Weekly Digital Marketing News Round-Up 7th February 2025

We hope you are in good health. Here are some of the major SEO news updates of the week that you need to know:

Search Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine

Google Warns Recipe Sites: Excessive Scrolling & Hidden ‘Jump to Recipe’ Buttons Are Problematic

The Google Quality Raters Guidelines update on January 23rd explicitly introduced a new section for recipe sites. The guidelines now state that it is not favorable for recipe websites to require users to do significant scrolling or make it difficult to find the “jump to recipe” button. This update reflects Google’s emphasis on user experience and accessibility regarding recipe content. By making it easier for users to access the desired recipe quickly, recipe websites can improve their chances of ranking higher in search results and providing a better user experience overall.

Google’s Gary Illyes Says Don’t Update Lastmod Date With Copyright Date Changes 

In a rant on Bluesky, Gary Illyes from Google expressed his frustration regarding individuals who update the last mod date in their sitemap files for minor changes, such as updating the copyright line in their footers from 2024 to 2025. According to Gary, this kind of change does not significantly impact the page’s content and does not warrant an update to the last date. This highlights the importance of making substantial changes to a webpage’s content to justify updating its lastmod date in sitemap files, ensuring accurate indexing and crawling by search engines like Google.

Google’s John Muller Says Embedded Resources Are Cached For A While

When you embed resources on your web pages, such as images, videos, or scripts, Google Search can cache these embedded resources for a longer time than other parts of the page. This caching mechanism helps improve your website’s overall loading speed and performance. In 2020, Google introduced a new feature in the Google Search Console URL Inspection tool, allowing webmasters to view and analyze these embedded resources more efficiently.  John Muller from Google confirmed on the Bluesky platform that these embedded resources are indeed cached for a significant duration, further emphasizing the importance of optimizing them for improved website performance.

Google Launches Product Studio AI Features to Google Business Profiles Product

Google has introduced a new feature called Product Studio AI to its Google Business Profiles products. This innovative tool allows business owners to enhance their local Google Business Profile by changing the background scene of their products. With the help of Product Studio, a generative AI tool, users can create captivating and engaging imagery to showcase their products effectively. This feature enables businesses to present their products appealingly, catching the attention of potential customers and enhancing their online presence. By leveraging the power of AI, Google continues to provide businesses with valuable tools to optimize their digital marketing strategies and drive growth.

New Google Maps Update Adds ‘Related Places’ Carousel to Enhance Navigation

Google has introduced a new feature to its maps called “Related places.” This innovative addition displays a map with a carousel below it, showcasing a selection of related places. This feature provides users a convenient way to explore nearby locations and discover new places of interest. Whether looking for restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, or tourist attractions, the “Related places” map unit offers a visually appealing and user-friendly interface to assist you in your search. With this new feature, Google continues to enhance its mapping capabilities, making it easier for users to navigate and explore their surroundings.

Google Tests a New Filter for its Shopping Results in the Mobile Search Results

Google is continually evolving its search results to provide a better user experience, and its latest test involves a new filter for shopping results in mobile searches. Rather than displaying a single filter menu, Google first shows a product image carousel line, followed by a filter menu for additional search filters. This new approach allows users to see visual representations of the products before applying any filters, making it easier to narrow down their options. By incorporating images and filters in the search results, Google aims to enhance the shopping experience for mobile users and help them find exactly what they’re looking for more efficiently.

Social Media Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine

YouTube Analytics Update: Device-Type Insights Now in Audience Tab

YouTube has announced an update to its Analytics feature, providing creators with more prominent device data. This enhancement allows content creators to better understand their audience’s viewing habits and tailor their content accordingly. With easy access to device-type data, creators can gain valuable insights into how audiences consume their videos. This information can help them make informed decisions about their content’s format, length, and style to optimize viewer engagement. Additionally, device usage data plays a crucial role in shaping video recommendations, as YouTube’s algorithm considers viewers’ preferred devices when suggesting content. This update empowers creators to make data-driven decisions and deliver a more personalized viewing experience for their audience.

PPC Related News and Updates from Major Search Engine

New Google Ad Quality Update Focuses on User Satisfaction and Navigation

Google announced that it has implemented several updates to improve the quality of its ads. One of the key changes includes better measurements to understand the user navigation experience. By analyzing how users interact with ads and their subsequent landing pages, Google aims to determine whether or not users will be satisfied with the ad experience. This update is crucial in ensuring users have a positive and seamless browsing experience. By prioritizing user satisfaction, Google aims to provide relevant and high-quality ads that align with user preferences, ultimately enhancing the overall advertising experience on its platform.

Google Ads Update: Misleading Landing Pages to Face Demotions

Google has implemented new rules for its ads platform, prioritizing landing pages aligned with user intent and easy to navigate. This move aims to improve the overall user experience and ensure that users find relevant and useful information when they click on an ad. Ads that lead to confusing or cluttered landing pages will be demoted, while those with straightforward designs will be rewarded. This emphasis on user-friendly landing pages is expected to drive better ad performance, as it enhances the likelihood of conversions and improves the overall effectiveness of online advertising campaigns. Advertisers are encouraged to optimize their landing pages to align with user intent and provide a seamless user experience.

Microsoft Advertising Introduces Performance Max and New Feature Updates

Microsoft Advertising is excited to announce the introduction of Performance Max, a new feature with various updates. This update encompasses various aspects of Performance Max tools, reporting, new values, targeting, and more. With Performance Max, advertisers can optimize their campaigns across multiple channels and devices, reaching a broader audience and maximizing their advertising performance. The new feature updates in Microsoft Advertising provide advertisers with enhanced tools and functionalities to improve their campaign management and drive better results.

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