KAP SEO Services

19/01/2026

Microsoft advances AI safety for young people in the UK 🎓

Microsoft outlines steps to help young people use technology safely and responsibly, including age-verification measures for UK Xbox users.

• Review platform age-gating and youth-safety settings across channels
• Update brand safety guidelines for AI experiences and communities
• Brief moderators on policy changes ahead of new campaigns

Microsoft highlights the importance of empowering young people to safely and mindfully use AI and technology while addressing child well-being in the digital age.

16/01/2026

PMax adds new inventory & channel reporting 📊

Google introduced inventory and channel performance reporting for PMax, giving clearer visibility into where spend goes and what works.

• Use the new views to spot under-performing channels
• Run structured experiments to shift budget by channel
• Share learnings in QBRs to refine the 2026 mix

November 6, 2025This year, advertiser feedback has fueled significant improvements to Performance Max (PMax) campaigns, and we're continuing to help you reach your audience and gain more visibility wi

13/01/2026

November SEO wrap: ranking waves and Query groups 🧠

The monthly webmaster report flagged unconfirmed ranking updates and highlighted the launch of Query groups in Search Console Insights.

• Map grouped queries to topic hubs; brief content gaps
• Annotate reporting to explain November volatility
• Track shifts in demand and prioritise hub updates

We had a few unconfirmed but big Google search ranking updates but we are still waiting on an official core update, which seems unlikely. Google did have a search serving issue they confirmed early in the month. Google Search Console had a number of issues this month but they did release a new query...

10/01/2026

Local Services Ads: message leads move to value-based pricing 💬

Google says “Request multiple opinions” messages may carry discounts aligned to lead quality rather than a flat 50% reference.

• Segment “fan-out” message leads and monitor cost-per-booking
• Check improved lead qualification and dispute invalids promptly
• Rebalance budgets if discounts shift channel CAC

Google emailed advertisers who are leveraging message leads within Google Local Service Ads telling them about the new value-based pricing. Basically, when a seacher uses the "Request multiple opinions" within local results, those leads may result now in higher discounts than the previous 50% discou...

08/01/2026

Make your content readable for AI search first 🧩

Many LLMs don’t reliably render JavaScript. Ensure vital information appears in raw HTML so AI surfaces can cite you accurately.

• Server-render critical content; avoid hiding facts behind JS
• Strengthen E-E-A-T and apply appropriate schema
• Consider a safe “plain-text” fallback for known AI crawlers

Jojo Furnival rounds up the best of Dan Taylor’s advice to help medical & healthcare websites ensure their content is visible in AI search.

06/01/2026

New brand suitability controls across YouTube feed & Discover 🎛️

Google added inventory types to YouTube Home, Watch Next and Discover, standardising brand suitability across more surfaces.

• Review inventory settings per campaign and placement
• Track brand-safety scores alongside reach, CPC and CPA
• Document supply changes that alter performance and cost

November 7, 2025Google is launching new brand suitability controls across additional ad placement environments to enhance how you find the right fit for your product or brand. Inventory types are now

04/01/2026

Unconfirmed ranking tremor (7 Nov): log, don’t lurch 📉

Community chatter points to a ranking wobble around 7 November. Resist reactive changes; trust your data.

• Annotate reports and monitor GSC impressions/queries
• Use short-interval exports to validate movements
• Keep building helpful, entity-clear content while noise settles

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Late last week, into this weekend, we saw signs of yet another unconfirmed Google Search ranking update. Google is promoting its AI Opal tool to create op...

02/01/2026

Turn reviews into Local SEO wins ⭐

BrightLocal shows how reviews reveal keywords and service attributes that lift relevance and conversions.

• Extract recurring attributes and add them to profiles, menus and FAQs
• Mirror customer language in local pages and Q&A content
• Prioritise updates where reviews signal unmet needs or friction

Unlock higher rankings and better conversions by learning to mine your customer reviews for high-impact keywords and other improvements.

30/12/2025

ICO backs new cyber resilience bill 🔐

The ICO says the Bill will strengthen the UK’s cyber resilience and better protect people’s data. Expect detailed guidance to follow during passage.

• Map which services and suppliers may see new security expectations
• Refresh incident playbooks and breach training across teams
• Schedule DPIA reviews where security controls and risk profiles change

“We welcome the introduction of the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill in the House of Commons and look forward to seeing it progress through the parliamentary process. This is an important piece of legislation that will strengthen the country's cyber resilience a...

27/12/2025

Advertiser verification: false info can suspend your account ⚠️

Google clarified policy language to state that submitting false information during verification violates rules and may trigger suspension.

• Re-verify legal entity, address and contact details in all accounts
• Maintain evidence packs and renewal reminders for audits
• Train teams to escalate any doubt about identity or misrepresentation

Google reinforces policy that submitting false information during advertiser verification is a violation that can lead to account suspension.

23/12/2025

Shipping & returns can now be set in Search Console 📦

Google now lets identified online merchants configure shipping and returns directly in Search Console, or use new organisation-level shipping policy markup. Settings in Search Console take precedence over page markup.

• If eligible, configure policies in Search Console and document the owner
• Add organisation-level shipping policy schema; validate in Rich Results Test
• Keep page copy clear for UK shoppers on costs, speed and returns

20/12/2025

GBP categories: November update to note 🧭

Sterling Sky’s tracker lists a new “Nursing practice” category this month; no removals recorded.

• Reconfirm each location’s primary/secondary categories
• Update SOPs; log any knock-on display changes
• Recheck SERP justifications and reviews post-edit

We monitor changes to the Google Business Profile categories list used in the United States of America (USA), providing the most comprehensive and updated list of Google My Business categories. Explore the latest additions, changes, and removals with Sterling Sky!