Search Engine Recap - Week 47 (2024)

This week brought the phase-out of Google’s Page Experience report, the introduction of new AI-powered shopping results, and updates to Google’s site reputation abuse guidelines. Here is an overview.

Google Phases Out Page Experience Report

Google has removed the Page Experience report from Search Console to simplify the interface and improve navigation. Previously, this report combined Core Web Vitals (CWV) and HTTPS data, but it has now been discontinued.

Both the Core Web Vitals and HTTPS reports remain available as standalone tools.

This change aims to reduce redundancy while preserving essential insights into website performance.

Website owners can continue to track page quality and user experience through these dedicated tools without losing access to key performance metrics.

Google Launches New AI Tools for In-Store Shopping

Google has introduced new AI-powered tools to enhance the in-store shopping experience ahead of the holiday season.

Google Lens now allows users to photograph products in stores and instantly access reviews, prices, and stock information.

This follows updates to Google Maps, which recently integrated product search features to help users find specific items in nearby stores. On the payments front, Google Pay has expanded its offerings with virtual cards for Discover users and added Afterpay as a payment option.

These updates aim to bridge the gap between online and physical retail, improving convenience and security for shoppers.

Google Cracks Down on "Parasite SEO," Targeting Major Domains

Finally, Google has updated its site reputation abuse policy with a focus on "parasite SEO," a practice where third-party content exploits established domains to gain rankings.

The policy explicitly bans such misuse, regardless of whether the host domain was complicit.

Google clarified that violations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will not accept claims of lack of control if third-party content is deemed exploitative.

In the U.S., examples include WSJ Buyside and Forbes, which have faced penalties, with multiple pages being removed from the index.

This update is designed to maintain the integrity of search results and limit manipulative SEO tactics that undermine user trust, regardless of a domain’s size or prominence.

Takeaways and Recommendations

This past week brought a mix of important updates from Google.

The first major news was the phase-out of the Page Experience report in favor of a simpler approach. Core Web Vitals and HTTPS reports continue to provide the same insights for tracking performance.

Additionally, Google introduced new AI tools aimed at improving in-store shopping experiences ahead of the holidays. This reflects Google’s ongoing investment in the shopping space, making it even more critical for webshops to optimize for this environment.

Lastly, Google’s updated site reputation abuse guidelines made it clear that no domain—big or small—is immune. Those employing "parasite SEO" tactics risk significant ranking losses.

Need help understanding how your site measures up against these updates or improving your SEO overall? Get in touch with Bonzer. As a specialized SEO agency, we help businesses achieve top rankings on search engines every day.