June 2018 News You Can Use

Choosing the news stories we highlight is never an easy job. This month, it was darned near impossible.

Given all the commotion it generated, you may have thought the only thing getting talked about recently was the new GDPR regulations.

Not so.

Hey, we gave you the heads-up and all the info you need about GDPR back in the April issue of Stukent’s News You Can Use.

In this issue, we’ve a whole lot more going on:

  • Facebook is taking fast action to counteract critics
  • Google says your reactions to its changes are your own darned fault
  • Are you ready for simple ways to implement complex machine learning tasks?
  • Adobe is forking over $1.65 BILLION dollars for this acquisition.
  • Here are step-by-step instructions on how to boost organic search results by A LOT.

No, we didn’t get sucked into the GDPR hullabaloo. If you did, now worries … you can still catch up on the dynamic word of digital marketing.

Right here!

1. FACEBOOK WANTS ITS REPUTATION BACK

Topic: [highlight type=”dark”]Social Media Marketing | Online Advertising[/highlight]

Key Point: Facebook’s annual F8 Developer’s Conference kicked off with CEO Mark Zuckerberg exclaiming “This has been an intense year!”

image via https://www.fastcompany.comYou might have seen Zuck on the news getting pounded by questions from Congress. His pet project (and the world’s most popular social media site) has been slammed by accusations from all sides, public and private.

But Facebook isn’t taking the punches without some fancy footwork of its own. Check this summary of F8 announcements to get caught up on the battle.

Facebook announcements included a new “Clear History” tool for users, an app removal tool to help protect user privacy, and some exciting new products you can use on Messenger.

Get the scoop here: Facebook F8 Announcements

ALSO SEE: Facebook Suspends 200 Apps for Data Misuse

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2. GOOGLE REVERSED ITS DECISION ON LONGER SNIPPETS

Topic: [highlight type=”dark”]SEO | Ecommerce[/highlight]

Key Point: In December of last year, Google doubled the length of the descriptive snippets showing in search from about 160 characters to an average of 320. Many marketers responded by investing hours into expanding their description metadata to match the new limit.

Guess what.

Google now says, that wasn’t a good idea. Snippets are shrinking again. That announcement irritated many marketers and sent them scurrying to clean up the mess.

Google’s response? We never told you do anything at all. It’s your fault.

Read all about it here: Google Confirms Shortened Search Results Snippets and Google Defends Reducing the Length of Search Snippets.

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3. FACEBOOK ANALYTICS APP

Topic: [highlight type=”dark”]Analytics | Social Media Marketing[/highlight]

Key Point: Just before the kickoff of the Facebook F8 Conference, social media marketers were pleased to see a new Facebook Analytics app launch for both Android and iOS.

You can now create custom mobile views of those KPIs you just can’t keep your eyes off. The app even links up with Facebook Web Analytics for viewing funnels, cohorts, and segments.

Find out more here: Facebook’s New Analytics App.

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4. INSTAGRAM LAUCHES ECOMMERCE PAYMENTS FUNCTION

Topic: [highlight type=”dark”]Ecommerce[/highlight]

Key Point: It’s a topic that keeps coming up: giving consumers the ability to make an ecommerce purchase directly from the digital platform hosting the offer – rather than linking out to a landing page.

Instagram decided to quit talking about it and start doing it. The new Instagram native payments feature lets users spend away without getting redirected away from Instagram.

Do note this is a beta function, not available yet to all users. Get a look here: Instagram Payments.

ALSO SEE: Snapchat Makes Story Ads Available

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5. MACHINE LEARNING MAY SOON BE AVAILABLE TO ALL MARKETERS

Topics: [highlight type=”dark”]Ecommerce | Analytics[/highlight]

Key Point: They’re not here yet, but few doubt they’re coming: Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for the masses.

One company says AI and machine learning present an “opportunity to take something that’s really complicated and reframe it in a way that’s understandable.”

Can Lobe pull off the user interface job of the century? Find out more here: Ridiculously Simple Machine Learning.

ALSO SEE: Google I/O: Grow and Earn with AdWords and AdMob

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6. ADOBE IS BUYING MAGENTO

Topics: [highlight type=”dark”]Ecommerce | Online Advertising[/highlight]

Key Point: Magento is one of the world’s premiere creators of software for ecommerce and social media advertising. That’s why Adobe structured a $1.68B deal to purchase the company.

Once the regulatory hurdles are cleared, we’ll find out exactly where and how Adobe leverages the Magento purchase. AdAge says Salesforce, Oracle, and SAP Software Solutions should be checking their rearview mirrors.

Adobe says the plan is “to create an end-to-end system for designing digital ads, building e-commerce websites and other online customer experiences and completing transactions.”

Sounds exciting.

Here’s that story: Adobe Pays $1.6B for Magento.

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7. REVIEWERS WILL NOW GET NOTIFICATIONS FROM GOOGLE

Topic: [highlight type=”dark”]SEO[/highlight]

Key Point: Google My Business reviews are a big deal for local business owners. How many reviews you have, what those reviews say, and your overall “star rating” can either draw more business or chase it away – but managing reviews is one of those tasks that often gets overlooked.

Google says you should think about how you phrase your answer to reviews (whether you drew praise, a complaint, or a question). To help you do that, the world’s largest search engine will now send reviewers an email to let them know when a review they’ve left receives a response.

To see a sample of how that email will look, go here: Google Will Notify Reviewers When You Respond.

ALSO SEE: Insights to Help You Serve Today’s B2B Buyer

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8. HOW TO GET HIGHER GOOGLE RANKINGS IN 2018 – A FREE CHECKLIST

Topic: [highlight type=”dark”]Online Advertising[/highlight]

Key Point: Stukent co-founder Stu Draper says this SEO workshop is one of the best teachings on the current state of search engine optimization he’s seen all year. Stu says he would question a couple of points Brian Dean makes here, but it’s twelve minutes and eight seconds well invested.

Take a look for yourself. Find out how Dean helped a company boost organic traffic by over 80 percent: Get Higher Google Rankings.

ALSO SEE: Google Search Console Optimization.

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That’s all folks!

We hope you’ve enjoyed the June edition of Stukent’s News You Can Use.

You’re now aware of digital marketing information others have yet to discover.

That gives you an edge.

Use it!

See you next month.

BONUS INFO

Why SEO’s Should Care About Brand

How to Optimize Google Search Console

Why “Near Me” Searches Are Super-Important

Linked-In Adds a New Element to Job Ads

See you next month!

When you see an article or announcement you think should be covered in News You Can Use, let us know. Be a Stukent field reporter!

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