HomeWinBuzzer NewsFive Bugs Found in Bing Webmaster Tools API, Microsoft Confirms Fixes

Five Bugs Found in Bing Webmaster Tools API, Microsoft Confirms Fixes

Bing Webmaster Tools faces API issues while rolling out major updates, including AI-driven SEO tools and extended data access, aimed at improving website performance.

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Developers using Bing Webmaster Tools recently hit a wall when they stumbled across several bugs in the platform’s API. Ryan Siddle, a developer, first flagged these issues while working on an open-source project. He layed out five bugs in total, two of which Microsoft had already committed to resolving. These issues, impacting things like country and region settings, have been causing trouble for users who rely on the API for SEO tasks.

Siddle’s team was in the process of creating a Python-based wrapper for the API when they uncovered the flaws. Fabrice Canel from Microsoft confirmed that they are already on it. The bugs are currently being worked on, though there’s no concrete timeline for when all five will be fixed.
 
Ryan Siddle on linkedin reports bing webmast tools api bugs

Bing’s AI Copilot and New Features Launched Last Week

This hiccup comes hot on the heels of a recent update to Bing Webmaster Tools, which introduced Microsoft AI-powered Copilot. The new feature is designed to assist webmasters by automating some of the more repetitive SEO tasks, while also offering real-time feedback and tailored recommendations. Copilot on Bing Webmaster Tools isn’t widely available yet—Microsoft has rolled it out to a select group of users for initial testing. Feedback from this early group will shape the final version before it’s released to the broader public.

The Copilot feature, which integrates with Microsoft Advertising and Microsoft Clarity, aims to help webmasters by providing actionable insights into how their sites are performing. For now, though, its utility is limited by the small testing group, leaving most users waiting.

New Recommendations Tool Aims To Simplify SEO

Bing also revamped its existing Insights tool, which is now called Recommendations. The rebranded feature offers more detailed SEO suggestions that go beyond simple performance metrics. Webmasters using the new tool get access to real-time data, helping them tweak their SEO strategies without needing a full-time SEO expert on hand.

For instance, e-commerce websites preparing for the holiday rush can use the tool to ensure that their sites are optimized to handle the extra traffic, while smaller sites like blogs can track which content is performing best with readers. Bing’s Recommendations also offers step-by-step advice on how to fix issues and improve search rankings.

What makes this particularly helpful is that it cuts down on the guesswork. Webmasters no longer have to rely solely on data interpretation—they’re given concrete steps to follow, reducing the risk of missteps. The Recommendations tool is live and available to all Bing Webmaster Tools users as of last week.

16 Months of Search Performance Data

Another news change to Bing Webmaster Tools, introduced along with the AI and Recommendations features, is the extension of the search performance window. Previously, users only had access to six months of historical data, but that’s now been bumped up to 16 months. This extension allows site owners to better track long-term trends, such as seasonal traffic shifts or changes following an SEO campaign.

The longer window provides businesses with more context when analyzing their data, allowing them to fine-tune their strategies based on past performance. It also gives users more time to see how their SEO efforts are playing out in the long run, which can be especially useful for marketers planning future campaigns.

Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:24 pm CET

Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus Kasanmascheff
Markus has been covering the tech industry for more than 15 years. He is holding a Master´s degree in International Economics and is the founder and managing editor of Winbuzzer.com.

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