1. Google Releases the May 2020 Core Algorithm Update
As reported by ourselves, Google confirmed they had implemented the May 2020 Core Algorithm update. The update landing at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic is no coincidence as Google prepared its search engine for the new normal to come. Reports suggest this was one of the biggest updates ever done, with huge ranking changes across the board. The most affected were travel, retail, finance and health, all industries most affected by government lockdowns. Google’s advice on ranking remains the same, just ensuring website and content remains relevant for the queries it’s targeting.
2. Google Ads Implement Retail Category Reporting
Advertisers managing an e-commerce account can now see a retail category reporting feature in Google Ads. The new feature lets you choose up to 5 levels of a retail category with a breakdown of performance metrics on Search vs Google Shopping. Previously, it was more difficult to gain this information, but with this update it’s much simpler. Now marketers can gain faster insight to make quicker decisions on budget allocations. For complete instructions on how to use this, you can find it on Search Engine Journal.
3. Google Includes Three New Attributes for Google My Business Listings
When users search for places to visit, they often want certain requirements. Now, businesses can list those as part of three new attributes added to Google My Business listings. With the current pandemic affecting how our daily lives want to be, it’s important for businesses to highlight if they provide the following: “curbside pickup”, “no contact delivery”, “dine-in”. Now businesses can.
4. How to Retain Clients During a Crisis
A crisis can happen at any moment. For example, the unexpected can happen which has huge effects on the economy, a local geographical area or inside a business. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected not only public health, but the economy also, leaving many businesses unsure of where they stand. It’s important for businesses who work with other businesses to be there for them at their time of need. We share our advice on How to Retain Clients During a Crisis.
5. Google adds its Core Web Vitals as Ranking Factors
It’s the job of us SEO experts to keep up with the various ranking factors for websites. Recently, Google announced that its Core Web Vitals would be ranking factors. It will be noted as the “page experience signal” and includes: loading (Largest Contentful Paint – LCP), interactivity (First Input Delay – FID), Visual Stability (Cumulative Layout Shift – CLS), mobile friendly, safe browsing, HTTPS, no intrusive interstitials. To make this easier to measure, Google has added 6 ways for site owners and marketers to measure LCP, FID and CLS in its suite of tools which you can see above.
6. Spring Bank Holiday Search Trends
The Spring Bank Holiday is always an interesting time for marketers as search trends around this long weekend. Typically, people are planning get togethers, BBQs and parties as the weather improves with an extra day off for everyone. However, this year’s Spring Bank Holiday was in the midst of a UK lockdown meaning plans were going to be much different this year. We analysed all the data in the lead up to the long weekend in Spring Bank Holiday Search Trends.
7. Twitter FINALLY lets you Schedule Tweets
Most marketers are familiar with social media scheduling tools, such as a Hootsuite and Sprout Social to name a couple. General users of Twitter who wanted to schedule tweets in the past would use third-party clients such as TweetDeck that allowed that function. Now, Twitter has implemented tweet scheduling to everyone. Currently this is only available in the desktop version, but expect it to be added to the mobile version next time it updates.
8. BrightonSEO Online Conference: Search and Content Summit
We were sad when BrightonSEO had to postpone its Spring event, but we also understood the circumstances with the Covid-19 pandemic spreading across the UK. However, this wasn’t going to stop the guys at Rough Agenda from getting marketers together in some capacity for a day of sharing and learning. In the first of a series of online events, the Search and Content Summit took place on 29th May. If you missed it, we have a round-up of talks we were able to drop in our recap of BrightonSEO Search and Content Summit May 2020.
