SearchCap: Google Now, My Business Insights, AMP Notifications & WiFi Maps

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.

From Search Engine Land:

• Google My Business Insights updates analytics while dropping Google+ source data
  Aug 9, 2016 by Barry Schwartz

  Google My Business updates their analytics to show business owners the source of their views and how users found the listing.

• FTC sues 1-800 Contacts over reciprocal, ‘anti-competitive’ PPC bidding agreements
  Aug 9, 2016 by Greg Sterling

  Bidding agreements prevented 1-800 Contacts and its rivals from bidding on each other’s trademarked terms.

• Google Now testing “Explore Interests” feature to make personal assistant app more personalized
  Aug 9, 2016 by Amy Gesenhues

  The new feature aims to give Google Now users more control over the information Google tracks on their behalf.

• Here’s an AdWords script to apply shared campaign negative lists everywhere
  Aug 9, 2016 by Daniel Gilbert

  Want to share campaign negative lists with a load of campaigns, but finding the interface a drag? Columnist Daniel Gilbert of Brainlabs has a script for that!

• Google injects more context into micro-moments
  Aug 9, 2016 by Adam Dorfman

  As Google continues to refine its search results to better serve users in their moments of need, columnist Adam Dorfman looks at how recent developments in contextual search may impact brick-and-mortar businesses.

• Google Maps adds “Wi-fi only” feature & ability to save areas to SD card
  Aug 9, 2016 by Amy Gesenhues

  In addition to the new offline features, Google Maps has added more international ride-service options to compare rates in a number of countries.

• Google Search Console sending AMP notifications to encourage adoption
  Aug 9, 2016 by Barry Schwartz

  Google is proactively pushing AMP through the Google Search Console message center.

Recent Headlines From MarTech, Our Sister Site Dedicated To Internet Marketing:

• Advanced Google Shopping: Is price a proxy for Quality Score in product ads?
• So we have 45 more characters in AdWords text ads… Now what?
• Facebook is blocking ad blockers on desktop, but not on mobile
• Twitter will open its storytelling product, Moments, to everyone
• The growing appeal of responsive-aware email design
• The FTC disclosure guidelines: An in-depth exploration of what affiliates and merchants need to know
• MarTech Today: Mobile ads targeting cars, MarTech Europe & the Verizon-Yahoo deal
• Facebook tests streaming videos to TV using Apple’s AirPlay, Google’s Chromecast

Search News From Around The Web:

Local & Maps

• Google My Business Insights Statistics Stuck, Search Engine Roundtable
• Moz Local: Upgrading Duplicate Listing Management, Moz
• Simulating lakes with Google Earth, Google Earth Blog

Link Building

• Ahrefs’ SEO Metrics Explained (Finally), Ahrefs
• Collaborative Link Building: Tips and Tools for Working Better with Clients, State of Digital
• Nine analyses you can perform to find out, Netprofiler

Searching

• Google Testing New Review Stars Format On Mobile, Search Engine Roundtable

SEO

• Tip: Don’t Ask Google For Advice When You’re Breaking Their Webmaster Guidelines, Search Engine Roundtable

SEM / Paid Search

• Case Study: How AdWords Automated Rules Increased ROI by 250%, Semrush
• Google’s Not Selling Your Products Like It Used To, PPC Hero
• The 5 Best AdWords Scripts – No Coding Required, Metric Theory

Search Marketing

• AKQA on search marketing in a post-browser future, Digiday