Google Algorithm Update
Write for people not for robots is the key message from Google. It announced an update to its ranking algorithm last week and we should see the effects soon. The update is designed to reward original and authentic, quality content.
“…we’re rolling out a series of improvements to Search to make it easier for people to find helpful content made by, and for, people”
Who will suffer? Sites that have a lot of aggregated content. The example given is a page that aggregates film reviews from other sites.
Bloggers who haven’t used spammy SEO tactics could see an increase in traffic from Google, I’m looking forward to seeing the results.
https://blog.google/products/search/more-content-by-people-for-people-in-search/
TikTok nearby feed
Good news for local businesses who want to attract a TikTok audience.
TikTok is testing a third feed in some parts of Asia. The tab at the top of the screen ‘nearby’ will show content that has been tagged in a location nearby.
To support this it’s adding a location tag that you’ll be able to add to your posts.
If this is rolled out fully this could be good news for local businesses who will be able to tag themselves and encourage customers to do the same.
Easier Pinterest Shopping
The easier it is to buy something, the more you will sell. It makes sense, but so many things can get in the way of the purchase process.
One of those is having to leave one site and go to another to add to cart and check out. This is something Shopify has been working with many social media partners to solve.
The latest is Pinterest. In tests, this seamless process has resulted in a 2.7% lift in checkouts.
Sadly it’s only available for merchants in the US for now.
This is a win for both the social networks, which want to keep people on site for longer, and for businesses that could see an increase in sales.
https://business.pinterest.com/en-au/blog/new-tools-for-shopify-merchants-on-pinterest/
Inside The LinkedIn Algorithm
LinkedIn just published a blog post that explains how the feed algorithm works.
Highlights include:
- It learns about your interests and uses that to add engaging content to your feed.
- It filters out low-quality and unsafe content
- For a better feed “ Follow people and companies you want to hear from, and engage with their content when it interests you.”
Nothing too revealing there but it does give you the impression that you have ultimate control.
https://blog.linkedin.com/2022/August/18/mythbusting-the-feed-how-the-algorithm-works
YouTube & Twitter Podcasts
YouTube has just launched a Podcast page for selected users in the US.
Podcasts can be video as well as audio and many post a video version of them recording their podcast or a static image alongside the audio of their podcast on YouTube.
The page is dedicated to podcasts hosted on the platform, you will be able to view podcast episodes in a carousel and listen to audio-only versions of them.
It all looks very Spotify.
At the same time, Twitter looks like it’s about to support podcasts alongside Spaces on the platform. All this just after Facebook ended its Podcast experiment…
Instagram hasn’t given up on full-screen feed
It looks like Instagram is reluctant to give up on the controversial full-screen feed feature.
Just a few weeks ago it halted a test of the feed after backlash from Instagram users and influencers including Kylie Jenner.
But it may be coming back as an option. As seen by App Researcher Radu Oncescu, we could soon have the option to choose the full-screen feed.
Goodbye Pixy
Snap, the parent company of Snapchat is stopping production of the Pixy drone. I’m devastated.
The drone is the size of your hand and can follow you around to shoot video and photographs. It was reasonably inexpensive and could have been a lot of fun to play with.
Snap blames the loss of revenue, probably down to recent privacy updates for ads for the demise of this wonderful thing. I’m sad.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/snap-scraps-development-on-flying-selfie-pixy-drone-11660836217
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