Welcome to the latest edition of our weekly digital marketing news roundups, where our expert team brings you the latest exciting developments in the world of digital marketing. This week, we explore Pinterest’s new major ad partnership with Google and much more.
Let’s dive into some of the latest and exciting updates and news from the marketing world…
Table of Contents
Pinterest announces major ad partnership with Google
Pinterest has announced a new ad partnership with Google to enhance its ad revenue, making Google its second third-party ad partner after Amazon. This collaboration enables brands running campaigns with Google Ads to expand their reach and engage with Pinterest’s active user base, potentially leading to higher ROI and conversions. Ads will be served on Pinterest via Google’s Ad Manager, directing users to the advertiser’s website for purchases. The rollout began a few weeks ago and is expected to continue over several quarters. Pinterest aims to boost revenue from its international user base with this partnership, with executives optimistic about its potential impact. Pinterest CEO Bill Ready expressed confidence in the partnership, stating that it is already showing positive results. Read more here:
Demand for communication skills in marketing increasing ‘exponentially,’ data suggests
Communication skills are becoming increasingly important for marketers, according to data from LinkedIn which shows it is among the most in-demand marketing skills having grown “exponentially.” Alongside communication (2nd), strategy (6th) and analytics skills (7th) are the most sought-after soft skills for marketers. LinkedIn attributes this to companies’ desire for growth, with brands needing marketers to make informed decisions with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In terms of key marketing skills, social media (3rd), digital marketing (4th) and marketing strategy (5th) are the most in-demand, both in the UK and globally. Read more here:
Google clarifies the “Google-Extended” crawler documentation
Google have updated the documentation around it’s Google-Extended web crawler user agent to reflect changes in product naming and clarify the impact on search. The Google-Extended user agent was introduced in September 2023 as a new way for site owners to control what content can and can’t be accessed as a way to train Google’s AI models. Those who want to block the crawler can do through their robots.txt file, but this may raise concerns around what impact, if any, this has on their visibility in search results. Google have re-worded their documentation to confirm that “Google-Extended does not impact a site’s inclusion or ranking in Google Search.” Read more here:
Google updates web stories availability
Google have updated their Web Stories documentation to reflect that Web Stories will no longer appear in Google Images, Google Discover carousels, and that the grid view will now show as a carousel view in Search Results. It seems a lot of SEOs are happy about this change as the feature could often be filled with spammy results, taking SERP space away from legitimate results. Read more here:
Google investigating local ad fraud affecting business pages
Some businesses are sabotaging competitors’ Google Business Pages by creating fake Local Service Ads (LSAs) linked to their profiles, potentially hiding legitimate ads. Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin acknowledged the issue after being alerted by Ben Fisher. A Google support forum thread detailed how one business’s longstanding LSA account stopped generating leads due to a mysterious second account linked to its Google Business Page. Google advised deleting the original account, sparking dismay from the affected business owner. Google is now aware of the exploit and may take steps to address it. This tactic highlights the potential threat and underscores the importance of monitoring Google Business Profiles for abnormalities. Read more here:
Google launches Gemini to replace Bard chatbot
Google has launched its AI chatbot called Gemini, which replaces its short-lived Bard service. Unveiled in December, Bard was touted as a competitor to chatbots like ChatGPT but failed to impress in demos. Google staff even called the launch “botched” and slammed CEO Sundar Pichai. Now rebranded as Gemini, Google says it represents the company’s “most capable family of models” for natural conversations. Two experiences are being launched: Gemini Advanced and a mobile app. Gemini Advanced grants access to Ultra 1.0, billed by Google as its “largest and most capable state-of-the-art AI model.” In blind evaluations, third-party raters preferred Gemini Advanced with Ultra 1.0 over alternatives in complex tasks like coding, logical reasoning, and creative collaboration. Read more here:
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