YouTube is now the single most visible website / brand in Google’s search results, ousting Wikipedia from that position, according to new data from analysis firm Searchmetrics.
YouTube
YouTube has taken over the #1 spot as the most visible website on Google’s organic search results according to Searchmetrics.
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/youtube-organic-visibility-google-serps/341419/
Added cards to show a users comment history on videos for the same channel
- TechCrunch – https://techcrunch.com/2020/01/15/youtube-launches-profile-cards-that-show-a-users-comment-history/
– Search
Started rolling out another ‘broad core update’, the first of this year, on Monday.
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-january-2020-core-update-is-rolling-out-imminently/343271/
- Search Engine Roundtable – https://www.seroundtable.com/google-january-2020-core-update-28832.html
Danny Sullivan advised that Google makes several small changes daily, but releases broad core updates 2-4 times per year.
- Search Engine Roundtable – https://www.seroundtable.com/google-changes-algorithm-28838.html
Changed the look for search result pages by adding favicons next to results and placing a url / breadcrumb at the top above the title of the page.
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-changes-the-look-of-paid-and-organic-search-results-on-desktop/343443/
Introduced a new “popular products” shopping section.
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-introduces-a-new-shopping-section-in-search-results/343649/
– Ads
Google Ads introduced a target ROAS bid simulator
- Search Engine Roundtable – https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-target-roas-bid-simulator-28828.html
Parellel tracking is now mandatory for video campaigns
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ads-makes-parallel-tracking-mandatory-for-video-campaigns/343507/
– Search Console / Webmasters
The Rich Results testing tool is adding in embedded or third-party data / elements that appear on a page
- Search Engine Roundtable – https://www.seroundtable.com/google-rich-results-test-shows-embedded-resources-28831.html
There was a bug that resulted in a spike in unparsable structured data errors within Google Search Console. If you
saw that between the 13th and 16th of January, you can safely ignore it.
- Search Engine Roundtable – https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-console-unparsable-structured-data-bug-28841.html
– Google My Business
GMB now has a program called “My Business Provider” which will allow groups that manage data for a large number of businesses to get their members verified on GMB. Don’t be surprised if your local chamber calls you.
- Mike Blumenthal’s Blog – http://blumenthals.com/blog/2020/01/12/google-rolls-out-business-provider-plan-to-replace-trusted-verifier-program/
The Reinstatement request form was offline on Monday for awhile, but is now working again
- Jason Channell on Twitter – https://twitter.com/El_Fenix/status/1216844498782883840
– Other Google
Chrome now has global media controls, allowing users to control audio and video in all active tabs
Is rolling out a new design they call F5. It will first be rolled out to all mobile users, then to desktop users.
- Pocket Lint – https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/facebook/150761-the-new-facebook-update-how-the-all-new-design-looks-and-works
The new fake information filter appears to be targeting digital artwork and not just images with fake information
- The Verge – https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/15/21067207/instagram-false-information-warning-facebook-misinformation-digital-art
- Hypebeast – https://hypebeast.com/2020/1/instagram-hiding-photoshopped-photos-new-feature
- TheNextWeb – https://thenextweb.com/dd/2020/01/15/instagram-hides-photoshopped-posts-art/
Is testing direct messaging on the desktop version of the site
- Business Insider – https://www.businessinsider.com/instagram-tests-direct-messaging-on-desktop-2020-1
The Reddit Ads pixel now supports first-party cookies
- RedditAdvertising.com – http://www.redditadvertising.com/blog/reddit-ads-updates/the-reddit-ads-pixel-now-supports-first-party-cookies/
- Reddit /r/RedditAds – https://www.reddit.com/r/redditads/comments/eo7r8k/the_reddit_pixel_gets_some_exciting_updates_today/
In a bid to promote more user communities, Reddit has been giving away one-word subreddit’s all week abandoned by their previous owners
- Reddit /r/SubredditAdoption – https://www.reddit.com/r/SubredditAdoption/
According to eMarketer Pinterest is now the third post popular social media platform in the US, beating out Snapchat.
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/pinterest-overtakes-snapchat-in-popularity-among-us-users/343517/
- Ad Week – https://www.adweek.com/digital/emarketer-pinterest-overtakes-snapchat-in-total-u-s-users/
TikTok
According to Sensor Tower was the second most downloaded app of 2019, behind WhatsApp
- Yahoo! Finance – https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tik-tok-downloaded-more-than-facebook-messenger-and-instagram-in-2019-090941580.html
Banned a dating app from advertising over GDPR breech
- The Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jan/15/twitter-drops-grindr-from-ad-network-over-data-breaches
May soon release a “pinned lists” feature on Android
CEO Jack Dorsey says there will likely never be an edit button.
Facebook started tweeting from a new Twitter account for the Facebook app:
BONUS ROUND!!!
Google and Amazon are two of the most trusted entities in America beating out Tom Hanks, Extreme Weather Advisories, Teachers, and even Oprah. Google is the single most trusted entity among American millenials and Gen Z.
Huffington Post, now called HuffPo, is reaching out those named to their “Best Podcasts of 2019” list and requesting they pay a fee of $1,995 to license the use of the related imagery on their website for 1 year.
- Understood Podcast on Twitter – https://twitter.com/underunderstood/status/1217538367992233984
Yelp says they are going after Review Rings in a new fight against fake reviews
- Gain Local – https://gainlocal.net/blog/local-marketing/yelp-is-combating-review-rings-that-sell-fake-reviews/
Mozilla has laid off 70 employees
Microsoft, YouTube, and Facebook’s efforts to poach Twitch streamers appear to be paying off
Super Bonus!!!!
10 Important 2020 Social Media Trends You Need to Know
- Search Engine Journal – https://www.searchenginejournal.com/2020-social-media-trends/342851/