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.
Facebook users can now make purchases from Messenger. YouTube is transforming into a more engaged community. And futurists are saying that machine learning might just make keywords obsolete. These and more are just some of the recent releases that are currently making the online marketing space abuzz.
What’s Hot
Facebook Messenger Introduces New “Buy Now” Button
In April 2016, the social network began enabling brands to engage customers with the help of bots up until the point when they are ready to buy; the transaction then had to be completed in an external website.
Now, Facebook users can purchase products and services within Facebook Messenger thanks to the new “Buy Now” button, a service which will initially be available only in the United States.
The site’s checkout process is simple, with the customer being presented with the total cost and needing only to tap “pay” to see an order confirmation and an option to view a receipt. Crucial details (contact, shipping and payment information) will be automatically taken from the customer’s Messenger profile. PayPal and Stripe accounts are used to send payments to the businesses.
Coming soon: Facebook is also working on messages with payments and payments via enhanced Messenger mobile web view.
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/facebook-messenger-buy/173513/?ver=173513X2
What’s Cooking
YouTube Goes Beyond Videos, Becomes More Social
YouTube recently launched the beta version of its Community feature, which is designed to increase engagement as it “gives you a new, simple way to engage with your viewers and express yourself beyond video.”
Through the Community tab, channel owners can text, air live videos, share images and animated GIFs with their audience. Fans get updated on your posts via their Subscription feed on mobile. They can also opt to receive notifications every time you post.
Via YouTube blog
For now, YouTube Community beta is available only to a select group of high-profile video creators, who have also helped develop the tool.
Source: http://marketingland.com/youtube-launches-youtube-community-beta-select-group-video-creators-191235
Tips to Try
Tips On Placing Ads on Videos, Based on New Study
A report on video ads conducted by eMarketer during the first quarter of this year revealed the following type of videos can be the most effective.
Via eMarketer
Long-form video content.
– Ads on long-form video content saw a 95% completion rate, a considerably higher percentage than mid-form and short-form video content.
– Ads on mid-form videos (5 to 10 minutes) delivered an 80% completion rate.
– Ads on short-form videos (under 5 minutes) delivered a 71% completion rate.
Live video.
– One of the one of the biggest video trends of 2016 is live video. Ads associated with live video content delivered a 94% completion rate.
Video on larger screens.
– Ads on larger screens, longer and live content performed better.
Good to Know
Machine Learning X SEO
Machine learning isn’t new, but the tech industry is increasingly becoming more interested in its various applications. As with any innovation, understanding it is essential to determining its impact.
For SEO practitioners, the following are worth knowing for now:
– Some futurists are expecting keywords to have less influence over time. Machine learning allows Google to have a better understanding of content on each site – with or without the use of specific search phrases.
– Panda and Penguin were conducted with help from machine learning systems. As machine learning becomes much more sophisticated, it’s possible for search algorithms to launch updates on their own.
– Machine learning should be seen as a “welcome boon for reputable SEOs” since it aids Google in better identifying authority sites, making quality, user-centric content more important than ever.
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/machine-learning-meets-seo/171864/
SUMMING IT ALL UP
Here are the top takeaways from this week’s SEO news roundup:
What’s Hot
Facebook Messenger Introduces New “Buy Now” Button. Users can now make purchases while on Facebook, without leaving the Messenger app. Also in the works: messages with payments.What’s Cooking
YouTube Goes Beyond Videos, Becomes More Social. Texting, posting live videos and sharing images & GIFs are now possible through YouTube Community, a new feature currently on beta.Tips to Try
Tips On Placing Ads on Videos, Based on New Study. The power of videos has long been proven. But choosing the right type of videos for ads placement can become more effective with new insights from a recent study.Good to Know
Machine Learning X SEO. There’s a lot of buzz about machine learning nowadays. SEO practitioners need to gain a better understanding of it to maximize its impact.