What you need to know – October 7, 2024 Update

Hello everyone! Welcome to our lovingly curated list of the best digital marketing and business news that we think you should know about from the past week. There may also be a sprinkling of general news and commentary that we find to be interesting or just fun.

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First, let’s focus on something really interesting, funny, and maybe even a little bit useful. Ever thought about hosting your own podcast? Well, now it’s easier than ever thanks to Google. People are turning to Google’s study software, “Google Research,” to create fully AI-generated podcasts. It’s perfect for those who want to produce content without the hassle of actually recording themselves. But while it may be a dream for content creators, it also raises questions about the future of originality in audio content. Should you care? Well, I’ll leave you with this… Someone just fed it the words “poop” and “fart” as source material, and got over nine hilarious minutes of original content where the two AI voices analyzed what this might mean. Click here to read more.

Marketing and Business Growth News

Google’s Reign in Search Ads Faces a New Challenger For over a decade, Google has been the king of search ads, but its dominance is now under serious threat. By 2025, its share is expected to drop below 50%, largely due to rising competition from Amazon, TikTok, and AI startups like Perplexity. With more platforms allowing advertisers to tap into new search ad opportunities, Google’s grip is weakening. If you’re in digital marketing, diversifying your ad strategies could be crucial.

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Google Puts Ads in AI Summaries: What You Need to Know Get ready to see more ads in your AI-generated search results. Google has officially rolled out ads within their AI summaries, adding yet another revenue stream while still keeping AI handy for users. This shift will allow advertisers to get more visibility, but it could also raise concerns about how “organic” these search results truly are. If you care about SEO or run online ads, this move could significantly impact your marketing strategies.

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OpenAI Breaks Records with Largest VC Round in History OpenAI (The company behind AI behemoth ChatGPT) just raised an astronomical amount of money, breaking the record for the largest venture capital round of all time. With a focus on bolstering AI’s role in both personal and professional realms, this funding means they are poised to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence further than ever before. Why should you care? If you’re in marketing or business, this could shape the future of AI-powered tools that you might soon rely on.

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Google Tightens the Screws with New Spam Policy Updates Google has updated its spam policies, cracking down harder on tactics that some marketers use to game the system. This means sites need to be even more cautious with their SEO practices to avoid penalties. If you’re involved in digital marketing, understanding these new rules will be crucial for keeping your site from falling into the spam category and potentially getting buried in search results.

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SEO in 2025: Does Content Length Really Matter? As we head into 2025, the age-old debate of “does size matter?” continues—but in the world of SEO, it’s about content length. Recent studies suggest that while long-form content can be beneficial, it’s the depth and quality of information that really counts. So, if you’re worried about word count, focus more on how much value you’re actually delivering to your audience. If you care about rankings, this is something you can’t afford to ignore.

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SEO’s All Grown Up, But Have SEO Specialists? SEO has matured, but the same can’t be said for some in the industry. This insightful reflection on how SEO has evolved underscores the importance of staying updated with best practices. The takeaway? If you’re not evolving with the times, your SEO efforts are probably lagging behind. So, it’s time for specialists to grow up and move beyond outdated strategies.

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Meta’s Threads Tips: How to Grow Your Presence Meta is dropping gems on how to grow your presence on Threads, their latest social platform. From tapping into your existing Instagram following to creating more engaging content, Meta is making it clear that it’s possible to build a following quickly on this platform—if you do it right. Why care? If you’re looking to diversify your social media strategy, this might be your next big opportunity.

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YouTube Shorts Are Getting Longer—3 Minutes Long, To Be Exact YouTube Shorts, the popular short-form video feature, is about to get a little longer. Now extending to 3 minutes, this update is great news for content creators looking for a bit more breathing room without going full-length. It also comes with some shiny new features, making Shorts even more competitive in the world of bite-sized content. For content creators, this opens up more possibilities for storytelling and engagement.

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Google Adds Videos to Knowledge Panels: What This Means for You Google is spicing up its Knowledge Panels by adding video carousels to complement the usual images and text. This is a big deal for businesses and creators because it gives users a more dynamic, engaging way to learn about you right from the search page. If you have a strong video presence, this could be a game-changer for your brand visibility.

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Pinterest Unveils AI-Powered Tools for Ad Imagery Pinterest is rolling out new AI tools to help advertisers create more engaging product imagery. By harnessing generative AI, brands can now produce high-quality visuals at a fraction of the time and cost. This is a win for small businesses looking to level up their ad game. If you advertise on Pinterest, this is something you should keep on your radar to stay ahead of the curve.

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Google’s Advice on When to Use “Noindex” vs. Canonical Tags To index or not to index, that is the question! Google recently offered guidance on when to use “noindex” tags versus canonical tags. For website owners and SEO specialists, getting this right can mean the difference between staying visible in search results or accidentally burying important content. If you manage a website, knowing the ins and outs of these tags is crucial for your SEO success.

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The Future of Keyword Targeting: A New Era in SEO As AI and natural language processing evolve, keyword targeting is undergoing significant changes. The future may no longer be about specific words but more about capturing intent and context. If your SEO strategy is keyword-heavy, this shift could mean it’s time to rethink your approach and align with how search engines are now interpreting content.

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Google’s TCPL: The New Way to Pay for Leads Google is testing a new metric for advertisers: Target Cost per Lead (TCPL). This metric aims to give advertisers more control over their spending by allowing them to set the price they’re willing to pay for each lead. For businesses looking to optimize their ad budget, this could be a game-changer in balancing cost with lead quality.

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Google Lens Can Now Search the Web with a Video Google Lens is about to get even cooler with a new feature that lets you search the web using a video! Just imagine—no more struggling to describe that product in a search bar; now you can simply show the video, and Google will do the rest. If you’re into visual search, this new feature might just revolutionize how you browse and shop online.

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Google Is Pushing UGC: What It Means for Search Results User-generated content (UGC) is playing a bigger role in Google’s search results, according to Danny Sullivan. Google is increasingly favoring reviews, testimonials, and other forms of UGC to offer more authentic search experiences. If you’re in the game of SEO, incorporating UGC into your strategy could be a smart move to boost visibility.

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General Business and Economy

Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says U.S. Economy is Still Solid According to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the U.S. economy is in “solid shape,” with the Fed working to ensure it stays that way. While inflation remains a concern, Powell is optimistic about managing growth while keeping inflation in check. Economic stability impacts everything from your investments to your job security, so it’s good to keep an eye on the Fed’s moves.

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Are We Entering Another Roaring ’20s? UBS Thinks So Economists at UBS are predicting that we could be heading into a new “Roaring ’20s” era, with low unemployment and strong growth. However, it comes with its share of risks, especially with inflation lurking in the background. Why should you care? This forecast could shape the economic landscape for the next decade, influencing everything from job markets to business growth opportunities.

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