Google: BERT now used on almost every English query
Google announced numerous improvements made to search over the year and some new features coming soon.
Topic: Google
Google search quality guidelines update breaks down dictionary and encyclopedia results and more
Google added a new section for rating dictionary and encyclopedia results for different queries, emphasizes the importance of understanding the user intent and query.
Global Privacy Control group aims to succeed where ‘do not track’ failed
Initiative faces the challenge of gaining publisher and consumer adoption.
Google Search Console temporarily drops request indexing feature
This feature should be back in the upcoming weeks while Google makes infrastructure changes.
Meet Google Analytics 4: Google’s vision for the future of analytics
The new Analytics adds AI-powered insights, tracks users across devices and provides more granular data controls.
Google Podcasts Manager shows you search impressions and clicks from Google Search
You can see impressions and clicks for Google Podcasts results that appear in Search, as well as top discovered episodes and search terms that led to your podcast.
Google Ads brings YouTube into Attribution fold, expands data-driven attribution to more advertisers
Conversion Lift is also now in beta for YouTube campaigns.
Status update on the Google indexing bugs
99% of the mobile-indexing URLs are restored and 55% of the canonical URLs are restored.
Google testing new ‘call history’ feature for Google My Business
The missed call log will remain available to businesses for 45 days.
Microsoft’s Digital Marketing Center for search and social management adds features, opens beta
The free platform is now open to U.S. small businesses.
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.
What’s changed in Google Ads Locations reporting and why you need a custom report
Simplified locations reporting misses the nuance of user location — here's what you need to do to get that data, too.
Web Stories are coming to Google Discover
Web Stories is being expanded to show in more Google areas.
Google Ads intros automated Insights, Performance Max campaigns, to release Video Action out of beta
The new products and features are further indication of Google's machine learning goals.
Bing rebrands as Microsoft Bing, expands Give with Bing
The rebrand includes new logos, and Give with Bing is now available in seven markets.
Google My Business and reviews gain in 2020 Local Ranking Factors survey
But rankings and conversions aren't always the same thing.
Video: Drew Madore believes Google’s ranking algorithm uses user experience signals
Many SEOs do not believe Google when they say they do not use Google Analytics or Chrome data for ranking purposes.
Social Shorts: Snapchat reach campaigns, Facebook attribution change, TikTok downloads can continue
Snapchat pitches Platform Burst reach option for advertisers Snapchat is floating a new advertising offering called Platform Burst. The idea is to guarantee that “campaigns will reach at least 40% of their target audience 15 times” over a three or five day period, according to Digiday. Platform Burst campaigns can encompass different ad formats across […]
Google confirms indexing issues with both canonicalization and mobile-indexing
Google said it is fixing the issue and there is no action you need to take.
Google gives publishers new content ‘Showcase’ on News, Search, Discover
There are no ad or ranking implications, but Showcase News features will be coming to Search and the Discover feed.
Antisemitic memes in image results highlight vulnerabilities in search
“Data voids” enable offensive content to rise to the top of the search results.
Google Shopping now free globally
Initially launched in the U.S. in April, now available worldwide in mid-October.
Google takes Local Services Ads to Europe
Searches for local services grew more than 25% YoY across European countries.
Video: Drew Madore on how “black hat SEO” has changed over the years
What was considered "white hat" SEO in the old days may now be considered "black hat" SEO.
How to audit sites inside corporate networks
Turn private (VPN required) URLs into temporary ones that allow for page changes but hide the content to preserve its privacy.
Microsoft Advertising adds brand safety with IAS partnership
Audience Network ads will be blocked from pages deemed to have moderate or high brand risk.
Social Shorts: Facebook’s 20% rule, Pinterest Story Pins, Reddit brand safety options
So long, 20% text limit in Facebook ad images Facebook Ads is officially removing its 20% text rule. The company’s rule that text not take up more than 20% of ad images is now a mere suggestion: “We’ve found that images with less than 20% text perform better. With this in mind, we recommend keeping […]
Guest Posting: How To Make People Like You (and think you’re smart!)
Guest Posting is where you write articles for other people’s websites for free. Yes, you read that right – for free. For other people. Bear with me – it is a good idea, I promise. If you are already hesitant – I fully understand that. If you run a website, you will probably have two […]
Google brings bidding to Local Services Ads
Only selected advertisers will get access to the auction during the beta period.
Video: Barry Schwartz and Google’s Martin Splitt discuss strained relations with the search community
The two chat about how the company’s attempts at transparency have backfired, common SEO misconceptions and why the answer is often “it depends.”
Google local ads gain Smart Bidding for store sales, ‘pick up later,’ service attributes
The company is investing heavily to address the dominant online to offline use cases, including buy online, pickup in-store.
Google now supports shipping details schema for product results
Sellers are no longer limited to Google Merchant Center for sharing shopping details with Google Search.
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.
How to (re)build an SEO agency today – Part 3: Changing business models
Without in-person meeting, curating client relationships with more attention in the digital landscape is crucial for retention.
Did Google just hint at an authority profile?
A recent blog post from Google points to defining a paradigm on the SERP with what we now know as a core update.
Recommendations for Website Publishers
If you own or run a website and are looking for ways to make your life easier, then this list of recommendations for website publishers might just help you. The below website tools are ones that I have found to be immensely useful and helpful. I personally find it really stressful to deal with admin […]
SEO Tool Recommendations
If you’re looking for help with your SEO then look no further than this helpful list of SEO tool recommendations. The below SEO tools are ones that I have found to be immensely helpful, whether I am working on The Online Advertising Guide or another site. I generally prefer free tools, but where I recommend […]
Google boosting visibility of ‘nearby’ product inventory with new Shopping features
Responding to changing consumer behavior, Google starts emphasizing BOPIS
Keywords in generic top-level domains won’t help you rank better
Here’s how Google treats every type of TLD.
Google custom audiences, the combo of custom affinity and custom intent audiences, now live
How custom audiences work for Display, Discovery, Gmail and YouTube campaigns.