Daily Search Forum Recap: September 30, 2025

09/30/25
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Today’s Key Updates in Search Forums and Google Tools

Google’s removal of 100 results per page impacts search and ads reporting. ChatGPT now supports instant checkout via Stripe integration. Google is testing UI changes like removing underlines on search snippets hover and adding a progress bar in shopping ads. A new Google AdSense traffic source report helps understand visitor origins better.

Optimixed’s Overview: Latest Innovations and Testing in Google Search and Advertising Platforms

Google Search Results and Ads Reporting Changes

Google has discontinued its unofficial support for displaying 100 search results per page (num=100), which has caused disruptions for third-party tracking tools and potentially affected Google Ads and Search Console reporting accuracy. This change highlights Google’s effort to maintain data integrity and prevent artificial data injection.

ChatGPT Integrates Instant Checkout with Agentic Commerce Protocol

OpenAI introduced an instant checkout feature within ChatGPT, powered by the Agentic Commerce Protocol and Stripe. This functionality enables users to complete purchases directly through ChatGPT, marking a significant step towards conversational commerce integration.

Google’s UI Experiments

  • Search Snippets Hover Effect: Google is testing the removal of underlines on search result snippet titles when hovered over, aiming to refine the user interface experience.
  • Shopping Ads Carousel Progress Bar: A blue progress bar is being tested under the shopping ads carousel to visually indicate how many products remain as users scroll through ads.

New Google AdSense Traffic Source Breakdown Report

Google AdSense users now have access to a detailed traffic source breakdown report. This report categorizes incoming traffic by source type, distinguishing between direct visits and traffic from popular or classified platforms, enhancing publishers’ understanding of their audience.

Additional Industry Insights and Community Updates

The search forums also discussed various SEO and AI topics including domain migration challenges, misinformation in AI-generated content, and upcoming trends in publishing and ad tech antitrust cases. These conversations underscore the evolving landscape of search engine optimization and digital marketing.