Google brings audio news aggregation to smart speakers, phones

Google has launched what it calls “Your News Update,” an audio news feed that you access through the Google Assistant. Sources, which Google paid to license, include ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN, AP, Politico, USAToday and many others — though apparently not NPR. Users need to set up the audio feed as a news playlist, through…

How to use new Google Ads Combined Audiences

Google Ads has started rolling out “and” logic to enable advertisers to build layered audiences for Search. With the new combined audiences option, you can create audiences (personas) by layering demographic, in-market, affinity or other audience targeting elements that are available in Google Ads. How to get started with Combined audiences. To create a Combine…

Reciprocal Links: Do They Help or Hurt Your SEO? via @JuliaEMcCoy

Using reciprocal links – sometimes referred to as “traded” or “exchanged” links – was a popular method of link building in the early 2000s but has decreased in popularity in recent years. Reciprocal links are still a relatively common occurrence. They’re a natural byproduct of owning a website, after all. However, the way reciprocal links…

WSJ report about Google search manipulation gets a lot wrong

No one would argue that Google is a pure, shining force for good in the world. But neither do we agree that it’s the corrupt entity portrayed in a highly charged Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article that appeared Friday. Search Engine Land will offer more perspective on the WSJ article in separate pieces next week.…

Google on building a better holiday omnichannel strategy

NEW YORK – Today’s customers alternate between shopping online and offline, searching for the products and services they need at the exact moment they need them, said Zack Bailey, head of omnichannel solutions at Google. Bailey opened up a keynote session at SMX East on Thursday alongside his colleague Irem Erkaya, global product lead at…