Google tests "1st order price" in shopping ads

Google Search Advocate John Mueller makes clear: Search Quality Rater Guidelines are not a blueprint for rankings. Why SEOs can still use them as a quality compass—without false expectations.

Google Ads adds Prospect Mode to new-customer acquisition, targeting users with no brand contact or prior site interaction. Here is how advertisers can position for cold prospects and what it means for paid search and the wider marketing mix.

Search News Buzz covers Google's May core update, strict warnings on AI brand mentions, and Preferred Sources in AI Overviews—plus indexing, ads, and local news.

On May 29, 2026, quality rater clarifications, Google Ads Prospect Mode, and AI mention warnings dominated search forums. The recap also covers shopping labels, Discover tests, and Bing sitelinks.

The Google May 2026 core update hit hard again on Saturday, May 30. After the May 21 announcement, SERPs show strong swings—the rollout likely continues for a few more days.

Google is experimenting with a swipeable link carousel in AI Overviews and AI Mode. A tap on citation bubbles shows publisher links at the bottom of the screen. For SEO teams, this means new opportunities and challenges for visibility in AI search.

Google Ads now bundles leads from hosted forms under Conversions. Name, stage, contact details, and form content from the last 60 days are visible in one place.

Google is adding branded search controls to AI Max. Advertisers can steer ad delivery on brand-related queries more precisely—if the rollout reaches their account.

Google is testing healthcare ads in AI Mode—now officially confirmed. What Ginny Marvin said on LinkedIn and what marketers should take from it.