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Google Renaming Websites: Why Do They Do This?

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Valentin Pletzer
Valentin Pletzer
Oct 23, 2024, 2:05 AM
 
I wonder if anyone ever looked into this and found anything: I noticed that a few days ago Google began renaming sites. In our case `T-Online` became renamed to `<http://T-Online.de|T-Online.de>` but it’s not only us but a lot of other publishers as well. From what I can see there is no obvious reason. We trying hard to be very consistent (schema, feeds, …) but it looks to me like Google just doesn’t care at all.
 
While I don’t have a problem with the renaming itself I wonder if Google does use schema-markup at all or if it is retired at this point similar to rel=prev/next
Forwarded thread from another channel:
Mika Lepistö
Mika Lepistö
Oct 23, 2024, 2:21 AM
<https://www.tonline.de|https://www.tonline.de> appears to have an SSL error, but intermittently I am redirected to the dash variant. Maybe a sever side or edge rule.
Valentin Pletzer
Valentin Pletzer
Oct 23, 2024, 2:23 AM
@mika Thanks. I’ll look into this but it’s <https://www.t-online.de/> with a - between t and online
 
Also as I said: It’s not about us. I am noticing this for a lot of publishers.
Valentin Pletzer
Valentin Pletzer
Oct 23, 2024, 3:39 AM
@mika the www redirect of the misspelled domain is fixed. Thanks again.
Erin Rooney Doland
Erin Rooney Doland
Oct 23, 2024, 10:28 AM
I'm noticing Google leaning into schema markup for some specific types (i.e., VideoObject, NewsArticle) and then just abandoning it for others (especially if og: exists for that type).
Mika Lepistö
Mika Lepistö
Oct 23, 2024, 10:46 AM
Are you seeing this on branded search, or where are you seeing this renaming?
Valentin Pletzer
Valentin Pletzer
Oct 23, 2024, 10:47 AM
I noticed this in Google Discover
Valentin Pletzer
Valentin Pletzer
Oct 23, 2024, 10:48 AM
I just checked. You can see this in the news vertical of search as well
Erin Rooney Doland
Erin Rooney Doland
Oct 23, 2024, 11:56 AM
Part of me wonders if this isn't part of Google's "fix" for spamming the US Discover and News with non-US sites the past few months. I haven't encountered the name changing yet, so this is just a guess.
Erin Rooney Doland
Erin Rooney Doland
Oct 23, 2024, 11:56 AM
Also, I'm assuming you're accessing these surfaces as if you are in the US (via VPN). So, not even a strong guess lol
Arnout Hellemans
Arnout Hellemans
Oct 24, 2024, 3:44 PM
I have seen similar, I think it might have to do with the chamber of commerce data on the identified entity. @pletzer happy to DM you where I'm seeing this happen.
Mika Lepistö
Mika Lepistö
Oct 24, 2024, 11:28 PM
Interesting. Are you seeing that chamber thing only non-US or all where you've seen this?
Arnout Hellemans
Arnout Hellemans
Oct 25, 2024, 12:59 AM
Pretty much only in EU markets

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