This day in search marketing history: January 2
Google uses paid links and thin content to promote Chrome, plus: why people click on search ads, search quality raters guidelines and more.
Topic: Federal Trade Commission
Uber ads are coming, and they’re already raising privacy concerns
In what they call "journey ads," Uber is planning to start rolling out ads to its riders based on their travel history and their geographic locations.
Senator claims Google isn’t doing enough to block ad scams
Is Google unwilling to protect consumers and small businesses on Google Ads? That's what Senator Richard Blumenthal believes.
Google offers to split part of its ad-tech business to avoid DOJ trouble
Legal pressures are mounting and Google offers to split part of its ad-tech business to avoid DOJ trouble.
11 conspiracy theories about search, Google and Big Tech
From your phone is spying on you to Google manipulating ad auctions, here are some of the juiciest conspiracy theories.
Search results, but without the search results page; Thursday’s daily brief
Plus, leaked documents suggest Amazon is abusing its position in India.
The Search Engine Land mentorships have been announced; Monday’s daily brief
Plus, on the hunt for something new in 2021? New job opps in search
Google is pushing hard to make it easier to create ads; Tuesday’s daily brief
Plus, Shopify site owners can finally edit their robots.txt files.
The big Google zero click debate; who is right?; Friday’s daily brief
Also we covered new Search Console features, Google Ads types and Microsoft Ads controls.
Zero-click Google searches rose to nearly 65% in 2020
Efforts to regulate Google aren’t making a dent. And, the pandemic may have resulted in greater overall search volume, but zero-click searches may rise even further as people become more mobile.
Why the FTC didn’t sue Google in 2013; Wednesday’s daily brief
Plus, everything we know about FLoC, and some good ole marketing humor.
Amazon uses its data to undermine third party sellers, EU antitrust action says
The company could face penalties of up to 10% of its total revenue, which was more than $280B in 2019.
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.
Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook set to preview antitrust defenses before Congress
Sure to be a marathon, the hearings could be dramatic or incredibly dull.
Yelp to Congress: Don’t investigate Google without looking at search
The reviews site wants to stop Google's "self-preferencing" in the local SERP.
Justice Department homing in on Google Ad Manager in antitrust probe
The feds are interviewing publishers and ad-tech rivals about whether Google has too much control "over the monetization of digital content."
A visual history of Google ad labeling in search results
A look back at how Google has treated ads in search results, from blue shading to the latest version of today.
Google removes ‘ads’ and ‘sponsored’ labels from flight search results
There will be no more referral fees from partners in flight search, as Google seeks to emphasize price and convenience in rankings.
Google now showing ‘request quotes’ button above local pack on mobile
Large button appears above 3-pack, connected to GMB messaging.
Senate bill seeks to compel tech giants to offer ‘unfiltered’ versions of their content
The 'Filter Bubble Transparency Act' would apply to websites and mobile apps.
Nearly 50 states’ attorneys general join in antitrust investigation of Google
Facebook is also being investigated in another multistate action lead by New York.
Review fraud: Hijacked Amazon reviews a big problem says Consumer Reports
The fake reviews problem on Amazon isn't going away any time soon.
What is ‘Google Screened’ and how does it differ from ‘Google Guaranteed’?
The company introduces a second screening program for professional services.
FTC smacks down anti-review ‘non-disparagement clauses’ in form contracts
Make sure your contracts don't have terms that violate the CRFA.
FTC: Breaking up Google, Facebook to restore competition on the table
We're a long way away from that, but a rhetorical Rubicon has been crossed.
Marketers spending 43% of budgets on Google, Facebook, Amazon, want ‘alternatives’
It seems to be true even among brands and agencies that say the three outperform other platforms.
Reports: Google, Amazon to face new antitrust inquiries in changed political climate
Reportedly the DOJ will investigate Google and the FTC will take on Amazon.
Consumers largely unaware of fake reviews problem on Amazon
Three-quarters of respondents indicated they "fully" or "somewhat" trusted Amazon reviews.
‘Google Guarantee’ local listings appearing in Google Home results
The Google Guarantee has been associated with Local Services ads, but the two programs are technically distinct.
Google fined another $1.7 billion by EU for ‘abusive’ AdSense publisher contracts
Google has now been fined a cumulative total of roughly $9.3 billion and there's one more potential case lurking.
Goodbye green? Google testing black “Ad” label in Search
Google appears to be looking to switch up the way it labels text ads again.
FTC busts Amazon seller for buying reviews
Diet supplements company was buying fake reviews from a vendor Amazon itself had previously sued in 2016.
Report: ‘Incentivized reviews’ effective for consumers and brands
While 58 percent of consumers were unaffected by the presence of an incentive, 42 percent were less willing to trust them.
SearchCap: Google’s deal with Mastercard not ‘deceptive’, small business SEO & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: How small businesses can see big results with foundational SEO Aug 31, 2018 by Marcus Miller Where can you put 20% effort for 80% SEO return? Contributor Marcus Miller outlines SEO […]
Opinion: Google’s store sales measurement data deal with Mastercard not ‘deceptive’
Bloomberg report zeroes-in on lack of consumer disclosure by the credit card issuer.
SearchCap: Google Assistant finds good news, GSC updates, Google Image search traffic & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: A checklist: Important SEO points to cover in a content campaign Aug 21, 2018 by Paddy Moogan Contributor Paddy Moogan shares a checklist of key on-page and analytical items and how […]
SearchCap: Apple loses top management, new SEMPO Board, Apple Maps & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: SEMPO announces new board of directors for 2018-2020 Jul 19, 2018 by Barry Schwartz Here are the 15 new members of the board of directors for the search marketing organization. How […]
SearchCap: Google hotel ads, Bing testing icon, reviews impact ranking & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Posts adds ‘call now’ button Jul 12, 2018 by Barry Schwartz The new option within Google My Business lets you include your phone number as a call to action. Google […]
SearchCap: Google clarifies speed update, Google Ads, prioritizing SEO & more
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: 6 things Google Ads can now do automatically Jul 3, 2018 by Frederick Vallaeys Contributor Frederick Vallaeys looks at automated tools in the platform formerly known as AdWords, outlines how ‘smart’ […]
SearchCap: Google search verification, Google legal woes & voice assistants
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google invites more entities to take control of their Knowledge Panels and ‘get verified’Jun 22, 2018 by Greg Sterling Suggest a featured image and control other factual information in the panel. […]