SearchCap: Apple search ads, Google’s newest search features & latest carousel test

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

From Search Engine Land:

• Apple launches ‘set it and forget it’ Search Ads Basic for the App Store
  Dec 5, 2017 by Greg Sterling
  No keywords, no bidding with new simplified search product.
• Google’s latest search updates brings more content to Featured Snippets & Knowledge Panel info
  Dec 5, 2017 by Amy Gesenhues
  “Search is not just about answering your questions — it’s also about discovery,” writes Google product manager Michael Galvez.
• Google wraps Hanukkah, Festivus, Christmas & Kwanzaa searches in festive holiday decor
  Dec 5, 2017 by Amy Gesenhues
  Hanukkah decorations include a Menorah, Christmas searches display a gingerbread house and candy canes, and Kwanzaa searches get a Kinara.
• PPC agencies will play these 4 roles when automation takes over
  Dec 5, 2017 by Frederick Vallaeys
  Many in the SEM world are concerned that artificial intelligence and machine learning will make their jobs obsolete — but columnist Frederick Vallaeys believes that humans and machines working together will ultimately create the most value for clients.
• Links: To speed or not to speed
  Dec 5, 2017 by Julie Joyce
  Want to build links faster? Julie Joyce discusses which tasks can be sped up and which can’t.
• Google testing an answers carousel within the search results snippets
  Dec 5, 2017 by Barry Schwartz
  Publishers and webmasters might not like this new feature Google is testing.
• Secure your SMX West pass now & save big. Rates increase next week!
  Dec 4, 2017 by Search Engine Land
  Don’t miss out: Your chance to lock in the lowest rate on a seat at SMX West expires next week! The West Coast’s largest search marketing conference is coming to San Jose, California, March 13-15, and we want you to join us.

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

• It’s time to change your SEO reports!
• Pinterest rolls out chatbot, native features for Facebook’s Messenger
• Instagram now lets brands feature Stories Highlights on their profile pages
• Bounce rate: Important metric or junk data?
• Amazon owned nearly 1/3 of all online sales during Cyber Monday
• Google releases Android Go edition for India’s 400 million internet users
• Secure your SMX West pass now & save big. Rates increase next week!
• Four brand-building activities that lay the foundation for SEO
• 8 simple ways to utilize a blog to improve SEO results

Search News From Around The Web:

• 15 Facebook Groups Every SEO Should Join, Ahrefs
• Google Is Rolling Out Hotel Price Sliders to Local Packs, Sergey Alakov
• Apple Maps adds public transit directions for Tampa, Fla., Apple Insider
• December 2017 Google Webmaster Report: Algorithms, Snippets & Penalties, Search Engine Roundtable
• Increasing Google CPCs, Hallam Internet
• Product ratings on Shopping ads now available globally, Inside AdWords
• Reverse Engineering Your Competitors‘ Backlinks with SEMrush, SEM Rush
• SEO for Ecommerce in 2018 – The Ultimate Guide –, The Upper Ranks
• Unique SEO Metrics to Investigate, Stone Temple
• Yoast SEO 5.9: A more accessible content analysis, Yoast