Google resolved a six-month-long headache for online merchants by restoring filtered product download capabilities in Merchant Center Next, bringing the platform’s functionality back in line with its classic version.
The context. In digital commerce, precision matters. Merchants often need to:
Troubleshoot specific product listings.
Optimize particular product categories.
Analyze subsets of their inventory.
The previous limitation essentially forced merchants to sift through massive, unwieldy files — like finding a specific book in an entire library by dumping all books on the floor.
Why we care. The update allows merchants to export specific product subsets instead of being forced to download entire product feeds, a critical feature for businesses managing large, complex inventories.
First seen. This fix was first brought to our attention by Emmanuel Flossie on his blog.
Bottom line. A seemingly small technical fix can represent a significant operational improvement for digital businesses, underscoring how platform features directly impact merchant efficiency.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/filtered-product-downloads-dr2TDu.png?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=17201280http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-03 18:43:582025-02-03 18:43:58Google Merchant Center Next fixes product download frustration
Cybercriminals are exploiting Google Search ads to steal Microsoft advertising account credentials, revealing a sophisticated phishing scheme that has potentially been active for years.
The big picture. Attackers created malicious Google ads mimicking Microsoft Advertising’s official platform. The campaign redirects users through complex networks to steal login information. Researchers discovered potential infrastructure dating back multiple years
How it works. Hackers use a multi-step process to bypass security:
Create sponsored search results that look like legitimate Microsoft ads.
Implement cloaking techniques to evade bot detection.
Use Cloudflare verification to appear more authentic.
Present a convincing phishing page that mimics Microsoft’s login screen.
Why we care. This threat is significant because it can compromise advertising accounts, potentially leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and disruption of critical marketing operations across digital platforms.
Protect yourself
Verify URLs carefully before entering credentials.
Use two-factor authentication wisely.
Regularly monitor advertising accounts.
Report suspicious ads.
What’s next? Cybersecurity firms are investigating the broader implications of this phishing infrastructure, which appears to span multiple countries and platforms.
Bottom line. As online advertising becomes more complex, so do the techniques used by cybercriminals to exploit it.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/image_d1e94e-200x94-ssX8nF.webp?fit=200%2C94&ssl=194200http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-03 17:10:472025-02-03 17:10:47Phishing scam targets Microsoft Ad accounts via Google Search
Brandon Saltalamacchia’s office, adorned with a dazzling collection of retro gaming paraphernalia, offers a glimpse into the passions that have driven his professional life.
In this interview with Saltalamacchia, you’ll learn about his humble beginnings as an independent publisher to navigating the labyrinthine challenges of SEO in a Google world.
The early days: A camper van and a dream
Saltalamacchia’s foray into independent publishing began in 2017 while working full-time for Future Publishing. A self-described “newb” in SEO and content marketing, he channeled his love for camper vans into a small passion project — a website dedicated to van life.
“It was a little pot on wheels,” said Saltalamacchia, recalling his first camper van, “but we had a bunch of fun with it.”
That website, built on pure enthusiasm and curiosity, caught the eye of a buyer in 2019. The sale allowed Saltalamacchia to pivot toward his true passion: retro gaming.
Retro Dodo was born as a personal project, combining Saltalamacchia’s knack for content creation with his lifelong love of classic games.
“I started writing about things I enjoyed and unboxing Game Boys [on YouTube],” he said.
It wasn’t long before the site began to gain traction, fueled by Saltalamacchia’s genuine enthusiasm and a simple, straightforward content strategy.
Building Retro Dodo: From passion to business
Retro Dodo grew steadily from its inception, thanks in part to Saltalamacchia’s willingness to experiment with SEO and social media.
“I installed the Yoast SEO plugin and made sure every little thing was green,” he said.
While Saltalamacchia admitted to following some misguided SEO advice early on, the site flourished due to its authenticity and dedication to serving its niche audience.
By 2021, Retro Dodo had evolved into a full-fledged media company with a team of six, producing daily content, video reviews, and even books. It reached about 2 million readers at its peak and Saltalamacchia recalled
“My [Google] Search Console said, “Congratulations, you hit 1 million organic results in May [2023],” Saltalamacchia said.
The site’s success brought collaborations with major brands and recognition from influencers like Casey Neistat, who invited Saltalamacchia to New York to discuss their shared love of retro gaming.
However, beneath the surface of Retro Dodo’s success lay a precarious dependence on organic search traffic — a vulnerability that would soon be exposed.
“We lost about 85% of our traffic,” Saltalamacchia said. “It felt … like you’re almost swimming and someone’s put a big weight on your feet and it’s just dragging you and dragging and there’s nothing you can do.”
Saltalamacchia’s initial optimism gave way to stark reality as months passed without recovery.
“I tried pretty much everything,” he said, detailing attempts to improve site speed, refine content, and follow advice from SEO consultants. Despite his efforts, Retro Dodo remained essentially invisible in Google.
The experience brought Saltalamacchia face-to-face with Google representatives, including Search Liaison Danny Sullivan. While the meeting offered a platform to share his frustrations, it ultimately provided little in the way of actionable solutions.
“Danny told me, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing. Your site’s great. I can’t see anything wrong with it.’ Which I wish he never said that to me in all honesty because you almost want to find something wrong to snip,” Saltalamacchia said.
Reinvention and a new chapter
Faced with dwindling traffic and mounting financial pressure, Saltalamacchia made difficult decisions, reducing his team and scaling back operations. Yet, Retro Dodo’s core community remained loyal, and Saltalamacchia refused to give up on his vision.
“We’re very lucky to have quite a large community and a lot of people that return to our work to read, especially news and reviews. We’re quite well known in our niche for that. So, we’re still profitable, we’re definitely nowhere near as what we used to make,” Saltalamacchia said.
Heading forward, Retro Dodo is pivoting toward video content, premium memberships, and creating its own products and events.
Retro Dodo’s transition to the Ghost platform reflects a broader shift in focus: building a sustainable, high-quality digital magazine for retro gaming enthusiasts.
Simultaneously, Saltalamacchia embarked on a new venture with Kagi, a paid, ad-free search engine designed to prioritize user experience over ad revenue.
“Kagi [is] trying to humanize the web,” he said. “No ads, no tracking … My full focus is on making Kagi a great environment and helping independent publishers and helping families search without distractions.”
In his role as a consultant, Saltalamacchia wants to help Kagi champion independent publishers and redefine the online search landscape. He also shared five promotional codes that will give you one month free of Kagi Ultimate, limited one per user. Once these codes are claimed, they are gone:
SEARCHLANDE48E1320
SEARCHLAND05311655
SEARCHLANDD10EC7C1
SEARCHLAND4F87658E
SEARCHLAND33EBD5B0
Lessons for creators
Saltalamacchia’s journey offers valuable insights for aspiring creators and independent publishers.
“People won’t really be blogging anymore unless they’re super passionate about that subject. So, I think creators are going to move to YouTube even though it’s just as competitive,” Saltalamacchia said. “The only people that are still doing it and still surviving are the ones with true passion for the niches that they cover.”
Google changed the game for independent creators. So what’s his advice for creators in this era of when we’re watching the enshittification of Google? Focus on creating exceptional premium-level content and building genuine relationships with your audience.
What’s next?
For Saltalamacchia, the future is a mix of nostalgia and innovation.
With Retro Dodo’s evolution and his work at Kagi, he’s poised to make a lasting impact on the retro gaming community and the search landscape.
“Google and YouTube are [basically] the same thing. And the creator economy over at YouTube is phenomenal. … There’s a really good financial incentive to build great content and build a community that supports you.
“Whereas then there’s Google just destroying blogs left, right, and center. It really bewilders me how the search team have got it so wrong when the YouTube team have created such a fantastic environment to learn to be informed to entertain yourself and to build a potential great content business. so I think that’s where creators are going to move to.”
As Saltalamacchia looks to the future, one thing seems certain: it’s far from game over.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Google-crashed-retro-gaming-site-800x450-7wOPzB.png?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1450800http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-03 16:00:002025-02-03 16:00:00From retro gaming glory to fighting Google: The journey of Brandon Saltalamacchia
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https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Copy-of-Copy-of-SMX-Master-Classes-spring-2025-email-masthead-CTA-REG-1-X9Q0cQ.png?fit=975%2C225&ssl=1225975http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-03 15:22:002025-02-03 15:22:00Take your career to the next level: Become a search marketing master
Some things in life are constant – Google rankings aren’t one of them.
If you’ve been paying attention (or just reading this website), you’ve likely noticed that rankings are becoming increasingly unstable. Industry veterans, with years of context, may feel this shift the most.
That’s why I believe SEO is evolving into something new.
What that means – and whether the industry is adapting well – is a discussion for another time (TL;DR: we’re not doing great, but we’re not failing either. Change is hard).
One key driver of this shift is SERP instability.
What I’d like to do here is explore that notion and give some concrete facts.
The average level of volatility in 2024
Rank was 26% more volatile in 2024 than in 2023.
It’s not as simple as it sounds, which is why we’ll look at multiple metrics to create a data picture as best we can.
However, if you looked at how much rank volatility increased in 2024 and compared it to how much it either increased or decreased in 2023, the answer would be 26% – at least on desktop.
Now, that’s not universal across every sector of the web.
For example, as you can see above, certain niche industries saw far higher volatility increases in 2024 relative to 2023.
If your site helps folks relish information about their favorite snack, it might be over 50% more volatile (for the record, relish is no one’s favorite snack).
However, what was almost universal was that all but one of the vertical’s Semrush tracks saw an increase in rank volatility in 2024:
All but one vertical (Real Estate) saw what I would call a “noticeable” increase in rank volatility over the course of 2024 compared to 2023 (which itself was “noticeable”).
I want to highlight that the data shows average volatility – already high in 2023 and even higher in 2024 (except for Real Estate).
In general, the numbers across devices are close enough that it doesn’t justify wasting your time.
In this case, the difference between devices was clear – a full 10 percentage points.
While the desktop SERP was 26% more volatile in 2024 than in 2023, the mobile SERP was “only” 16% more volatile.
The disparity between devices continued all the way down to the niche level.
On desktop, the Health vertical, for example, was not one of the niches that saw the most increased volatility in 2024. On mobile, as shown above, it clearly was.
That’s not because keywords associated with the medical field were so much more volatile on mobile.
The numbers for the Health niche are quite similar across devices. The disparity is largely due to other verticals having higher rates of volatility in 2023 on mobile than on desktop:
If you look at ecommerce, the vertical had literally the same level of rank volatility on both desktop and mobile in 2024. However, on mobile, the volatility average was 5 points higher.
The gap between the mobile and desktop volatility increase is due to the higher levels of mobile volatility in 2023, which resulted in less of an increase relative to 2024.
However, the levels of absolute volatility are the same across devices. (Again, using the Shopping vertical, the average volatility was at 8.5/10 on both devices in 2024.)
By the way, a volatility score of 8.5 is out of this world.
All these numbers, when factoring in the volatility levels in 2023 and then the increase of them in 2024, are out of this world.
Is increased rank volatility a lasting trend or a temporary spike?
An increase in average volatility in 2024 doesn’t tell the whole story.
We need to determine if a single event skewed the data – perhaps one or two months of extreme volatility.
The answer? No.
Volatility in 2024 was widespread. Except for July (and to some extent August), the year was consistently more volatile from the start.
July 2023 is interesting to recall because there was no official update.
The volatility you see above in July 2023 was the result of an odd and ongoing period of extreme rank volatility that happened around the middle of that month:
Image courtesy of Search Engine Roundtable
The upshot and the importance of the data is that it means we’re not just in a more volatile rank period that may or may not abate.
Rather, it would appear we’re in a new scenario of what volatility on the SERP looks like.
I can only speculate that it will get worse as Google has been reported to say they are moving to continuous and ongoing algorithm updates.
How drastic is drastic?
Another question neither the average level of volatility nor the volatility trends answer is how volatile?
Meaning, how drastic is the rank movement?
It’s entirely possible that smaller micromovements are a big part of the more volatile SERP (which, for the record, was already incredibly volatile for years – more on that later).
Standard deviation is one of the best metrics to measure rank volatility.
When you look at the baseline and how far off the volatility is, rank volatility is noticeably less drastic:
Every vertical saw a decrease in the standard deviation relative to 2023, aside from one (and the “news” SERP is its own beast).
Now we have a scenario where the “amount” of volatility increased, but the extent of the movement itself decreased relative to 2023.
Do not mistake that for “Oh, rank isn’t fluctuating in a drastic manner.” It’s relative to 2023, not in absolute.
If we take the Dolorean to 88 mph, we’ll see that back in 2021 standard deviation, outside of News, ranged between 1.15 and 1.69:
That range in 2024 (again outside of News) is 1.3 – 2.5. Rank is not “less volatile” over time.
The average level of rank fluctuation may not be as drastic as in 2023, but as a paradigm, we are not even close to the levels seen in 2021 and have surpassed the higher extremes of rank movement seen in 2020.
Back in 2020, we were looking at standard deviations above 1. Now, we’re talking about deviants above 2 (of which I have four above 2 at home).
We can still pull back another layer.
Is the reason the standard deviation is higher overall related to a few strong spikes of colossal rank volatility?
That doesn’t appear to be the case.
The above graph shows a narrowing of the gap between the minimum and maximum levels of volatility.
The difference between minimum and maximum volatility in 2023 was 8.1 points, down to 7.2 in 2024.
That’s a less drastic “spiking” of max volatility (relatively speaking).
There are two (if not more) possible reasons for this:
The minimum score was higher, meaning we started at a higher level of volatility, which would make the gap between the minimum and maximum levels of volatility narrower.
There were fewer large spikes but overall more “less drastic” rank movement so the levels just never got as high in 2024. Thus, the gap between the minimum and maximum levels of volatility is narrower.
If you look at all the data together (see, there’s a method to my madness), some signs point to more volatility that is less drastic overall.
Why?
The average amount of volatility is up in 2024.
The rank movement is less drastic overall in 2024 (see standard deviation).
Thus, to apply Occam’s Razor (which has nothing to do with actual razors), the most likely scenario behind the narrowed gap between minimum and maximum volatility is that the volatility, while more frequent, did not get as many “highs” as it did in 2023.
However, the counterargument would be the month-by-month volatility trends we saw above (adding here again for convenience), which show that the jump in the amount of volatility was steeper in 2023 than in 2024:
It’s not hard to see. August 2023 and August 2024 show just about the same levels of volatility. But look where the amount of volatility started in 2023, far lower than in 2024.
One might speculate that if the amount of volatility spiked like it did in 2023, so did the levels of volatility.
This is a fancy way of saying, I don’t know – which I am not supposed to say in official SEO articles. (So you didn’t read that).
But it also brings me to my next data point. The pivots are so good here it feels like a podcast.
Things are volatile, but who’s counting?
Me.
I am counting.
Did you know that Semrush only recorded 15 days or low volatility in 2024?
Of course, not. Who would actually know that off the top of their heads? That’s just weird.
But it’s true.
On desktop, there were just 15 days of low volatility and just 83 days of “normal” volatility.
For the record, yes, 2024 has 366 days, not 365. It was a leap year. I know how to add numbers.
So, just assume there is one less day of high volatility to make yourself feel better.
By the way, that means a 64% reduction in the number of days of low volatility in 2024 and a 39% reduction in days of normal volatility.
Conversely, there was a 19% increase in “high volatility” days in 2024 and an absolutely massive increase of 80% in “very high volatility” days!
Slightly different on mobile with a few more days of low volatility throughout 2024 (although the number of high volatility days was the same):
However, there were 12 fewer “very high” volatility days on mobile in 2024, so that’s good.
But mainly, none of it is good.
Roughly 78% of 2024 was volatile, with 36% of the year being very volatile (desktop). That feels like a nightmare. For many, it was and still is.
More volatility? Who freaking cares?! (Or as most Search Engine Land articles put it: why we care)
You.
At least you should. Our conception of what Google is as a marketing channel is starting to shift.
First, the results are less than stellar at times.
I was Googling a medical condition, and I was forced to choose between the same content from different websites such as the Mayo Clinic, Web MD, whatever, or Reddit.
That’s like having to choose between strawberry ice cream or strawberry ice cream with nuts.
Then there’s the whole LLM thing, AI search engines and AIOs, AI-generated content, AI something whatever, and yada, yada, yada.
And then, on top of that, content consumption trends have totally changed IMHO (they’re constantly changing, BTW).
Oh, and I forgot about Reddit being firehosed into the SERP. (Would you like sprinkles on that ice cream?)
On top of all of that, the SERP is a heap of volatility. That’s a lot.
It’s like Thanksgiving dinner with your family and your in-laws, and all that’s being served is boiled tofu.
Also, they don’t have a TV, so you can’t watch football, and they don’t have beer; they have Zima from 1992.
So what should you do about it?
I didn’t say I was giving advice; I was just showing why you should care.
What you should do about it is a whole other conversation. And yeah, it goes far beyond “diversify your channels” or “aim for owned audiences.”
Personally, I think it means taking a very hard look at how we approach audiences and resonate with them.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Top-categories-by-volatility-change-2024-vs-2023-rnfGgz.png?fit=1600%2C1079&ssl=110791600http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-03 15:00:002025-02-03 15:00:00How volatile have Google rankings really been?
Different timeframes: Instead of simply 30-day website visitors, test 10-day, 60-day, 90-day, or 180-day audiences based on your industry and website traffic.
365-day audiences: Ideal for remarketing annual products or services, such as trips, holidays, or Black Friday deals, to previous customers.
Page-specific visitors: Retarget users who visited key pages, like pricing, by setting up “Page location” contains “your specific URL.”
Converted audiences: Target users for other products or exclude them from campaigns based on completed purchases or form submissions.
New visitors: Show ads only to new users, excluding repeat visitors.
Traffic sources: Use audiences from other platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or large newsletter lists, by applying Templates > Acquisition > First user source, campaign, or medium.
Additional advanced options include:
Inactive users: Retarget users who haven’t been active for a set timeframe (e.g., 7 days), or delay ads until specific events, like a free trial expiration.
Session duration: Target users who spent significant time on your website (e.g., over 1 minute) to exclude low-interest audiences.
There are three primary campaign types for targeting remarketing audiences. Let’s explore best practices for setting them up and optimizing their performance.
1. Search remarketing
Setup best practices
You can target the same remarketing audiences you’ve set up in GA4, often called RLSA (remarketing lists for search ads).
To avoid overlap, separate your search remarketing campaigns from standard search campaigns that don’t target a remarketing audience.
The simplest approach is to create a search remarketing campaign using the same and/or different keywords while excluding that remarketing audience from your standard search campaigns.
In search remarketing, you can test broader keywords, including:
Broad match terms.
Review-related queries.
Competitor names.
Since these users have already visited your site, broader targeting carries less risk.
For ad creative, you can either reuse existing ads or test unique copy tailored to search remarketing.
Choose what performs best. If using unique ads, consider adding more selling points and testimonials. Also, test different landing pages, coupons, or special deals.
For bidding, test manual bidding, max conversions, or target CPA – especially if the campaign generates a high number of conversions.
Even with higher CPCs, maximizing conversions can be worthwhile, as these users are already familiar with your brand.
Optimizing search remarketing campaigns
Optimization follows the same principles as standard search campaigns:
Test different ad copy.
Adjust ad group variations.
Experiment with new keywords.
Pause underperforming ones.
Add negative keywords.
However, avoid directly mirroring changes from your standard search campaigns. What works there won’t necessarily work in search remarketing.
You can swap out audiences as needed, but otherwise, optimization remains similar to standard search.
Regular adjustments are essential. Don’t leave it on autopilot.
When targeting different remarketing audiences, use separate ad groups or campaigns.
Avoid grouping drastically different audiences together or expanding them with “optimized targeting.”
For ads, you can reuse copy from search or banner ads or test unique messaging specific to display remarketing. Choose what delivers the best results.
With remarketing banner ads, include your logo and branding to ensure immediate recognition. Even if users don’t click, the impressions still provide branding value.
For high-traffic websites, consider testing three separate remarketing campaigns:
Desktop-only.
Tablet-only.
Mobile-only.
Combining all devices in one campaign often results in mobile traffic consuming the most clicks and budget.
Instead of blocking mobile traffic entirely or reducing bids, testing a separate mobile campaign may be more effective. Mobile clicks – especially from in-app ads – are often accidental or irrelevant.
For bidding, test manual CPC to control volume and spend or use Maximize Conversions to stop showing ads to users who don’t convert quickly.
Brands with larger budgets aiming for long-term visibility may benefit from manual bidding to maximize touchpoints and reinforce brand presence.
Be cautious with Maximize Clicks bidding. This strategy may favor high-click placements, such as mobile games, where accidental clicks can waste budget.
Optimizing display remarketing campaigns
Optimization follows the same principles as standard display campaigns.
Regularly review placements – especially apps, games, celebrity gossip, quizzes, and entertainment sites – to prevent wasted spend on users who aren’t in the right mindset for your product or service.
If mobile traffic dominates the budget, consider blocking it or running separate device-targeted campaigns.
Continuously test ads to determine which ones drive the most conversions or relevant clicks.
If an ad underperforms with a remarketing audience, replace it.
Avoid leaving display remarketing campaigns on autopilot. Ongoing adjustments are key to maintaining effectiveness.
For remarketing, the simplest option is Video Views, which supports skippable in-stream ads, in-feed ads, and Shorts ads using CPV (cost per view) bidding.
This is the easiest way to retarget past website visitors or YouTube channel viewers.
For larger budgets, consider Video Efficient Reach, which allows CPM (cost per thousand impressions) bidding and supports unskippable ads.
Brands focused on reach may also use Non-Skippable Reach if that format aligns with their goals.
When setting up the campaign, consider disablingTV screen targeting unless you have a large brand and budget.
Most advertisers prefer engagement beyond just branding, so blocking TV placements can help allocate spend more effectively.
The Drive Conversions subtype for video campaigns is transitioning to Demand Gen in early 2025.
If you don’t want to expand into Gmail and Discovery ads, it’s best to focus on Video Views for remarketing.
Optimizing video remarketing campaigns
Video remarketing follows the same optimization principles as display remarketing and non-remarketing video campaigns.
Regularly review and block irrelevant placements, including:
Video placements.
YouTube channels.
Topics.
Apps.
Entertainment content.
Video ads often waste budget on kids’ videos, unrelated apps, or entertainment channels. Make sure to continuously block irrelevant placements
If mobile traffic dominates the budget with little to no results, consider blocking it to improve campaign efficiency.
Advanced remarketing strategies
For advanced users, enhance remarketing by layering audience targeting with relevant placements, topics, and keywords simultaneously.
This ensures your remarketing ads appear to past website visitors while they browse specific websites, YouTube channels, or content related to your targeted topics or keywords.
For example, if you offer retirement planning services, you can target previous website visitors while they visit financial or retirement-related websites or view relevant topics.
This strategy works for both display and video campaigns.
You can also handpick high-authority financial or retirement websites and layer them with your remarketing audience for more precise targeting.
It’s important to note that adding a remarketing audience to a Performance Max campaign is not true remarketing.
Performance Max uses remarketing audiences as a signal – a starting point to find similar users – rather than exclusively targeting past visitors.
It will expand beyond that audience based on Google’s machine learning.
By leveraging advanced remarketing and optimization techniques, you can achieve significantly better results than default remarketing strategies.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/How-to-maximize-your-Google-Ads-remarketing-campaigns-800x450-vI9ez8.png?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1450800http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-03 14:20:352025-02-03 14:20:35How to maximize your Google Ads remarketing campaigns
Google Product Studio is now available within Google Business Profiles. This allows you to edit the background scenes of your products within your local listing using Google’s AI features. Product studio is already available within Google services including Google Merchant Center and Google Ads, and is now available within Google Business Profiles.
More details. Google community manager, Kara, posted about this news in the Google Business Profile forums and wrote:
“We’re excited to announce that you can now change the background scene of your product with Product Studio, a generative AI tool which helps you create engaging imagery to showcase your products.”
Here is what the feature looks like in my account – it says “Transform your product images with Al Quickly generate lifestyle scenes. To get started, upload a product image and select a theme.”
How it works. Google has a more detailed help document on this feature over here but here is how to quickly access this feature in your Business Profile.
To generate a scene for your product, click Edit productsGet started.
Select the image you want to edit.
Wait until the background from your image is removed.
Select a theme for your product.
Choose a generated image from the editor.
If you’re satisfied with the image, click Add image to product.
You’ll receive a confirmation to save the image, click OK.
Once you saved the generated image for your product, from the product editor:
Fill out the fields in the form.
To submit your product, click Publish.
US only. Google did not that “Only merchants in the US can use scene generation in product editor.” Google added, “When you use Product Studio, you agree to the Terms of Service (TOS).”
Why we care. If you manage products within your Google Business Profile account, quickly being able to make those products look more appealing to searchers might be a great thing to increase conversions and sales. Of course, you want to make sure you are happy with how Google’s AI improves your images and only accept changes that you feel will make a positive change to those images.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/gbp-product-studio-ai-xRAKWC.png?fit=1382%2C1678&ssl=116781382http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-02-03 12:29:152025-02-03 12:29:15Product studio now available within Google Business Profiles
Google acknowledged that Performance Max (PMax) campaigns can be controlled through API placement exclusions — contradicting months of its own documentation and support guidance, according to new research from ad tech firm Optmyzr.
This revelation gives advertisers more programmatic control over their PMax campaigns than previously thought possible, potentially saving significant time and resources in campaign management.
The big picture. Performance Max campaigns, Google’s AI-driven ad format, have been a source of frustration for advertisers seeking more granular control over where their ads appear.
By the numbers. Optmyzr ran an experiment, running from Dec. 30 to Jan. 21. It showed:
Zero ad spend on excluded placements after implementing API controls.
Complete effectiveness of API-based exclusions, despite Google’s previous claims.
Faster implementation compared to manual UI controls.
Behind the scenes. Google’s documentation and AI help center had explicitly stated that placement exclusions would only work through their user interface, not via API.
Multiple support channels reinforced this incorrect guidance.
What they’re saying. Following the experiment, Google admitted that placement exclusions work through both the API and UI as we see in this response from Ginny Marvin, Google Ads Liaison:
Why we care. Performance Max campaigns represent a significant portion of many advertisers’ Google Ads spend, but the lack of control over where ads appear has been a major pain point. This situation also highlights a broader point: you shouldn’t take platform limitations as gospel, even when they come directly from Google. Testing and verification could reveal hidden capabilities that provide competitive advantages.
Bottom line. This discovery highlights a broader issue in ad tech: platform documentation doesn’t always reflect actual capabilities, requiring advertisers to actively test and verify functionality.
What’s next. As advertisers, you should:
Review your PMax campaign controls.
Consider implementing API-based exclusions for more efficient management.
Maintain active oversight despite automated controls.
Confidently question capabilities they may have strong reason to believe isn’t true.
Between the lines. The finding suggests other undocumented capabilities might exist across Google’s ad platforms, encouraging advertisers to question and test official limitations.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/google-ads-api-support-response-ZWcfTm.png?fit=1001%2C366&ssl=13661001http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-01-28 18:39:262025-01-28 18:39:26Google reverses stance on Performance Max campaign controls
Google is testing a new search results display for a small group of EU users when they search for products, restaurants, flights, and hotels. The test is part of Google’s efforts to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
“Under the test started Monday, Google has set up new units for users to choose between results from price comparison sites such as Booking Holdings’ Booking.com and results that take them directly to supplier websites when they are searching for products, restaurants, flights or hotels.”
What Google EU search results look like. Here are screenshots showing what it looks like to search for [flight to boston from vienna] right now:
You can then filter to see only Airline options:
Or Flight sites:
And if you search for [steak dinner in vienna], you can filter down to Places:
And Places Sites:
New units. These images don’t show the new units mentioned in the report. Please contact us if you spot these new units in the wild and share screenshots. These images are meant to give our readers outside of the EU an idea of what search results look like when Google doesn’t self-preference.
What Google is saying. A Google spokesperson said:
“To find a better balance between these sites, while meeting the goals of the DMA, we have proposed a new solution to give people a choice between intermediary comparison sites and direct suppliers like hotels.”
Why we care. The Digital Markets Act is meant to promote more competition and diversity in search results. For websites in the EU, it will be worth monitoring whether these changes result in any impact on traffic.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/google-flight-to-boston-from-vienna-7q0LFu.png?fit=2048%2C1139&ssl=111392048http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-01-28 18:31:122025-01-28 18:31:12Google testing new-look search results in EU
In an era where efficiency is key, many businesses question the time and resources spent on technical SEO audits.
However, cutting corners in this critical area can lead to incomplete insights and missed opportunities.
Let’s dive into why technical SEO deserves a firm investment in both human effort and time, starting with the often-overlooked challenge of crawl time.
Crawl time: The primary hindrance
Reducing human resource time in your SEO or digital marketing department by cutting technical SEO may be unwise.
Why?
The primary factor behind the time taken for audits is crawl time.
With today’s complex web architectures, this is inevitable.
Ecommerce websites, in particular, have rapidly expanding footprints with countless product and blog pages.
Each product often includes multiple images, increasing the number of on-site addresses exponentially.
Employers and clients frequently ask:
“Why do these audits take so long? Can’t you just focus on the top issues and save time?”
The answer is both “yes” and “no.”
While focusing on top issues can slightly reduce the time spent on commentary and data visualization, most of the time taken in technical SEO audits is crawl time.
The impact on overall audit accuracy remains negligible because the crawl itself – rather than data analysis – dominates the timeline.
While some argue crawl time is machine time and should not affect human effort, this is only partially true.
Platforms like Semrush or Ahrefs can streamline crawling if properly set up, monitored, and funded to handle all web properties continuously.
However, exporting, pivoting, and analyzing data still require significant manual effort.
Technical SEO experts can rarely rely on platform-generated reports without further refinement.
For instance, most SEO crawlers struggle with identifying true duplicate content.
Often, what is flagged as duplicate turns out to be parameter URLs, which Google ignores for indexing.
Similarly, failed canonical tag implementations can falsely appear as duplicate content.
Using tools like Screaming Frog adds another layer of complexity.
While highly cost-effective and powerful, it outputs raw spreadsheets requiring manual analysis. Its issues tab is rarely accurate without further data filtering.
As a client-side tool, Screaming Frog also requires the user’s machine to remain active during crawls.
If employees are using personal machines, they may be reluctant to leave them running overnight without proper compensation.
Additionally, the tool does not automatically adjust crawl rates, necessitating human supervision to avoid unintentional DDoS-like behavior.
While crawl time is primarily machine-driven, human oversight and intervention are often required.
Assuming that reducing crawl time will significantly shorten technical SEO audits can lead to inaccurate results and neglected insights.
HTML tag mutuality, particularly with hreflang tags, demonstrates why reducing crawl time is inadvisable if you want accurate technical SEO insights.
As SEO has evolved, mutually dependent HTML tags, like hreflang tags, have become increasingly common.
Hreflang tags define relationships between pages in different languages and must always be reciprocal.
If one page links to another with a hreflang tag, but the destination URL does not return the same tag, the relationship is invalid and ignored by Google.
Even non-mutual tags, such as canonical tags, often reference external addresses that also need to be crawled.
Crawling only one section of a site (e.g., one language variant) leaves you unable to verify whether hreflang tags point back as required.
This can result in unflagged errors that are critical for site performance but remain undetected due to partial crawl data.
Similarly, canonical tags, though not requiring mutuality, can also pose challenges.
If a canonical tag points to a page outside your crawl sample, you cannot confirm whether it references a valid address.
Here is a diagram of how canonical tags and hreflang tags should interface:
The diagram above is an updated and more detailed version of a simpler one I’ve used for years. It was originally published on BSS Commerce in 2019. You can find the earlier version here.
These issues illustrate how incomplete crawl data can hinder a thorough technical SEO audit.
Partial data forces you to rely on assumptions rather than concrete evidence, making it unwise to reduce crawl time to expedite audits.
Producing accurate crawl data has required significant effort since the early days of the web, long before HTML tag mutuality became common.
Pages have always linked to others using the <A> tag.
If your crawl sample includes links pointing to addresses outside of it, you cannot verify whether those links function correctly without crawling the destination pages.
Some cloud crawling platforms address this by checking the status codes of external or redirected pages without analyzing their full HTML.
While this can help in certain cases, it often defers deeper issues that remain unexamined.
There is no substitute for investing the necessary time in technical SEO.
While incomplete crawl samples or unattended crawls might seem like a way to reduce audit production time, they often create more issues than they solve.
Cutting corners can lead to overlooked problems, so it’s crucial to give your audits – and the experts conducting them – the time they require.
This doesn’t even account for the manual checks SEO professionals perform in addition to crawling, data handling, formatting, and analysis.
These combined efforts make it clear that the time spent on technical SEO is justified.
Avoid excessive pruning or shortcuts in this discipline.
If you must work with partial crawl data, ensure at least 70% crawl completion – 50% at an absolute minimum.
Anything less risks compromising the accuracy of your audit.
https://i0.wp.com/dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/How-canonical-tags-and-hreflang-tags-should-interface-QGClQN.png?fit=1600%2C1588&ssl=115881600http://dubadosolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dubado-logo-1.png2025-01-28 14:00:002025-01-28 14:00:00Technical SEO: Don’t rush the process
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