Google Expands AI Features and Screen Search on iOS: What It Means for SEO Specialists in the UK

In recent updates to Google’s search capabilities, there have been notable changes that affect search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies. These updates, including the integration of Google’s AI features and new design tests, may have significant implications for businesses and SEO specialists in the UK. Let’s dive into some of the key changes and what they mean for your website’s visibility in search results.

Does Google Remove Organic Listings When Local Listings Appear?

A recent unconfirmed feature from Google has raised questions within the SEO community: Does Google remove organic search results when the same page appears in the local pack? This change seems to suggest that when a page ranks in the local search pack, it may not show up in the traditional organic listings.

Although this update has not been officially confirmed by Google, SEO experts are advising businesses to update the URL in their Google Business Profile. This can help avoid potential conflicts and ensure that your website maintains visibility in both local and organic search results.

For businesses working with an SEO agency in the UK, it’s essential to stay updated with these changes and consider making adjustments to their local SEO strategies to avoid this potential issue.

New Grid-Boxed Design for Search Results

Google is testing a new grid-boxed design for its search results, which is being rolled out for certain search features. The new format aims to offer a more structured and visually appealing layout for users. While some have expressed mixed opinions about the design, it’s important to understand how these changes could impact user experience and search visibility.

For SEO specialists in the UK, keeping track of how these design changes affect search result rankings will be important. As Google continues to test and refine its search result displays, understanding these shifts will help ensure that your website’s content remains accessible and visible to potential customers.

New “Background” Section in Search Results

A fresh feature in Google’s search results includes a new “Background” section, which provides deeper context by offering articles from news publishers. This section, which can also be seen in the mobile News tab, is aimed at giving users a more comprehensive understanding of the topic they are searching for.

For SEO professionals, this may be an opportunity to focus on content creation that provides additional context or background information. By aligning content with this feature, you can potentially improve your chances of appearing in this new search section.

Google Expands AI Features for iOS Users

Google has recently expanded its AI-powered Overviews and screen search capabilities to iOS devices. This is particularly significant for SEO and digital marketing professionals. AI Overviews now appear more frequently when users search for unique or unfamiliar images, providing relevant explanations and links to helpful resources.

Moreover, Google has integrated this AI feature into both Chrome and the Google app on iOS, allowing users to directly search screen content. By selecting the “Search Screen with Google Lens” option in the three-dot menu, users can refine their search by factors such as colour, brand, or other details.

This expansion of AI capabilities means that businesses should optimise their content for visual search. Ensuring that images are relevant and well-tagged with descriptive alt text can help improve visibility in this new search format.

Google Confirms No Shortcut to Faster Crawling

For those managing SEO on their websites, it’s important to know that there’s no persistent shortcut to speed up crawling. John Mueller from Google confirmed that while it’s possible to expedite crawling in some situations, there’s no way to guarantee faster crawling all the time.

To ensure that search engines crawl your website efficiently, it’s essential to have high-quality, unique content and a solid technical SEO structure. SEO specialists should focus on creating content that adds value, is well-organised, and follows SEO best practices to encourage more frequent crawling.

Pagination and SEO: Google Explains

When it comes to paginated content, John Mueller has explained that there’s no need for special SEO tactics. Google treats paginated pages in a straightforward manner: if the content is useful, it will be indexed; if it’s not, it won’t matter.

For businesses and SEO specialists working with paginated content, the key takeaway is to be explicit with search engines about what’s needed. Rather than overcomplicating SEO for paginated content, providing clear navigation and ensuring content quality should be enough to meet Google’s needs.

Google Business Profile: Delays and Updates

Google Business Profiles are experiencing significant delays in support, affecting services like suspended business reinstatements and verification issues. As a result, businesses should be patient if they are facing long wait times. This could be an area where SEO agencies in the UK can assist by helping businesses optimise their profiles while waiting for Google’s support to catch up.

Additionally, Google now provides clearer reasons for verification failure in Google Business Profiles. This helps business owners understand exactly what’s missing in their verification video and ensures a more seamless process in the future.

AI-Enhanced Images in Google Business Profile Posts

Google has introduced a new feature allowing businesses to enhance images for their Google Business Profile posts using AI-generated backgrounds. This feature can make photos more dynamic and visually appealing, which is essential for improving engagement with potential customers.

Businesses should leverage this new AI tool to enhance the visual appeal of their Google Business Profile posts. Whether you’re managing a business profile yourself or working with an SEO agency in the UK, this feature can help improve your local visibility.

Google Merchant Center Adds AI-Generated Summaries

Google Merchant Center has introduced AI-generated summaries that provide merchants with performance insights. These summaries offer quick overviews of traffic, clicks, and other important metrics, along with suggestions for improvement. While still in testing, this feature can be helpful for e-commerce businesses looking to optimise their Google Merchant Center accounts.

SEO specialists should encourage their e-commerce clients to make use of these AI-powered insights. By refining product titles and descriptions based on the recommendations, businesses can improve their visibility in search results and drive more traffic to their online stores.

AI-Generated Review Summaries on Store Pages

Some top-quality store pages now feature AI-generated review summaries, which help users get a quick overview of reviews without reading through long lists. This update can significantly impact how users perceive a business’s credibility and overall reputation.

For businesses, it’s important to encourage positive reviews, as these AI-generated summaries can influence potential customers’ decisions. SEO specialists should focus on reputation management and review generation as part of their broader SEO strategies.

Apple to Integrate Google Gemini into Apple Intelligence

Apple is reportedly planning to integrate Google’s Gemini into Apple Intelligence, according to findings from the iOS 18.4 beta code. This integration could allow Apple users to choose Google Gemini as their preferred AI service, alongside other models like OpenAI.

For SEO agencies and digital marketers, this development could enhance AI capabilities across Apple’s ecosystem. It’s crucial to monitor these changes and adapt SEO strategies to align with any new AI-driven search experiences Apple may introduce.

Conclusion: Stay Ahead with SEO in a Changing Landscape

As Google continues to expand its AI capabilities and refine search features, businesses and SEO specialists in the UK must adapt their strategies to remain competitive. By optimising content for AI, improving Google Business Profile listings, and staying informed about changes in local and organic search, businesses can improve their online visibility and attract more customers.

If you’re looking for expert guidance in navigating these changes, working with an experienced SEO agency in the UK can ensure that your website stays on top of the latest search engine trends. With the right strategies in place, you can maximise your online presence and stay ahead of the competition.