In this week’s digital news, Google has updated its guidance on JavaScript-based paywalls, advising publishers against including the full article text in the initial server response if it’s meant to be paywalled. Google has begun rolling out its August 2025 spam update. It’s expected to take a few weeks to fully roll out, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your site’s performance.
Amazon has resumed Google Shopping ads across its international domains, one month after pausing them in what appears to have been a marketing test. B2B marketers often ask whether to invest in Google Ads or LinkedIn Ads, but the answer depends on whether you need to capture demand or generate it.
Microsoft has started testing its MAI-1-preview model on LMArena. MAI-1-preview is a foundation model trained end-to-end in-house by Microsoft.
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Google adds new guidance on JavaScript paywalls and SEO
Google has updated its guidance on JavaScript-based paywalls, advising publishers against including the full article text in the initial server response if it’s meant to be paywalled. This is because Google’s systems find it difficult to automatically distinguish between paywalled and non-paywalled content when it’s hidden with JavaScript. The new recommendation is that the full content should only be provided to the browser after a user’s subscription status has been confirmed.
Read more here.
Google rolls out August 2025 spam update
Google has begun rolling out its August 2025 spam update. It’s expected to take a few weeks to fully roll out, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your site’s performance, but hold off on any major decisions or changes until the update has completely finished. Early research points to some volatility in the search results, with some sites reporting traffic drops and others seeing recoveries or improvements. There have been reports of significant fluctuations. With some e-commerce sites experiencing major spikes in sales, while others have seen traffic losses. The full impact of the update won’t be clear until after the rollout is complete and you’ve had a chance to conduct a thorough analysis.
Read more here.
Amazon resumes Google Shopping ads… but not in the U.S.
Amazon has resumed Google Shopping ads across its international domains, one month after pausing them in what appears to have been a marketing test. While competitors briefly gained clicks during Amazon’s absence, their ROAS declined, suggesting Amazon’s presence actually improves auction efficiency. Notably, the U.S. market remains excluded, raising questions about Amazon’s competitive strategy and channel mix. This selective return underscores Amazon’s ability to flex its advertising muscle and experiment with acquisition costs. While giving rivals a short-lived opportunity to capture U.S. market share before Amazon inevitably re-enters.
Read more here.
LinkedIn Ads or Google Ads? A framework for smarter B2B decisions
B2B marketers often ask whether to invest in Google Ads or LinkedIn Ads, but the answer depends on whether you need to capture demand or generate it. Google Ads excels at demand capture. Reaching prospects who are already searching with clear intent and a defined vocabulary for your product or service. LinkedIn Ads, on the other hand, is powerful for demand generation. Getting in front of decision-makers who may not yet know they need your solution, especially for newer or less-defined offerings.
Read more here.
Microsoft starts testing AI model that could escalate competition with OpenAI
Microsoft has started testing its MAI-1-preview model on LMArena. MAI-1-preview is a foundation model trained end-to-end in-house by Microsoft. The model will be rolled out for certain text use cases within Copilot over the coming weeks. Developers can fill in a form to request early access.
Read more here.
10 local SEO strategies that work in the AI era
Ross Simmonds breaks down 10 local SEO strategies for businesses to capture more local customers. He covers Google Business Profile optimisation, local keyword research, and content creation tactics. The video also explains technical SEO for mobile-first indexing, AI-powered efficiency tools, and community engagement to boost rankings. Key stats show 92% of searchers pick businesses on page one. “open now near me” searches rose 400%, and voice search dominates 71% of local queries.
Watch the full video here.
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