Content Credentials for images in the native camera app.

Google has also expanded it to include video capture on Pixel 8, 9, and 10.

It means that when taking a photo, it will add details that the image was not AI-generated.

The New AI Content Detection API:

Google is not only helping individuals but also businesses. It has launched the AI Content Detection API on Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Right now, this API is available for a trusted group of partners only. This API can detect AI-generated content made by Google’s own models and other popular AI models.

The practical use cases include:

  • Sort content feeds to filter AI-generated images.
  • Check if the photographic evidence is real or not to prevent insurance fraud.
  • Fast checking at scale for media and news agencies.
  • Label synthetic media for transparency.

Google’s initial partners with API access include Shutterstock, Snap, Avid, Fox Sports, and Canva. Google is expanding to many platforms to reach millions of users.

SynthID Is Going Mainstream:

Google is not the only brand that uses SynthID. Many other brands are collaborating with Google to make SnythID mainstream technology.

OpenAI, Kakao, and ElevenLabs:

OpenAI, Kakao, and ElevenLabs are collaborating with Google to use SynthID watermarking technology in their AI-generated content.

OpenAI is the company behind ChatGPT and Dall-E. The cross-competition collaboration will bring better results.

Open-sourced SynthID text watermarking technology:

Google has open-sourced SynthID text watermarking technology. Anyone can implement it. Google has also partnered with NVIDIA to watermark AI-generated videos.

Meta:

Meta also labels camera-captured media with Content Credentials. It brings trust and authenticity to images and videos. Two tech giants are sharing C2PA technology as standard.

Laurie Richardson, Google's VP of Trust & Safety, and Pushmeet Kohli, Chief Scientist, have talked about the industry-wide collaborations.

Digital media spread faster. A photo taken on Pixel can be shared on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and other platforms.

What SynthID Can and Cannot Do?

SynthID is a technology, and like any other technology, it also has some benefits and limitations.

SynthID can detect:

  • Images, videos, and audio created with AI tools that have implemented SynthID watermarking.
  • Content created with Google's generative AI products
  • Content from partner companies that have adopted SynthID

SynthID cannot detect:

  • AI-generated content from tools without SynthID watermarking.
  • Content where watermarks may have been deliberately removed.
  • Older AI-generated content before SynthID.

These are the reasons why Google is pushing SynthID technology for global adoption. The more platforms that implement SynthID, the larger the content it can detect.

What Does This Mean for Creators, Publishers, and Everyday Users?

Content Creators:

It is a must to understand SynthID before you generate images, videos, and audio using AI tools.

Content created from the tools that have adopted SynthID is identifiable.

It is not a bad thing. It creates transparency about AI-generated content.

Publishers and Media Organizations:

The AI Content Detection API is there to help you.

You can check whether the submitted photos, videos, and audio clips are AI-generated or not.

API integration into workflow increases the capability to analyze stock photo platforms, newsrooms, and content moderation teams.

Everyday Users:

It is best to use these tools. It will help you easily identify if the images or content were generated with AI or not.

If you have doubts about the image, you can always ask Google if it was made with AI.

Businesses:

API and verification tools help marketing teams and eCommerce managers to manage thousands of images with ease.

It makes the verification process easy.

History of SynthID:

  • 2023: Google launched SynthID for image watermarking only.
  • 2024: Google expanded SynthID to more content types. It also added “About This Image” to Circle to Search and Lens.
  • 2025: Pixel 10 becomes the first smartphone with native C2PA Content Credentials.
  • 2026: SynthID verification expanded to Google Search and Chrome. C2PA verification launched in the Gemini app. 

Conclusion:

Google is committed to adding AI content verification to search and all other products and services. It is a way to ensure transparency and is necessary to build trust. Google has been building and expanding SynthID since 2023.  It has already embedded technology into 100 billion content pieces.

Google is working in the right direction. SynthID verification appears in the search bar. Chrome is also flagging AI-generated media in tabs.

FAQs:

Is SynthID verification available right now in Google Search?

Yes. SynthID is live in Google search through Lens, AI mode, and Circle to Search.

Do I need a special account or subscription to use it?

No.

Can SynthID detect all AI-generated images?

No. It can only detect images with a SynthID watermark.

What is C2PA, and how is it different from SynthID?

C2PA Content Credentials provides details about the media, such as whether a camera captured it or it was modified.

What companies are using SynthID watermarking?

OpenAI, Kakao, ElevenLabs, and NVIDIA are using SynthID watermarking.

Other helpful articles:

Monday, April 20, 2026

The European Commission Wants Google to Share Data with Third-Party Search Engines

Why the European Commission Wants Google to Share Data with Third-Party Search Engines.
Google is the leading search engine in the EU with up to 90% market share.

Bing is the only closest competitor with up to 6% share in the European market. The European Commission challenges Google’s dominance in the search engine market. They proposed that Google must share data with AI chatbots and rival search engines.

The European Commission published a report proposing measures that Google should adopt to share the search data with rival search engines.

The report also includes sharing data with qualified AI chatbots.

The EU Commission proposed that Google must share data in four categories: ranking, views, clicks, and queries.

The European Commission Wants Google to Share Data with Third-Party Search Engines: eAskme

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The commission further reported that it allows third-party search engines to optimize their services and challenge Google’s position.

The final decision is due on July 27, 2026.

The European Commission Proposal:

The European Commission proposed the following measures:

  • Eligibility criteria for data beneficiaries
  • Search the extent of the data required to share
  • Intervals and methods for sharing data
  • Anonymization standards
  • Guidelines to determine FRAND pricing
  • How beneficiaries can access the data

Data shared by Google will be available to the eligible third parties. The European Commission has not provided the list of eligible parties. But it includes rival search engines and AI chatbots.

Rival Search Engines are Eligible:

While the European Commission has not disclosed the rival search engines. It is expected that the proposal is to share data with other search engines like Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave, and Yandex.

AI Chatbots Are Eligible:

The European Commission reported that AI chatbots are also eligible to access data shared by Google. It will make AI search visibility easier and accessible.

AI chatbots that meet the DMA’s definition of online search engines will get access to Google’s anonymized search data.

AI search engines can use similar methods, pricing, and frequency to optimize AI search.

Google’s Response:

Google is opposing the proposal. Senior Competition Counsel at Google, Clare Kelly, said that millions of Europeans trust Google for sensitive searches. They search Google for finance, family, and health-related questions. Sharing this data with unsecured search engines and AI bots will put the user's privacy at risk.

Google also explained that the European Commission’s proposal appears to be driven by OpenAI. Google claimed that OpenAI is trying to use the DMA to harvest data from Google.

Google is already facing multiple challenges in the European Union.

Significance of European Commission Proposal:

The proposed measures are preliminary. Even if they are adopted, they will impact the searches within EEA.

Anonymization and pricing details remain open. It is yet to be seen if AI chatbots' eligibility will remain a part of the final decision.

If the EU proposal is adopted, then AI chatbots will use Google signals to rank products and search for EU users.

Conclusion:

The public response will close on May 1, 2026. The European Commission will make a final decision by July 27, 2026.

The proceedings will not follow the non-compliance results, but DMA will impose 10% of fine on global turnover.

If the final decision keeps AI chatbots' access to Google data, then it will reshape the AI search in the European market.

Other helpful articles:

Friday, March 20, 2026

Google's AI Mode Personal Intelligence Feature is Free for All: But in the U.S. Only

In January 2026, Google launched personal intelligence as part of the pro and premium plans. In March 2026, Google made personal intelligence available for every user with AI Mode.

Right now, only U.S. users are allowed to access personal intelligence for free. Eventually, it will roll out to other countries as well.

You can access personal intelligence through Gemini in Chrome and the Gemini app. It connects Google Photos and Gmail to create a personalized AI experience.

The reason why Google decided to move personal intelligence from a premium feature to Free-for-all is to test its capabilities with a wider audience.

Now, personal intelligence is available for free to AI Ultra and AI Pro users.

Here is what you must know about personal intelligence.

Google AI Mode’s Personal Intelligence Now Free for All: But in the U.S. Only: eAskme

 Other people are reading: Why is Google Crawling 404 a good thing? John Mueller Explained!

Personal Intelligence:

Google’s personal intelligence feature allows you to connect Google apps to get customized and personalized responses. It is available through Chrome and the Gemini App.

You can allow it to connect your Gmail account with Google Photos. With these features, you can expect personalized answers based on discovery and planning.

Personal Intelligence Free-For-All in the U.S.:

Google rolled our Personal Intelligence feature for free users in the U.S. Users can access the feature in AI Mode. The feature is also available through the Gemini App and Chrome.

Now, AI can access your email and photos to generate a personalized response. It is helpful to plan international trips, travel bookings, and share memories.

Update:

In January 2026, Google launched Personal Intelligence only for premium users. But now, it is available for free users as well.

Yet only the U.S. users are allowed to access the free Personal Intelligence feature.

You can still not use the Personal Intelligence feature in education, enterprise, and business accounts.

To opt in, you must connect apps through Gemini or search settings. It also gives you the option to turn off the feature anytime.

Personal Intelligence and Training Data:

Google has made it clear that AI mode and Gemini do not train on your Google Photos and Gmail data.

They use specific prompts and model responses. These prompts only work when you are using Personal Intelligence from connected apps.

Why Personal Intelligence Matters?

The change from paid to free access is necessary to scale Personal Intelligence.

When it was limited to Ultra or Pro Subscription, its audience reached a smaller user base.

Allowing Personal Intelligence for free users gives Google an edge to access personalized data.

Personalization:

The free Personal Intelligence feature increases personalization in AI mode.

It means that the AI mode response will not differ from user to user.

Even if the two users search for the same query, they will still get different answers. AI gets more access to Google Photos and Gmail.

Change Queries:

The new free-to-all feature allows users to type more queries in AI mode. It gives Google context to the searcher, as a result search will become shorter. 

Conclusion:

Google has limited the free Personal Intelligence feature to U.S. users only. The search engine giant first tested the features with premium users and then rolled them out for free users.

It is yet to be seen how people respond to sharing personal data with AI and search engines.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Why is Google Crawling 404 a good thing? John Mueller Explained!

John Muller explained that Googlebot crawling 404 pages is a good thing. It means that Google is interested in crawling more content from the website.

Google’s John Muller uploaded a video on the topic “How Google treats 404 and 410 status codes differently?” The video explains the impact of 404 and 410 pages. He also explained why it is good if Google crawls your 404 pages.

Why is Google Crawling 404 a good thing? John Mueller Explained!: eAskme

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404 Status Code:

404 status code represents the page that does not exist. It is an error code. In search engine optimization, the 404-error means that you need to fix links that lead to broken pages. Modern SEO does not require web admins to fix 404 error pages.

Whenever a user or crawler visits a page that does not exist, the server sends 404 error messages. This message communicates that the requested page does not exist. The error is that the request is not in the webpage.

404 error is also called 404 Not Found. Whenever a requested page is not found, it results in a 404 status code.

Why Google Crawls 404 Pages:

A Reddit user posted that Google keeps crawling his 404 pages. Even though those pages were not listed on the sitemap. The Googlebot is crawling pages with a status code of 404.

This indicates that the crawl budget is getting wasted on missing pages.

The user claimed that he checked pages-sitemap.xml for missing pages, and the pages are not there.

John Muller’s response to 404 Crawling:

Google has been crawling 404 pages for a very long time. Pages that are removed often fall in this category.

John Muller makes it clear that repeated 404 crawling means that Google wants to crawl more content, and it is a good sign for the website.

404 Page Not Found Response:

404 status code is nothing more than a page not found. It also displays that there is no error on the page, but the request itself is an error.

410 Gone Response:

410 status code means that the page is gone permanently. It indicates that the links to the 410 pages should be removed.

How Google Handles 404 and 410 Status Codes:

  • 410: It is the error status code that indicates that the page has been removed permanently. Google treats it the same way it treats the 404 status code.
  • 404: This status code means that the page does not exist. Google crawlers can still crawl 410 or 404 pages.

John Muller on 404 and 410 Codes:

John Muller explained that these error codes do not cause a problem. You can leave them the way they are.

Google has no issue if your website search console report displays multiple 404 and 410 pages.

404 Server Response Misunderstandings:

Many web admins and SEOs often make mistakes thinking 404 is an error page.

404 (Page Not Found):

404 responses simply mean that the page was not found. Even the official web standard for the 404-status code confirms that.

404 Is Not an Error:

404 is a status code, not an error. There is nothing to fix as the page is not broken. It is the request that is trying to visit the page that does not exist.

Conclusion:

Googlebot often crawls pages with a 404 status code. It does not mean that you must fix anything. It simply means that there is no page for the requested URL.

Search console displays 404 errors so that web admins know which pages are intentionally gone and which are just error requests.

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Sunday, March 15, 2026

Google Ask Maps: Conversational Map Search

Google’s Ask Map feature helps users with real-world conversations and immersive AI navigation to make the route intuitive.

Google announced the release of Ask Map, which brings an immersive travel experience with Google Maps. It uses fresh maps and Gemini AI models. With this feature, for the first time, users can start conversations with Maps.

Right now, Ask Map is available ad-free. There is no announcement whether users will be charged for the feature or if it is free for all.

Google Ask Maps will be available in the U.S. and India.

Users can ask questions about locations and get AI-generated personalization map suggestions.

You can access the Ask Map feature on Android and iOS devices in India and the U.S.

Right now, Ask Map is not available for desktop.

Google Ask Maps: Conversational Map Search: eAskme

 

Ask Maps:

The reason behind Ask Map is to trigger conversations and help users get a better experience on the route. You can ask questions while using Google Maps and get AI-generated answers.

For example, you can ask questions like “Is there a fuel station with lights on where I can refuel my car?” Or “My phone battery is low, where can I charge it without waiting for too long?”

How to Ask for Map Works?

Ask Map uses Google’s database of 500 million user reviews and 300 million places to generate responses. Rather than filling the map with map pins or blue links, you get business details and reviews in a single answer within the map.

How to Ask for Map Works: eAskme

VP and GM of Google Maps, Miriam Daniel, announced that As Map is a new conversational experience for users. It answers complex questions and provides real world solutions.

Action and Personalization:

Ask Map offers customizable solutions. It tracks Google Maps activity, such as saved places and searches.

For example, if you ask for a fuel station to refill, it may already be used to use your location to track the nearest or your most visited stations.

You can also ask for restaurant suggestions, and it will give you a recommendation list to choose from. You can book reservations, save places and share with your friends.

Does Google Monetize Ask Map?

Google has not provided any information about Ask Map monetization. We have tried to get responses from Google executives, but they declined to provide any information.

Our question is specifically about whether the Ask Maps recommendations can help advertisers get top places.

Google Maps is already monetized with ads. Map search ads and prompted pins are available.

But there is no information about how ads will be incorporated within the Ask Map feature.

Immersive Navigation Experience:

Not only Ask Map, but Google is also releasing Immersive Navigation experience update.

Now Google Maps will display a 3D view of navigation. 3D navigation will display terrain and buildings.

Immersive Navigation Features:

  • 3D map
  • Natural Voice Guidance
  • Alternate route comparison
  • Comparison between toll cost and traffic delay.
  • Street View Previews with parking recommendations.

Google is rolling out Immersive Navigation in the U.S. on Android and iOS devices. It supports Google Car built-in feature, Android Auto, and CarPlay.

Impact of Ask Map:

Ask Map is another tool where users see Gemini AI integration. Google launched Gemini in Maps in November 2025. It offers landmark-based navigation and conversational driving.

In January 2026, Google released the features for cycling and walking.

Ask Map makes Gemini a prominent feature in Google Maps. Now you can discover new places and plan trips using Ask Map.

Businesses:

Ask Maps integrates businesses into recommendations. Google will pull information from contributor reviews and places databases. There is no information about how it ranks businesses in recommendations.

Advertisers:

Google has not announced ads in Ask Maps. It is still to be seen how Google will monetize the Ask Maps feature.

Conclusion:

The Ask Maps feature is available in the U.S. and India. It is accessible on iOS and Android devices. The desktop version is not available.

Immersive navigation is available in the U.S. only. Google released features on Android and iOS devices.
It comes with build in Google cars, Android Auto, and CarPlay.

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Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Google Zero: What is It? And why?

Google Zero is the belief of some marketers, SEOs, and web admins. They believe that one day, most of the Google traffic will disappear and Google search will become irrelevant.

This kind of narrative surfaces every time Google makes some major changes to its search engine.

Whenever Google launches a new feature, it drops traffic to the publisher websites and brings more traffic to Google products like YouTube, search and image search.

While it is natural to see the traffic drop when Google makes changes, it doesn’t mean that Google will become irrelevant. The idea of Google Zero is dangerous and irrelevant in itself.

Google Zero: What is It? And why?: eAskme

Other people are reading: Google Updates Get on Discover Guideline Document: What You Must Know!

Google Zero:

Google Zero is not a new idea. It is a decade-old belief that emerges whenever the organic traffic drops. Year after year, organic search traffic became difficult. Web admins and SEOs require working hard to achieve the best ranking position in search results. Ranking in Discover is also not easy.

Over the last 20 years, ranking algorithms have changed the way search engines rank content.

Google introduced the search element in 2007. The goal is to provide the best user experience to the searcher and deliver the best possible solutions.

Google has introduced multiple elements in search results that have caused a drop in organic traffic for major and minor websites. The traffic websites lost directed to other Google products like Google Maps, images, and YouTube.

Searchers do not click the links if they get the information without links.

Google’s every feature has followed this pattern, which affected the organic traffic of multiple websites. Many websites even filed lawsuits against Google.

However, news publishers found a new way to attract traffic from Google Discover.

AI Overview has changed the search in a big way. Everyone panicked when Google started displaying solutions through AI Overviews and AI Mode.

What The Verge’s Nilay Patel and Sparktoro’s Amanda Natividad Believes:

The Verge’s Nilay Patel and Sparktoro’s Amanda Natividad also mentioned the Google Zero. While Nilay directly used the Google Zero term, Amanda used Zero-click marketing.

The reason why Nilay Patel believes in Google Zero is obvious. His website, The Verge, has been losing traffic since 2023. AI Overviews and AI Mode also dropped the website’s traffic.

Even though Google is still sending organic traffic to The Verge website. Nilay is complaining because he believes that a drop in organic traffic means Google is irrelevant, which is a dangerous and false belief.

The Verge’s traffic drop is related to Google’s algorithm update and reputation abuse policies.

It seems that sometimes even the leaders choose to believe in something that does not exist.

Google Zero Is Nothing:

There is no existence of Google Zero. Google can never be zero, even if it changes the whole search experience.

It is just the panic attack that most of the web admins have when their organic traffic drops.

As the traffic of major websites declines, they are shifting to other marketing channels.

I also believe in using an omnichannel approach to get sustainable traffic. But diversifying traffic does not prove Google Zero.

You should and must always optimize your website for Google search.

No matter how much organic traffic your website has, Google is still the largest search engine and the biggest platform to attract organic traffic.

There is no way that it can be replaced with any other channel.

Undoubtedly, Google traffic is becoming harder day by day. But getting away from Google is the fool’s dilemma.

What to do:

If your Google traffic drops, then invest more in SEO. Fix issues and get your rankings back.

If you choose to stay away when your traffic drops, then you will see more traffic drop as you are not investing in the right direction.

Conclusion:

Google Zero idea is only for those who believe in it. It has nothing to do with reality.

Invest in SEO. Only then can you compete with the businesses that are heavily investing in search engine optimization.

Google is here, and its search engine will be dominating the organic market for a very long time. There is no other competitor that can match Google in traffic value and relevance. Abandoning the Google search is the worst decision of all time.

Now you know that Google is there to help you, fix your errors and claim your rankings.

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Sunday, February 8, 2026

Google Updates Get on Discover Guideline Document: What You Must Know!

Google has updates it “Get on Discover” document featuring page experience recommendations. Updated document clarifies that sensationalism and clickbait headings will not be part of Google Discover.

In a recent update, Google launched changes to page experience. The update came during the release of the February Discover update 2026.

Here is what you must know!

Google Updates Get on Discover Guideline Document: eAskme

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Google “Get on Discover”:

Google updated “Get on the Discover" page. This page shares the necessary information that explains how pages rank in the Discover feed.

The company updated the document during the release of the February Discover core update.

Google clarified that more information was necessary to give SEOs details about how websites can increase their content's appearance in the Discover feed.

Changes to Get on Discover:

You can compare the new Google “Get on Discover” page updated content with its archived version available on the Web Archive. 

It displays that the recommendation section got a massive update.

The previous version of “Get on Discover” never used a straight word to target clickbait content. But the new update shares that page titles must have the essence of the content, but are not allowed to use clickbait titles.

“Get on Discover” update is divided into two sections:
  • Use titles and headlines with the essence of the content.
  • Avoid clickbait and artificially inflate engagement.

Note: for the first time, Google used the word clickbait in the “Get on Discover” document.

Google has also changed the sensationalism guidance.

  • Old version: The previous version asked content publishers to avoid manipulative tactics to trigger outrage, curiosity and titillation.
  • New version: The updated version asks publishers to provide a great user experience.

Google also linked to Google’s page experience documentation, which defines how to improve page experience for the target audience.

Note: There are no changes to performance monitoring, image requirements, and traffic fluctuation details.

Relevance of “Get on Discover” Update:

Google made specific changes to ensure that its core algorithm updates target websites with clickbait in the Discover feed.

Google’s Discover Core Update Announcement:

Google’s Discover Core Update page announced that from now on, discover feed will display more local content. It will reduce the clickbait and sensational content.

This way, it helps to display original content.

Part of Algorithm Updates:

Google Discover is part of the Helpful Content documentation and the Discover documentation update. Both pages share information about how discovery will now evaluate content to rank in the feed.

Page experience is part of Google Search Guidance. This is the first time Google added it to discover page.

How to Keep Your Content Relevant for Discover Feed:

Google wants you to keep titles relevant for content and audience. Do not use clickbait headlines to lure traffic.

Google prefers local content in Discover results. It is best to target the audience in the local market.

Conclusion:

Google released the February Discover core update in February 2026. It is targeting English-language websites in the United States. The rollout will be completed in two weeks. Google will eventually launch updates in other languages and countries.

Publishers will monitor significant changes to their discovery traffic in Search Console. You should read the “Get on Discover” page to grasp everything.

Other helpful articles:

Monday, January 12, 2026

Google Launched the Universal Commerce Protocol and Business Agents!

Google AI mode is empowered with new agentic eCommerce features. Where UCP works as the new standard for eCommerce, and AI agents help shoppers engage with brand chatbots.

The goal of AI eCommerce in Google AI mode is to enrich it for online shoppers and eCommerce businesses.

We already know that AI mode enables deeper queries. It means that when a buyer is looking for a product online, they will not only get information but also get checkout options like online shopping.

Google Launched the Universal Commerce Protocol and Business Agent

Other people are reading: Catturd Twitter: Who runs it, Why it goes viral, and FAQs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Google’s "New Tech and Tools for Retailers" opens the future of agentic eCommerce.
  • UCP is the new standard protocol.
  • Shoppers engage in online chats with business agents.
  • Retailers get the benefit of new merchant center data to get discovered.
  • Google Ads now display direct offers with exclusive discounts.

On January 11, 2026, Google announced the launch of new features for agentic eCommerce.

Google AI mode will help buyers make buying decisions based on information and product catalogs.

Google Agentic eCommerce and Online Shopping:

Google launched agentic tools for shopping during the 2025 holiday season. It tested and improved the capabilities of agentic payment systems.

Now, Google believes that agentic eCommerce is the future. It is time for businesses and users to adopt new features and settings.

Here are the new features and updates for eCommerce businesses and customers.

New Universal Commerce Protocol:

Google introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP). It is an open standard protocol for agentic eCommerce. It works throughout the eCommerce journey from discovery to purchase.

The new UCP standard is an eCommerce language for systems and business agents. It creates an eCommerce ecosystem that builds a connection between businesses, payment systems, and customers.

Under the UCP system, all commerce agents collaborate to work in rhythm. They are synced in a format that makes them work collaboratively.

UCP can also collaborate with:

  • Agent2Agent (A2A) Protocol
  • Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) Protocol
  • Model Context Protocol (MCP) Protocol

Google co-developed UCP with:

  • Shopify
  • Etsy
  • Wayfair
  • Target
  • Walmart
  • Adyen
  • American Express
  • Best Buy
  • Flipkart
  • Macy’s
  • Mastercard
  • Stripe
  • The Home Depot
  • GAP
  • Chewy
  • Zalando

Future of the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP):

Google will empower UCP with a new checkout feature to allow customers to buy products from Google listings. These listings are available in AI mode.

The checkout feature in AI mode will launch in the U.S. only for U.S. retailers.

Shoppers can make a payment via Google Pay or a wallet. Son, it will add PayPal and other payment methods.

Customers will also get related product listings to buy more products.

Branded AI Agent:

Google’s branded AI agent, known as “Business Agent,” will help shoppers chat with sellers.

It works like a virtual salesperson that answers questions related to products or brands. It is a direct way to engage with customers during sales.

Business agents have been active since January 12, 2026. You can engage with business agents of popular retailers like Reebok, Poshmark, Michaels, and Lowe’s.

Right now, business agents are only active for U.S. retailers.

These retailers can customize business agents to meet the business requirements.

Direct Offers:

Direct Offers is a unique way to generate sales.

When an online shopper visits AI mode to find products to buy, that is where they get to see ads in AI mode. These ads include direct offers.

AI mode will feature direct offers of a 20% discount on checkout.

Brands can customize their direct offers.

Why AI In Google Shopping?

Google shopping is taking advantage of AI technology to empower its business and increase user satisfaction.

AI mode is where the user lands only when they have the desire to do more.

This is where ads and shopping listings can work better.

To monetize the opportunity, Google has decided to launch product listing, ads, and business agents in AI mode.

Conclusion:

Be ready for AI-built future. When brands like Google are moving towards AI shopping, the other brands will also follow the same.

Google always displays the path that other brands follow to succeed.

In the case of AI shopping, only large organizations have a better hand as they can invest billions in creating user-friendly shopping AI technologies.

Right now, a seller can use Google product listings and direct ads to generate sales using Google AI mode.

Other helpful articles:

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Google Photos Launched 5 New Video Editing Tools

Google Photos received a new set of video editing tools ahead of the holiday season. Christmas and New Year are on the way, and Google is giving photos and video editors new tools to optimize, edit, and generate videos using Google Photos.

On December 9, 2025, Google launched 5 new video editing tools in Google Photos.

Here is everything about the new video editing tools.

Google Photos Launched 5 New Video Editing Tools

5 New Video Editing Tools for Google Photos:

5 new video editing tools for Google Photos are:

  1. Highlight video templates
  2. Redesigned video editor
  3. Soundtrack
  4. Custom text
  5. Customizable individual videos

1).  Highlight Video Templates:

As the name suggests, the highlight video templates are rolling out on smartphones. It allows you to add music, edit text, and cut soundtracks.

With an easy-to-use template, you can choose multiple photos and videos to edit.

Your photos will automatically create a shareable video with the music.

All you need to do is open the "Create" tab and select "Highlight Video."

2). Redesigned Video Editor:

Google has redesigned the video editor. The new video editor is accessible on both Android and iOS devices. Use it to optimize your videos with creative ideas.

The best thing about the Google Photos video editor is that it allows you to edit multiple videos and photos in one go.

Add storytelling in your videos to make them compelling. Choose the right canvas settings to create a video ready for the devices.

3). Add Soundtracks:

Now, you can add and edit soundtracks in your videos.

All you need to do is open the library and choose a soundtrack. You can also cut the music to use on highlighted videos.

4). Custom text:

You may have seen reels and shorts with custom text. The text helps users to understand video without voiceover.

Google launched custom text in Google Photos.

You can add text and restyle it with fonts, backgrounds, and colors. You can even change the portion of your text.

5). Customize Individual Videos:

Now, you can redesign existing videos using the video editor on Android and iOS devices. Choose the video in the video editor and start editing.

Add text, music, and animations to make your video interesting. 

Why Google Launched New Video Editing Tools in Google Photos?

Google launched new tools ahead of the holiday season to ensure that users can easily add photos and videos to tell stories.

Editing multiple photos with a soundtrack and custom text makes it easy to create videos for reels and stories.

Who should use Google Photos Video Editor?

Users with the goal to create videos with easy-to-use tools should use Google Photos Video Editor.

It is best for creating YouTube Shorts and Facebook and Instagram Reels.

Users:

Google Photos users can simply add multiple photos with soundtracks and text to create engaging videos to share with family and friends.  

Bloggers:

Bloggers should use Google Photos Video Editor tools to convert blog posts into videos and reels.

The short video stories help you repurpose your existing content and grab more traffic.

Marketers:

Marketers should use the Google Photos video editor to create short videos for new marketing campaigns.

You can use multiple product images, banners, and customer stories to create videos.

Conclusion:

Google has added multiple video editing tools to the Google Photos Video Editor.

You can not only edit videos and add text and soundtracks but also get 15 GB of cloud storage.

Google Photos video editor is an AI-powered tool to create and tell stories.

For advanced video editing, you should use professional video editors

FAQs:

What are the new Google Photos video editing tools?

Google launched 5 new video editing tools on December 9, 2025. Highlight Video Templates, Redesigned Video Editor, Add Soundtracks, Custom Text, and Customize Individual Videos are the new tools.

Who should use video editing tools?

Bloggers, marketers, and influencers should use video editing tools to create compelling stories.

Are Google Photos video editing tools free?

Yes.

How to Access Google Photos Video Editing Tools?

Install the Google Photos app on your Android or iOS devices. Now, you can easily edit photos and videos.

Can I share videos on social media?

Yes. You can share edited videos on social media.

Other helpful articles:

Saturday, October 18, 2025

Google Lighthouse 13 Available Online: How to Access It?

Google Lighthouse 13 replaced earlier versions of Lighthouse in Chrome Canary, NPM, and PageSpeed Insights. The new features of Lighthouse offer broader site reports.

Now you will see non-scored edits.

Note: Lighthouse 13 will not change the Core Web Vitals score calculation system.

Google Lighthouse 13 Available

Google Lighthouse 13:

Google Lighthouse 13 replaced legacy audit features in DevTools.

Major changes to Google Lighthouse 13:

  • CLS Layout: Lighthouse 13's cls-culprits-insight replaces layout-shifts. It displays inner details about layout shift.
  • Server and Network: Document-latency-insight display response time, text compression, and redirects.
  • Images: Image-delivery-insight offers better points to solve image optimization, responsiveness, and content animation.
  • Largest Contentful Paint: LCP details are available in two sections. Lcp-discovery-insight and Lcp-phases-insight are available.
  • Third-party insights: Third-party insights offer better results than third-party summaries.

Other Lighthouse 13 Replacements:

  • DOM size issues
  • Duplicate JavaScript
  • Legacy JavaScript
  • Font
  • Network tree
  • Render blocking JavaScript.
  • Viewport
  • Caching
  • HTTPS or HTTPs

Lighthouse Audits removed from Lighthouse 13:

Google has removed multiple audits from Lighthouse 13. The reason is that these audits are outdated and meaningless in modern settings.

Note: Google also removed some audits because they were too costly to run.

Audits Removed from Lighthouse 13:

  • first-meaningful-paint
  • font-size
  • no-document-write
  • offscreen-images
  • preload-fonts
  • third-party facades
  • uses-rel-preload
  • uses-passive-event-listeners

Minor Differences in Lighthouse 13:

Google set unsized-images and non-composited-animations as separate entities.

Preload-fonts and font-size removed.

Why Changes to Lighthouse 13 Matter?

Lighthouse is about giving you details to find issues in your website design and structure.

With Lighthouse 13 you get fewer lines and deeper insights.

How to Access Lighthouse 13?

Here are ways to access Lighthouse 13 reports:

Note: If you do not want to use extensions, then Google PageSpeed Insights is for you.

Conclusion:

Google has aligned with DevTools and Lighthouse results. Now you will see fresh reports, without too many lines.

Other helpful articles:

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Google AI Mode: How to Get Featured?

Google search is going AI. First Google AI Overviews, and now Google AI Mode, are answering user queries with AI-generated results. AI is changing the Google search. It is time for you to pay attention to AI Mode.

I have already explained Google AI Overviews. It is the time to learn what Google AI Mode is and how it is bringing a massive change to organic search.

You will also learn how AI Mode can impact organic traffic. How to get your website featured? Which content strategy is best?

Here is what you must know.

Google AI Mode

Google AI Mode:

What is Google AI Mode?

Google AI Mode is the new way to search for the answer. It gives direct solutions to user queries. Most questions get branded references.

AI Mode is powered by the same AI Overviews system. You can also access Gemini 2.5 Pro, which is the latest and most intelligent AI model from Google.

The results in AI Mode come from the combination of knowledge graphs, traditional search, and AI-generated solutions.

When you run the same query on both AI Overviews and AI Mode, you get different results.

AI Overviews results are based on search algorithms. AI mode results come from multiple sources with deeper meaning.

In other words, AI Move gives more concise and clear answers than AI Overviews.

How to Access Google AI Mode?

How to Access Google AI Mode?

Google AI Mode is available in the U.S., U.K., and India. AI Mode will roll out to 100s of other countries in coming weeks.

If you are living in the countries with Google AI Mode, then you will see a different Google homepage than the traditional one.

The Google homepage now displays 3 options:

  • Search by Voice
  • Search by Image
  • AI Mode

Evolution of Google AI Mode:

Evolution of Google AI Mode

  • Google has been building AI since 2017.
  • In March 2023, Google launched Bard.
  • In December 2023, Google announced the new LLM Gemini.
  • In February 2024, Google rebranded Bard as Gemini.
  • In May 2024, Google launched AI Overviews.
  • In May 2025, Google released AI Mode.
  • In July 2025, Google launched file upload and live video search capabilities to AI Mode.

AI mode is part of Google’s family of AI tools.

Google’s family of AI tools includes

  • VEO (Video Maker)
  • Imagen (text-to-image model)
  • Project Mariner
  • AI Mode
  • AI Overviews

AI Mode vs. AI Overviews:

Google gets two AI features in search results: AI Mode and AI Overviews.

Both are powered by Google Gemini yet work in different ways.

Here are the differences between AI Mode and AI Overviews:

  • Reasoning: AI Mode is better at reasoning. AI overviews provide the summary of the entire solution, but AI Mode goes deeper and offers a conclusion.
  • Understanding: AI mode also understands images and photos. But AI overviews lack this feature.
  • Complexity: AI Mode is best at solving complex problems. AI Overviews offer fact-based answers.
  • Follow-Up Questions: AI Overviews do not take follow-up questions. AI Mode allows you to chat and ask follow-up questions.
  • Uploads: AI Overview does not accept photo uploads. AI mode accepts image and PDF uploads to provide better solutions.

How to Get Your Content Featured in AI Mode?

SEOs are asking questions like how to rank in AI mode. Google made it clear that GEO or AEO does not help to rank in AI results.

Then what does?

Here is how you can rank your content in AI mode:

Traditional SEO:

Google still considers traditional best SEO practices over GEO or AEO.

Site health, helpful content, and natural backlinks play important roles in landing your website in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Indexing:

Only indexed webpages get the chance to rank in Google AI Mode or AI Overviews. You must check your Google Search Console report to find out which pages are indexed.

Take help of the URL inspection tool to find out errors in indexing.

Follow Google guidelines to improve content quality and indexing.

Forums and Discussion Boards:

Be active on relevant forums and discussion boards.

Join Reddit and increase your Reddit Karma.

Not only Google, but ChatGPT also uses Reddit discussions as references.

Schema Markup:

Schema markup is still relevant. Use necessary structured data to tell LLM crawlers the information they need to know.

Use relevant schema such as article, website, recipe, FAQs, etc.

Digital PR:

Digital PR is essential.

It helps you gain traffic, mentions, and backlinks. Multiple brand mentions increase the chances to get features on AI Mode and AI overviews.

Create shareable content.

Choose a PR distribution platform to connect with journalists.

Conclusion:

AI is the future of Google search. Google is increasing the family of AI tools with AI Mode and AI overviews.

SEO experts are debating how to appear in AI search on Google or how Google AI has taken the first spot for billions of queries.

No matter what your reason is, AI is there, and you must adopt it to improve your website’s organic position in AI Mode.

Other helpful articles:

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Google AI Edge App: First Offline AI Model for Smartphone

Google launched AI Edge, a Gemini API on devise to reduce latency and work offline. Rather than other AI models, Google AI Edge keeps your data private and local. It is a multi-framework, cross-platform AI.

The new AI Edge gallery is available on your Android device. You do not need an internet or cloud connection to access its features and benefits.

Google AI Edge App: First Offline AI Model for Smartphone

Google has just revealed the existence of AI Edge. It is in experimental mode.

Here is everything what you must know about Google AI Edge gallery.

Google AI Edge App:

The Google AI Edge app is accessible on your smartphone. Offline AI is reshaping how generative AI tools should be used.

While other tools require an internet connection, AI Edge does not need any cloud connection.

It is a completely offline AI solution.

AI Edge does not depend upon an internet connection, it works better and offers a faster response.

Google has powered AI Edge with Gemma 3 1B.

Benefits of Gemma 3 1B in Google AI Edge:

  • 529MB model clocking
  • Up to 2585 tokens/second
  • Fastest AI model for smartphone users
  • Works without internet

Google AI Edge Technologies:

Hugging Face is behind the Google AI Edge app. It uses MediaPipe and TensorFlow Lite technologies.

These technologies have made AI Edge better for mobile users. It uses less power and offers better results.

Features of Google AI Edge Gallery App:

  • AI Chat: Chat with AI to get answers.
  • Ask Image: Ask AI to generate an image based on text.
  • Prompt Lab: Test short prompts.

Can I use Google AI Edge for blogging and SEO?

Google AI Edge is a useful platform to keep your chats private. Marketers can use it to research the user’s internet based on prompts.

It is in experimental mode, so the result you get is limited. As a marketer, you always need to use the tools with full capabilities.

Google AI Edge in SEO is facing a similar issue.

New AI must learn and adapt with the times to answer business queries.

Right now, you can use the AI Edge gallery for fun but not for business.

Conclusion:

The Google AI Edge app is the first AI platform from Google that does not require the internet connection or cloud connection.

It is a completely offline AI model that uses fewer resources and offers privacy.

AI Edge is in experimental mode. In the coming days, Google may add more features and capabilities to it.

Stay tuned to know the future of the AI Edge platform.

Other helpful articles:

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Google Discover for Desktop Search: Get Traffic from Desktop Devices

The Google Discover feature is coming to desktop search. Discover has been the top priority for publishers and marketers to gain organic traffic from mobile devices.

Google is bringing this feature for desktop search also.

Key Takeaways:

  • Google Discover is coming to desktop search.
  • Google is testing Discover for Desktop with a limited number of users.
  • The company announced it at the Google Search Central Live event.

Google Discover for Desktop Search

Google’s SEO experts Gianluca Fiorelli and Clara Soteras Acosta shared the screenshots of how the Google Discover for Desktop Search will look.

For the first time, Google has made an official announcement about the launch of Discover for Google desktop search. Yet, the company has not announced the official launch date.

Google is testing the Discover feature for desktop with a limited number of users.

Here is what you must know about Discover for Desktop search.

Google Discover for Desktop:

Google Discover launched on mobile devices. Its purpose is to display posts and videos related to user interests.

Since its launch, it has gained massive attention. SMBs and publishers confirmed the rise of traffic when their posts displayed in Google Discover.

You can check the Discover feature in the Google search app, the Chrome Android app, and Google.com on your smartphone.

Discover considers your usage history to display posts related to your interests. To display posts in the Discover feed, Google uses web, search, and app activity.

Now, Google is bringing Discover to desktop. This way it will start suggesting posts under the Google desktop search.

Discover How to Improve Publisher’s Traffic:

Google Discover is an important source of regular traffic. Many publishers and SMBs confirmed its valuable contribution to their traffic.

52% of publishers set Discover as a top priority. They optimize their posts, titles, and images to display in Discover.

How to Track Discover Traffic?

You can use Google Analytics 4 to track Google Discover traffic.

  • Go to Google Analytics 4.
  • Go to the page referrer filter and create pubsubnews for Discover traffic.
  • Now set up another filter to discover desktop results.
  • Track analytics reports to find the impact of Discover traffic or desktop traffic.

Optimize Your Content for Google Discover:

Follow these guidelines to optimize content for Google Discover:

  • Content quality
  • Image size 1200px or more.
  • Trustworthy titles and headlines
  • Unique content and storytelling
  • Avoid tricky images.
  • Share personal stories, niche articles, and lifestyle articles.

Importance of Google Discover for Desktop:

Google wants to cover every device with its content suggestions. Expanding Discover to desktop devices is a step to increase content experience.

Publishers may also try to adopt new strategies to display their content in Google Discover for desktop search.

Conclusion:

Google Discover is an important feature to deliver user-friendly results. For publishers, it also works as another source of consistent traffic. Niche stories, lifestyle topics, and news work better on the Discover feed.

Google is expanding Discover to desktop search to increase its reach. This will also help publishers to gain extra traffic. It also set challenges to get regular traffic.

Stay tuned to know more about Google Discover.

Other Helpful Resources: