In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying up-to-date with the latest developments is crucial to ensure the success of your business. In April 2023, the industry saw some significant changes, from Google’s volatile core update to the removal of several ranking factors. Auto-GPT, a new technology that has the potential to revolutionise the way we interact with computers, also made headlines. Meanwhile, in social media news, Twitter was accused of false advertising, and a bug caused significant overspending on Facebook and Instagram ad accounts.
In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into each of these developments and explore their implications for digital marketers and the wider industry.
SEO News
March Update Most Volatile
Google’s March 2023 Core Update was more volatile than the September 2022 Core Update, according to data from Semrush. The update also had a more significant impact on search results, with 8.7% of the top 10 results now ranking on the SERP previously ranked beyond position 20 prior to the update. Any changes to your rankings will be communicated within your reports but if you have any questions, do let us know.
Google has not provided any details about the specific changes made in the March update, but it is likely that they were focused on improving the relevance and quality of search results.
Google Removes Ranking Factors
Google has quietly removed several search ranking algorithm updates from its ranking systems page. The updates that were removed include:
Page experience system: This system was designed to measure the quality of a web page’s user experience, including factors such as speed, mobile-friendliness, and security.
Mobile-friendly system: This system was designed to rank websites that are optimised for mobile devices higher in search results.
Page speed system: This system was designed to rank websites that load quickly higher in search results.
Secure site system: This system was designed to rank websites that use HTTPS encryption higher in search results.
Google has not provided any explanation for why it removed these updates from its ranking systems page. However, it is possible that the updates were not having a significant impact on search results, or that Google is planning to make changes to the way these factors are used in the ranking algorithm.
Auto-GPT: Is It Time To Start Freaking Out?
Auto-GPT is a new technology that allows large language models (LLMs) to complete a series of tasks autonomously. It was developed by OpenAI and is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionise the way we interact with computers.
With Auto-GPT, users can simply provide a list of tasks and Auto-GPT will complete them. For example, you could ask Auto-GPT to write an article, create a presentation, or even design a website. Auto-GPT will use its knowledge of the world and its ability to generate text to complete the tasks you give it.
It has the potential to be a powerful tool for businesses and individuals alike. It could be used to automate tasks that are currently done by humans, such as customer service or data entry. It could also be used to create new products and services that are currently not possible. Some people are concerned that Auto-GPT could lead to job losses, but others believe that it will create new jobs. Only time will tell what the true impact of Auto-GPT will be.
Social Media News
Twitter Accused of False Advertising
Twitter has restored the “blue tick” verification badge for free to celebrities, after previously charging VIPs and public figures for the feature. The company had announced in January that it would be making verification a paid-for service, but it has now reversed course following widespread criticism.
In a blog post, Twitter said that it had “listened to feedback” from users and decided to make verification for celebs free again. The company said that it would continue to review the verification process and make changes as needed. The decision to restore free verification comes at a time when Twitter is facing increasing scrutiny over its policies and practices. The company has been criticised for its handling of misinformation, hate speech, and other harmful content. It has also been accused of censorship and bias.
Bug Causes Meta Ad Accounts to Overspend
On April 23 2023, Facebook experienced a bug in its ad delivery system that caused significant overspending on a range of accounts. The bug affected both Facebook and Instagram ads, and it resulted in some advertisers spending up to 500% more than their daily budgets.
Facebook was quick to identify and fix the bug, but the damage had already been done. Many advertisers were left with large bills, and some were even forced to shut down their campaigns altogether. The Facebook ad bug is a reminder that even the biggest and most sophisticated tech companies are not immune to errors.
LinkedIn Rolls Out Latest Features
LinkedIn is rolling out new personalised features and enhanced search functionality, designed to help users find the information they need more quickly and easily. The new features include:
Suggested Posts: LinkedIn is introducing Suggested Posts for relevant conversations and content discovery. These posts are personalised based on a user’s interests and connections, and they appear at the top of the newsfeed.
Tailored Content: LinkedIn is also tailoring content to users’ interests. This means that users are more likely to see content from people and organisations that they are already connected to or that they are interested in.
Advanced Search: LinkedIn is also enhancing its search functionality with new filters and suggestions. This will make it easier for users to find the information they need, even if they don’t know exactly what they’re looking for.
Paid Media News
What You Need To Know About The ‘AMERICA Act’ Bill
The ‘AMERICA Act’ bill is designed to promote American competitiveness in the global economy, and it includes a number of provisions that could impact the digital advertising industry. One of the most significant provisions of the bill is a requirement that large digital platforms, such as Google and Facebook, be more transparent about how they collect and use data.
Why is this relevant to us in the UK? The UK is a major market for digital advertising, and many UK businesses rely on digital advertising to reach their customers. If the bill is passed, it could make it more difficult for UK businesses to advertise online, and it could lead to higher costs for digital advertising.
The bill could also have an impact on the UK’s data privacy laws. The UK’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the strictest data privacy laws in the world. If the AMERICA Act is passed, it could lead to calls for the UK to weaken its data privacy laws in order to remain competitive with the US.
Google is Removing Four Attribution Models
Starting in June 2023, Google will remove the ability to select first click, linear, time decay, and position-based attribution models for conversion actions in Google Ads that do not already use one of these models. Then, starting in September 2023, Google switch any conversion actions still using these models to data-driven attribution. If you don’t want your conversions to use data-driven attribution, you’ll be able to use the last-click model.
Google Removed 5.2 Billion Ads for Content Violations in 2022
If you want to get some perspective on the scope of content enforcement that large digital platforms deal with day-to-day, this will help. 5.2 billion ads were removed from the Google Ad Ecosystem last year which is also up 2 billion on ad removals in 2021.
Among the key reasons for blocking those billions of ads were trademark violations, legal requirements and misrepresentation within the promotions.
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Mel is our Partner Strategy & Delivery Manager and also a CIM Chartered Marketer, a testament to her commitment to excellence in the field. But Mel’s contributions don’t stop at the office door. Beyond her professional endeavours, she leads an active life as a qualified run leader and dedicated volunteer. Her experience in these roles has streamlined her leadership and teamwork skills, making her an invaluable asset when it comes to collaborating on projects and ensuring their success. Her sharp insights, strategic thinking, and knowledge have made her a backbone in our team’s ability to drive results for clients in this industry. Mel will make sure that we can approach marketing challenges from all angles and deliver outstanding results for our clients.
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