Google confirms Nov. 2019 Local Search Update

Google has now confirmed the numerous reports of a local search update that began in early November. The update is related to Google “making use of neural matching as part of the process of generating local search results,” Google said via the @SearchLiason twitter account. The name, “Nov. 2019 Local Search Update” follows the naming convention Google began using last year for Google core search algorithm updates.

Google: We Ignore Links From Sites Where Links Are Unlikely To Be Natural

Google’s John Mueller was asked about links from from “theglobe.net and related spammy domains” and if they should be disavowed or something. John responded “We already ignore links from sites like that, where there are unlikely to be natural links. No need to disavow.”

Google Quality Rater Guidelines Update: New Introduction, Rater Bias & Political Affiliations

Google has released a brand new version of the Quality Rater Guidelines, the third one this year.  The changes aren’t as extensive as the previous two releases were this year, but the new updates can be an interesting signal as to where Google is planning to take the algo, and this update is no different.