Technology News and Industry Knowledge

Google Ads has started serving a pop-up survey that disrupts advertisers when they try to pause campaigns. The survey asks users whey they want to pause their ad campaign before allowing them to continue. Why we care. The pop-up survey may annoy and inconvenience busy marketers who lack the time to explain their ad campaign pause to Google. Nonetheless, this feedback will aid Google in enhancing its product, ultimately benefiting advertisers in the long run. First look . The pop-up was first noticed by digital marketing expert Greg Kohler, who posted about the survey on X. He shared some screenshots of the notification and then asked Google: “Any chance this added friction could break the scripts or rules people have within accounts to auto-pause once certain budgets are spent?” “Similar to how the account confirmation popup broke large automated budget increase rules.” Reaction. After Greg shared his findings on X, fellow PPC expert Greg Finn asked Google Ads to stop disrup...

Google searches for AI content skyrocketed and have remained high throughout 2023 as businesses and creators tap into new opportunities to scale. Source: Google Trends By March, 60% of writers already used AI in their work, a Hackernoon poll showed. But while generative AI offers amazing content generation and optimization opportunities, balancing its capabilities and limitations is essential.  Marketers are getting AI content right, from summarizing lengthy texts to crafting compelling social media copy. However, as we approach 2024, examining where generative AI content falls short is equally important as where it goes right.  Issues such as misguided SEO research, factual accuracy, plagiarism risks and the absence of human expertise and reasoning are all in play – and they present risks and challenges for brands.  Where marketers are getting AI content right When used right, generative AI can streamline processes, improve efficiency and even boost the o...

Most language language models (LLMs) can now proficiently interpret and translate text into images. As these models evolve to acquire knowledge directly from images, optimizing your assets becomes imperative.  The surge in visual search tools – such as Google’s “Search by image” feature, Google Lens, and more – has shifted visual optimization from a mere recommendation into an essential requirement. It now plays a pivotal role in influencing search engine results and ensuring a smooth and engaging user experience. Amid this visual shift, future-proofing your digital assets becomes crucial for improving user engagement and influencing diverse SERPs. This article explores the critical need for a well-prepared strategy to maximize the benefits of visual search. It also outlines an action plan for safeguarding your digital assets in the future. How brands can optimize digital assets Search engines are becoming increasingly better at understanding context and intent. As a re...

In the fast-paced age of readily available information, staying on top of your game is crucial. And, if your game is SEO , there are many ways to stay on top of news, trends, tips and tricks to keep you sharp and informed. From free, visual-driven guides and videos on YouTube and other training-specific platforms like Google Skillshop , all the way down to tried-and-true case studies, trial-and-errors, and walk-throughs of what works in the real world (and what doesn’t), abundant free knowledge shapes our industry. It also keeps top brands at the forefront of the digital ecosystem. Here are my nine top ways to stay on top of news, changes, and transformative ideas that will keep your SEO sharp and your knowledge at its best throughout your career. 1. Read SEO publications and blogs It seems obvious and is probably the most common (you’re clearly reading one right now), but its value may be unparalleled. Using the same platforms we research and troubleshoot every day – search engin...

Instagram Reminder Ads are rolling out new features to help advertisers reach a wider audience: Instagram Stories visibility : Reminder Ads can now be featured within Instagram Stories, allowing businesses to increase visibility and improve efficiency. Ads Manager set up : Reminder ads can now be created directly in Ads Manager, which removes the previous requirement of only using organic posts to create a reminder ad. The new capabilities, which also make it easier to create Reminder Ads, will be launched by the end of October. Why we care. Expanding your reach to engage with more potential customers can boost brand recognition, leading to more conversions and a better return on investment (ROI). Streamlining the ad creation process also simplifies life for marketers, potentially saving them time and allowing them to concentrate on other important tasks. What are Reminder Ads? Reminder Ads, launched by Instagram earlier this year, is an ad product designed specifically to en...

As the initial buzz around AI dies down, the practical use of generative AI is now well-established in the content creation world.  In theory, this creates a huge content marketing opportunity. However, as we are seeing , there are many pitfalls from an SEO perspective.  This article outlines how we are primed to make such mistakes, ways Google has tackled this historically and how to safely integrate generative AI in your SEO and content marketing.  Pitfalls and problems Human beings are hardwired to seek the path of least resistance .  Generative AI tools seemingly make it easy to write an expert-level article about any topic. This allows websites or authors to assume unwarranted expert status and pump out legions of articles on almost anything.  This is the path of least resistance for content production, and on the surface, it seems an attractive proposition with some huge SEO opportunities.   I have sat in marketing meetings with AI consult...

Marketers often work at a distance from frontline operations. We may not directly build the product, deal with angry customer phone calls, or be out in the field selling. We might even be at an agency, an additional level removed from the shop floor or direct interactions with the target customer.  How, then, can you: Know what to write about? Insert meaningful insights into your landing pages or ad creative? Effectively persuade your target audience that you are the clear choice over your competitors?  Digging new wells to find new content One of the best writing tips I’ve ever received is to “dig new wells.” That is, to get content no one else is writing, you need to establish different sources.  Too often, content writing for the web starts with the search results. While it makes sense to look at what’s ranking for your target keywords, it should not be your only source of information.  The rise of 10x content and the Skyscraper Technique led some con...

In July, Google released a massive update to the Knowledge Graph. We named it the E-E-A-T Knowledge Graph update and gave it the codename “Killer Whale” because it made a splash in the SERPs twice: In real time between July 14 and 18. As part of the September helpful content update. A Knowledge Graph (Vault) update rarely occurs simultaneously with a ranking update, core or otherwise. SERP volatility has seldom coincided with Knowledge Graph volatility. Kalicube Pro has been measuring volatility since 2015 with our Knowledge Graph Sensor.  The graph below shows a significant uptick in the depth of the Knowledge Graph between July 14 and 18. As you’ll see, Google’s SERPs were hugely volatile on those days, too – for the first time ever.  Checking the tools that provide historical data for SERP volatility, there is a huge peak between July 14 and 18. Accuranker and Advanced Web Ranking show that the volatility was significantly higher than during the subsequent core...