Guide To All The SEO Changes and Updates in 2023
SEO Changes Guide January 2023 Guru’s Guide: ChatGPT for SEO and E-E-A-T
Guru’s SEO changes guide by the top Australian SEO agency experts…. For Google there is no such thing as a slow start to the year!
In 2023 we’ve seen technical SEO be all the buzz, and major updates for on-page SEO content and off-page SEO links from December 2022.
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – January
Guru’s Guide To Bing integrates with ChatGPT
Microsoft just invested around $10 billion to integrate ChatGPT into Bing with an estimated rollout at the time of March 2023. However, Google has directly addressed content written by bots, stating that it has not changed its stance on what constitutes good content – which is that the content should be written for the user not the search engine and should meet guidelines in order to be rewarded (we talk about this further below).
With Google leaving authorship requirements open to interpretation, it is possible that AI generated content could have a place in some industries, however with content fingerprinting on the horizon, it’s a risky strategy to take and not one we would recommend delving into just yet!
Guru’s Guide To E-A-T became E-E-A-T
Google is recognising that there are some situations where what you value most is content produced by someone who has first-hand, life experience on the topic at hand; and some situations where what you want is advice from a qualified professional.
So Google updated their E-A-T, Expertise, Authority & Trust, criteria. They now added “Experience” as a pillar of good content. This brings us to 4 criteria Google looks at when deciding if content should be rewarded in the SERPs – Experience, Expertise, Authority & Trust (E-E-A-T).
An interesting month, a lot to consider, and some in depth insights coming to the OMG blog very soon on all of the above. Watch this space!
Automations and Performance Max
One thing we have already seen in 2023 is the importance of automation in paid search marketing – which is moving faster than expected. This has been illustrated with an average 7% increase in conversion rates in Performance Max (PMax) when comparing last year’s shopping campaigns. Dynamic search ads are also driving higher conversion rates than last year as well.
The adoption rate of PMax has been huge, especially with the 1 click update being mandatory in Australia for a majority of accounts since September:
The key to PMax is through setting up your targeting in the right way to facilitate all the changes Google has integrated for it to be successful.
Apple’s iOS 14.5 Latest Updates
Ever since the Apple iOS 14.5 update, there has been endless doom and gloom about the value driven by Facebook Ads falling off a cliff with targeting becoming more difficult, while costs (if CPM is your metric of choice) has skyrocketed. Let’s take a deeper look at what’s really going on ‘under the hood’.
There is a surprising countertrend that confirms there is no reason to panic and Facebook remains king. Ecommerce marketers and advertisers saw on average a 10% increase in Facebook return on ad spend this month, compared to January 2022, despite those CPMs sitting at almost double year on year for the last few months. And in a surprise update, Meta has brought back all the reporting features it shed post iOS 14.5, including breakdowns for conversions by age, gender, region, placement and platform.
Is video really queen?
Video content has been on the rise for some time now and is a must have for any eCommerce Social Media advertising strategy on just about every platform. Think short-form, vertical and user-generated content. Facebook actually beats TikTok when it comes to short-form video consumption, second only to YouTube. And Instagram is 4th, with a big push for video and the Reels format last year. That push appears to have gone a bit too far. Last week Instagram admitted it over-focused on video in 2022 and is quietly working on restoring balance and bringing photos back. So don’t go all in on video just yet!
TikTok major moves spark curiosity
No Social Media round-up can omit a TikTok update and the platform delivered plenty to write about in 2022, signaling this year will continue the rise and rise of the 6th most popular social platform. In 2022 we saw the release of Photo Mode (Carousels clone), TikTok Stories (IG Stories clone), Search Ads (Google Search ads clone), TikTok music (Spotify competitor) and 10 minute video (YouTube competitor), as well as Shopify and WooCommerce partnerships. Testing, however, shows the platform is still far from ready for most eCommerce advertisers to gain traction. TikTok social ecommerce domination is still to come. Expect major moves in that direction this year and in the meantime – keep testing!
Website Loading Speeds
We often get told in the web world that the speed that our web page loads is critical to the success of our website. But for the average person who knows nothing about writing code or optimising web pages, we are often left wondering what page speed is and why it’s so critical!
The speed your web page loads is important for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: user experience and search engine rankings.
People expect websites to load quickly and will quickly become frustrated if a page takes too long to load. This can lead to increased bounce rates (users leaving the site before it’s fully loaded), and decreased conversions – where users are less likely to make a purchase or complete a desired action on your website.
Another reason why page speed is important is that it can affect search engine rankings. Google and other search engines have stated that page speed is a ranking factor in their algorithms. This means that a faster loading website is more likely to rank higher in search results, which can lead to increased traffic and visibility.
SEO Changes Guide – February 2023
Bard: Google’s Answer To Microsoft Edge & ChatGPT
Every so often, there are new players that enter the market with disruptive technologies, causing shifts in industries and forcing businesses large and small alike, to adapt.
Google & search is no exception to this, recently introducing Bard in response to Microsoft Edge & Bing’s partnership with Chat GPT.
Like ChatGPT, Google’s Bard is an AI-powered conversational service aimed at simplifying complex topics and providing quick and accurate responses. Bard is a combination of Google’s language models and the breadth of knowledge available on the web, providing users with easy-to-understand information. Google has emphasised that Bard is experimental and will be continuously tested for quality and speed.
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – February
At OMG, Australia’s leading digital marketing agency, we are well-versed in online search marketing with the evolving landscape and are constantly learning and testing new AI technologies. With the current environment and our expert opinion we advise against diving headfirst into AI-generated content, as Google may be able to detect it in the future – which may have negative impacts on your rankings.
Microsoft & Open AI’s Partnership – What It Means For Advertisers
Advertisers are exploring ways to further leverage the Bing Network following the news of Microsoft’s partnership with Bing.
We’re excited to see what this partnership may bring, in terms of advancements in AI technology, to Bing’s search algorithms and user experience. Open AI’s expertise in natural language processing and machine learning may help Bing understand search queries better and provide more accurate results. Additionally, the collaboration could bring innovative features to Bing, such as more personalised and conversational search experiences – all big developments for advertisers!
Here are some potential ways that their partnership could change Bing for advertisers:
- Improved relevance and accuracy of search results: Open AI has a reputation for developing advanced natural language processing algorithms that can help Bing deliver more relevant and accurate search results. This could be beneficial for advertisers, as it would enable them to reach a more targeted audience and improve the ROI of their advertising campaigns.
- Integration of AI-powered ad targeting: With access to Open AI’s algorithms, Microsoft could integrate advanced ad targeting capabilities into Bing. This would allow advertisers to target specific audiences based on factors like demographics, interests, and behaviour, improving the effectiveness of their campaigns.
- More intelligent bidding strategies: With advanced AI algorithms at their disposal, Bing could develop more intelligent bidding strategies that take into account a range of factors, including user behaviour and preferences, to ensure that advertisers are getting the best possible return on their ad spend.
Bing and Open AI’s partnership has the potential to challenge Google in the search market with advanced natural language processing capabilities and Microsoft’s resources, benefiting users and advertisers alike. Improved search results and personalisation could result in more effective PPC campaigns. However, Google remains dominant with a long history of innovation and development. It remains to be seen if Bing and Open AI can truly challenge Google’s dominance in the search market.
No one knows exactly how this will progress in the future especially with Google’s announcement of Bard. However, Bing is confident in their product being much more competitive with Google in the coming months and having greater parity with Google in different markets, for the first time in 20 years.
Meta Advantage+ Shopping Campaigns – How to increase conversion rates
Meta recently launched Advantage+ Shopping, a new advertising campaign that aims to help businesses increase their sales, and reach more customers by making it easier to sell their products. The campaign is designed to provide businesses with access to the latest digital marketing tools and resources, enabling them to promote products and services more effectively.
One of the key advantages of the campaign is the ability to use Facebook’s dynamic ads, which allow the advertiser to display products to customers who have previously shown an interest in them. This makes it easier for businesses to reach customers who are more likely to buy their products and can lead to higher conversion rates.
Another feature of the campaign is the ability to use Facebook’s lookalike audiences, which enables advertisers to target customers who are similar to their existing customer base. This can help businesses reach new customers who are more likely to be interested in their products and services.
The Advantage+ Shopping campaign offers businesses a powerful set of digital marketing tools and resources that can help them reach more customers and increase their sales. By leveraging the power of Meta’s advertising platform, businesses can improve their marketing efforts and stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving digital marketplace.
ChatGPT: The Developer’s Ultimate Wingman
The question’s been asked – everyone and their cat has been using ChatGPT to do some really cool things, but how can Web Devs use it?
Fret not, because to help you get started, I’m sharing three examples of how ChatGPT can help SEO and you become a more efficient Dev!
- Debugging: ChatGPT can help debug code by generating potential solutions to common coding issues, such as error messages or unexpected results. This can help developers identify and resolve problems more quickly.
- Code generation: ChatGPT can be trained on various programming languages and can generate code snippets for specific tasks, such as creating a login form, setting up a database, or creating an API endpoint. This can save website developers time and effort, and also provide suggestions for more efficient or optimised code.
- Documentation: ChatGPT can assist with writing documentation, including generating explanations for specific programming concepts, creating tutorials, and writing API reference guides. For instance, this entry that you are reading right now was written completely by ChatGPT!
SEO Changes Guide – March 2023
Google Core Algorithm Update
The SERP landscape has changed drastically over the past year, with numerous algorithm updates. On March 15th, Google announced another core update which will be rolling out over the next two weeks.
While it’s too early to assess the impact of this new core algorithm update, what we can look at are the previous updates:
- Product review update: Rewards articles written by people who have personally tested the product they are reviewing. This update values photos and videos, pros and cons of the products, and comparisons of competing products. Unless your site is a product review site, this update would not have impacted you.
- Link spam update: No longer counts links that Google finds spammy and authority passed through these links are lost. OMG only focuses on building backlinks from high quality sites so as long as you have a natural backlink profile, this update shouldn’t impact your site.
- Helpful content update: Allows Google to detect low-quality content created for search engines and not for users. Focusing on creating and writing high quality content is key here, if you have well-written content that adds value to the user, you would have seen this algorithm update positively impact your rankings.
The goal of Google’s updates are to give users better search results, so focusing on helping users find the answers or products they are looking for will help to protect your rankings whenever there are algorithm updates.
Not sure how to handle your SEO or what you need work on with regards to your search engine optimisation? No problem, just content us today and start improving your rank tomorrow!
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – March
Video Assets In Performance Max
With the push for Performance Max campaigns in 2022/23, we should encourage the use of new video assets to improve results across lead generation and ecommerce Performance Max campaigns.
Missing video assets in PMAX campaigns can result in poor videos being created using the stock images provided.
Why should you add Video to your PMAX Campaign?
- Adding a video increases your asset coverage which ensures the greatest possible campaign performance by “feeding the machine” with the right amount (and variety) of creative assets, which:
- Unlock valuable inventory (more reach)
- Improve machine learning (more efficiency)
- Futureproof your campaign (more long term performance)
- If no video is added, PMAX auto-generates videos for you from images and text, with initial testing having proven that client uploaded videos perform better than the auto-generated versions.
- It’s easy to create a video if you don’t have one – by simply using the Video Creation tool in Google Ads (Asset Library > “+” > Video > Create Video).
How can I add video to my PMAX Campaign?
Edit the Asset Groups of your PMAX campaign and in the video section select a current video from your asset library, YouTube channel or social channels, or create a new video to add in using the Video Creation tool in Google Ads.
There are several reasons why using videos can be beneficial for performance-maximising campaigns in Google Ads. Overall, using videos can be a powerful tool to help you maximise performance in your Google Ads campaigns, especially if you want to increase engagement and reach a wider audience.
Facebook’s Culture Rising: 2023 Trends Report
The “Culture Rising: 2023 Trends Report” by Facebook’s Business team predicts six cultural trends that will shape consumer behaviour and expectations.
These 6 trends include:
- Exploratory Identities: The way we see ourselves defines how we see and engage with the world.
- Refined Relationships: People’s relationships are the very core (if not the definition) of happiness. While this truth remains eternal, the types, shapes and ways we connect are always in flux.
- Assertive Aspirations: Our hopes, dreams and #goals motivate us to keep on keeping on. Whatever the macroenvironment, it’s really not in our nature to dream smaller.
- Lived Values: When we act on our values, we show others what matters to us. People’s values are evolving, along with the dedication to living them.
By understanding how consumers connect with the platforms, small businesses should leverage these trends to connect with customers and create personalised experiences.
Core Web Vitals and Web development
Website builders should pay attention to Core Web Vitals because they are now part of the algorithm used by Google for ranking websites in search results. Websites that perform well on these metrics will likely have a higher chance of ranking higher in search results, which can lead to more traffic and better user engagement.
These metrics are specifically focused on page speed, responsiveness, and visual stability, and they are designed to help website owners and developers create a better user experience for their visitors.
The three Core Web Vitals metrics are:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) – measures loading performance. It looks at the time it takes for the largest piece of content on a web page (such as an image or text block) to become visible to the user.
- First Input Delay (FID) – measures interactivity. It looks at the time it takes for a user to be able to interact with a web page after clicking on a button or link.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) – measures visual stability. It looks at how much the page layout shifts as it loads and measures the frequency and magnitude of unexpected layout shifts.
Google has identified these three metrics as important because they directly impact the user experience.
SEO Changes Guide – April 2023
Google to Release AI-Powered Search Tool
The Google Search landscape is rumoured to have significant changes on the horizon as a response to the challenges posed by Bing & ChatGPT.
‘Project Magi’ is rumored to be a more sophisticated version of Alexa. Users can learn on the fly, as they’re asking questions, not just from how they’ve conversed in the past. This is a significant change – but one of the more considerable changes is how it will help Google facilitate transactions. This update will allow users to buy products they’re searching for without having to leave the platform.
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – April
The update will have implications for business owners and marketers on how they may need to adapt to the ‘Project Magi’ interface. For example, when Google is looking for products to display on Magi, business owners must ask themselves: “How can I optimise my site so my products can be served in search results to be purchased?”. It’s also estimated that Google Magi will mean 25-30% less real estate on SERPS, which further enforces a ‘winner takes all’ environment, meaning the top 3 results will be more critical than ever.
Ultimately, marketers will need to keep a close eye on the update upon launch to assess all the variables and possibilities to enhance their presence in search (and of course, we’ll keep you updated on this!)
Rewriting The Script
Are you familiar with Google Ads scripts?
If not, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Simply put, a script is a piece of code that can instruct Google Ads to perform various tasks in the background to support campaign growth. They can export reports, automate tasks, and even enable ads for products in real-time – like promoting suncream when the sun’s out!
Over the past few months, we’ve been working hard to level up our library of scripts, particularly in the backend of Performance Max campaigns.
The result has been an extra layer of digital wizardry in many of our client’s campaigns, improving visibility, efficiency, and performance. We’re talking an additional $25,000 in revenue for one client alone just by surfacing forgotten products from Google’s algorithms!
Unlock New Opportunities: Leveraging Meta Instant Forms for Lead Generation on Social Platforms
Meta Instant Forms is a lead generation strategy that captures prospect information from web forms embedded in social media posts or ads. These forms are highly customisable and allow you to segment your audience into actionable groups that are more likely to convert. The strategy helps maximise ROI, build relationships with potential customers over time, and unlock new opportunities in lead generation on social media platforms.
To generate quality leads using Instant Forms, we need to clarify the purpose of contact and highlight the sign-up benefits, manage customer expectations regarding follow-up, select targeted, pre-filled questions, avoid requesting unnecessary information, and utilise lead filtering.
Used in conjunction with a funneled approach, lead generation is an essential service offering for lead gen and e-Commerce clients.
Designing the Future: Navigating UX in the Web3 Era
The evolution of the internet is transitioning from Web2 to Web3, and with this shift comes a demand for skilled UX/UI designers. While the Web3 space may seem patchy and complex, it is undoubtedly a part of our future, and designers are facing new tasks and challenges in this emerging landscape.
One of the critical challenges for Web3 designers is ensuring a smooth entry for new users to Web3 products. As Web3 introduces decentralised technologies and blockchain-based systems, designers must create user-friendly interfaces that simplify the onboarding process and make it accessible to a broader audience. This may involve designing intuitive and informative tutorials, straightforward navigation, and seamless interactions that guide users through the complexities of Web3 applications.
Web3 designers must create visually appealing interfaces that capture users’ attention and provide an enticing experience. Explosive UI, characterised by dynamic animations, unique visual elements, and engaging interactions, has become a prerequisite for Web3 products to stand out in the competitive landscape.
As Web3 continues to shape the future of the internet, skilled designers who can adapt and meet these challenges will play a crucial role in shaping the success of Web3 products and services.
SEO Changes Guide – May 2023
Google Ads Benchmarks: Key Trends and Insights for Every Industry
If you’ve been investing in Google Ads and want to know how to optimise your ad spend, we’ve broken down some key takeaways from our own experience and insights from a Wordstream report analysing over 17k ad campaigns.
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – May
Key trends: the big picture
The overall takeaway is that while most industries have found an increase in costs, search advertising is still one of the best tools for your business. It is more important than ever to understand how your search campaigns are performing.
Findings from the report:
- Click-through rate (CTR) increased YoY for 22 out of 24 industries.
- Cost per click (CPC) increased year over year (YOY) for 14 industries.
- Conversion rate (CVR) decreased YoY for most industries.
- Cost per lead (CPL) increased YoY for all industries but two (Automotive Sales and Beauty and Personal Care).
In the OMG MCC we have over 800 live accounts with a spend of over $55M (Apr 1st 2022 – Mar 31st 2023) +24% YoY. We can confirm that there has been a huge increase in competition with increasing costs. However, there has been an increase in Click through rate.
- Avg CTR increase by 5.57% compared to the 3% average
- Avg CPC increased by 3.15% compared to the 5% average
- Avg CPL increased by 40.58% compared to the 20% average
Microsoft and Google Ads benchmarks for every industry
If you are running ads on Microsoft’s Bing and Google – you want to make sure you are doing things correctly and not wasting money.
Between increased inflation, increased competition and economic uncertainty, we’ve found that understanding how your search campaigns are performing, compared to your competition has never been more important than before.
The average CPC for legal services is very low compared to our accounts where it comes in at a very high $77, this was actually a decrease of 1.59% compared to the previous year.
In the automotive parts sector, we found the average cost per lead to be $31.85 up 20% YoY, however, this was in the prestige sector of Motorsport where ticket items are at a higher cost.
Our beauty and personal care CTR’s were at an all time high of 10.64% compared to the industry average of 6.87%
We also crushed the avg conversion rates in the finance sector coming in at 19.38%
So how can we improve these ever-challenging metrics that have such an impact on your campaigns?
Average click-through rate
There are a multitude of things you should and can do to increase click through rates (CTR).
- Research what your audience searches for
- Think about the searches at different stages of the buying cycle
- Try rationale messaging for those in-market and emotional messaging for those out of market
- Use AI tools to A/B test messaging
Average cost per click
How do you lower your cost per click (CPC) ads? There are plenty of ways, but the best place to begin is to increase your quality score! Two key ways to do this are by making sure to include the keyword within the ad itself, and to make sure the ad is as relevant as possible to the landing page.
Just keep in mind, there are a few things outside of your control that might impact your quality score: keyword competition and expected click-through-rate.
Average conversion rate
Conversion rates (CR) are hard to product and are reliant on a number of variables, some of which you don’t control.
Firstly, you should make sure all your Google Ads metrics are in line or above the benchmarks, look at improving your keywords, ads, landing pages and quality score.
One thing we always so though, its up to marketing to generate the correct traffic to the website, its then up to the website, the product, and the pricing to get the sale. So, these should be other areas where research has been carried out and improvements made.
Average cost per lead
Cost per lead (CPL) is a metric that most businesses concentrate on without understanding or looking at the bigger picture.
Realistically this is a KPI that leads to a bigger goal such as cost per sale (CPA), as well as return on ad spend (ROAS).
As a business if you want to go even deeper then consider the lifetime value (LTV) of a customer and add that to the equation. 3:1 is said to be a good CPA / LTV ratio.
CPL is a metric you should be looking to lower, however, on a good keyword you may have higher competition which will see you pay more.
This shouldn’t distract you though, if you convert at a higher rate and have a good LTV on a customer that buys the product you will still be a happy business owner.
What these search ads benchmarks mean for your business
There will hopefully always be an audience that is interested in your product and paid search is just one area where you can capture their attention and show your products, what are the other things you should consider?
- Know your audience
- Do competitor research
- Always have out of market Brand campaigns
- Test every channel to see what works for in-market
- Always test your creative and messaging
- Make sure your tracking is in place and working
SEO Changes Guide – June 2023
Inside the Instagram Algorithm: How Your Feed Is Curated
We wanted to share some interesting insights from a recent video posted by Instagram CEO, Adam Mosseri, where he explains how the Instagram algorithm works and what factors it favors for posts, reels, and stories.
According to Mosseri, the algorithm is designed to show users content that aligns with their interests. It takes into account various factors like the accounts they follow, the posts they engage with, and the types of content they interact with the most. He also mentioned that the algorithm undergoes regular updates to enhance the overall user experience. Instagram aims to show users more of the content they love while helping them spend less time on the app.
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – June
Here are some key takeaways from Mosseri’s post:
- The Instagram algorithm strives to display content that’s relevant to your interests.
- Continuous updates are made to improve user experience.
- There’s no magic formula for getting more views on Instagram.
If you’re eager to increase the visibility of your posts, here are a few things you can try:
- Share high-quality content, such as well-lit photos / videos, accompanied by interesting captions.
- Utilise relevant hashtags to connect with people who share similar interests.
- Engage with other users by liking, commenting, and following their posts, which can lead to increased visibility in their feeds.
- Consider running ads if you’re serious about growing your following. This enables you to target specific demographics and interests.
By following these tips, you can boost your chances of reaching a wider audience on Instagram.
Apart from Mosseri’s insights, a few other factors affect how your posts are ranked in the Instagram algorithm:
- Your location: If you’re posting about something relevant to your location, it’s more likely to be seen by people in your area.
- The time of day: Posting during peak times, like during the day or evening, can increase the likelihood of your post being seen by more people.
- Device type: Instagram considers the device you’re using. Posts viewed on mobile devices tend to receive more visibility than those viewed on desktop computers.
Understanding how the Instagram algorithm operates can help you make informed decisions about the content you share and how you engage with others. This knowledge can significantly improve your chances of reaching more people and growing your Instagram following.
Happy posting and engaging!
Australian Consumers Want More Control Over Their Personal Data
We came across a fascinating report that sheds light on the growing concerns of Australian consumers regarding the use of their personal data. According to Twilio’s recent findings, 84% of the surveyed Australian adults expressed concern about their personal data being used without their consent.
One striking revelation from the report is that many consumers are unaware of how their personal data is being utilised. Surprisingly, only 38% of respondents claimed to understand how businesses are leveraging their personal information.
These findings clearly indicate that Australian consumers are seeking more control over their personal data. They want to be well-informed about how their data is used and have the ability to choose who can access it.
- Protection from Unwanted Usage: Consumers are apprehensive about their personal information being utilized by businesses in undisclosed or unapproved ways.
- Security Concerns: The fear of data breaches and the misuse of personal data for fraudulent activities is a significant factor driving the demand for greater control.
- Mitigating Discrimination: Consumers are wary of the potential for businesses to employ personal data to discriminate against them, leading to unfair treatment in areas such as loans or job applications.
So, what can be done to address these concerns and provide consumers with more control over their data?
Businesses play a crucial role in promoting transparency by openly communicating their data collection and usage practices. By allowing consumers to opt out of data collection or use, businesses can empower individuals to make informed decisions.
On an individual level, consumers can also take steps to protect their personal data. This includes being mindful of the information they share online and implementing strong passwords and security measures to safeguard their devices.
Now, let’s take a moment to consider the positive aspects of sharing data:
Sharing data can actually assist you in finding what you’re looking for by enabling relevant and personalized ads tailored to your interests.
When you willingly share data with a business, it helps them understand your preferences and interests better. Consequently, they can provide you with ads and recommendations that are more likely to align with your needs.
Remember, the decision to share personal data ultimately rests with you. It’s essential to weigh the potential benefits and risks before making a choice.
We hope this information helps you navigate the complex landscape of data privacy and make informed decisions that align with your values and priorities.
SEO Changes Guide – July 2023
Navigating Unconfirmed Reports on Google’s Latest Algorithm Update
As of July 2023, the digital landscape remains abuzz with speculation about potential updates to Google’s search algorithms. While no official announcement has been released by Google at this time, there are intriguing, albeit unconfirmed, reports that suggest significant changes might be underway to enhance the quality of search results.
Rumored modifications include an increased emphasis on authoritative content, a possible decrease in the ranking of lower-quality material, and a more personalised approach to presenting search results. Should these reports hold true, they indicate Google’s ongoing commitment to refining user experience and result accuracy.
It is essential to bear in mind that these reports currently lack official validation from Google. Nevertheless, the potential implications warrant prudent consideration, especially for website owners and digital marketers seeking to optimise their online presence.
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – July
Many are concerned about how a prospective algorithm update could impact their website’s visibility and ranking.
Here are several proactive steps to consider:
- Elevate the Quality and Relevance of Content: Ensuring your website hosts high-quality, informative content tailored to your target audience is paramount. By offering valuable insights, you position your site as an authoritative resource, potentially aligning with Google’s anticipated emphasis.
- Strategic Use of Relevant Keywords: Strive to incorporate pertinent keywords naturally throughout your website’s content. However, avoid overstuffing, as Google’s algorithms increasingly prioritise user-friendly and contextually relevant text.
- Cultivate Quality Backlinks: Building meaningful backlinks from reputable websites can signal to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. Focus on fostering genuine connections within your niche community.
- Consistent Fresh Content: Regularly updating your website with fresh, engaging content showcases your commitment to staying relevant and providing up-to-date information to visitors. This habit may resonate positively with potential algorithm changes.
By proactively implementing these best practices, you can position your website to be in optimal shape, regardless of algorithm updates. Remember, Google’s primary goal is to enhance user experience by offering the most relevant and valuable results, and your dedication to providing exceptional content aligns with this overarching objective.
Social Media Buzz Down Under: July 2023 Unveils Exciting Platform Upgrades!
In the fast-paced world of social media, July 2023 has delivered a wave of thrilling developments and features across various social platforms in Australia. Let’s dive into the latest updates that are reshaping the way we connect, communicate, and create on our favourite social channels:
Instagram Takes Personalisation to the Next Level:
- Threads: Step into a more intimate realm with Instagram’s freshly launched app, Threads. This text-based wonderland allows users to privately communicate with close mates, sharing photos, videos, and messages in a secure environment.
- Broadcast Channels: Empowering creators, Instagram opens the gateway to Broadcast Channels, enabling them to share live videos, engage followers with voice messages and polls, and forge stronger connections.
Twitter Unleashes the Power of Expression:
- Tweet Highlight Tab: A captivating addition to user profiles, the Tweet Highlight Tab empowers users to showcase their finest tweets in a dedicated column, bringing prominence to their most engaging content.
- Ample Space for Creativity: Twitter has expanded the tweet character limit to a whopping 25,000 characters, granting users more room for creative expression and in-depth thoughts.
- Extended Tweet Edit Timeframe: In a move hailed by users, Twitter has extended the timeframe for editing tweets to a generous one hour, allowing for thoughtful revisions and reducing those pesky typos.
TikTok Enhances Engagement and Creativity:
- Interactive Ad Add-Ons: Advertisers can now add interactive elements to their TikTok ads, fostering engagement with features like voting and countdown stickers, opening new avenues for creativity.
- Sounds on Desktop: TikTok now enables users to add captivating sounds to their videos, even when uploading via desktop, adding an extra layer of excitement to the creative process.
YouTube Tests the Visual Impact of Thumbnails:
- A/B Testing for Video Thumbnails: YouTube is rolling out A/B testing for video thumbnails, giving creators the power to compare and optimise visuals, ensuring they deliver the most eye-catching and enticing options.
WhatsApp Channels a Feed-Like Experience:
- Feed-Like Channels: WhatsApp embraces a new era of updates with the introduction of feed-like channels. Creators, brands, and organisations can now share text, photos, videos, and other captivating content, creating a dynamic experience for their audience.
With social media platforms continually evolving Down Under, the landscape promises to be a hotbed of innovation and excitement. As we move forward, anticipate even more cutting-edge features and updates to elevate your social media journey. Stay tuned for the next chapter of social media’s thrilling evolution!
SEO Changes Guide – August 2023
Google’s August 2023 Core Update: Important Insights
It is official! Google has finally announced its much-anticipated August 2023 core update, currently being rolled out. This marks the second core update within the year, succeeding the March 2023 release.
Core updates represent substantial shifts in Google’s search algorithm, aimed at enhancing the caliber of search outcomes. Their influence encompasses all forms of content, across diverse languages and global regions.
While the granular details of algorithmic adjustments introduced in each core update remain undisclosed, Google has indicated a central emphasis on refining the relevance of search results within the August 2023 update.
In practical terms, pages that exhibit a strong alignment with users’ queries are poised to ascend in the search results hierarchy. Conversely, those deemed less pertinent may witness a decline in ranking.
It’s important to note that core updates can lead to notable fluctuations in the search rankings of specific pages. Such fluctuations arise from the algorithm’s ongoing assimilation and evolution.
SEO Changes and Updates Guide – August
If you see a drop in your search rankings after the August 2023 core update, do not panic.
There are a few things you can do to improve your chances of ranking higher in the future:
- Make sure your content is high-quality and relevant to your target audience.
- Use keywords strategically throughout your content.
- Create backlinks to your site from high-quality websites.
- Keep your content up-to-date.
By adhering to these guidelines, you can increase your chances of ranking well within Google’s search results, even in the aftermath of the August 2023 core update.
Consider the following additional aspects regarding the August 2023 core update:
- The rollout is anticipated to be completed over a span of up to two weeks.
- The update’s impact may vary based on the specific website or page.
- Absolute certainty in improving rankings post-update remains elusive.
- The most effective approach to boosting rankings centers on generating superior content that resonates with your target audience.
For any inquiries related to the August 2023 core update, feel free to reach out to our in-house OMG SEO experts. We’re here to assist.
Experiential Marketing: A Guide to Creating Memorable Experiences
Experiential marketing? It’s not just a fancy term – it’s the secret ingredient to creating memorable experiences for consumers. Imagine developing connections that go beyond traditional advertising and create lasting relationships.
Experiential marketing can take many forms, such as:
- Pop-up Stores: Strategically placed in bustling, high traffic areas, these temporary retail spaces offer platforms for product unveilings, experimental concept trials, and personalised customer interactions.
- Events: From vibrant music festivals and concerts to informative product showcases and educational workshops, events serve as immersive platforms that amplify brand engagement.
- Activations: Brief yet impactful, activation campaigns are designed to create a buzz and generate excitement. They may take place in various locations such as shopping centres, sporting events or even airports.
- Digital Engagement: Harnessing the vast potential of social media, experiential marketing harnesses interactive content and personalised engagements to connect with customers on a personal level, build relationships and drive sales.
Experiential marketing is a powerful way to connect with customers and build relationships. It is a more effective way to reach consumers than traditional advertising, and it can help businesses to stand out from the competition.
Here are some of the benefits of experiential marketing:
- Increased Brand Awareness and Recognition: By nurturing affirmative, enduring brand associations, experiential marketing propels brand visibility to more elevated heights.
- Intensified Customer Engagement: Paving the way for meaningful customer-brand interactions, experiential marketing helps improve levels of engagement significantly.
- Increased Sales: Experiential marketing can help to increase sales by creating a desire for the brand’s products or services.
- Enhanced Customer Loyalty: By fostering genuine, personalised connections, experiential marketing can help to enhance customer loyalty.
If you are looking for a way to connect with your customers on a deeper level and build relationships that go beyond traditional advertising, then experiential marketing is a great option.
Below are some strategic tips for crafting impactful experiential marketing campaigns:
- Strategic Goals: Set the campaign’s overarching objectives clearly. Are you aiming to amplify brand visibility, enrich consumer engagement, or catalyse lead generation?
- Target Audience: Identify the target demographic for your campaign and tailor your initiatives to resonate with their interests and needs.
- Memorable Experience: Create a memorable experience that will stick in the minds of your customers long after the event’s conclusion.
- Measure Results: Rigorously analyse the campaign’s outcomes to see what works and what doesn’t. Turn those insights into strategies for future experiential marketing campaigns.
Experiential marketing is a powerful tool that can help businesses to connect with customers on a deeper level and build relationships that go beyond traditional advertising. If you are looking for a way to create memorable experiences that will leave a lasting impression on your customers, then experiential marketing is a great option.
Social Media Platforms Are Constantly Evolving with New Features
Social media platforms are always adding new features to keep users engaged.
Here are some of the latest updates from Instagram, Threads, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok:
Instagram:
- Translations for broadcasts: Instagram is working on a feature that will allow users to translate broadcasts into different languages.
- AI summary for DMs: Instagram is also working on a feature that will use AI to summarize long DM conversations.
- Voice message playback speed: Users can now change the playback speed of voice messages.
- Threads chronological following feed: Threads, Instagram’s standalone messaging app, is getting a chronological following feed.
- Threads post translations: Threads is also getting a post translation feature.
- Threads notification filter: Threads is getting an advanced notification filter.
- Threads desktop version: Instagram is considering launching a desktop version of Threads.
Twitter:
- Video downloads: Twitter is now allowing users to download videos, but only with a Twitter Blue subscription.
- 50% off ad packages: Twitter is also offering a 50% discount on ad packages.
LinkedIn:
- AI writing tool: LinkedIn is working on an AI tool that will help users write posts.
- AI assistant: LinkedIn is also working on an AI assistant that will help users with tasks such as finding jobs, connecting with people, and managing their profiles.
TikTok:
- Text-only posts: TikTok is now allowing users to post text-only posts.
These are just a few of the new features and updates that are being worked on by social media platforms. It will be interesting to see which of these features are released and how they are used by users.
How will these new features impact social media users?
The new features and updates that are being worked on by social media platforms are likely to have a significant impact on how users interact with these platforms. For example, the ability to translate broadcasts on Instagram will make it easier for people from all over the world to follow and participate in broadcasts. The AI message summary for DMs on Instagram will help users to quickly catch up on important messages. And the ability to change the playback speed of voice messages on Instagram will give users more control over how they listen to voice messages.
The new features and updates on Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok are also likely to have a significant impact on how users interact with these platforms. For example, the ability to download videos on Twitter (with a Twitter Blue subscription) will make it easier for users to save videos to watch later. And the 50% discount on ad packages on Twitter is likely to attract more businesses to advertise on the platform.
Overall, the new features and updates that are being worked on by social media platforms are likely to make these platforms more user-friendly and engaging. It will be interesting to see how these features are used by users and how they impact the way we use social media.
Now that you read our SEO changes guide, and you know the complete evolution of SEO in 2023, you should have a better feel for what you should be focusing on.
