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

Google Search ranking volatility continued this week following its spam update, and Google confirmed it is rolling out google.com/goto tracking parameters to replace direct links in search results to protect against abuse. Google also appears to be showing fewer PDF files in results, fixed a favicon bug and crawl stats missing data, and updated its favicon documentation to list supported formats including BMP, GIF, ICO, PNG, JPEG, PPM, and TIFF. Google's AI Mode gained link carousels for developing topics, and Google's John Mueller said there is nothing special to do for generative AI responses.

read3 min views1 publishedAug 28, 2026
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google GoTo Parameter Fight, PDFs Go Missing In Google, SEO For AI Responses & Google and Microsoft Ads News
Image: Seroundtable (auto-discovered)

Another week, more volatility within the Google Search results. Google is also swapping out direct links to go-to URL redirect links in its search results to protect from abuse. Google seems to be showing fewer PDFs within Google Search but why. Google fixed the favicon bug and the crawl stats missing data. Google released updated help docs on the favicon to list out the supported formats including BMP, GIF, ICO, PNG, JPEG, PPM, and TIFF. The IRS and other federal websites dropped heavily in Google Search, I think it was a government issue, not a Google issue. Google AI Mode has new link carousels for developing topics. Google’s Robby Stein wants you to tell him what you want next for AI Mode. Google’s John Mueller said there is nothing special to do for generative AI responses. Google won’t enforce manual actions over site reputation abuse in Europe. Google announces search update for transparency purposes but actionable updates get blog posts and more. Google is aware of the missing reviews for reinstated Google Business Profiles. Google Ads is testing sponsored results using Gemini. Google Ads has a new channel setting prioritization slider. Google Ads has a new report for AI-created product titles. Google is expanding booking partners on Local Service Ads. Google will charge for missed and subsequent calls on Local Service Ads. Google Merchant Center increased the minimum size for product images to 500×500. Google is expanding the booking button to Search and PMax campaigns. Bing is testing renaming Copilot Search answers to AI Overviews. Microsoft Advertising search term landing page report is out for AI Max. Google has a special easter egg for Dolly Parton. That was the search news this week at the Search Engine Roundtable.

SPONSOR: This week's video recap is sponsored by Duda, the Professional Website Builder You Can Call Your Own.

Make sure to subscribe to our video feed or subscribe directly on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favorite podcast player to be notified of these updates and download the video in the background. Here is the YouTube version of the feed For the original iTunes version, click here.

Search Topics of Discussion:

- 0:00 - Introduction
- 0:40 -
[Google Search Ranking Volatility Continues Post Spam Update](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-continues-41952.html) - 1:15 -
[Confirmed: Google Search Rolling Out google.com/goto Tracking Parameters](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-goto-tracking-41957.html) - 2:28 -
[Google Search Showing Fewer PDF Files. But Why?](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-fewer-pdf-files-41946.html) - 3:36 -
[IRS Website Drops Heavily In Google Search](https://www.seroundtable.com/irs-website-drops-google-search-41967.html) - 4:55 -
[Google Fixed Favicon Bug & Crawl Stats Missing Data](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-fix-favicon-crawl-stats-41928.html) - 5:09 -
[Google Search Now Lists The Supported Favicon File Formats](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-favicon-docs-file-formats-41970.html) - 5:32 -
[Google AI Mode Also Gains Link Carousels For Developing Topics](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-link-carousels-41947.html) - 6:03 -
[Tell Google What You Want From AI Mode](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-feature-request-41954.html) - 6:30 -
[Google: There Is Nothing Special To Do For Generative AI Responses In Search](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-generative-ai-search-responses-todo-41916.html) - 7:07 -
[Google Announce Search Updates For Transparency, Actionable Updates Get Blog Posts](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-announces-search-updates-41969.html) - 8:47 -
[Google Won't Enforce Its Site Reputation Policy Manual Actions In Europe](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-site-reputation-policy-eea-41968.html) - 9:24 -
[Google Aware Of Reviews Missing After Google Business Profile Reinstatement](https://www.seroundtable.com/reviews-missing-google-business-profile-reinstatement-41927.html) - 9:52 -
[Google Ads Tests  Sponsored Results Using Gemini With Animation](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads--gemini-41937.html) - 10:55 -
[Google Ads Channel Settings Prioritization Slider (Alpha Test)](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-channel-settings-prioritization-slider-41949.html) - 11:36 -
[Google Ads AI-Created Product Titles Report Beta](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-product-titles-report-41948.html) - 11:53 -
[Google Massively Expands Booking Partners On Local Services Ads](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-lsa-expands-booking-partners-41945.html) - 12:18 -
[Google To Charge For Missed & Subsequent Calls On LSAs](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-lsa-missed-subsequent-calls-41940.html) - 12:50 -
[Google Merchant Center Product Images Minimum Size Will Be 500x500 Pixels](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-merchant-center-product-images-update-41924.html) - 13:16 -
[Google Ads Book Buttons Expand To Search & Performance Max](https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-book-buttons-41964.html) - 13:30 -
[Bing Tests Renaming Copilot Search Answer To AI Overviews](https://www.seroundtable.com/bing-testing-copilot-search-ai-overviews-41953.html) - 13:43 -
[Microsoft Advertising Search Term Landing Page Report For AI Max](https://www.seroundtable.com/microsoft-advertising-ai-max-search-term-landing-page-report-41950.html) - 14:04 -
[Google Search Has A Special Dolly Parton Easter Egg 🦋](https://www.seroundtable.com/dolly-parton-easter-egg-41955.html) - 14:24 - Conclusion

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