TikTok is restricting hashtags in Creative Center
TikTok marketers can no longer search for specific hashtags within the platform’s Creative Center tools. Why we care. These restrictions will make it harder for you to explore and gauge the popularity of trends on the platform, which is essential…
Leverage AI-driven SEO to increase traffic
Your online search results are critical to your success. Learn how to dominate page one with the content real shoppers are looking for. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to: Improve your search ranking position and the number of page-one…
TikTok planning to rival Amazon with major U.S. expansion
TikTok is reportedly planning to rival Amazon by growing its U.S. ecommerce business, TikTok Shop, tenfold to $17.5 billion this year. Why we care. TikTok Shop is a prime opportunity for brands as 83% of users make purchase decisions on…
94% of Google SGE links are different from organic search results, study finds
The AI-generated answers in Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) do not match any links from the top 10 Google organic search results 93.8% of the time. That’s according to a new Authoritas analysis, which focused primarily on commercial keywords. Why…
GroupM teams with YouTube & Disney to transform streaming ads
Group M is planning to simplify the buying and placement of ads on streaming services for advertisers. Through the GroupM Ad Innovation Accelerator program, GroupM is joining forces with BrightLine, Disney, KERV, NBCUniversal, Roku, Telly, and YouTube to develop a…
Google Ads updates gambling and games policy
The Google Ads gambling and games policy United States country-specifics has been updated. From January 4, the platform will accept and run ads for sports betting from state-approved entities in Delaware. Why we care. Eligible advertisers who want to run…
Facebook rolls out ‘Link History’ – and uses data for targeted ads
Facebook has started archiving all users’ link history globally on both Android and iOS devices. While users have the option to opt out, the feature is turned on by default, allowing Meta to utilize the collected data for targeted advertising….
How to Get Clients For Your Creative Agency
Creative Agency Having the right clients is key to running a successful creative agency. Unfortunately, many agencies struggle to bring in new clients. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as an unclear positioning or marketing strategy….
Could happy advertisers be the key to connected TV success?
For years, CTV and linear television have been battling it out for viewership numbers. And it looks like CTV is coming out on top. Seeking more flexibility and lower costs, consumers have cut cords en masse, resulting in CTV viewership…
LinkedIn ad prices surge as advertisers’ X boycott continues
LinkedIn ad prices have soared due to a surge in demand reportedly driven by the advertiser boycott of X. Why we care. If you’re thinking about moving your ad spend away from platforms like X in 2024, LinkedIn could be…
The state of SEO in 2024: Are you AI-ready?
As search marketers brace themselves for SEO’s next chapter, it’s easy to get caught off guard by disruptions from generative AI advancements like Google’s SGE. Get ready to step into the future of SEO by joining experts from Conductor as…
Top 10 SEO expert columns of 2023 on Search Engine Land
Since Search Engine Land launched, we have given SEO experts a platform to share their in-depth knowledge and timely insights – with the goal of helping you solve problems, manage challenges and understand the constantly shifting SEO landscape. What follows…
Top 10 PPC expert columns of 2023 on Search Engine Land
Since Search Engine Land launched, we have given PPC experts a platform to share their in-depth knowledge and timely insights – with the goal of helping you solve problems, manage challenges and understand the constantly shifting landscape of paid search,…
UA sunset, Google on trial, X’s downfall and more
The PPC community had a rollercoaster year in 2023. Google stirred things up by shaking cushions and discreetly adjusting ad prices, and the entire industry faced a major shift with the sunset of Universal Analytics, forcing everyone to transition to…
The year of generative AI
The year 2023 was unlike any other I’ve seen in SEO and Search. I say this as someone who has been in this industry since 2007. Many others I spoke to expressed similar sentiments at various points throughout 2023. By…
Core, reviews, helpful content, spam and beyond
Google launched nine confirmed algorithmic updates in 2023, as well as a new AI search engine, the Search Generative Experience. In 2022 and 2021, Google had 10 confirmed algorithmic updates. Unless Google rolls out a new update this week, Google…
Support not being phased out but changes are coming
Google Ads has confirmed that support is not being phased out. With the introduction of a paid support service in August, concerns arose among advertisers about the potential withdrawal of the free feature. The perceived decline in customer experience further…
Google Ads team facing major restructure amid automation boom
Google is reportedly planning a major reshuffle of its 30,000-person ad sales unit. Sean Downey, who is in charge of ad sales to big customers in the Americas, announced plans to restructure the ad sales teams during a department-wide meeting…
Google’s shifting approach to AI content: An in-depth look
The prevalence of mass-produced, AI-generated content is making it harder for Google to detect spam. AI-generated content has also made judging what is quality content difficult for Google. However, indications are that Google is improving its ability to identify low-quality…
6 books to help make your marketing more successful in 2024
One of the joys of living in a place where the winters tend to be long and dark is the time it allows for reading. Make a fire in the fireplace, pour yourself a drink and open a good book….
Google Search is investigating reports of delayed indexing issues
Google posted an indexing issue with Google Search, saying it is investigating reports of indexing delays for content. Google said this issue is “affecting a small number of sites” and they are “working on identifying the root cause.” What Google…
7 key 2024 search trends to watch and 3 top priorities
In 2023, we witnessed the rise of AI-powered search and significant evolution of the SERPs with the arrival of Google’s Search Generative Experience, as well as Bing Copilot (formerly Bing Chat). Google’s new AI model, Gemini, is its largest and…
Everything you need to know
Campaign management software helps you automate the manual tasks of planning, launching and measuring the impact of your marketing campaigns. Modern marketing campaigns often have many moving parts. Campaigns may involve multiple: Internal departments (e.g., creative, media, brand, legal). External…
Join a masterclass on data storytelling
Data storytelling helps marketers present complex information in a relatable and compelling format – which plays a heavy hand in engaging consumers, influencing decisions and creating brand loyalty. Join experts from Marigold for a 20-minute data storytelling masterclass and learn…
Google confirms it is testing ad copy variation in live ads
Google has quietly started testing placing headlines within the ad copy description text in live ads. Advertisers were not given prior notice about the ad copy variation experiment, and the uncertainty about the potential expansion of this test to more…
Google is evaluating additional PMax brand safety controls
Google is actively looking into improving brand safety controls for Performance Max (PMax) following a damning report by Adalytics. The research, which was published last month, accused the search engine of serving ads on inappropriate non-Google websites through the Search…
BidsCube teams up with Pixalate to combat ad fraud
With a shared commitment to fostering a secure and trustworthy environment for publishers and advertisers, BidsCube and Pixalate have partnered to fortify the digital advertising industry and make it more transparent. Pixalate’s fraud protection, privacy and compliance analytics solutions integrate…
4 pillars of an effective SEO strategy
SEO can be complicated – in many cases, overcomplicated. It’s easy to get lost in the SEO rabbit hole, spending significant time with minimal results. This article will help you cut through the noise and focus on the four key…
How to build a CDP use case
In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, the use of customer data has become more critical than ever before. Customer data platforms (CDPs) have emerged as a game-changer, enabling businesses to harness the full potential of their customer data. With CDPs,…
How to make sure you never miss an internal or external deadline
You have a client emailing every half an hour asking if that analysis you promised is ready. Your boss is demanding your end-of-year self-appraisal, and you still haven’t started your clients’ monthly reports. Life as a search marketer – freelance,…
Google local search ranking algorithm strengthens “openness” signal
Google’s local search ranking algorithm has recently been updated to strengthen its “openness” signal for non-navigational queries. Danny Sullivan, Google’s Search Liaison, said, “we’ve long used “openness” as part of our local ranking systems, and it recently became a stronger…
How to prevent AI from taking your content
Artificial intelligence offers exciting opportunities but also raises understandable concerns – including the potential for generative AI models to “take” or misuse content created by human writers and marketers. This article aims to clearly define these risks, analyze scenarios of…
YouTube launches free subscription offer to boost channel growth
YouTube creators can now give away 10 free subscriptions each month as part of a new program aimed at facilitating audience growth. Eligible creators with channel memberships can use this benefit at no extra cost to promote the perks of…
Marketing firm admits it listens to conversations to sell targeted ads
Leading U.S. marketing company Cox Media Group (CMG) has reportedly admitted to monitoring conversations for the purpose of targeted advertising. Working with renowned brands like CBS, Fox News and ESPN, CMG has allegedly been promoting its ability to eavesdrop on…
6 things that happen when Googlebot can’t crawl your website
Ever wondered what would happen if you prevented Google from crawling your website for a few weeks? Technical SEO expert Kristina Azarenko has published the results of such an experiment. Six surprising things that happened. What happened when Googlebot couldn’t…
Google Ads will no longer respond to hybrid multicall requests
Google Ads will stop responding to multicall requests within hybrid setups from January 2024. The announcement comes as the platform continues its gradual transition from waterfall to real-time bidding auctions for publisher apps. Why we care. Publisher apps must ensure…
Google on maximizing PMax results and preparing for SGE
Automation has been a focal point in discussions within the PPC community this year. Two noteworthy AI developments, Performance Max (PMax) and Search Generative Experience (SGE), are poised to revolutionize digital search marketing. PMax: A new campaign type that allows…
Google Ads rolls out extra help for business operation verification
Google Ads is rolling out a step-by-step guide on how to complete business operation verification. The document will provide clarification on reasons for business operations verification failure and include example scenarios in which an advertiser might be chosen to undergo…
The content marketing advantage of generative AI
A new report from Deloitte Digital illuminates the escalating challenges content marketers face, and how forward-thinking brands are generating eye-opening results from generative artificial intelligence. Key findings include: 1 in 4 companies have already implemented generative AI for marketing content,…
YouTube adds more formats for Video Reach Campaigns
Google has rolled out additional formats for Video Reach Campaigns (VRCs) for Efficient Reach on YouTube. VRCs can now be scaled to in-feed and shorts, as well as in-stream ads, providing marketers with a more diversified and effective approach to…
Create 10 campaigns to drive in-store visits
Best of the Bot showcases Search Engine Land Bot’s responses to prompts submitted by readers. The language model is based on content from Search Engine Land layered on top of ChatGPT. The editors of Search Engine Land selected this response for its…
Google Ads pilots conversions account level diagnostic tab
Google Ads is testing a conversions account level diagnostic tab in alpha. A spokesperson confirmed to Search Engine Land that the feature is set to launch next year with further details expected to be released soon. Why we care. This…
6 areas to focus on
As Google evolves with new AI capabilities, SEO strategies must also adapt. Here’s an overview of key trends and actionable tips to future-proof your presence in search results pages (SERPs). The evolving SERPs SERPs today are dominated by rich results,…
X officially launches its ChatGPT rival Grok
X is rolling out its ChatGPT rival, Grok, to Premium+ subscribers. Grok was developed by xAI, the artificial intelligence venture founded by Elon Musk in July 2023. It is available to users in the U.S. Availability in other countries is…
When to use branded and competitor keywords in PPC
Bidding on branded and competitor keywords in PPC can help protect your brand and steal competitors’ traffic, but should you do it? This article will look at when there is a case for and against using them. What types of…
Google Analytics 4 rolls out new reports for linked 360 campaigns
Reports that enable users to evaluate the traffic-driving and conversion effectiveness of campaigns implemented in Google Search Ads 360, Campaign Manager 360, and Display & Video 360 are now available in Google Analytics 4. Search Ads 360 is a search…
Top 10 tools for PPC agencies
Having the right tools is crucial for agencies navigating the dynamic PPC landscape. In this article, I will provide an in-depth look at the top 10 tools that have been indispensable in the growth of my agency. These tools have…
Threads now has its own version of hashtags
Meta’s Threads now has its own version of hashtags. Meta calls this new feature “topic tags”, emphasizing its difference from hashtags by prioritizing community focus. Topic tags are now accessible to all users worldwide to enhance search functionality within the…
Google is rolling out programmatic bidding for limited ads
Google AdMob will support programmatic bidding on inventory eligible for limited ads in early 2024. This new serving mode enables contextual programmatic demand for publishers serving limited ads and allows demand from: Google Demand. Authorized Buyers. Open Bidders. SDK Bidding….
Google November 2023 reviews update now done rolling out
Google confirmed that the November 2023 reviews update is now complete. This update, announced on November 8, 2023, rolled out over a 29-day period. No more announcements. This will be the last time Google will confirm an update to the reviews system/algorithm. “We’ll…
Google is testing its Gemini AI model in Search
Google today announced Gemini, a multimodal large language model, and confirmed the AI model will be added to Search and Ads next year. Gemini in Search. Gemini will become available in Search, Ads and other Google products in the coming…
Google advertisers can now opt out of Search Network
Google is allowing advertisers to opt out of the Search Network. This decision comes in the wake of an Adalytics report claiming that Google search ads appeared on inappropriate non-Google websites through the search partner sites, creating potential risks for…
Microsoft Bing adds new Deep Search generative AI feature
Microsoft today announced Deep Search – a new, optional generative AI feature meant to help searchers with complex questions that don’t have simple answers. How it works. Deep Search is built on top of Bing’s web index and ranking system….
8 winning SEO A/B tests that boost organic traffic
Are you looking to improve your website’s SEO and increase organic traffic? This white paper from Search Pilot presents 8 real-world examples of SEO A/B tests that led to organic traffic increases between 3-29% for the companies that ran these…
Google Local Service Ads rolls out impression share data
Google has rolled out impression share data for Local Service Ads (LSAs). Impression share is the percentage of times your ad shows up compared to the total number of times it could potentially appear. This data became available on LSAs…
Google expands video requirements for “Video mode” where video must be main content of the page
Google is expanding its video requirements where the video must be the main content of the page to show up as a video result in Google Search to also have that requirement with Google’s “Video mode” in search. Google said,…
How to combine Google Ads with other channels to retarget, nurture and convert
Today’s buyers have thousands of options to choose from and hundreds of companies competing for their attention. Running an ad and expecting consumers to go directly to purchase isn’t a viable option. It’s entirely obsolete. A much more effective strategy is…
Why a content gap analysis should be part of your SEO strategy
A content gap analysis is a valuable type of market research, helping you to discover opportunities you may have missed and improve your content marketing. But what exactly is a content gap analysis, and how do you do it? And…
The latest jobs in search marketing
Looking to take the next step in your search marketing career? Below, you’ll find the newest jobs at brands and agencies in SEO, PPC and digital marketing – as well as positions we’ve shared in previous weeks that are still…
Reddit launches new Conversation Placement ad formats
Reddit has launched two new ad formats within Conversation Placement: Carousel Ads and Product Ads. Conversation Placement sits within a Reddit conversation thread, appearing below the original post and above the first comment. The rollout of the new ad formats…
Google Merchant Center Next will soon support supplemental feeds
Google Merchant Center Next will support rules and supplemental feeds early next year. The predecessor version, Google Merchant Center, is still used by some advertisers and already supports these new features. Google Merchant Center Next (GMC Next), a simplified version…
Meta to launch Threads in the EU within weeks
Meta is reportedly planning to launch Threads in the EU before the end of the year. The news comes after X’s biggest advertisers – including Disney, Paramount and Sony Pictures –boycotted the Elon Musk-owned platform following his endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory…
Decode the future of AI and privacy with metadata mastery
Marketing is changing fast: AI is an exciting new tool, but many marketers are struggling to track assets and performance. At the same time, privacy laws are getting more strict, and major players like Apple and Google are eliminating the…
Google to pay Canada publishers $73m a year to keep news in search
Google has agreed to pay publishers in Canada $73.6 million a year to keep links to news articles in its search results. The search engine had threatened to stop serving news links in response to a new law that forces…
Take back your ROI by owning your data
Other brands can copy your style, tone and strategy — but they can’t copy your data. Your data is your competitive advantage in an environment where enterprises are working to grab market share by designing can’t-miss, always-on customer experiences. Your…
3 key stages to better content marketing: Attract, engage, convert
A strong content strategy is key to engaging your audiences and driving conversions. The Content Marketer’s Funnel breaks down a proven three-stage framework to help you attract your target audience, create compelling content that drive engagement, and convert readers into…
Google accused of quietly placing ads on compromising sites
Google has been accused of quietly placing search ads on non-Google websites, posing a potential risk to brand safety. Google denies the accusation, saying Adalytics, publisher of the report, has a track record of publishing inaccurate reports that misrepresent Google’s…
X’s key advertisers aren’t pausing campaigns – they’re cutting ties
X’s major advertisers have not posted on the platform in almost two weeks. Reports initially suggested that companies like Disney, Paramount, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures, and Universal had temporarily paused campaigns. However, key brands have actually ceased advertising altogether after Elon Musk endorsed an antisemitic…
YouTube steps up roll out of Shorts ads
YouTube Shorts ads are being rolled out to more advertisers as the solution moves from beta to general availability. For the first time, Marketers are reporting the ability to choose Short ads as a video format, integrate them with in-stream…
Google Search now supports discussion forum and profile page structured data
Google Search supports discussion forum and profile page structured data. This functionality allows Google to show “first-person perspectives from social media platforms, forums, and other communities” within the search results. In addition, Google added new Search Console reports to support…
AI content creation: A beginner’s guide
In a world where even your toaster wants to discuss AI over breakfast, SEO professionals are currently mastering how to integrate it into their strategies – especially their content strategies. For those who are still trying to grasp the concept…
Google Ads investigating issue impacting AdMob
Google Ads is investigating reports of an issue impacting AdMob. The affected users have said that while they are able to access AdMob, they cannot retrieve their most recent data. Some clicks that are recorded from Apple iOS 17 devices…
YouTube is deliberately ‘suboptimal’ for people using ad blockers
YouTube has admitted to intentionally creating a suboptimal experience for users employing ad blockers. Reports of a deliberate five-second delay in loading video pages on Mozilla’s Firefox have emerged on forums like Reddit and Hacker News. Despite initial speculation about…
Sam Altman returns to OpenAI as CEO ‘in principle’
Sam Altman is returning as CEO, OpenAI announced. It is – perhaps (hopefully?) – the final chapter of a chaotic week that saw Altman ousted as CEO, two interim CEOs announced and nearly every OpenAI threaten to quit and go…
Snapchat is testing an ad-free subscription
Snapchat has started testing an ad-free paid subscription plan in Australia. For $US10.50 a month, the new Snapchat+ tier enables consumers to use the platform without disruption from Story or Lens ads. However, the app notes that users may still…
Googlebot crawl rate tool in Search Console is going away
Google is deprecating the crawl rate limiter legacy tool within Google Search Console on January 8, 2024. Google said this feature is no longer useful because Google said it has improved its “crawling logic and other tools available to publishers.”…
Google’s 2023 Search quality rater guidelines update: Here’s what changed
It’s been nearly a year since Google last updated its Search Quality Rater guidelines. Unlike previous edits to the Search Quality Guidelines, which have introduced significant, new concepts (like the new E for Experience last year), the latest updates to…
Create Facebook promoting Black Friday deals
Best of the Bot showcases Search Engine Land Bot’s responses to prompts submitted by readers. The language model is based on content from Search Engine Land layered on top of ChatGPT. The editors of Search Engine Land selected this response for its…