Category Archives: computers

All things computers/servers…

Google Preferred Sources, Tailor Your Feed & Search Profiles Are Different

Google has two, well, maybe three, features that are being confused as one. The preferred sources, the tailor your feed and also search profiles. All kind of customize what you see across Google Search features including Google Search, AI Mode, Discover and so on. But they are all different features.

Google Alcohol Advertising Policy Update On September 30

Google will be updating its alcohol advertising policy on September 30, 2026. The update “revises country-specific guidelines, expands allowed advertising locations, and provides clearer details on specific advertiser requirements and responsibilities,” Google wrote.

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google GoTo Parameter Fight, PDFs Go Missing In Google, SEO For AI Responses & Google and Microsoft Ads News

Another week…

Google Ads Book Buttons Expand To Search & Performance Max

Google is expanding the book button through Reserve with Google partner integration to Google Ads Search and Performance Max campaigns. Previously, I believe, this was only available on Google Local Service Ads and maps ads.

AI-assisted reconnaissance: Why everyone could be a viable target for fraud

It’s getting cheaper and easier for cybercriminals to research potential victims. Here’s what’s still in your control.

Google Won’t Enforce Its Site Reputation Policy Manual Actions In Europe

Google announced it will not enforce manual actions under the site reputation abuse policy in the European Economic Area (EEA) due to a mandate set by the European Commission, effective August 30, 2026. Google said searchers in the EEA will not benefit from Google’s spam prevention for sites labeled for site reputation abuse.

IRS Website Drops Heavily In Google Search

Over the past few days, the IRS website (and other government sites) has tanked within Google’s search results. My gut feeling is that the federal government implemented some bot-blocking that was too aggressive and blocked Google, among others, resulting in Google not fully showing the IRS website. I believe the IRS implemented some fixes, and […]

Google AI Mode Adds Flight Price Tracking, Mile Rates & Hotel Booking

Google is rolling out three new travel features within AI Mode in Google Search. These features include track flight prices, view points or miles rates, and book hotels directly within AI Mode, through your conversational search.

Daily Search Forum Recap: August 27, 2026

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today…

Google Ads Tests Swipeable Categories For Sponsored Results Again

Google is testing once again testing swipeable Google Ads sponsored results, where you can swipe a carousel of categories to potentially change the sponsored results listed below. We saw this for shopping ads in October 2024 and Google has continued to test this since.

Bing Tests Renaming Copilot Search Answer To AI Overviews

Microsoft is testing renaming the Copilot Search AI answer box at the top of the Bing Search results to AI Overviews. That is the name Google uses for its AI answer results in Google Search. Microsoft is still placing the Copilot logo with the box but trying to use the name “AI Overview” instead of […]

Google Ask Advisor Soon To Get Shared Memory Across Tools

Google posted on X that Ask Advisor, which is in Google Ads, Google Analytics, Google Merchant Center and more Google tools, will soon “maintain shared memory across your Google marketing tools.” When this rolls out, when you ask a question on Google Ads, and then ask a question on Google Analytics or Merchant Center, the […]

Microsoft Advertising Search Term Landing Page Report For AI Max

Microsoft Advertising, with the release of AI Max globally, has rolled out a new Search term landing page reporting template. This report gives advertisers “full insights into all parts of AI Max’s performance,” said Navah Hopkins, the Microsoft Ads Liaison.

Google Ads New Troubleshoot Performance Fluctuations & Changes

Google Ads has released several new “Troubleshoot performance fluctuations and changes” across Google Ads, Performance Max, Search campaigns, Display, video, shopping, app, and more. At least I think these documents are new based on my tools, but the Wayback Machine has been offline, so I cannot double verify.

OpenAI Pins Shopping To ChatGPT Sidebar

OpenAI has pinned the Shopping tab to the left sidebar on ChatGPT. Clicking on it takes you to a landing page and a dedicated search page focused on shopping.