Roundup

Welcome to our latest weekly roundup blog! Let’s explore significant developments from leading platforms, such as Google Ad Manager’s improved tools for publishers, valuable information on SEO and content tactics, and fresh experimental functionalities from YouTube and Instagram. Keep informed to make the most of these innovations for your online achievements. Google Ad Manager Updates Benefit Publishers with More Creative Controls Google Ad Manager is being updated to give publishers more control over their ad inventory. These updates will allow publishers to turn off ad badging disclosures and manage their placement preferences selectively. The “Mute This Ad” feature for reservation ads will be phased out to improve efficiency. These changes result from publisher feedback and aim to ensure that ad creatives are displayed accurately and in compliance with regional regulations, ultimately enhancing transparency and user experience. Publishers now have the option to turn off ad badging on a per-creative basis. They can choose whether badging is visible globally or only in the European Economic Area. These adjustments are designed to simplify processes for publishers while still meeting advertising standards in different regions. The leading SEO company in Mumbai say the updates will be rolled out gradually, demonstrating Google’s dedication to enhancing ad transparency tools based on ongoing feedback from publishers. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/google-ad-manager-direct-sales-control-443102 Is Duplicate Content Acceptable for Local SEO: Insights from Google During a recent SEO office hours session, Google’s John Mueller discussed the issue of duplicate content in localized websites. He clarified that while having unique content is still preferable for certain types of pages, Google does not penalize localized duplicate content across different regional sites. This clarification is extremely important for businesses that manage multiple geographic markets, as it allows them to effectively handle content across various language versions or city-specific pages without any negative impact on their SEO. Mueller emphasized that localized duplication serves the purpose of providing tailored experiences to global audiences, whether it’s through translated content or region-specific information. However, he did caution against indiscriminate duplication, particularly on pages such as service area descriptions and city-specific landing pages. In these cases, having unique content is crucial as it enhances relevance and avoids conflicting signals. This guidance highlights the significance of strategically localizing content to maintain SEO integrity while catering to different markets’ diverse needs and preferences. Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/when-is-duplicate-content-acceptable-for-local-seo-google-explains/519562/ Google’s Perspective on Affiliate Link Heavy Content John Mueller recently discussed the impact of affiliate links on search rankings. Google does not target affiliate sites specifically but looks at content quality and relevance. Mueller stressed that affiliate links alone do not determine a page’s usefulness or ranking potential. Ensuring that pages with affiliate links offer value and serve as helpful resources for users is important. This conversation highlights the importance of removing outdated SEO tactics like keyword stuffing and copying competitor strategies. Instead, the focus should be creating original, user-focused content that addresses real user needs. The experts from the leading SEO company in Mumbai say that Google’s position indicates that while affiliate sites can rank well, success depends on providing high-quality content that meets Google’s standards for relevance and usefulness in search results. Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/impact-of-lots-of-affiliate-links/519545/ Google’s Take on AI Translations and Content Drafting Tools Google’s John Mueller discussed concerns about AI-generated content, specifically focusing on AI translations and content drafting tools. Mueller stressed the importance of assessing the quality of AI-translated content before indexing, emphasizing that it should resonate with the intended audience and meet high standards of readability and relevance. He advised website owners to go beyond literal translations and prioritize comprehensive localization to enhance the user experience across different regions. Regarding AI-assisted content drafting, Mueller emphasized that Google prioritizes the overall quality of published content, regardless of the tools used. While recognizing the potential benefits of AI tools in content creation, he cautioned that not all AI-generated content meets Google’s usefulness and user satisfaction standards. Mueller recommended referring to Google’s guidelines on helpful content and seeking third-party feedback to ensure that AI-assisted content meets the rigorous quality benchmarks necessary for SEO success and user engagement. Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/googles-stance-on-ai-translations-content-drafting-tools/519515/ Google Introduces Custom Event Data Import for GA4 Google has recently introduced a new feature for Google Analytics 4 (GA4) called custom event data import. This feature allows businesses to integrate external data sources with GA4 data, enabling them to create more advanced and comprehensive reports. By combining event metadata from external sources with existing Analytics data using event-scoped custom dimensions, businesses can better understand their analytics data and imported event metadata. To make use of this feature, businesses need to define their reporting objectives, identify relevant external data sources, set up custom dimensions as join keys, and map external data fields to Analytics parameters. Once this is done and the data is uploaded, it can be utilized across Analytics reports, audiences, and explorations, providing more accurate and insightful information through GA4. Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-launches-custom-event-data-import-for-ga4/519341/ Google’s Warning on hreflang Implementation Quirk Google recently changed its hreflang documentation to address a peculiar issue that affects certain implementations. The problem occurs when publishers mix multiple attributes in a single <link> tag, such as hreflang annotations and media types. This can cause unexpected outcomes in how Google processes and understands these tags. The updated guidelines stress the importance of keeping hreflang tags separate from other attributes within the <link> element to ensure proper functionality and indexing by search engines. The best SEO company says that this reiteration highlights the necessity for publishers and SEO professionals to strictly follow Google’s recommendations when incorporating hreflang tags to prevent potential indexing and ranking problems due to incorrect usage. Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/hreflang-quirk/519410/ Threads Explores How Hashtags Work in the App Threads, the messaging app from Instagram, is looking into innovative methods to boost the use of hashtags on its platform. To address the ongoing discussions about the impact of hashtags on social media, Threads might bring back the traditional “#” symbol to prompt users to make better use of hashtags. As highlighted by app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi, this potential

Hey there! Welcome to our latest roundup! In this week’s roundup, we’ll be taking a closer look at the latest updates from different platforms, including Meta’s Threads and its awesome new features. From giving users more control to enhancing the in-app experience, let’s jump right into the exciting highlights of what’s been happening in the digital world! Google Publisher Center Shifts to Automated Publication Addition Google Publisher Center is making a big change by no longer allowing the manual addition of publications. Instead, eligible publishers will be automatically added, while ineligible ones will be removed. This change is aimed at making the process smoother and improving user experience. However, some clarification regarding Google News inclusion may be needed, which has been an issue since the 2019 process change. The leading SEO company in Mumbai says that Google has stated that this adjustment means publishers can no longer manually create source pages, as they will now have automatically generated publication pages. Publishers with manual pages will still have access to customization until the full transition. Google has also emphasized that content following their policies will still be eligible for Google News and other news platforms. This shift is part of Google’s strategy to simplify and optimize publisher integration, potentially changing how online news is shared. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/google-publisher-center-to-stop-allowing-you-to-add-publications-439978 Reddit Launches Dynamic Product Ads Reddit’s new Dynamic Product Ads, currently in public beta, are designed to strengthen the connection between users and products on the platform. This feature aims to encourage more meaningful interactions between consumers and brands by leveraging users’ product research and discussions. With the combination of shopping signals, machine learning, and advertiser catalogs, Dynamic Product Ads on Reddit can provide personalized product suggestions to users, leading to increased engagement and conversion rates. During Q1 testing, Reddit saw a 1.9x Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) boost compared to conversion objective campaigns. They offer great features like quick campaign creation, retargeting, prospecting, and support throughout the purchase process. These tools help advertisers reach Reddit’s wide range of users. Dynamic Product Ads are available worldwide and support multiple languages, showing Reddit’s dedication to transforming e-commerce engagement on their platform. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/reddit-introduces-dynamic-product-ads-439868 Google Extends Third-Party Cookie Phase-Out Amid Regulatory Scrutiny Google has decided to postpone removing third-party cookies in Chrome once again. They mentioned facing challenges and increased scrutiny from the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as the reason behind the delay. This means that brands now have more time to prepare for the eventual transition away from third-party cookies. However, the fact that the delay has been extended highlights the ongoing uncertainty surrounding this issue. Google has clarified that working with regulators and industry stakeholders is crucial, and they are determined to finish this collaboration by 2025. However, there are obstacles in their path, such as regulatory concerns and criticism of proposed alternatives like the Privacy Sandbox. As a result, it seems less likely that they will meet their original deadline of 2024. Nevertheless, Google is unwavering in its commitment to tackling the intricate realm of online privacy and advertising alongside its industry partners and regulators. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/google-third-party-cookie-phase-out-third-delay-439864 Google Revised the Favicon Documentation Google has updated its Search Central favicon documentation to offer clearer explanations in response to user questions about favicon usage. The new documentation explains the difference between traditional and modern favicon implementations, making it easier for webmasters to understand. A favicon is a small icon that represents a website visually, making it more visible on search engine results pages (SERPs) and potentially increasing click-through rates. The experts from the leading SEO company in Mumbai say the favicon is linked to the webpage it represents through the “rel” HTML attribute. Google’s documentation also discusses the term “shortcut icon,” an older way of specifying a favicon using “rel=shortcut icon” instead of “rel=icon.” This shows that Google supports both methods. This update aims to provide website owners with detailed guidance on how to make the most of their favicon strategies. Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-revised-the-favicon-documentation/514727/ Instagram Improves Creator Subscription Options Instagram now has over 2 million creator subscriptions, giving creators even more ways to make money from their content on the platform. Since 2022, creators have been using subscriptions to offer exclusive content to their biggest fans, which has helped the creator economy on Instagram grow. As if that wasn’t enough, Instagram is also rolling out new features to improve the subscription experience. Insights on sticker engagement, extended subscription story previews, and strategies to protect exclusive content from unauthorized sharing are all part of the equation. While there are more chances for creators to make money online, the truth is that only a small number earn a significant income. The experts from the leading social media marketing company in Mumbai say that Instagram’s efforts show that creators can turn their passions into profit with careful planning and hard work, but they also reveal the challenges of the digital creator world. Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-options-creator-subscriptions/713921/ Google Ads API Version 16.1: What’s New? Google recently rolled out version 16.1 of the Google Ads API, bringing in new features and updates to enhance its functionality. Some key additions include query assets for Demand Gen, expanded location service details, increased support warnings, and the integration of Target ROAS bid simulation. This latest release builds upon the previous update, Version 16, launched in February 2024, showing Google’s commitment to continuously improving the API. As Google prepares to retire the AdWords API by the end of July, the shift to the Google Ads API is becoming increasingly important for advertisers looking to make the most of the latest digital advertising tools. Read more: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-api-version161-37279.html Google’s Splitting & Merging Sites Takes Longer than Normal Site Migrations Managing site migrations can be overwhelming for SEOs, but the idea of splitting or merging sites can bring even more stress. John Mueller from Google mentioned that these processes take Google a lot longer to handle than regular site migrations. Mueller stressed the importance of being patient, highlighting that the processing timeline

Welcome to our latest blog roundup! Meta’s Threads platform is gearing up to introduce ads, Google Updates, and whether Airchat will create a new wave in social media. Join us as we delve into this exciting development and explore other noteworthy updates from the tech world! Meta’s Threads Set to Introduce Ads Brands and advertisers may soon tap into Meta’s Threads platform to purchase ads, possibly as soon as the second half of this year, as reported by Digiday from various sources. Threads, with approximately 85 million monthly active users, has been gaining momentum since its inception, providing marketers with a promising chance to broaden their audience reach. Although the specifics of ad integration are still under wraps, Meta’s focus has been on the timeline for the rollout. Beta testing for ad options is expected to commence shortly, with initial formats likely to include in-feed placements. The inclusion of Threads ads into Meta’s current ad platform, Advantage+, signifies a strategic move to expand advertising opportunities beyond Facebook and Instagram, giving marketers a new avenue to connect with their desired demographics. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/meta-threads-ads-this-year-439739 Google AdSense Introduces Ad Intents for Auto Ads Google AdSense recently introduced a new feature known as Ad Intents, which gives publishers the option to include Auto ads on their websites in a different way. Ad Intents are designed to seamlessly integrate links and anchors into existing content, enhancing the ad experience for users without relying on third-party cookies. When users engage with these links, they are taken to a Google Search Result page that includes both organic search results and paid ads. Although this feature has the potential to boost revenue for publishers, there are concerns about directing traffic away from publishers’ sites to Google’s search results, which could lead to a loss of customers. Google, however, stresses that the use of Ad Intents is completely up to the publishers, giving them the choice to enable and manage this feature on their websites. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/google-adsense-ad-intents-auto-ads-439700 Google Search Console Updates Ownership Token Controls The experts from the leading SEO company in Mumbai informs that Google Search Console has rolled out a new security enhancement that allows users to easily manage ownership tokens and permissions. This update is designed to give users better control over who can access their Search Console profiles by enabling them to quickly identify and delete any unused ownership tokens. Ownership tokens act as verification codes for website ownership across different Google products such as Search Console and Merchant Center. This new feature simplifies the process of getting rid of outdated or unnecessary tokens, which ultimately enhances the accuracy of user permissions management. Users can simply go to the Users and Permissions interface, choose “Unused ownership tokens,” and delete the tokens as needed. This update underscores the significance of maintaining data security and limiting access to authorized individuals, as emphasized by Nir Kalush from Google. By regularly reviewing and removing unused tokens, users can uphold the integrity of their Search Console properties and prevent unauthorized access. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/google-search-console-security-update-improves-management-of-ownership-tokens-439677 Google’s Generative Image Tools for Demand Gen Advertisers Google recently introduced new AI-powered generative image tools designed specifically for Demand Gen advertisers worldwide. These tools allow for the quick and easy creation of original campaign assets with just a few clicks. This not only boosts efficiency but also guarantees high-quality image production. Advertisers have the option to utilize the “Generate more like this” feature to produce variations of successful images, ultimately improving campaign performance. Despite the AI-driven nature of the tools, advertisers still have complete control over the image selection process for their campaigns, showcasing their ability to customize visuals to suit their unique business requirements. Google’s focus on originality ensures that each generated image is distinct, contributing to a more engaging and diverse ad collection. By incorporating these generative image tools into their workflow, advertisers can simplify the creative process, save time and resources, and maintain authority over their campaign visuals. Read more: https://searchengineland.com/google-demand-gen-image-generative-tools-439625 Google Discontinues Video Carousel Structured Data Test Google has decided to stop supporting the video carousel (limited access) structured data test because it is not scalable and doesn’t provide much value to the ecosystem. As a result, the associated markup documentation and rich results support will be removed. The experts from the leading SEO company in Mumbai say although website publishers can choose to keep using this structured data, Google will no longer consider it for rich results. This change in strategy is evident from the paragraph and structured data example that have been removed from the documentation. However, it’s worth noting that other search engines may still find the structured data useful. Google’s developer changelog explains the reasoning behind this decision, highlighting the limited usefulness of the video carousel markup on a larger scale. This decision reflects Google’s dedication to improving search features for the benefit of both users and website owners. Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ends-support-of-video-carousel-structured-data/514191/ Meta Unveils Advanced AI Chatbot Across All Apps Meta has unveiled its latest generative AI chatbot, now available on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Users can interact with Meta’s advanced AI assistant directly within the search bar of each app. With the powerful Meta Llama 3 engine, this AI chatbot offers improved conversational abilities and worldwide accessibility. This move demonstrates Meta’s determination to compete with rivals like OpenAI in the generative AI field. Despite previous setbacks with the M bot, Meta is optimistic about the capabilities of its new AI engine to provide a more effective and engaging user experience. By introducing the supercharged Llama 3 engine, Meta aims to revolutionize in-app assistance and establish itself as the top AI assistant on the market. Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-brings-its-most-advanced-ai-chatbot-to-all-of-its-apps/713662/ YouTube Introduces Premium Placement Option for Shorts Ads YouTube has launched “YouTube Select Shorts,” a new premium placement option for advertisers to feature their ads alongside top-performing Shorts content in various categories. The leading social media marketing company in Mumbai say this feature gives advertisers more control over their Shorts promotions, ensuring maximum exposure to