It’s no news changes happen in the digital marketing world and it’s important to ahead of your competitors. In this edition, you will get a quick summary of the most important updates in digital marketing for October 2023. From insights on ChatGPT Plus unveiling its DALL-E 3 Image Generator to Google Ads tightening its certification procedures and much more. Take 4 minutes to glance through the changes that happened last month.
1. Google completes the switch to mobile-first indexing
- Google completes its transition to mobile-first indexing after a 7-year process. With mobile-first indexing, Google prioritises mobile versions of websites during the crawling process.
- This shift reflects how people use the internet more on their phones, especially for Google searches.
- For websites that are not mobile-friendly, Google will continue to crawl desktop versions, for the time being.
2. ChatGPT Plus adds DALL-E 3 Image Generator
- OpenAI has announced an exciting update for ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise users. DALL-E 3 support is now available.
- DALL-E 3 is a text-to-image generator that allows users to create unique images using prompts.
- The latest version, DALL-E 3, comes with enhancements, including a multi-tiered safety system to prevent the generation of “potentially harmful imagery.
3. Google completes October spam update
- Google’s October Spam Update has been officially rolled out, concluding on October 20.
- The update was prompted by user feedback reporting an increase in spam in search results.
- Google’s effort to combat web spam targets various issues, including sites with hidden text, scraped content, AI-generated content, affiliate content for monetization, and pages with excessive ads that disrupt the user experience.
4. Google Ads introduces stricter certification procedures
- Google Ads now requires stricter certification procedures for users seeking professional certifications from Skillshop.
- New requirements include providing a photo ID, capturing a facial photo, and recording a video of the test environment.
- Live proctors will monitor exams via webcam, and tougher exam guidelines are implemented to maintain certification integrity.
5. Report indicates a decline in usage for X
- A report from Apptopia suggests a decline in daily active users (DAU) for X, with around 121 million DAU.
- This represents a 13% decrease since Elon Musk took over approximately a year ago.
- The rebranding of Twitter to X may have accelerated the drop, as X claims to have 253 million DAU, raising questions about the accuracy of the numbers.
6. X states that posts corrected by community notes will not qualify for revenue sharing
- X’s creator ad revenue share scheme allows X Premium subscribers to earn money from their posts, receiving a percentage of the ad revenue from ads displayed in the post reply stream.
- Elon Musk has announced a change to X’s creator ad revenue share program, where posts that have received corrections through community notes will not count for payment.
- This is being done to prevent participants from sharing sensationalized, divisive, and occasionally false content in an attempt to incite more reactions and thereby enhance their monetization potential.
7. Amazon Ad Service revenue soars by 26%
- Amazon’s ad revenue reached just over $12 billion in Q3, marking a significant increase of 26.3%.
- Notable advertisers on Amazon’s platform include BuzzFeed, Hearst Newspapers, Pinterest, Lifehacker, and Mashable.
- Amazon attributes part of its exceptional Q3 results to the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). In India, the company introduced an AI digital assistant to assist small businesses in establishing an online store.
8. Pinterest boosts revenue by 11%
- Pinterest released its Q3 results, reporting strong earnings growth.
- The company’s overall income increased by 11% to $763 million, with ad revenue surging by 8% to $482 million.
- Pinterest credits its success to its ability to attract and retain advertisers and effectively measure the results of advertising campaigns. The company anticipates revenue growth in the range of 11-13% in Q4.
9. LinkedIn reports record levels of engagement
- Microsoft’s Q1 earnings report reveals that LinkedIn is experiencing “record levels of engagement” on the platform.
- LinkedIn boasts 985 million members, with a 12% increase in session numbers.
- The platform’s revenue has also grown by 8%.
10. Snapchat surpasses 400 million users
- Snap Inc. announces a significant milestone, with Snapchat reaching 406 million daily active users, marking a 12% year-over-year growth.
- Over 200 million users have engaged with the “My AI” chatbot, exchanging more than 20 billion messages.
- The number of Stories has tripled since the previous quarter.
11. Google Search revenue increases by 11%
- Google reports an 11.3% year-over-year increase in search revenue for Q3. YouTube ad revenue also experienced strong growth, rising by 12.5%.
- Although the entire advertising network’s revenue dropped by 2.6%, it’s an improvement compared to the 5% loss in Q2.
- Google generated nearly $60 billion in ad revenue for the third quarter.
12. Microsoft’s strong quarterly results boosted by Search Ads
- Microsoft reports its best-ever quarterly results, with a 10% year-over-year increase in search and news ad income.
- This excludes acquisition costs paid to publishers.
- Total sales for the three months exceeded $56 billion.
13. Google to phase out third-party cookies
- Google announces plans to phase out support for third-party cookies, starting next year.
- In the early phase, this change will affect only 1% of Chrome users, with the goal of eliminating third-party cookies entirely.
- Website owners can use this preliminary phase to assess their sites’ response to the loss of cookie data.
14. New & improved youtube features
- A new version of YouTube has been released with several enhancements.
- New features include Stable Volume, Larger Previews, Enhanced Search, and Animations for the “Like” and “Subscribe” buttons.
- The update is rolling out globally.
15. X tests $1 per tweet charge for new users
- X is testing a program called “Not a Bot,” designed to block bots and spammers.
- Participants in this program have read-only access but can post for $1 per tweet. This new move does not align with some primary advantages of social media, such as open communication, user participation and accessibility without monetary barriers.
- X emphasizes that it’s not meant as a profit driver but as a measure to reduce excessive bot activity.
16. Google stops indenting search results
- Previously, when a search result from the same domain appeared below the main result, it would be indented. However, Google has stopped indenting these results.
- The new search listings now show the results listed without indentation and not in any particular order. However, Google’s “diversity system” still ensures that only two results from the same site are generally shown in the top results.
- This change aims to improve user experience and is part of a larger effort to maintain diversity in search results.
17. TikTok to include auto captions in all videos
- TikTok announces that auto-captions will be enabled by default in videos, starting next month.
- This change aims to enhance accessibility and ensures that the app is inclusive, breaking language barriers.
- Publishers will have the option to edit and delete captions after posting.
18. New WordPress version improves page loading speed
- Previously, JavaScript files in WordPress themes and plugins loaded synchronously, causing delays in page rendering and blocking other downloads.
- The latest update to WordPress, version 6.4, includes changes to how scripts are loaded on the front end, resulting in improved page load times and site performance.
- These changes also address issues with PageSpeed Insights, particularly for pages with complex features and JavaScript code.
19. Google introduces Google Ads Data Manager for first-party data solutions
- Google introduced Google Ads Data Manager to simplify the use of first-party data.
- The tool integrates first-party data across multiple platforms through a single collaborative interface.
- It will be available in early 2024, facilitating tools like enhanced conversions for leads and Customer Match.
20. Google Keyword Planner eliminates keyword forecasting
- Google Keyword Planner discontinues keyword forecasting, affecting non-paying ad users. The choice to discontinue these tools was based on the fact that only a small fraction of advertisers were utilizing them.
- By removing unused features, Google can allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that the remaining tools and functions remain efficient and consistently improved.
- Advertisers can still use campaign-level forecasts and historical keyword data for their keyword research.
21. X partners with Google Ad Manager
- Following a significant drop of 59% in ad revenue in advertising revenue earlier this year, the social platform has chosen to outsource the sale of some of its ad space.
- X is partnering with Google Ad Manager to outsource the sale of its ad space, allowing advertisers to run display ads in the X home feed.
- This offers the chance to tap into X’s extensive audience, which comprises over 200 million actively engaged daily users, using Google Ads’ familiar campaign setup and targeting tools.
22. Instagram expands marketing API
- Instagram previously added Search Ads placement via the API in May.
- The marketing API now supports product tagging from third-party platforms.
- This streamlines the process for third-party platform users, making it easier for advertisers to utilize Product Tags in both new and existing media posts.
Conclusion
Digital marketing is shaped by constant change, and staying informed is vital for businesses to succeed. Several significant developments are worth noting, with more ongoing right now. Keep an eye out for further updates and insights to refine your digital strategies!
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