SearchCap: Google Japan Penalty, AdWords App Update & Emojis In Google PLAs

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

From Search Engine Land:

• Sorry, No Emoji Allowed In Google PLAs (Frown Face)
  Feb 5, 2016 by Ginny Marvin

  The emoji moment was short-lived, if already technically not allowed.

• AdWords App For Android Now Supports Universal App Campaigns
  Feb 5, 2016 by Ginny Marvin

  New conversion columns are also available in the latest Android update.

• Hacked Content On The Rise: Take SEO Precautions To Protect Your Site
  Feb 5, 2016 by Tony Edward

  Don’t get penalized due to malware! Columnist Tony Edward discusses the recent uptick in hacked content in search results and provides tips to protect your site.

• Are You Digging Deeply Enough Into Geographic Optimizations?
  Feb 5, 2016 by Amy Bishop

  Are you doing your due diligence when it comes to geographic optimizations? Columnist Amy Bishop shares tips to ensure your campaigns are running as efficiently as possible.

• Search In Pics: GoogleBot Costume, Google Maps Peghog & Fancy Google Coffee Maker
  Feb 5, 2016 by Barry Schwartz

  In this week’s Search In Pictures, here are the latest images culled from the web, showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have and more. Google Coffee Maker: Source: Google+ Google Maps Peghog: Source: Twitter An SEO Dressed Up As GoogleBot: […]

• Google Has Penalized A Link Network In Japan
  Feb 5, 2016 by Barry Schwartz

  After being quiet for over a year on link network penalties, Google says it has penalized a large, Japanese-based link network.

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

• Attributing Retail Store Transactions To Online Clicks At Keyword Level
• How Healthy Is Your Content Marketing?
• Bring Your Work Home: How To Use Google AdWords To Improve Your Love Life
• Google Search Partner Network: Friend Or Foe?
• Super Bowl Advertisers Will Reach A Big Audience, But Will They Miss Millennials?
• What’s The Right Staffing Mix For Content Marketing Success?
• Marketing Funnels And Buyer Journeys: What Are We Arguing About?
• MarTech Today: Google Play Boots Ad Blocker, Bing Updates Apps & Google Adds JSON-LD Support
• YouTube: Super Bowl Ads Have 140 Million Views, Totaling More Than 1.7 Million Hours
• Tying Keywords To Conversions In A “Not Provided” World
• LinkedIn Reports Solid Q4 Earnings, But Stock Falls On 2016 Guidance
• Instagram Now Supports Multiple Accounts For Some iOS And Android Users
• Super Bowl 50 Advertisers: These Brands Are Ready To Play The Commercial Game

Search News From Around The Web:

Industry

• From antiques to pizza, see what went into making this year’s masterpieces for Doodle 4 Google, Official Google Blog
• Google Search Appliance: So Long, Fortune

Local & Maps

• Android Wear: Designed for your wrist, Official Android Blog

Link Building

• Link metrics that matter, Branded3
• Comparing the Republican Candidates, Majestic Blog

Searching

• Teaching beginners how to search–lessons for teachers, SearchReSearch

SEO

• 13 Reasons Your Organic Traffic is in Decline…It’s Not a Penalty, authoritylabs.com
• Can SEOs Stop Worrying About Keywords and Just Focus on Topics? – Whiteboard Friday, Moz
• Field Guide to Spider Traps: An SEO’s Companion, Portent
• Google News Troubleshooting Tool In Publisher Center, Search Engine Roundtable
• Google’s Remove URL Tool for Emergencies, Not Site Migration, thesempost.com

SEM / Paid Search

• 5 Things You Must Know About New AdWords App for Apple iOS, smallbiztrends.com

Search Marketing

• Video: Amit Singhal To Retire, Google Japan Penalties & Family Reunited Via Google, Search Engine Roundtable