Can the industry’s biggest players win over privacy enthusiasts?; Thursday’s daily brief
Plus, Google’s June 23 spam update and Fred Vallaeys answers your top FLoC questions
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The 2021 SEO Periodic Table is here to help you achieve more visibility; Thursday’s daily brief
Plus, diners are returning to restaurants in record numbers and what that means for local businesses
Microsoft Advertising launches new Tours and Activities ad format in open beta
Available for advertisers in the U.S. and UK, this new ad format, unique to Microsoft Advertising, can show in Bing search, Bing Maps and Bing Travel Guides.
Diners are returning to restaurants in record numbers, according to Yelp
Last month, the platform seated an all-time high of over 3.7 million diners, but the labor shortage is pushing wages higher and preventing some businesses from fully reopening.
Google Ads API, Partner badges, and reputation algorithms; Friday’s daily brief
Plus, check out our updated guide to Bing SEO
Will YouTube’s new ToS increase ad inventory and lower prices?; Tuesday’s daily brief
Plus, rainbow-colored map pins, Google News Showcase on desktop and more.
Yelp adds the LGBTQ-owned attribute and rainbow-colored map pins for Pride Month
In April, searches for LGBTQ+-owned businesses on Yelp were up by more than 150% YoY.
Some new local search changes you should be aware of; Wednesday’s daily brief
Also, Google updated its event structured data report in Search Console.
Yelp announces Custom Location Targeting, budget recommendations and more features to expand reach for local businesses
Local business owners are no longer limited to advertising around their physical location.
Turn the beat around: Over half a million new businesses opened in Q1 2021; Thursday’s daily brief
Plus, Microsoft Advertising announces new products and features
How businesses of all sizes can embrace social media
It’s time to pivot from traditional to social media marketing.
Yelp introduces a searchable Asian-owned business profile attribute
In February, Yelp searches for Asian-owned businesses were up 130% YoY.
Check your YoY reporting and how to set HARD, DUMB or FAST search marketing goals; Monday’s daily brief
Plus, ORM strategies when attack sites strike and Facebook says the algorithm isn't the ONLY one to blame
Reputation attack sites have plummeted in Google, but can still harm
Sites like Ripoff Report, Pissed Consumer and Complaints Board are still a danger for businesses and people with a low online presence. Here's what you can do to decrease the threat.
Pickup and delivery attributes, indoor Live View and more AI-powered features are coming to Google Maps and GMB
Google is packing more features, many commerce-related, into Maps, helping the company maintain its position as the intermediary between our online and offline activities.
4 local review trends to watch in 2021
It’s important for businesses to not ignore the importance that reviews still have in local search results even as customer sentiment around reviews shifts.
Big brands find pandemic success with e-commerce platforms; Monday’s daily brief
Plus, pitch to speak at SMX
A few pointers from the pros during SMX Report; Wednesday’s daily brief
Plus, Google extends deadline for Partner Program requirements and Yelp releases new features to address new consumer behaviors.
Yelp’s Waitlist, analytics and POS updates aim to address shifting consumer preferences
Waitlist now supports takeout orders, and enhanced analytics may help managers evaluate how their restaurants are performing
Diversity and inclusion in search marketing and advertising; Monday’s daily brief
Plus, GMB adds messaging to desktop (finally)
Australia gets News Showcase and how Google handles duplicate content for paid and organic: Monday’s daily brief
Plus, Google Ads Auto Applied Recommendations explained
Yelp launches “health and safety measures” community feedback feature
Yelp launches new rating feature for community to leave feedback on local business social distancing and mask compliance.
SEO year in review 2020: COVID forces platforms to adapt their local and e-commerce offerings, and more
Even a pandemic couldn’t slow down developments in the search industry. Here’s our recap of the year’s most important stories and news.
PPC 2020 in review: COVID leaves its mark on e-commerce and paid search
Platforms pivoted to accommodate advertising during a crisis and automation continued to be at the heart of paid search changes.
Even as more people shop online, searches for ‘available near me’ up over 100% vs. last year
Google's Reena Nadkarni explains what retailers can do to drive local sales.
Take a peek into PPC routines during Cyber Five week
After all the preparation, here's what paid search and social marketers will be doing this week to manage their holiday campaigns and promotions.
Tripadvisor launches new listings, reputation and data products to help hotels and restaurants gain insights, boost visibility
Restaurants and hotels have been hit especially hard during COVID-19.
Does the Google antitrust case make an Apple search engine more likely?
The DOJ may cause Apple to accelerate plans for its own engine.
Holiday 2020 is do or die for many SMBs
Small businesses need to focus their marketing on key consumer sites, especially Google, for survival into 2021.
DOJ antitrust suit: Google uses contracts, market power to neutralize rivals
Google thinks it will win but the DOJ used these arguments successfully before.
Google Search gets deeper into the ‘real-world’ with Busyness, Duplex and AR in Maps
Building the data bridge between online and offline.
Yelp introduces new ‘business accused of racist behavior’ consumer alert
Well-intentioned initiative might be problematic in some cases.
Congressional report blasts Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook as monopolistic ‘gatekeepers’ of the digital economy
Breaking up these companies will apparently be on the table.
Yelp brings Ads Dashboard into Yelp for Business, debuts new ads features
Advertisers can now optimize for goals such as phone calls, website visits or messages, add negative keyword targeting and more.
Your all-access guide to improving your Google search visibility
Search Google for the services that your business provides. How can you get in the top 10 results instead of in the millionth position?
Google rolling out video appointments, online classes to local business profiles
The booking can occur through GMB but the class or consultation won't happen on the business profile.
Facebook Business Suite is a new cross-app management tool for SMBs
Seeks to bring simplicity and centralized control to content management on Facebook and Instagram.
Local businesses can highlight COVID-19 ‘health & safety’ measures with Google My Business
The attributes should start appearing in Search and Maps soon. They are intended to give consumers confidence and manage their expectations.
Apple Ratings is coming to iOS 14, how disruptive will it be?
The company may use device location to ensure review integrity.
Voice SEO: Different tactics required for Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa
Study by SEMrush found only 1% overlap in answers to the same voice queries across platforms.