A lot of interesting things happened at Google this week with new Google AdSense shopping links, simplified Google Search Console reports, third-party Ad platforms on YouTube, and more.
ICYMI, here’s what happened at Google This Week.
- 8 New Updates to Google Ad Manager
- Google to Sunset Old Search Console Message Panel
- Google to Reportedly Allow Third-Party Ad Platforms on YouTube
- EU Domains for Google Analytics 4
- New Google AdSense Shopping Links
- Google Search Tests Shopping Related Query Refinement
- Simplifying Google Search Console Reports with an Updated Item Classification
- Merchant Center Enables Online NZ Pharmacies For OTC Drugs
- Google Testing New Featured Snippet Layouts
8 New Updates to Google Ad Manager
Google Ad Manager had eight changes and tweaks from the recent update including integration with Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Facebook’s rebrand to ‘Meta’, optimised pricing, the reason for Bid rejection, WebView API for Ads and more.
In addition, Google shared information about four updates to Ad Manager that are coming soon, which are Active View measurement, app-ads.txt, and migration of queries from the deprecated ‘Ad Exchange Historical’ report type to the ‘Historical’ report type.
Google to Sunset Old Search Console Message Panel
Google Search Console will sunset the old legacy version of messaging beginning on August 1, 2022. Back in February 2022, Google moved all messaging to the new Search Console. Google said then it has “finished the migration of all the messages into the new Search Console interface”.
If you try to access the legacy version of the message panel, you will be presented with a notice that reads “Important: This report won’t be available after Aug 1, 2022. Please use the new Message panel instead”.
Google to Reportedly Allow Third-Party Ad Platforms on YouTube
Google parent Alphabet will allow third-party ad platforms to place ads on YouTube to address a crucial part of an EU antitrust investigation that could pave the way for it to settle the case without a fine.
The EU competition watchdog singled out Google’s requirement that advertisers use its Ad Manager to display ads on YouTube and potential restrictions on the way in which rivals serve ads on YouTube.
EU Domains for Google Analytics 4
Google has introduced additional domains for traffic collection with Google Analytics 4 in June 2022 to ensure that EU-based traffic data is only collected through servers based in the EU.
Alternatively, you may consider including *.google-analytics.com and *.analytics.google.com to account for future domain updates with Analytics.
Related: Everything you need to know about Google Analytics 4
New Google AdSense Shopping Links
Google AdSense launched a new feature named ‘AdSense shopping links’. Google said with these AdSense Shopping links, AdSense will add shopping links to the content of your eligible pages. Shopping links provide end-users with relevant options to buy from.
Google will only place AdSense Shopping Links on pages where there are detectable product mentions. Since AdSense Shopping Links is a new lab feature, Google will limit the amount of traffic enabled to view shopping links to 10%.
Google Search Tests Shopping Related Query Refinement
Google Search is testing a filter button for shopping-related query refinement. The shopping-related query refinement shows a filter button at the top left of the search results.
When you click on the filter button, you are presented with a ton of shopping-related refinements from the brand, length, leg style, material, pattern, style, reviews, nearby, sales, and more.
Simplifying Google Search Console Reports with an Updated Item Classification
Google announced a change on how it is displaying errors within Google Search Console reports. Instead of the coverage report showing errors, valid with warnings, and valid, the update will only show the invalid or valid information report.
Now they are grouped or classified into two more broad statuses that reflect whether those URLs or items are invalid or not. Google said invalid means that there is a report-specific critical issue in the page or item, and not invalid means that the item might still contain warnings, but has no critical issues. Google will roll out this change to all properties gradually over the next few months, so we might not see any changes for now.
Merchant Center Enables Online NZ Pharmacies For OTC Drugs
Google Merchant Center will update its Healthcare & medicines policy to enable online pharmacies in New Zealand to promote the sale of approved non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs. In order to promote these offers, online pharmacies must be certified merchants and registered with the Ministry of Health.
Starting in June 2022, online pharmacies in New Zealand can apply for their certification.
Google Testing New Featured Snippet Layouts
Google is testing out a new format for featured snippets in the search results. This new layout has multiple answers, from multiple sites/sources, in a card view at the top of the search results page.
We saw the new format for featured snippets in the search results back in April on desktop, now there are three new variations on mobile.
Thank You for Reading
Have you noticed the new Google AdSense Shopping Links or any other changes from Google this week?
Check back next Friday for the latest from Google This Week.
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