Google is handing out more manual penalties
Two consultants say Google has been issuing more hand-applied penalties over the past several weeks, and Marie Haynes says sites often fail their first appeal. Here is what is triggering them.
Getting into AI answers
AI local results are dropping your photos and reviews
Google's AI version of the local pack (the map box with businesses in it) is appearing without action buttons, photos and reviews, reported by Barry Schwartz from Joy Hawkins. Those are the parts that normally give a searcher a reason to call or click through to you. One SEO is seeing this, so treat it as early, not settled.
Who this affects: Any business that gets customers from Google Maps or local search results.
- Search your main service plus your town on a phone.
- Our take: note which contact details still show, and which vanished.
Google says it is putting more clickable links in AI answers
Google announced on October 15 that it has made "continued and substantial increases" to inline links inside AI answers, and is now showing them higher in the response more often, per Alex Groberman.
Who this affects: Everyone with a website, especially one where people book or buy.
- Our take: make your booking and pricing pages state plainly what they do.
Do not do this
Google is handing out more hand-applied penalties
Google has been issuing more manual actions (penalties applied by a human reviewer) in recent weeks, according to two consultants quoted by Barry Schwartz.
It is very common to fail the reconsideration request.
Who this affects: Anyone who has published pages in bulk or bought links.
- Open Search Console, click Manual actions, confirm it says none.
- Delete near-duplicate city or template pages with no real answer.