Latest Updates

Is Your Website Ready? Google's March 2024 Update Explained

Google’s March Update 2024: Say Goodbye to Thin Content & AI-Generated Nonsense!

Are you noticing a shift in your search results lately? You’re not alone! Google rolled out a significant core update in March 2024, aiming to improve search quality by weeding out low-quality content. This update is great news for users searching for reliable information online, but website owners need to pay attention. What’s in the March 2024 Update? The March 2024 update focuses on two key areas: Improved Quality Ranking: Google’s core ranking algorithms received an upgrade. They’re now better equipped to identify unhelpful content and websites that prioritize search engine appeasement over user experience. This means content that’s thin, poorly researched, or stuffed with keywords just to rank higher will likely see a decline in visibility. New Spam Policies: The update also introduces stricter spam policies. Google is taking aim at manipulative practices used to artificially inflate website rankings. This includes: Expired Domain Abuse: Buying expired domains solely to host low-quality content and leverage their established authority. AI-Generated Spam: Relying on AI-written content that lacks depth and originality to game the system. Scaled Content Abuse: Websites churning out mass amounts of repetitive, low-value content to try and dominate search results for specific keywords. What This Means for Searchers: A Brighter Search Future This update is fantastic news for anyone who relies on Google to find information online. Here’s what you can expect: More Relevant Results: Say goodbye to wading through pages of irrelevant content. Google’s aim is to significantly reduce the presence of low-quality content, making it easier to find the trustworthy information you need. Improved User Experience: Expect to see search results that prioritize websites designed with a user-centric approach. This means clear, concise content that addresses your search query in a comprehensive and informative way. What This Means for Website Owners: Time to Focus on Quality If your website relies on tactics targeted by the update, like thin content or AI-generated spam, you might see a drop in search ranking. But fear not! Here’s how to adapt and thrive: Content is King (and Queen): Focus on creating high-quality, informative content that genuinely helps your target audience. Invest in well-researched, original content written by humans, not AI. User Experience Matters: Think about your website from a visitor’s perspective. Is it easy to navigate? Does it answer their questions? Prioritize a user-friendly experience to keep visitors engaged. Stay Google-Savvy: Keep an eye on Google’s Search Console and webmaster guidelines. Understanding best practices ensures your website remains compliant with Google’s ever-evolving search algorithms. The March 2024 Update signifies a significant stride towards fostering a more dependable and enriching search environment. With a focus on user experience and the promotion of high-caliber content, website owners can safeguard the visibility of their material. For searchers, this heralds a prospect of encountering a more seamless and credible search journey. Ultimately, this update presents a mutually beneficial outcome for all individuals reliant on Google to traverse the expansive realm of online information.  

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Google Business Profile: Appointment Link Shift to Booking Section

Google Business Profiles: Appointment Link Relocated to Booking Section

In a recent update, Google has made significant changes to how businesses can add appointment links to their Google Business Profiles. Previously located in the “Edit Profile” section, the appointment link is now accessible within the main “Booking” section. This change was first noticed and brought to attention by Darren Shaw on Twitter. According to his tweet, not only has the appointment link been relocated, but businesses can now add unlimited links and even designate a preferred link. To access the appointment link feature, businesses need to search for their business name on Google. The “Booking” section will appear, and upon clicking, a new screen will load, allowing users to add their desired links to online booking tools. It is worth noting that in February, Google removed the appointment link, leading to confusion among users who thought it might have been a bug. With this latest change, it seems that the appointment link’s removal may have been related to the implementation of the new “Booking” section. This update from Google offers businesses more flexibility and control over their appointment links, streamlining the process of setting up and managing online bookings. As the digital landscape evolves, it is essential for businesses to adapt and leverage these changes to optimize their online presence and user experience. Stay ahead of the curve and make the most out of this update by exploring the new features in the “Booking” section of your Google Business Profile. Ensure your customers can easily book appointments with you and enhance their overall interaction with your business. Keep an eye out for further updates from Google, as they continue to refine and improve their platform to better serve businesses and consumers alike.

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Google's Summer Algorithm Update: Confirmed Rollout

Google Set to Roll Out Confirmed Algorithm Update This Summer

It appears that the SEO community has been eagerly anticipating a confirmed Google search ranking update since April 2023. Despite the absence of official confirmation, industry experts are expecting Google to release a search ranking algorithm update before the summer ends. Google’s spokesperson, John Mueller, addressed the matter on Twitter and expressed certainty that there will be updates during the summer. The last confirmed algorithm update was the April 2023 reviews update, followed by the March 2023 core update. Considering the heated volatility observed in search results since then, it is reasonable to anticipate new updates, with some speculating the arrival of the helpful content update, which hasn’t been seen since December 2022. I'm sure we'll have some. Cue the countdown music. — John Mueller (official) · Not #30D (@JohnMu) July 19, 2023 The recent weeks have witnessed multiple instances of unconfirmed Google updates, causing fluctuations in search rankings. Reports of ongoing volatility in Google Search have been circulating since June, with updates being mentioned on various dates in July, June, and May. Given John Mueller’s responses, it is likely that we will see a confirmed Google algorithm update soon, possibly before the summer concludes. I'd check the search status dashboard for them. — John Mueller (official) · Not #30D (@JohnMu) July 20, 2023 Stay informed about the latest developments in Google’s search algorithms and ranking updates to adapt your SEO strategies accordingly. Keeping a close eye on official announcements and expert analyses will help you navigate any potential changes and maintain strong visibility in search results.

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WordPress 6.3: Better SEO with LCP Optimization

Get Ready for Better SEO: WordPress 6.3 Enhances Core Web Vitals with LCP Optimization

WordPress 6.3, set for release in August 2023, aims to improve the SEO performance of websites, specifically in terms of the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) metric. LCP measures the time it takes to render the largest image or text block on a webpage. By optimizing HTML attributes and introducing the fetch priority attribute, WordPress aims to enhance Core Web Vitals performance. The fetch priority attribute, used for webpage elements such as images, CSS, and JavaScript, allows publishers to prioritize resources that need to be downloaded quickly to render the content within the user’s viewport. WordPress 6.3 automatically adds the fetch priority attribute with a “high” value to the image that is most likely to be the LCP image, improving LCP by 5-10%. Additionally, WordPress implements lazy loading more efficiently in version 6.3. Lazy loading delays the loading of non-critical images and iframes below the initial viewport, prioritizing the necessary elements for the first screen. With the ability to detect critical images, WordPress ensures that the lazy load attribute is not applied to them, allowing them to download quickly. Better Core Web Vitals SEO For WordPress These updates may affect third-party plugins that relied on the previous lazy-loading logic. Plugin developers are advised to update their plugins accordingly. Overall, WordPress 6.3 provides better Core Web Vitals SEO, improving LCP scores and enhancing the user experience. In summary, WordPress 6.3 introduces optimizations through HTML attributes like fetch priority and improves lazy loading implementation, resulting in better LCP SEO performance. Third-party plugin developers should be aware of the changes and update their plugins accordingly. These enhancements aim to provide a more optimal SEO experience and improve website engagement. Read the latest WordPress Announcement!

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Google's Bard Update: More Features and Global Availability

Bard by Google: Now with More Features and Global Accessibility

Guess what? Google has just unveiled some exciting updates for its generative AI tool, Bard, and they’re absolutely awesome! They’ve added a bunch of new features and made Bard available to “most of the world” in many different languages. How cool is that? We all know that curiosity and imagination are the secret ingredients of human creativity. Whether you’re a kid inventing a game, a group of friends dreaming up your next wild adventure, or an aspiring entrepreneur with a brilliant business idea, our ability to imagine and explore new possibilities is what makes us truly special. That’s exactly why Google created Bard—to fuel your curiosity, boost your imagination, and help you bring your ideas to life. Bard isn’t just about giving you straightforward answers; it’s designed to help you build upon your thoughts and take them to the next level. And now, get ready for some major news! Google is rolling out the biggest expansion of Bard ever. Engage with Bard in more languages and places: You can now collaborate with Bard in over 40 languages! Yep, that’s right—Arabic, Chinese, German, Hindi, Spanish, and so many more. They’ve got you covered. Bard is becoming a true global citizen. They’ve really thought this through, engaging with experts, policymakers, and privacy regulators to make sure they’re being responsible with their AI advancements. It’s all about protecting your privacy and data while bringing Bard to even more people and places in the future. But wait, there’s more! New Latest Features Google has introduced some fantastic new features to make your experience with Bard even better. Check them out: Listen to responses : Sometimes, hearing Bard’s answers can provide a fresh perspective. Starting today, you can listen to Bard’s responses. This feature is particularly helpful for understanding the correct pronunciation of a word or immersing yourself in a poem or script. Simply enter a prompt and click the sound icon to hear Bard’s responses Easily adjust Bard’s responses : You can also customize Bard’s responses to suit your needs. You’ve got five different options to choose from: simple, long, short, professional, or casual. So whether you’re asking Bard to help you craft a killer marketplace listing for that vintage armchair or you simply want a concise answer, you can tweak the response style using the drop-down menu. This feature is currently available in English, and they’re working on bringing it to more languages soon. Pin and rename conversations : You can now pin and rename your conversations with Bard. How handy is that? So, if you ask Bard for tips on comparing outdoor sports for the summer, you can easily pin the conversation and come back to it whenever you need a refresher. They’ve made this feature available in over 40 languages, so you’re good to go. Export code to more platforms : Are you into coding? Well, Google has you covered. They’ve added a feature that lets you export Python code to Replit, in addition to Google Colab. So you can take your coding tasks to the next level with Bard. This feature is already live in over 40 languages, so you can start coding away!   Share responses with friends : Sharing is caring, right? That’s why Google has made it super easy for you to share your Bard chat with friends. Whether you want to show off your brilliant ideas or get some feedback, you can now share your conversation using shareable links. And guess what? This feature is available in over 40 languages. So spread the Bard love! Use images in your prompts : Google understands that images are a crucial part of sparking our imagination. That’s why they’ve integrated the capabilities of Google Lens into Bard. You can now upload images along with your prompts, and Bard will analyze the photos to help you come up with creative captions or provide more information. Right now, this feature is available in English, but they’re planning to expand it to support other languages soon. Check out our new capabilities (live today!) to help you unleash your imagination: You can use Lens to add images in prompts, listen to Bard’s responses out loud, save and pin threads, and easily adjust Bard’s responses to fit your needs. pic.twitter.com/TDuLLEe6hg — Jack Krawczyk (@JackK) July 13, 2023

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Google Ads Rolls Out Enhanced Circumventing Systems Policy

In an upcoming update, Google Ads will be reinforcing its Circumventing Systems policy to address repeated and simultaneous policy violations across multiple accounts. The change aims to clarify that using two or more accounts to post ads that violate any Google Ads policy is strictly prohibited. Non-compliance with this policy can result in the suspension of offending accounts. Google Posted: “Circumventing Systems policy will be updated to clarify that the policy prohibits repeated and simultaneous policy violations across any of your accounts, including using two or more accounts to post ads that violate any Google Ads policy.” Google takes violations of this policy seriously, considering them egregious. Any violations detected will lead to the immediate suspension of Google Ads accounts without prior warning, and advertisers will no longer be allowed to advertise using Google Ads. Circumventing Google’s advertising systems and processes, or attempting to do so, has always been against Google Ads policy. Examples of such practices include cloaking, which involves showing different content to certain users, including Google, compared to others, to interfere with Google’s review systems or hide non-compliance with Google Ads policies. Manipulating site content, using click trackers to redirect users to malicious sites, and engaging in deceptive practices to bypass enforcement mechanisms are also violations of this policy. Additionally, creating new domains or accounts to post ads similar to those that have been disapproved, obfuscating sexually explicit content, attempting to re-enter the Google Ads system after suspension, and submitting false information during verification programs are considered violations. It’s important to note that Google Search also has a similar circumvention spam policy in place for its organic search results, separate from the Google Ads policy. Google is committed to maintaining a fair and transparent advertising ecosystem, and this update to the Circumventing Systems policy further strengthens their efforts to ensure compliance and discourage any attempts to manipulate the system.

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Exciting News: Twitter's Job Listings Option Set to Launch Soon

Twitter Nears Launch of New Job Listings Feature for Verified Organizations

Twitter is testing a new job listings feature exclusively for Verified Organizations. Workweek, one of the first brands to gain access, can now post job openings directly on its Twitter profile. This feature is part of the Verified for Organizations package, which costs $1,000 per month. While it is not officially listed on Twitter’s Verified Organizations page, the live testing indicates that the launch is imminent. The development of Twitter’s job listings option began after the acquisition of job-matching start-up Laskie, which marked Elon Musk’s first acquisition since purchasing the platform. Musk envisions Twitter as an “everything app,” incorporating video elements, in-stream payments, dating profiles, and more, to rival LinkedIn. NEWS: It looks like Twitter's job listing feature is getting close to launch👀 see below for a preview of how the listings will look on a company's profile. It's also confirmed the LinkedIn competitor will be included within the business plan at no extra cost. https://t.co/lZFgZO8ji1 — T(w)itter Daily News  (@TitterDaily) July 7, 2023 Twitter aims to enhance its utility and become the go-to app for users. Job postings align with this strategy. Although an official launch timeline has not been announced, Twitter has already built the necessary back-end infrastructure. Businesses can redirect interested users to their website or a third-party provider for job applications. While only Verified Organizations can access this feature, Twitter has been granting free verification checkmarks to advertisers who spend a certain threshold on ads monthly. This suggests that larger brands will likely gain access in the future. Twitter’s job listings open up new opportunities for organizations, as Workweek highlights that it already hires staff through Twitter connections. In summary, Twitter’s job listings feature, currently being tested with Verified Organizations, demonstrates its commitment to expanding functionality and becoming a diverse platform under Elon Musk’s vision.

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Google's Universal Analytics 3 Continues Data Collection : Beyond the Deadline

Google’s Universal Analytics 3 Continues Data Collection : Beyond the Deadline

Google’s Universal Analytics 3 (UA3) is still collecting data for most UA3 profiles, even after the supposed deadline of July 1st. Despite the announcement from Google that they would be shutting down UA3 and urging users to transition to Google Analytics 4 (GA4), data collection seems to be ongoing for many profiles. An informal poll I conducted last week received over 400 responses, with 17.6% of participants claiming that their data collection had been shut down. This percentage is surprisingly high considering the observations from my own profiles and reports on Twitter. It is possible that some respondents may have been confused while filling out the poll, or perhaps their UA3 tracking code was inadvertently removed by their developers. Has anyone's Universal Analytics 3 properties shut down yet? Showing zero real-time data? — Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) July 6, 2023 Alternatively, it is also plausible that some users, including myself, have simply been fortunate enough to avoid the shutdown thus far. However, it remains to be seen whether Google will take action to shut down data collection for all UA3 profiles in the near future. Google did mention in their communication that they have initiated the process of shutting down Universal Analytics in favor of Google Analytics 4. They acknowledged that this transition would not occur overnight and that some UA3 properties might continue to process data for a period of time. However, Google assured users that all properties have been added to the queue, and those that have not completed the upgrade will eventually undergo the transition on a rolling basis. Therefore, while it may be taking longer than expected, it is still anticipated that data collection for UA3 profiles will cease as Google continues to implement the shutdown and encourages users to migrate to the newer GA4 platform. Forum discussion on Twitter.

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Is Google Analytics 4 Ready to Support Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)?

Is Google Analytics 4 Ready to Support Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)?

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) now offers support for Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), according to an announcement made by Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin. This update allows all websites utilizing GA4 to incorporate AMP and benefit from its capabilities. To enable AMP analytics in GA4, website publishers simply need to make a minor update to their amp-analytics configuration. Once implemented, analytics data will start flowing immediately into GA4. Streamlined Integration: GA4 and AMP Work Hand in Hand While AMP pages function similarly to HTML and are compatible with any browser, they do not support the gtag.js used in Google Analytics. Instead, AMP utilizes a separate tag specifically designed for AMP. Furthermore, user identification for AMP differs from other formats. In GA4, GA4 randomly generates user identifiers and stores them in local storage or cookies. When users clear their cookies and local storage, GA4 resets these identifiers. Consequently, IP masking is unnecessary since Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses. Unlock Valuable Insights with AMP Analytics Tag To collect data effectively, websites must implement the AMP Analytics tag. This tag collects various types of data, including page data, user data, browsing data, browser data, interaction data, and event data. Google mandates websites to disclose data collection and usage in GA4, with an opt-out option for users. Limitations It’s important to note that GA4 does have some limitations concerning AMP integration. Google Analytics 4 does not currently support consent mode settings, dynamic configuration, ecommerce events, or additional enhancements available in standard Google Analytics. However, Google has indicated its intention to gradually introduce more AMP capabilities to Google Analytics 4 in the future. Seamless User Tracking Additionally, Google recently introduced the AMP Client ID API, which enables improved user tracking across AMP pages. Previously, if a user engaged with content through a website and Google viewers like the Google AMP viewer or Google Search, they would appear as separate users in analytics due to different contexts. With the AMP Client ID API, it’s now possible to associate a consistent ID with a single user in these contexts, offering a complete view of AMP content interactions regardless of where it’s served. To track user interactions with AMP pages on Google’s cache versus the website, Analytics can be configured accordingly. This involves adding specific code to the Analytics tag on AMP pages, setting up a custom parameter named “ampHost” in Google Analytics 4, and relaunching the AMP pages for the changes to take effect. GA4 will then track the source of each AMP pageview, whether from the website’s domain or the Google AMP cache, providing this information in the reports under the “ampHost” custom parameter. This visibility enables better understanding of user engagement across various contexts. Google’s Commitment to a Seamless GA4 Migration Overall, the integration of AMP support in GA4 aligns it with Universal Analytics (UA), facilitating a smooth transition for publishers when UA is permanently retired. This integration is crucial for publishers who rely on AMP to track their metrics within Google Analytics 4. With the deadline for the GA4 migration approaching, Google continues to introduce updates to the platform, ensuring a seamless transition for publishers. For further information about the integration of GA4 and AMP, see Google’s official Documentation.

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Study Confirms: Address Removal Hurts Your Google Business Profile Rankings

Study Confirms: Removing Address in Google Business Profiles Hurts Local Rankings

In a recent small-scale study conducted by Joy Hawkins, the implications of removing the address from Google Business Profile listings were examined. Surprisingly, the study contradicted Google’s own advice and guidelines, highlighting a significant drop in local pack and Google Maps rankings. This article explores the study’s findings and the potential consequences for businesses that choose to omit their address from their Google Business Profile. The Impact of Address Removal on Rankings: Joy Hawkins decided to put Google’s advice to the test by removing the address from one of her clients’ Google Business Profiles. The results were striking – the client’s rankings plummeted, nearly disappearing altogether. Sensing a potential correlation, Joy promptly reinstated the address, and to her relief, the rankings returned. A chart illustrating the rankings before and after the address removal and re-addition further emphasized the impact. Replicating the Results: To validate the findings, Joy Hawkins repeated the experiment with another client. The results were consistent, as the removal of the address once again led to a sharp decline in rankings, and restoring the address resulted in a recovery. These replicated outcomes strengthened the study’s credibility and underscored the importance of retaining the address in Google Business Profiles. Address Removal and Customer Perception: The study highlighted that removing the address or setting it to not show to customers had the same effect. Joy Hawkins clarified that even though the address remains editable in the Business Profile listing, any modification that removes the address is likely to trigger a significant drop in leads from Google Search and Google Maps. This has important implications for businesses, as potential customers heavily rely on these platforms for local business discovery. Conclusion: Joy Hawkins’ study serves as a cautionary tale for businesses considering removing their address from Google Business Profiles. Despite Google’s advice to leave the “business location” field blank if the business doesn’t serve customers at its address, the study clearly demonstrated that doing so can lead to a substantial decline in local rankings and subsequently impact leads generated from Google Search and Google Maps. Therefore, it is advisable for businesses to carefully consider the potential consequences before making any changes to their address information in their Google Business Profile listings. Joy, just to be clear, removing the address completely, not sliding the slider off to not show your address to customers, right? pic.twitter.com/BB4bxBAFrB — Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) June 16, 2023  

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