This week at SEOPartner, we’re sharing: SEO updates that can deliver significant impact to your results, exciting changes in the online marketplace to watch out for, good-to-know studies and information, and tips to try based on recent findings.
Test the power of live updating pages. Use an updated SEO checklist to create or assess a new website platform. Know which key metric that Google AdWords is about to remove soon. These and more are just some of the recent releases that are currently making the online marketing space abuzz.
What’s Hot
Live-Updating AMPs Now Available for Testing
Via AMP Project
Would you like your viewers to consume new information as it is available on your page without having to refresh it?
The Accelerated Mobile Pages Project announced live-updating AMP is now available for beta testing. Initially designed for news, AMPs is now used for other content such as e-commerce, travel and recipes. Those interested to try out the beta version may register at <amp-live-list>.
Google has also started showing AMPs in its organic search results. AMP results (designated by the lightning bolt icon) will be seen alongside non-AMP page results. Will this lead to ranking changes? It’s not intended to, says Google, but they do highlight faster end-to-end user experience – something that AMP content delivers.
Sources: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/live-updating-amps-now-available-beta-testing/170012 and https://www.searchenginejournal.com/amps-surfaced-via-blue-links-googles-organic-search/169797.
Instagram Introduces New Stories Feature
Via Instagram blog
Instagram’s 500 million users can now explore Stories, a brand-new feature that enables the creation of slideshows composed of images and videos. A key characteristic of these slideshows is the fact that they will disappear from the platform after 24 hours.
Sound familiar? The concept of the disappearing content is something that users of Snapchat Stories know very well — and Instagram users will now be able to get the same experience, because they are essentially very much alike.
Here are the top things you need to know about Instagram Stories:
– Users will see colored rings around other users’ profile pictures on top of their feeds. When you tap on those rings, the story will begin playing in full screen.
– Each story lasts only 10 seconds.
– You can add drawings or text on the images and videos.
– Stories can be set to private, or shared with friends or the public.
– Instagram users won’t be able to like or comment on the stories.
– The stories will disappear from the user’s profile page and feed after 24 hours.
For now, Instagram Stories is not yet equipped for monetization through advertising, but if social media trends are any indication, it’s quite likely that businesses and brands will soon be able to utilize this new feature to boost their online presence and connect better with their target markets.
Source:https://www.searchenginejournal.com/instagram-stories-launches/169914/?ver=169914X3
What’s Cooking
Google AdWords Set to Retire Key Metric by September
Screenshot via Google Adwords blog
Converted clicks is a metric that has been a popular among Google AdWords users. However, the search engine giant has announced that the metric will be retired on Sept. 21. Google has rationalized this move by saying that the metric is already outdated.
After September 21, the data found on the Conversions column becomes the default measurement tool of the actions taken on your website after a user clicks on your ad.
What’s the difference between Converted clicks and Conversions? The former simply measures any action taken on a website after an ad is clicked. With Conversions, AdWords measures the number of times an ad click led to a desired action like a customer making a purchase.
Google has assured users that Conversions offers everything that Converted clicks offers along with other features like cross-device conversions and store visits.
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-adwords-eliminate-converted-clicks-september-21st/169370/.
Tips to Try
Today’s SEO Must-Haves for New Website Platforms
If you are aiming to improve your site’s online presence, you need to equip it with today’s SEO requirements. There are certain elements that are mandatory to ensure optimum website performance. Others are optional but highly encouraged for boosting organic rankings. Based on the guidelines provided by Search Engine Land, here is a checklist we have prepared for your reference:
Good to Know
The Impact of Real-Time Data on SEO
Google Analytics mobile app image via Google Analytics blog
Real-time data (RTD), defined as “information delivered immediately after collection,” has a huge effect on SEO. Google gives plus points to websites known to release information first, so using RTD can significantly boost your site ranking.
RTD can also have a huge impact on your social channels. By optimizing your social media content based on real-time data, your posts can receive higher interactions and drive more visits to your sites.
Here are a few ways to use RTD to boost your SEO:
– Identify hot news in your niche. Make your content more relevant when you incorporate these trending topics.
– Determine the best time to publish your content to make it more visible to your target audience.
– Hone in to information about that’s working for you and which areas you need to improve.
– Build and establish a fan base and acquire more end users.
Source: https://www.semrush.com/blog/how-real-time-factors-influence-seo/
SUMMING IT ALL UP
Here are the top takeaways from this week’s SEO news roundup:
What’s Hot
Live-Updating AMPs Now Available for Testing. AMPs deliver faster end user experience, which Google favors.Instagram Introduces New Stories Feature. Content available for only 24 hours create a unique level of urgency and engagement.
What’s Cooking
Google AdWords Set to Retire Key Metric by September. Conversions column is now the default ad response measurement tool.Tips to Try
Today’s SEO Must-Haves for New Website Platforms. This checklist is an easy reference on necessary (& nice-to-have) elements for optimizing your website today.Good to Know
The Impact of Real-Time Data on SEO. Harnessing the power of real-life data can boost your SEO in a way like never before.