Keyword seed selection for international SEO
International keyword research can make a market look empty when the seed misses local terms. Here’s how to find better entry points.
Topic: Regulatory compliance
How to spot an emerging category in search data
Most trends fade. Some become entirely new markets. The difference is visible in search data if you know where to look.
Google contacts advertisers with a mandatory EU political ads deadline
Advertisers have until March 31 to complete a mandatory EU political ads declaration — or risk falling foul of new European regulation.
3 pillars of AI-era SEO for regulated industries
From E-E-A-T to structured data and accessibility, here’s how regulated industries must adapt SEO strategies for AI-driven search.
Banned terms on Amazon: What keywords can trigger listing flags
Certain words in your Amazon listings can trigger compliance warnings. Understand how to stay accurate while avoiding policy violations.
Microsoft Ads gets granular with new asset-level reviews
Microsoft Advertising now reviews ads at the asset level, allowing approved elements to continue running even if others are disapproved.
Google shares AI and human evaluating process for policy violations
Google's ad review clarification reveals its dual approach of AI and human evaluation for detecting policy violations, empowering advertisers with some transparency.
How to prevent Meta Ads restrictions on health and wellness campaigns
Meta doesn’t want your health data (or the legal trouble). If you’re in health marketing, read this before your ad tracking disappears.
Google just lifted its 2019 ban on fingerprinting for advertisers
Google's decision to allow fingerprinting gives advertisers powerful cross-device tracking capabilities but raises privacy concerns.
Microsoft revamps advertising tracking, consent features
Microsoft introduces household attribution tracking and consent compliance tools, while pausing certain store traffic measurement features.
Google Ads tightens rules on Gambling Certification recertification
Stricter recertification rules coming for Gambling and Games advertisers starting November 2024, with violations leading to immediate account suspension.
A guide to Google Ads for regulated and sensitive categories
Advertising sensitive products on Google Ads? Learn best practices for balancing policy compliance and marketing effectiveness.
Google Ad Manager updates give publishers more creative controls
Publishers will be able to disable ad badging disclosures or control where it appears. The Mute This Ad feature will be sunset.
Prioritize compliance for marketing success
In this webinar, learn how to set the stage for your new era in campaign excellence.
Microsoft gives unverified advertisers more time
The company will now just pause ads in a few scenarios until Advertiser Identity Verification is completed.
Google delays enforcement of Government documents and official services policy
The policy rollout was initially intended to begin on March 31, but now Google will begin enforcing the policy changes May 24.
Why Your Website Needs A Cookie And Privacy Policy (And How To Add One)
Are you trying to build up a website or blog? If so then you must be very excited: your website will take the shape of your dreams, projects and interests. On the way to reaching your aims, there is something that has to be considered carefully in your plan: the law. In particular – privacy […]
Yelp says Google violated ‘do not crawl’ provision of 2013 FTC settlement agreement
Reportedly, numerous Yelp business images were found in Google Maps.
Why are payday loan ads still showing on Google after the ban?
A deep look at how the payday loan industry is able to keep advertising despite Google's policy changes.
FTC On Search Engine Disclosure: Aware Of Issues, No Further Comment
In July, I wrote the US Federal Trade Commission asking for it to review whether search engines are complying with paid listing disclosure guidelines it created in 2002, since it appeared these were being ignored. After two months, I finally got a response. The FTC is aware of the issues but didn’t have more to […]
Now It’s Facebook’s Turn For 20 Years Of FTC Privacy Audits
According to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal the world’s largest social network is nearing a settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that will subject the company to 20 years of “privacy audits.” A nearly identical punishment was imposed earlier this year on Google over “deceptive privacy practices in Google’s rollout […]
Admitting Role In Google Anti-Trust Complaints Microsoft Complains Of Google “Lock In”
Responding to Google’s aggressive assertion that Microsoft is behind many of the anti-trust complaints that have been leveled against Google in the recent past, Microsoft in a blog post by Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Dave Heiner essentially says “get over it.” Google claimed that Microsoft was directly or indirectly responsible for the anti-trust […]
Canadian Government Reviewing Google Buzz; U.S. Govt. Next?
Postscript, February 17: The CBC article cited below has reworded its article and now says the Canadian government is “reviewing” rather than “investigating” Buzz. A semantic distinction, perhaps, but there’s apparently no formal government investigation happening in Canada at the moment, so we’ve updated our headline, too. We’ve also received a statement from Google on […]
The Affiliate Industry Strives To Clean Up Its Act
Unfortunately, affiliates do not always abide by the rules and requirements of your program. For example, you may specifically prohibit keyword sponsorship of your best terms or your brand terms. You may look to keep your affiliates from co-promoting you alongside of your competitor(s) on the same landing page, you may have restrictions on paid […]
Google Halves Data Retention Time Against Backdrop Of EU Pressure, US Regulatory Scrutiny
The European Union has been trying to get Google to cut the time it retains users’ IP addresses and related search query logs. In response to EU requests and pressure, the company adopted a compromise position (in March, 2007). Google said it would still retain data but would make it anonymous after 18-24 months. Google […]
Microsoft’s Johnson: “Once Yahoo And Microsoft Agree On A Transaction”
This afternoon, Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft Platforms & Services Division, issued an email to Microsoft employees (that was released via its PR firm). The letter has a tone of confidence that assumes a deal with Yahoo will ultimately take place. It reiterates what Microsoft believes to be the benefits of that deal and looks […]
The Politics & Policy Of The Google-DoubleClick Acquisition
Yesterday, Danny wrote a lengthy piece dispelling some of the myths and misinformation surrounding the pending Google acquisition of DoubleClick. Today CNET has two articles, one on the EU decision to apply more scrutiny to the proposed deal, as we expected, and another on privacy advocates’ concerns about the acquisition and the appropriate legal standards […]