This week at SEOPartner, we’re sharing: SEO updates that can deliver significant impact to your results, exciting changes in the marketplace to watch out for, good-to-know studies and information, and tips to try based on recent findings on search, online marketing and more.
SEO specialists and website owners share their thoughts on Penguin 4.0, barely 3 weeks since it has been released. AdWords Editor has a new version, and it’s leaning toward more mobile-first solutions. Recent data from Google shows stats on digital devices and user interaction that marketers must know. And an advanced verification process to fight fraud using business listings is being tested right now. These and more are just some of the recent releases that are currently making the online marketing space abuzz.
Good To Know
Experts Share Insights on Penguin 4.0
Google rolls out algorithm updates in their continuing aim to eliminate black SEO tactics and improve user search experience – but these episodes are also a cause of worry for many. SEMrush recently hosted a discussion about Penguin 4.0 with SEO specialists and website owners, with the participants sharing the following takeaways.
Indicators that your website has been penalized:
– Significant traffic loss
– Drop in rankings
– Search visibility suffers; loss of all visibility for exact match keywords
– Penalty notification from Google
– Drop in sales, CT and conversions throughout the site
– Website has poor ranking in Google but still ranks well in Bing and Yahoo
– Inner pages may inexplicably show higher rankings than optimized pages
Meanwhile, Penguin 4.0 is expected to deliver the following advantages to website owners:
– Fix SEO issues quickly.
– Resolve ranking and traffic issues faster.
– See the impact of your site and link cleanup efforts without needing to wait for the next update.
– If you have invested in white SEO techniques and in building a quality website as per Google guidelines, you’ll be rewarded much quickly as well.
– With Penguin’s real-time nature, you do away with the stress of one-time, big-time updates.
The participants agreed that Penguin 4.0 is more of a reminder than a game-changer. What’s harmful before is still harmful today (see below), only this time you can immediately see the results of your actions.
Source: https://www.semrush.com/blog/google-penguin-4-0-friend-or-foe-semrushchat/
Screenshot from Coffee and Cigarettes
What’s Hot
Adwords Editor Goes Mobile-First in Latest Version
The notable characteristic of Adwords Editor version 11.6 is its support for mobile-first innovations: the updated includes functionalities for more ad formats, and the new device bid adjustments for desktop, tablet and mobile. Also, Google has enhanced advanced search in Editor.
Here are the things that can be done with Adwords Editor 11.6:
– As it now supports universal app campaigns (UAC), developers and marketers can create and edit universal campaigns in Editor to show app install ads and reach out to valuable users across Google Search, Google Play, YouTube, Apps and mobile sites on GDN.
– Advertisers can now take advantage of Gmail image templates and Gmail single promotion templates to easily create and edit ads.
– You can also now create and edit responsive ads using AdWords Editor.
The latest Adwords Editor is already available for download.
Source: http://searchengineland.com/adwords-editor-now-supports-ad-formats-device-bidding-260515
Google Data Reveals a Mobile-First, Cross-Device World
A Google study titled “How People Use Their Devices – What Marketers Need to Know” offered revealing insights on “the proliferation of devices has changed the way people interact with the world around them.”
The study’s findings are worth reviewing, since understanding real user behaviour allows marketers to effectively reach out to their audience across devices, channels and formats. Some of the study’s findings include:
It’s a mobile-first world indeed. 80% of opt-in Google users use a smartphone, and around 40% of them use only their smartphone to conduct search.
People use multiple devices, seamlessly moving back and forth between each unit to accomplish tasks. 57% use more than one device; 1/5 of them use another device while concurrently using a computer. Meanwhile, 27% use a smartphone only and 14% use a desktop computer only.
We’re basically tethered to our devices. The average daily time spent for a smartphone is 170minutes; computer, 120 minutes; and tablet, 75 minutes. Also, 30% use their phones after midnight, implying that there’s really no off-hours for the use of mobile devices.
Smartphones are integrated into daily life. People use their smartphones at home, work and while in stores, restaurants and bars. Search is the top activity on mobile, followed by watching videos, browsing the web and using apps.
Source: https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/articles/device-use-marketer-tips.html
What’s Cooking
Anti-Locksmiths & Plumber Online Scam Solution Now in Beta
For some time now, Google ads and Google My Business listings are apparently being used by parties posing as locksmiths and plumbers to conduct fraudulent activities. Now, Google is fighting back these scammers by testing a new, advanced verification process for businesses involved in these two trades.
A New York Times article describes the typical M.O. of these fake online locksmiths as such: “When you search Google for someone to help you get into your home or car, results will include poorly trained subcontractors who will squeeze you for cash.”
The advanced verification process beta-testing is currently being done in San Diego, California. Businesses that fail to complete the process by Nov 1 will lose their verification and be removed from Google Maps.
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-fights-fraud-cracking-plumbers-locksmiths/175362/
SUMMING IT ALL UP
Here are the top headlines in this week’s SEO news roundup:
Good To Know
Experts Share Insights On Penguin 4.0. Find out how SEO specialists & webmasters consider real-time Penguin so far, the first weeks after its release. We rounded up some of their findings shared in a discussion hosted by SEMrush.What’s Hot
Adwords Editor Goes Mobile-First in Latest Version. The main highlight of Adwords Editor version 11 is its stance to support mobile-first innovations. Check out the new features it offers and how these changes can boost results & make work more efficient.Google Data Reveals a Mobile-First, Cross-DeviceWorld. A Think With Google study titled “How People Use Their Devices – What Marketers Need to Know” reveals specific proof of how the world has changed – and how people interact with this world – because of the proliferation of mobile devices.
What’s Cooking
Anti-Locksmiths & Plumber Online Scam Solution Now in Beta. Turns out scammers have been using online business listings to conduct their modus operandi. Google is now testing an advanced verification process for locksmiths & plumbers as a way to fight back against fraud.
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