11-27-2020 The Week in Review

The Role of Social Media on Your Website: If You're Not Using It- Lose It

Interesting things have happened last week and this week. Here is a brief synopsis to keep you up to date.

Google Ads Sneaks in Auto Update without Approval Features

You’ll want to be smart and watch your account. Google has rolled out a beta program that makes automatic account updates without your approval. These changes are not, as of now, even reflected in change history. You’ll want to make sure you know what is happening by reading the article linked below. If we manage your account, Google has provided us with a master control panel to turn on and off features as a Google Partner.  More info…


Unconventional Link Building Strategies

You may have actually fallen prey to some of these tactics yourself already, but that being said, some are savvy and could possibly be leveraged for your own needs. More info…


Google Guaranteed Starts to Be Visible in Maps Listings

We are just now starting to see the Google Guaranteed checkmark in Google Maps listings. This program is one Google rolled out earlier in the year and costs a business $50 a month after a certification and vetting process. These are actually upgraded Google My Business profiles. Google has stated that this is an experiment and may keep or may not keep this update as it rolls out more businesses. Right now, only certain business sectors are eligible for this feature. Some businesses are choosing instead to do local service ads instead of participating in the Google Guaranteed program. More info…


Why Your Website May Have Lost Search Placement

This article details 5 points as to why your website may have lost organic search placement. There is no ground breaking information here, but it is a good review.  The writer focuses on changes to competition, search algorithms, expectations, and your own website changes. Still a good read for this week. More info…


Duck, Duck, Go Search Engine is Trending

Duck, Duck, Go is considered a possible replacement for Google due to its privacy related focus. Although it does not have near the traffic Google does, searches on the platform are trending up. Of note is that Duck, Duck, Go shows Microsoft Advertising ads. This could be a huge consideration for some clients in the very near future. Learn more…

11-13-20 The Week in Review

Expect the unexpected.

These are the interesting nuggets of information I have found from my travels around the web for this week.

Google Ads Allows More Advertisers into Data-Driven Attribution
Data-Driven Attribution is the best attribution type for identifying the click path to conversion. Previously an advertiser had to have 500 conversions in a 30 day period to qualify. Now Google has dropped that number to 300. More info…


Google Analytics 4 Now Available
Google Analytics can now do more. You’ll have to set up a new property in your existing Google Analytics account to take advantage of all the new features. We are doing testing right now, but it looks like there are more features for tracking activity. More info…


May 21, 2021 Google Launches Page Experience Algorithm Update
You’ll see in the search results in May new icons and updated rankings in the index based on page experience. Google will be using the Web Core Vitals in the Google Search Console. Of important note to rankings will be page speed, mobile friendliness, and the use of https – as a few of note. More info…


Know More About the CPRA or the California Privacy Rights Act
Similar to the privacy rights act for the European Union, California has enacted a privacy and information control measure all website owners should be aware of. More info…


Is there a new Google Algorithm in Rollout?
Search engine watchers can’t agree is an update at play or not. Ready what the chatter says. More info…

11-6-20 Just Nancy The Week in Review

Be in the Know on Microsoft Advertising

This is a new feature that we will use on Fridays to let you know what has happened in the world of Google and been posted on authoritative sources to help you stay informed this week.

Short Videos in Search Carousels
Google is testing short YouTube videos in the search results as a carousel. Not visible for all queries. A good reason to increase video presence on your website.
More info
Google’s New Indexing Algorithm
Interesting updates to how Google is indexing a website by now using passages on a page although they still index the full page. Google is getting better in delivering content based on a search query. This is a future focused change that may have a good impact for small websites.
More info
New Google Analytics
Google is rolling out a new version of Google Analytics. You will want to assure that Simon has the most recent version of the code installed in your website code to take advantage of future enhancements.  It is called Google Analytics 4.
More into
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9744165 – Follow this for instructions.
 
Recap for Google Search Improvements 
A recap on the Google blog of recent improvements. See sections on video and passages as these are new and big news for Google indexing.
More info
Google Limits the Ability to see Search Queries in Google Ads
Under the guise of privacy, Google is limiting the ability to see the actual search queries that trigger ads. Google has advised that in the months to come, it will limit the keywords shown.  This action makes it harder to use negative keywords to sculpt the list and keep the program targeted.
More info
https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-to-limit-search-terms-reporting-citing-privacy-340137
Google Changes Google My Business Categories by Month
Google is changing the categories in Google My Business over time. As you must select set categories for which you classify how your business is shown, this means you should periodically check to see what you are able to and are listing for.
More info
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-my-business-category-changes/
Google Screened
Google has introduced a new program for select service sectors called Google Screened which is tied to a Google My Business page and may be tied to local service ads which are managed through a portal that is tied to Google My Business.
This program has a $50 monthly cost and is and right now is a pay for conversion program but may move to pay per click in the near future.
To get screened, the business owner must seek Google approval and send company creation documents and be vetted. This is a new initiative and may have benefits for certain types of local businesses that desire to use highly automated keyword creation and automated ad serving features like the old AdWords Express.
More info
https://www.sterlingsky.ca/google-my-business-category-changes/

 

Get Ready for Voice Search – It’s Coming!

Beautiful woman talking on phone
Get ready to connect with prospects via voice search.

Voice search – it’s coming faster than you think, and I am already having clients ask how they can get ready now.

Here is some information to get you started thinking about what you need to do to be ready for voice search.

First what exactly is voice search?

Voice search is where you speak into a computer or smartphone and the device then performs a search for you returning relevant information and reading the most relevant information to you.

So how can you even get ready for something like this?

  1. Make sure you take time to do a content review. Clean up, slim down content, review page titles and page meta tags and slim and trim what you have to be concise.
  2. Use two and three word search phases as the focus of your content. Voice search will not be focused on the long tail phases.
  3. Make sure you have your full address including city and spelled out state and your phone number that is clickable on all your website pages. To place on near me searches you have to have your location spelled out! Search engines will deliver your content for near me searches only when you are in close proximity to the end user.
  4. Work to improve relevancy of your content and start to strip down your pages and break long content into multiple pages so that pages are on one topic, searchable by search engines and deliver answers to questions.

GoDaddy did a nice article on this topic and I encourage you to check it out for more information.

If you haven’t really looked over your website lately, it may be time to get a consultant to help you make changes. Find out more about our services at https://www.mccordweb.com.