This Week’s Industry News

Compiled By Rocket Clicks Staff

Google Testing Carousel Alternative

It appears Google is in the early stages of testing new desktop display results for certain search terms. Searches that previously brought up a carousel, such as hotels and restaurants, may begin seeing an alternative format that resembles the mobile formatting. While the information is relatively unchanged, the look is easier on the eye.

Source: Search Engine Watch

Big Bing Maps Update

Bing Maps announced the addition of hundreds of new 3D city images, high resolution aerial images, and Streetside images. Updates appear to be focused on many large United States cities while the aerial images now stretch over 150 countries and every continent.

Source: Search Engine Land

Google Takes Action On More Link Scheme Networks

Two link scheme networks in Europe were the target of Google this week, including one in Germany. Google made the announcement Monday on Google+ and reminded webmasters to review link scheme guidelines. Despite the ongoing issues with German publishers attempting to make Google pay for copyright law violations, Google claims to be operating business as usual.

Source: Search Engine Watch

Update To Mobile Redirect Notices

Last week Google began sending notices via Google Webmaster Tools to let webmasters know that some of their sites may be redirected to the home page when users are on mobile. Now that time has passed many are reporting receiving these notices in instances where there are no redirect issues. Google has chimed in saying to ignore these messages as Webmaster Tools may be “overenthusiastically” sending out notices.

Source: Search Engine Land

Google Claims It made 890 Improvements This Past Year

Amit Singhal, Google’s head of search, says Google made 890 improvements to Google last year. These improvements came in the form of algorithms, user interface changes, auto-complete, Google Now, and more. Singhal also reflected upon the 10 biggest Google search milestones. Among the top were autocomplete, translations, and traffic directions.

Source: Search Engine Land

More On HTTPS As A Ranking Signal

Google announced that secure websites using HTTPS would now be considered in its search ranking algorithm, leading many to wonder how big of a signal it would be. As it turns out, HTTPS is a modifier. If two websites have very close quality and relevance scores, the security of your website might give you that edge.

Source: Search Engine Land

Google Updates In App Multilingual Capabilities

Google’s search app can now recognize multiple different languages simultaneously, without the need to switch back and forth in the settings area. Users can select up to five languages in their settings and Google will understand and recognize which you are using. The change comes as a result of immigrants and other bilingual residents speaking native languages as well as the country’s dominant language interchangeably.

Source: Search Engine Land

Notable Commentary

The Importance of 404 Pages

Sometimes it might seem pointless to have that 404 Not Found page in place. After all, you don’t want users ending up there anyway. Why not redirect that page to the homepage? But as, Michael Heijmans points out, it’s important not to send your users to places they didn’t ask to go. Heijman continues with some other tips and best practices when it comes to 404 pages.

Analysis by: Michael Heijmans, Search Engine Journal

Working Through Google’s Local Algorithm Update

Google’s new update to its local search algorithm, entitled Pigeon by Search Engine Land, has certainly shaken up the local search landscape, with SEOs having a difficult time making sense of the new results. And while there are still many questions and dark areas, Greg Gifford of Search Engine Land offers up some advice for plugging along anyway.

Analysis by: Greg Gifford, Search Engine Land