Google My Business adds messaging to desktop interface

Google is rolling out the messaging functionality within the Google My Business desktop interface. This is not fully live yet, but many can see it, including myself. Previously, messaging was available through the Google My Business mobile app, but not within the Google My Business desktop interface. What it looks like. When you login to…

A Google Ads setting allowed advertisers to exclude people of ‘unknown gender’

A Google Ads setting allowed businesses to potentially exclude nonbinary gender audiences, according to The Markup. The publication found examples across YouTube and search where advertisers could exclude audiences based on “unknown gender.” This form of discrimination is against Google’s own personalized advertising policy. “We will be implementing an update to our policy and enforcement…

Facebook says it’ll ban anti-vax content, again

If at first you don’t succeed, keep telling people that you’re trying again. Facebook announced Monday that, over a year into a pandemic that has killed more than 460,000 people in the U.S. alone, it intends to do more about the pervasive anti-vaccine content sloshing across its platform. Specifically, the social media giant said it…

SMX kicks off in two weeks… don’t miss out!

Your data is the key to unlocking search marketing success. Transforming it into valuable insights that drive more awareness, leads, and revenue is a skill all marketers need to master. Join us in two weeks at SMX Report — online Tuesday, February 23 — to learn actionable tactics for making data-driven decisions that yield measurable…

Parler offered Trump an ownership stake to post there, report claims

Parler wanted Donald Trump, and badly.  The team behind the social media platform known for its far-right friendly approach to content moderation and, more recently, hosting issues, reportedly offered Trump a 40 percent ownership stake in the company. In exchange, the now-former president would’ve needed to primarily post to that site — giving other social…

Google expands phrase match to include broad match modifier traffic

Changes are coming to Google’s phrase match and broad match modifier keyword match types, the company announced Thursday. Phrase match will expand to include additional broad match modifier traffic and support for broad match modifier will end. The changes will start rolling out in two weeks. How phrase match will change. Currently, an advertiser using…

Google Ads Auto Applied Recommendations: Every setting, explained

Over the past few years, Google has expanded its suite of Auto-Applied Recommendations. These are AI-driven “improvements” to elements of the text and display ads you’re running in Google. What started with adding ad units to text Ad Groups has grown into a list of 35 editable options. Here, we’ll detail each of them and…