Internet Marketing – Page 305

TikTok rolls out major Ads changes to meet EU regulations

TikTok is implementing major changes to its ad products in Europe to ensure it meets EU regulations.

The platform plans to significantly reduce targeted advertising capabilities, while ads that violate its rules will be put on global bans.

Under the Digital Services Act, the platform is also going to provide users with additional reporting options and give more clarity to creators about its content moderation decisions.

Why we care. It’s more important than ever for marketers to keep up-to-date with TikTok’s policies as an ad being banned worldwide would be disastrous; reach and conversions would plummet, ROI would fall and it could also cause reputational damage. The changes to targeted advertising could also have a negative impact on reach, which may make you want to consider if ad space on an alternative platform would be more profitable.

Updates. TikTok announced several changes to its platform that will impact the user experience int he EU. These include:

Additional reporting – TikTok users in the EU will now be able to report ads they believe are illegal. The platform is rolling out new features to simplify this process, including introducing complaint categories such as hate speech, harassment and financial crimes.
Global bans – If content is found to break TikTok’s Community Guidelines, it will be removed from the platform globally. Content that doesn’t break its guidelines but does violate the law will be taken down in that country only.
Ban on targeted ads for teens – Teenagers in Europe aged 13-17 will now no longer see personalised advertising based on their activities, whether that is on or off TikTok.
Option to turn off personalisation – When personalisation is turned off by users in the EU, the ‘For You’ and ‘LIVE’ feeds will show popular videos from both where live and around the world – as opposed to content based on their personal interests. Similarly, when using non-personalised search, they will see results made up of popular content from their region and in their preferred language.
More transparency – TikTok is planning to share more detail about its content moderation decisions with creators, including whether AI decided the action taken.

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What has TikTok said? TikTok confirmed the updates via an announcement on its blog. A spokesperson said:

“The European Union has set a clear vision for platform regulation with the Digital Services Act (DSA). Following our updates in July about our Research API and Commercial Content Library, we are providing more information about the work that we are doing to meet our obligations under the Act by the August 28 deadline.”
“Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. We know that ensuring the safety, privacy, and security of our European community is critical to achieving that goal.”
“We will continue to not only meet our regulatory obligations, but also strive to set new standards through innovative solutions and by working with our industry partners, regulators, lawmakers, and civil society.”

Deep dive. Read TikTok’s Digital Service Act announcement in full for more information.

The post TikTok rolls out major Ads changes to meet EU regulations appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/tiktok-major-ads-changes-eu-regulations-430387

Why AI can’t replace authentic client relationships

Countless conversations are happening worldwide about how AI will infiltrate different parts of our lives and take over our jobs.

As an SEO professional, I believe in embracing technology and using it to support both my clients’ businesses and my own.

However, we need to clearly distinguish between AI supporting marketing work and AI replacing us and completing that work on our behalf.

This rings particularly true in the realm of sales and customer care.

Replacing humans

No matter how good AI is, it doesn’t replace the power of human connection, thought leadership or creativity.

For example, a great way to utilize AI technology might be having a chatbot on your website.

This can help web visitors to get any questions answered quickly and easily, without the need to speak to a real person.

The problem comes when the system is wholly reliant on this chatbot and it becomes almost impossible for someone to speak to a real person to help them resolve a query that AI simply cannot.

It’s like placing an intern on day one as head of customer service and expecting them to thrive.

Identify those areas of your business where AI technology can make a real positive impact rather than solely putting your focus on areas where it can save the business money.

Understand how the introduction of AI will affect your relationships with your customers and their perception of your business.

Rely on AI too much, you may be seen as inaccessible and, therefore, your customers may feel like they aren’t valued in a way they believe they should be.
Don’t use AI at all, you might lose out to your competitors.

Giving your customers a great experience while adopting AI to streamline and automate elements of your business requires the right balance.

Those that get this wrong could find themselves with disgruntled customers and client retention issues.

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All the feelings

We humans are complicated creatures that display a wide array of emotions, from love to frustration to anger and happiness. Feelings are part of our everyday lives.

While AI can analyze patterns and understand words, it lacks the ability to truly comprehend the feelings of others in a deep and meaningful way.

It’s not only the words that we use but our facial expressions, tone of voice and body language that truly convey how we feel.

Email, messaging and social media have already removed our ability to take as many communication cues as possible from others.

There is concern that with AI, we will face further degradation. Will we find ourselves in a world of people struggling to communicate face to face?

I believe that we need to retain these skills in our businesses, particularly when it comes to customer relationships.

I also believe businesses that find the right balance between AI and technology and human connection will be the most successful over the next few years.

Trust

Trust is part of what makes strong relationships, which is no different for your customers.

They need to feel like:

You are acting in their best interests.
They are getting the best advice about how you can solve their problem or satisfy their desire through the products and services you offer.
That you are going to deliver on your promises.

AI alone will struggle to build loyalty and trust in the same way that a human can because it requires an emotional connection to do so.

Your customers want to see that you can empathize with their situation and develop a solution that meets their needs.

AI doesn’t display this ability, so a strong bond between business and customer will be much more difficult to achieve without human interaction.

Creative thinking

Another way AI cannot mimic human behavior is in its lack of creativity.

Yes, it can reform images and words from existing resources, but it can’t come up with new and unique ideas about the world in the same way that we can.

Dreaming up big ideas and sharing them with others is fundamental to being human.

Can you imagine a client meeting for a new marketing campaign created solely from AI. You could end up with a regurgitated version of a variety of marketing campaigns that have already been in existence before.

AI only knows what it knows right now – it can’t dream up new things or design something from scratch, at least not in the same way that humans can.

Some useful ways to use AI in your business

Several AI tools can significantly improve efficiency and enhance the overall customer experience.

These tools are a great way to help and support the activities of your real-life team (even if that’s just you).

1. Customer relationship management (CRM) systems

Every business should have a CRM system, it’s how you manage customers and analyze data.

The idea is to enable you to offer an engaging experience and ultimately create more sales for your business.

AI-driven CRM tools can analyze customer data quickly and easily, giving valuable insights into preferences and needs.

With this knowledge, businesses can personalize their communication and offerings.

2. Chatbots and virtual assistants

Chatbots and virtual assistants are great ways to use AI.

We touched on this earlier: they enable real-time communication, answer questions and deliver information quickly and seamlessly.

The best chatbots use natural language processing, meaning they can better understand customer questions and respond accurately.

They can cost-effectively deliver great customer service. This enhances the overall experience of those visiting your website (or app).

3. Feedback tools

These tools can analyze customer feedback, reviews, and social media interactions, working out the sentiment behind the words.

These AI-driven tools can discern whether customers exhibit positive, negative or neutral sentiments toward a product, service or brand.

This helps businesses address any issues and put measures in place to improve how they are perceived.

4. Predictive analytics

Predictive analytics uses AI algorithms to analyze historical data and identify patterns, trends and correlations.

The benefit: Businesses can proactively address customer concerns and offer personalized recommendations.

It can also help retain customers by offering products and services before they even know they need them, ultimately enhancing their experience while increasing sales.

5. Email marketing

AI-powered tools are highly effective in optimizing email marketing campaigns by personalizing content and delivery times based on customer behavior and preferences.

Segmenting email lists ensures that clients receive targeted and relevant content.

AI can also analyze customer responses to past emails and adjust content accordingly, increasing open rates and engagement.

6. Voice assistants

As voice-activated devices gain prominence, businesses can tap into the potential of voice assistants to enrich client interactions.

Voice assistants offer quick access to information, address common queries, and even facilitate ecommerce transactions.

Integrating voice assistants into customer service or sales processes streamlines interactions, offering clients a convenient and efficient means to engage with your business.

Find the right AI tools

You can find an AI tool to help you with almost anything in your business. These were just a few examples

Whether summarizing meetings, breaking down big tasks or writing a proposal outline, AI will form a big part of our working lives.

The challenge will be to filter through the noise and use AI tools that will help your business improve efficiency. Doing so without damaging that all-important customer experience. It will be an interesting few years as we see how AI technology evolves.

The post Why AI can’t replace authentic client relationships appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/why-ai-cant-replace-authentic-client-relationships-430250

Can search engines detect AI content?

The AI tool explosion in the past year has dramatically impacted digital marketers, especially those in SEO.

Given content creation’s time-consuming and costly nature, marketers have turned to AI for assistance, yielding mixed results

Ethical issues notwithstanding, one question that repeatedly surfaces is, “Can search engines detect my AI content?”

The question is deemed particularly important because if the answer is “no,” it invalidates many other questions about whether and how AI should be used.

A long history of machine-generated content

While the frequency of machine-generated or -assisted content creation is unprecedented, it’s not entirely new and is not always negative.

Breaking stories first is imperative for news websites, and they have long utilized data from various sources, such as stock markets and seismometers, to speed up content creation.

For instance, it’s factually correct to publish a robot article that says:

“A [magnitude] earthquake was detected in [location, city] at [time]/[date] this morning, the first earthquake since [date of last event]. More news to follow.”

Updates like this are also helpful to the end reader who need to get this information as quickly as possible.

At the other end of the spectrum, we’ve seen many “blackhat” implementations of machine-generated content.

Google has condemned using Markov chains to generate text to low-effort content spinning for many years, under the banner of “automatically generated pages that provide no added value.”

What is particularly interesting, and mostly a point of confusion or a gray area for some, is the meaning of “no added value.”

How can LLMs add value?

The popularity of AI content soared due to the attention garnered by GPTx large language models (LLMs) and the fine-tuned AI chatbot, ChatGPT, which improved conversational interaction.

Without delving into technical details, there are a couple of important points to consider about these tools:

The generated text is based on a probability distribution

For instance, if you write, “Being an SEO is fun because…,” the LLM is looking at all of the tokens and trying to calculate the next most likely word based on its training set. At a stretch, you can think of it as a really advanced version of your phone’s predictive text.

ChatGPT is a type of generative artificial intelligence

This means that the output is not predictable. There is a randomized element, and it may respond differently to the same prompt.

When you appreciate these two points, it becomes clear that tools like ChatGPT do not have any traditional knowledge or “know” anything. This shortcoming is the basis for all the errors, or “hallucinations” as they are called.

Numerous documented outputs demonstrate how this approach can generate incorrect results and cause ChatGPT to contradict itself repeatedly.

Example from /r/ChatGPT — *Example from* */r/ChatGPT*

This raises serious doubts about the consistency of “adding value” with AI-written text, given the possibility of frequent hallucinations.

The root cause lies in how LLMs generate text, which won’t be easily resolved without a new approach.

This is a vital consideration, especially for Your Money, Your Life (YMYL) topics, which can materially harm people’s finances or life if inaccurate.

Major publications like Men’s Health and CNET were caught publishing factually incorrect AI-generated information this year, highlighting the concern.

Publishers are not alone with this issue, as Google has had difficulty reining in its Search Generative Experience (SGE) content with YMYL content.

Despite Google stating it would be careful with generated answers and going as far as to specifically give an example of “won’t show an answer to a question about giving a child Tylenol because it is in the medical space,” the SGE would demonstrably do this by simply asking it the question.

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Google’s SGE and MUM

It’s clear Google believes there is a place for machine-generated content to answer users’ queries. Google has hinted at this since May 2021, when they announced MUM, their Multitask Unified Model.

One challenge MUM set out to tackle was based on the data that people issue eight queries on average for complex tasks.

In an initial query, the searcher will learn some additional information, prompting related searches and surfacing new webpages to answer those queries.

Google proposed: What if they could take the initial query, anticipate user follow-up questions, and generate the complete answer using their index knowledge?

If it worked, while this approach may be fantastic for the user, it essentially wipes out many “long-tail” or zero-volume keyword strategies that SEOs rely on to get a foothold within the SERPs.

Assuming Google can identify queries suitable for AI-generated answers, many questions could be considered “solved.”

This raises the question…

Why would Google show a searcher your webpage with a pre-generated answer when they can retain the user within their search ecosystem and generate the answer themselves?

Google has a financial incentive to keep users within its ecosystem. We’ve seen various approaches to achieve this, from featured snippets to letting people search for flights in the SERPs.

Suppose Google considers your generated text does not offer value over and above what it can already provide. In that case, it simply becomes a matter of cost vs. benefit for the search engine.

Can they generate more revenue in the long term by absorbing the expense of generation and making the user wait for an answer versus sending the user quickly and cheaply to a page they know already exists?

Detecting AI content

Along with the explosion of usage of ChatGPT came dozens of “AI content detectors” which allow you to input text content and will output a percentage score – which is where the problem lies.

Although there is some difference in how various detectors label this percentage score, they almost invariably give the same output: the percentage certainty that the entire provided text is AI-generated.

This leads to confusion when the percentage is labeled, for instance, “75% AI / 25% Human.”

Many people will misunderstand this to mean “the text was written 75% by an AI and 25% by a human,” when it means, “I am 75% certain that an AI wrote 100% of this text.”

This misunderstanding has led some to offer advice on how to tweak text input to make it “pass” an AI detector.

For instance, using a double exclamation mark (!!) is a very human characteristic, so adding this to some AI-generated text will result in an AI detector giving a “99%+ human” score.

This is then misinterpreted that you have “fooled” the detector.

But it is an example of the detector working perfectly because the provided passage is no longer 100% generated by AI.

Unfortunately, this misleading conclusion of being able to “fool” AI detectors is also commonly conflated with search engines such as Google not detecting AI content giving website owners a false sense of security.

Google policies and actions on AI content

Google’s statements around AI content have historically been vague enough to give them wiggle room regarding enforcement.

However, updated guidance was published this year in Google Search Central that says explicitly:

“Our focus is on the quality of content, rather than how content is produced.”

Even before this, Google Search Liaison Danny Sullivan jumped in on Twitter conversations to affirm that they “haven’t said AI content is bad.”

Google lists specific examples of how AI can generate helpful content, such as sports scores, weather forecasts, and transcripts.

It’s clear that Google is far more concerned with the output than the means of getting there, doubling down on “to generate content with the primary purpose of manipulating ranking in search results is a violation of our spam policies.”

Combatting SERP manipulation is something Google has many years of experience in, claiming that advances to their systems, such as SpamBrain have made 99% of searches “spam-free”, which would include UGC spam, scraping, cloaking and all various forms of content generation.

Many people have run tests to see how Google reacts to AI content and where they draw the line on quality.

Before the launch of ChatGPT, I created a website of 10,000 pages of content primarily generated by an unsupervised GPT3 model, answering People also ask questions about video games.

With minimal links, the site was quickly indexed and steadily grew, delivering thousands of monthly visitors.

During two Google system updates in 2022, the Helpful Content Update and the later Spam update, Google suddenly and almost completely suppressed the site.

*Google Search Console data from AI test website*

It would be wrong to conclude that “AI content does not work” from such an experiment.

However, this demonstrated to me that at that particular time, Google:

Was not classifying unsupervised GPT-3 content as “quality.”
Could detect and remove such results with a raft of other signals.

To get the ultimate answer, you need a better question

Based on Google’s guidelines, what we know about search systems, SEO experiments, and common sense, “Can search engines detect AI content?” is likely the wrong question.

At best, it is a very short-term view to take.

In most topics, LLMs struggle to consistently produce “high-quality” content in terms of factual accuracy and meeting Google’s E-E-A-T criteria, despite having live web access for information beyond their training data.

AI is making significant strides in generating answers for previously content-scarce queries. But as Google aims for loftier long-term goals with SGE, this trend may fade.

The focus is expected to return to longer-form expert content, with Google’s Knowledge systems providing answers to cater to many longtail queries instead of directing users to numerous small sites.

The post Can search engines detect AI content? appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/can-search-engines-detect-ai-content-430215

Presents for Female Entrepreneurs Fit for Any Occasion

Home Business Magazine Online

If a female entrepreneur in your life has a special occasion, a success, or you just want to show her thanks, finding that perfect gift can be quite a task. You want to give her something unique, meaningful, and something she will value. Rather than scouring the internet or shopping malls, we compiled a list of wonderful presents for female entrepreneurs right at your fingertips that are sure to make her day. From attractive fashions to pampering cosmetics to appliances that make her life easier, below are excellent gift options to choose from. No matter the personality or style of a hard-working business woman, there is something on this list she is sure to love.

Amour Vert Elio Linen Midi Dress and Eleanor Paris Rib Tee

An elegant, yet comfortable dress from Amour Vert makes a perfect gift for the busy entrepreneur. Amour Vert offers lovely pieces and closet staples that are earth-friendly and timeless. They partner directly with mills to develop their own fabrics that are sustainable, soft, and stand the test of time. They always start with the most sustainable, traceable, and eco-friendly raw fibers and materials available.

Amour Vert’s Elio Linen Midi Dress is an absolutely beautiful midi dress featuring elastic adjustable straps with button details, elastic at the top, a cotton lining at the skirt doubled inside at the bodice, and it has pockets. It is made from 100% linen, features a standard fit, and is 49″ in length. The Elio Linen Midi Dress is perfect to wear from her home office and in-person meetings to dinners and social hours. And she’ll love that it is machine washable. Retails for $230 at amourvert.com.

Amour Vert’s Eleanor Paris Rib Tee will be a much appreciated staple in her closet. This slim, flattering t-shirt features short sleeves and a thicker band at neck line. It’s made from Amour Vert’s signature Paris Rib, a stretchy-soft fabric sourced from FSC-certified beechwood forests where 100% of the harvested wood is used in production. This versatile top rib tee is available in White, Earth, and Black. It’s designed to be slim fitting, so size up for her if she prefers a more relaxed fit. Retails for $60 at amourvert.com.

Viking Culinary Kitchen Staples

A thoughtful, practical present for female entrepreneurs is one that elevates her kitchen experience, such as new tools from Viking Culinary. Their Viking Hollow Forged Stainless Steel 6-Piece Tool Set includes solid & slotted spoons, a pasta fork, a deep ladle, and solid & slotted spatulas. They are made from durable 18/8 Stainless Steel, are mirror-Polished, and ergonomically designed to stay cool. They feature a hollow handle for ease and comfort while she works in the kitchen. She’ll love their seamless design for easy cleaning – and they’re dishwasher safe too! These tools come with a limited lifetime warranty. Retails for $139.99 at vikingculinaryproducts.com.

Another option she will appreciate using every day in the kitchen is the Viking Hard Anodized Nonstick 10-inch Fry Pan. Constructed with heavy gauge anodized aluminum for durability and even heat distribution throughout the sides and bottom of the pan, this pan features a stainless steel base making it exceptionally stable and compatible with all cooktops including induction. It features a titanium infused Triple-layer nonstick for superior release, durability and longevity even when using metal utensils. The multi-layer coating improves release and protection even if the top layer is scratched over time. The fry pan also feature flared rims for easy tossing and drip-free pouring. Viking signature handles are hand crafted from cast stainless steel and riveted to the pan for a lifetime of durability. She can even use this in the oven and on the grill. Retails for $129.99 at vikingculinaryproducts.com.

Quartet Glass Chair Mat

Dedicated to innovation, Quartet has been a leader in visual communications since 1954. They design best-in-class products that inspire smart thinking and creative solutions. The Quartet Glass Chair Mat is a perfect gift for your special entrepreneur. This gift will make a beautiful addition to her home office space. A Quartet Glass Chair Mat will not crack or discolor, keeping her home office space looking fresh and centered. With such a high-quality upgrade to her space, she’ll feel motivated and proud, ready to take on another day as a business owner.

The Quartet Glass Chair Mat features a sleek and durable glass surface that is easy to roll across and helps protect her floors from daily wear and tear – this means no scratches or scuffs to her floors. Its smooth glass surface lets her easily glide her chair across the mat and does not create any distracting sounds. Plus, polished pencil edges make it simple to roll on and off the chair mat. Quartet Glass Chair Mats use premium, low-iron glass, making it clear and transparent to help blend it into the floor. It adds a professional, modern style to any home office space. The chair mat measures 48″ x 60″ (also available in 36″ x 48″) and has rubber feet to keep it in place. The tempered glass supports up to 1,000 lbs. and is easy to clean. She’ll appreciate that it comes with a 10-year warranty. Retails for $300 at quartet.com.

Medical Scrubs Collection Infinity Footwear BOLT

These chic shoes have a breathable, flexible knit upper for all-day comfort, especially if you’re prone to swollen feet. Underneath, an ultra-cushiony midsole with airbag adds even more comfort. Also features an oil- and slip-resistant sole and a removable, shock absorbing latex-free polyurethane insole with arch support and heel cupping for stability and all-day comfort. The interior lining and insole are also treated with Certainty® antimicrobial technology to inhibit the growth of microbes that cause odor. Retails for $67.96 at medicalscrubscollection.com

Medical Scrubs Collection also offers a fantastic selection of khaki scrubs, plus size scrubs, maternity scrubs, and Dickies scrubs.

YogaForce A-Line Mat

The fantastic YogaForce A-Line Mat makes a great gift for the busy entrepreneur who enjoys yoga. And if she isn’t already into yoga, this is a gift that will surely spark her passion for it. After all, working out and meditation are essential for improving the mind and body, which has a positive effect on the health of her business.

The YogaForce A-Line Mat is a unique yoga mat with alignment lines to improve her practice. Unlike traditional yoga mats, this one is wider at the top to match the width of her shoulders and features tapered edges and a slightly narrow base. Orange alignment guides ensure proper positioning to help both beginner and advanced yogis reach perfect posture in every pose. Ergonomically shaped, the YogaForce A-Line Mat is 68.5 inches long, 19.5 inches wide at the feet and 29.5 inches wide at the shoulders, offering more room to maneuver in a crowded class. The mat is 4 pounds and comes with an adjustable shoulder strap for easy, hands-free transport. The removable wallet fits an iPhone. The easy transport is something she will appreciate as she is off to her yoga practice in a class or in the great outdoors. Retails for $121.00 at yogaforce.com.

Itsdecorszn Wood Mushroom Stand

A nice present for your special entrepreneur is something she can decorate her house or home office space with. Itsdecorszn’s Wood Mushroom Stands are perfect for indoor decors by mixing the instinctive touch with a little tone of modernity. She can place these items on shelves, desks, tables, or alongside artificial flowers to acquire a perfect natural appealing look. They will also help her organize the space she chooses because she can give lift to the special items that may have cluttered in a corner, or on her desk. Decadent, cute, and artistic, these stands are great presents for your nature-loving female entrepreneurs. They come in two different sizes (small and large) and in a variety of soft, versatile colors. Retails for $35 (small)/ $45 (large) at itsdecorszn.com.

SweetNight Eye Tech Mask

Because a female entrepreneur spends a great deal of time in front of digital monitors and screens, eye strain and soreness are conditions she likey experiences. SweetNight’s new Eye Tech Mask is a mobile-powered eye massager that helps her relieve symptoms caused by eye strain so that she can feel more relaxed to achieve better sleep. The eyemask massager’s built-in massage motor gently produces 7,000 soft vibrations per minute to provide a consistent and relaxing experience for her eye region. It features a built-in heating element, which can be switched on to generate a safe 113℉ temp around her eyes to help improve eye circulation and promote sleep. And by using the added cold compress inlay gel pocket together with the mask, it helps to lessen eye inflammation and in turn, soothes her eyes. The Eye Tech Mask comes with a convenient detachable battery, which can be charged with a Type C & USB 2.0 Cable. On sale for $89 at sweetnight.com.

ALLÉGORIE Black Gala Clutch

Any female entrepreneur would love an elegant and impactful clutch she can use from her busy work day to her nighttime festivities. The Allegorie Gala Clutch is just that perfect clutch she can feel good about. It features an envelope design on the front, with a simplistic silhouette crafted from natural apple peel and plant-based materials. She’ll appreciate The Gala Clutch is USDA certified for biobased materials, PETA certified for cruelty-free products, WFTO certified for fair trade, and OEKO-TEX certified for being free of harmful chemical substances.

The Gala Clutch’s wallet on chain design gives her all that’s needed for a day-to-night schedule, featuring a colorful, spacious interior that can hold all of her on-the-go essentials, with 4 card slots. It comes with a gold, detachable chain. She can try it as a clutch, shoulder bag or cross-body bag, making it a versatile piece in her wardrobe. The Gala Clutch is high-quality and sturdy and its appearance is clean and classic. Its dimensions are approximately 8.5″ W x 4.5″ H x 1.5″. Retails for $265.00 at allegoriedesign.com.

Boquet Vaginal Prebiotics

With everything female entrepreneurs juggle, they should be encouraged to prioritize adequate self-care in doing things that are good for their bodies & soul. Boquet wants to put an end to women being burdened or distracted by vaginal discomforts, like odor and irritation, which can be caused by stress. Boquet is a prebiotic vaginal tablet that promotes the growth of good bacteria in the vaginal flora (instead of stripping it away). Backed by science, their tablet is gentle enough to be used every day. She can use Boquet to restore symptoms of pH imbalance as well as to maintain her vaginal flora’s balance and protective state. Retails for $29 at withboquet.com.

Formulae Prescott – Daily Essentials Set

For the busy entrepreneur always on the go this is a gift that simplifies her skincare routine. Formulae Prescott is an award-winning, multi-tasking, natural skincare line. Each one of their products is inspired by a goal to merge beauty and wellness together in highly effective formulations.
Help her simplify her skincare routine with Formulae Prescott’s ‘Daily Essential Set’. This set is designed to help achieve better skin in fewer steps, it’s easy to understand, simple to use and highly effective. She will also appreciate it is great to use on her skin that’s been overexposed to the sun this summer. This set includes:

Tri-Balm: a luxurious 3-in-1 facial balm that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes in one simple step. This vitamin and anti-oxidant-rich balm nourishes and protects the skin.
Tri-Spritz: an anti-pollutant vitamin-rich mist formulated to tackle and target modern-day skincare needs and stresses – this is her go-to daily defense.
Eye & Lip Contour Cream: combines peptides, vitamins, powerful antioxidants and probiotics to support the skin leaving it hydrated, firm and nourished. It is formulated to protect the most delicate, active parts of the face.

Retails for $182 at us.formulaeprescott.com.

Leo’s Loo Too Smart Automatic Litter Box

Smarty Pear is a California based technology company dedicated to improving life for pets and pet parents through innovative smart products like Leo’s Loo Too. In giving the gift of Leo’s Loo Too, your special entrepreneur can say goodbye to the least enjoyable part of cat parenting: scooping litter! This smart automatic litter box automatically sifts after each visit from kitty and it’s whisper quiet, so it won’t bother her while she is working. The connected app can send her usage notifications, sync with Alexa/Google Home, and more. And because of its modern design, she can put the litter box anywhere in her home office or home and it will blend right in.

Leo’s Loo Too is the newest addition to the Smarty Pear family with its most advanced set of features. These features include radar detection, odor-controlling UV light, triple-layer safety protection, an anti-pinch sensor safety system, weight and activity data, a drawer size of 9.5 L, and more. With all these fantastic features and its modern design, Leo’s Loo Too is a Great Leap Forward for cat families. Leo’s Loo Too comes in Baby Blue, Pretty Pink, Avocado Green and Leo Gray. It comes with a 90-day free trial and a 1-year warranty. Retails for $649.99 at smartypear.com.

Cold Case Ice Cream “The Bad Boys Case”

Your busy entrepreneur deserves a sweet break and is there a better break than a delicious scoop of luxury ice cream? Cold Case Ice Cream will deliver a box of ice cream right to her home or office! “The Bad Boys Case” is their High-End Party Box and it features 6 Handcrafted Specialty Pints of Ice Cream.

These pints include Cinn City: Vietnamese cinnamon base with homemade chewy snickerdoodle cookie chunks, America’s Most Wanted: Goat cheese base with honey roasted Rosemary almonds and blackberry lemon jam swirl, Cereal Killer: Milk chocolate base with homemade muddy buddy cereal mix with swirls of peanut butter, The Mystery of P.B. Cooper: Peanut butter base with chunks of Oreos, Breaking Blue: Fresh Basil and cinnamon base, with blueberry jam swirls and toasted oat brittle, Summer Camp Massacre: Graham cracker base, homemade marshmallow fluff swirls and Belgian chocolate chunks. Additionally, the case comes with their exclusive Cold Case Mystery Game, a “Golden File” with flavor profiles, and 1 Gold Shovel Spoon in Evidence Bag. This is an ice cream experience she will never forget. Retails for $139.99 at coldcaseicecream.com.

Whispering Willow Lavender Serenity Gift Box

Whispering Willow’s Serenity Gift Box is a delightful collection of self-care essentials designed to bring moments of calm and serenity to your busy entrepreneur’s life. This linen-wrapped box is thoughtfully curated with three carefully chosen items: a lavender eye pillow, a velvety salve, and a soothing lip balm. The lavender eye pillow cares for her tired eyes, so she feels the weight of the world melt away. She can even lightly heat it in a microwave to enjoy the scent of lavender, transporting her to a place of relaxation and inner peace. Crafted with care and using only the finest organic oils, Whispering Willow’s salve leaves her skin feeling deeply moisturized and rejuvenated. The lip balm is infused with natural ingredients and the essence of lavender, leaving her lips feeling soft, hydrated, and delicately scented. Included is a blank card and envelope to allow for a personal touch. The Serenity Gift Box is also available in the scents Eucalyptus & Mint and Lemongrass. Retails for $45 at whisperingwillow.com.

York Athletics The Frank Trainer

Gifting your special entrepreneur a pair of York Athletics – The Frank Trainer provides her feet with stability as she’s on the go and they’re built for her toughest workouts. Praised by outlets such as ESPN, Esquire and Popsugar Fitness – The Frank is a supportive yet lightweight trainer that seamlessly transitions from her workout to her night out without skipping a beat. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and versatile and are engineered with over 52 points of measurement to ensure maximum comfort throughout her entire day.

The Frank features a breathable air mesh that promotes maximum ventilation to keep her feet cool during any run or training session. This means no more hot, sweaty feet – something she will love as she goes from her home office to the gym and back. Its bottom unit is made from a lightweight, highly responsive EVA foam compound that transforms impact into energy to propel her forward. This “springboard effect” allows her to run or train longer and harder than ever before. They also feature durable full-grain leather ‘stability cages’ with extra eyelets added for maximum support and heel lock down. This keeps her feet secure with no internal movement or sliding to maximize performance and help prevent injury. Other features include tongue pull tabs and heel pull tabs for easy on / easy off, internal and external molded heel counters for stability and support, performance anti-slip resistant laces, and slip-resistant gum rubber outsoles to maximize grip and traction. The Frank comes in a variety of attractive colors and variations to meet her perfect match. Retails for $155 at yorkathleticsmfg.com.

Little Bird RELEASE Organic Hemp Tincture

Little Bird Organic’s RELEASE Organic Hemp Tincture is a delicious herbal-infused hemp tincture that can be conveniently added to any beverage. It combines a broad spectrum hemp extract with sleep-supporting herbs like chamomile and passionflower for the ultimate relaxation experience. This is as perfect desk companion for your special entrepreneur who needs an easy way to unwind on her busy day. What sets this tincture apart is its unique nanoparticulation formula, which enhances the bioavailability of CBD, enabling her cells to quickly and effectively absorb the dose. It is a vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, and alcohol-free option. It is also USDA Certified Organic, for the discerning entrepreneur who is paying attention to what goes in her body and appreciates that extra peace of mind. Gifting the Release Organic Hemp Tincture says, ‘I see your hustle, respect your grind, and I’m investing in your unwind! Retails for $52 at littlebirdcbd.com.

Mia Ava 24K Gold Filled Wide Textured Dotted Huggie Earrings

A quality, fun-loving pair of earrings from Mia Ava makes a perfect gift for your busy entrepreneur. Mia Ava is an online earrings boutique based in the San Francisco Bay Area offering a wide variety of jewelry that’s beautifully designed, lightweight, and hypoallergenic. They help their customers tune into what makes them look their best while delivering hypoallergenic earrings that are lightweight and perfect for any occasion. Their modern, eclectic boutique earrings are made with quality material, good design, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Their 24K Gold Filled Wide Textured Dotted Huggie Earrings offer summer styling at its finest. These minimalist earrings feature a unique dotted pattern and are 24K gold filled with brass. They measure at 162mm X 17.7mm and are hypoallergenic. Retails for $26.95 USD at miaava.com.

Luzern – The Cleansing Creme

Every hard-working entrepreneur deserves a skin ritual to look forward to. Luzern’s Pure Cleansing Creme is a classic creme beauty cleanser that will hydrate and refresh her skin at the end of her busy day. It is a rich creme infused with cucumber, witch hazel, and citrus leaf extract that leaves skin feeling comforted, clean, and refreshed without stripping, drying or irritating. This means her skin is kept hydrated and in perfect moisture balance. It’s gentle enough for delicate skin, washes away impurities, and helps support her skin’s beneficial lipid barrier. This is a gift that leaves her skin feeling refreshed, soothed, and comfortably clean over and over again. She’ll also appreciate that Luzern products are free from additives that can cause skin inflammation and even contribute to aging of the skin. Retails for $80 at luzernlabs.com.

WOODZEE Recycled Skateboard Sunglass

WOODZEE’s Avalon Recycled Skateboard & Acetate Sunglass make an excellent gift, as they are trendy, versatile, mindful, and unique. The creation of this sunglass stems from Woodzee’s effort to promote sustainability and give new life to old skateboards. They collected hundreds of authentic used skateboards from friends, family, and the local skate scene. These skateboards have been recycled and transformed into unique pairs of sunglasses just for your special entrepreneur. They feature used recycled skateboards, double barrel spring hinges, nylon lens set 100% UVA/UVB protection and polarized nylon lens. This style fits Small to Medium, with the measurements: Lens Width: 50mm, Bridge Width: 24mm, and Temple Length: 145mm. And she’ll appreciate that no pair of Avalons is the same! Retails for $100 at woodzee.com.

VIM & VIGR Heathered Collection (15-20 mmHg)

Because a female entrepreneur spends a lot of her days sitting at a desk, she’ll love the thoughtful gift of compression socks from VIM & VIGR. Graduated compression is a proven wellness booster that promotes blood flow to energize one’s legs, reduces swelling, alleviates achiness, aids in muscle recovery and protects overall leg health. VIM & VIGR’s compression socks were developed in partnership with vascular surgeons and vein clinics and are listed with the FDA. VIM & VIGR’s Heathered Collection is made with premium cotton and a 200-needle count for flexibility and comfort. These socks offer mild-moderate compression (15-20 mmHg), which is appropriate for all-day, everyday wear. However, this design also comes in a higher medical-grade compression level of 20-30 mmHg & 30-40 mmHg. Additionally, the Heathered Collection 10-20 mmHg socks feature graduated compression from ankle to calf, contoured leg and heel for a superior fit, a flexible toe pocket for extra comfort, and spandex throughout the sock for maximum comfort. Retails for $38 at vimvigr.com.

Cloverland Neurotica 10 Oz. Candle

The gift of a Cloverland Candle will give her the feeling of coziness, comfortability, and being unabashedly herself within her home or home office space. She’ll appreciate that Cloverland is a woman-owned and operated small business that donates at least 1% of revenue to US-based charitable organizations helping build a path to home ownership. The Neurotica 10 oz. Cloverland Candle is a coconut-soy wax premium candle in a beautiful double-walled vessel that offers a scent of sandalwood, cardamom, water lily, and vanilla. Neurotica uses only premium fragrance oils for a complex and layered scent. The candle has no phthalates, parabens, or paraffins. Additionally, it features an Acacia wood floating lid to keep her candle dust free and has an all-cotton wick. This candle is sustainably sourced, recycled, upcycleable, and has recyclable packaging. Aesthetically, it is a beautiful candle she will love to display on her desk or anywhere in her home. Retails for $60 at cloverlandhome.com.

Velvet Caviar Black Leopard MacBook Case

Jazz up your special entrepreneur’s Macbook with Velvet Caviar’s new 2-piece Black Leopard MacBook Case featuring more protection, durability, and style. This high-quality protective case features a black base with gloss leopard spots. She’ll love that it’s incredibly sleek, made from light yet durable materials with no extra bulk added. It features a scratch-resistant coating, heat vents to keep her laptop cool, silicone non-slip grips, and even an antimicrobial finish for germ-free travel when needed. It comes with a 1-year warranty too. Retails for $60 at velvetcaviar.com.
Match her new gorgeous case with Velvet Caviar’s Black Leopard MagSafe Battery Power Pack! This battery pack will be her iPhone’s new best friend, featuring on-the-go wireless charging that provides 2x iPhone battery life in a snap! It is easy to apply and remove with any MagSafe iPhone (12, 13 & 14 models) and or MagSafe case using high-strength 12N magnets. Its slim, minimal size gives her maximum portability. This means she can add this sleek, portable charger to her purse and say goodbye to low battery! Retails for $60 at velvetcaviar.com.

Moscato d’Asti DOCG Vignaioli di S. Stefano

Moscato d’Asti DOCG Vignaioli di S. Stefano is a sweet white wine, the dessert wine par excellence. It has a straw yellow color of varying intensity depending on the vintage. The perlage is refined and elegant. A fruity, intense, aromatic and very persistent nose and sweet flavor are accompanied by a perfect balance between low alcohol content (5.5%) and acidity (never too high either), imparting a pleasant freshness to the wine.

The story behind its sleek, attractive bottle is one she will appreciate too. Over the years, Vignaioli has been able to be appreciated not only for the quality of its wines but also for the unusual and modern design of its bottle. To reinvent the image of its bottle, they commissioned Giacomo Bersanetti, one of the greatest Italian designers, to a new and modern project. He created a tall and thin bottle with a unique label that resembles a crescent moon, a tribute to the moon celebrated by the writer Cesare Pavese, originally from Santo Stefano. This is a beautiful dessert wine both inside and out, and she will appreciate it at the end of her busy days. Retails at ivignaiolidisantostefano.it.

EspressoWorks All-In-One Barista Bundle Set

Elevate your special entrepreneur’s coffee routine with EspressoWorks 15-bar Espresso Machine. With its Advanced Thermoblock System, this machine brings her her favorite espresso in just 45 seconds, so you can fuel your meeting and work sessions without delay. The built-in steamer wand allows her to effortlessly froth milk, opening up a world of lattes, cappuccinos, and personalized coffee creations. Each set includes a single and double-shot stainless steel filter to choose her espresso shot size. Compatible with ESE Pods.

This comprehensive set includes everything she needs: the EspressoWorks 15-Bar Espresso Machine, a tamper and measuring spoon for precise coffee dosing, an electric coffee grinder compatible with any 120V outlet, a high-quality portafilter, single and double shot baskets, two stylish ceramic espresso cups, and a milk frothing pitcher. It’s the ultimate companion for coffee-enthusiast entrepreneurs. Not only does the EspressoWorks machine deliver exceptional performance, but it also adds a touch of style to her space. It is available in four trendy colors – White, Red, Blue, and Stainless Steel. Retails for $219.99 at EspressoWorks Amazon Store.

Yonder Organic Mushroom Coffee – Lion’s Mane & Chaga

Help fire up your special entrepreneur’s mornings with Yonder’s Organic Mushroom Coffee – Lion’s Mane & Chaga. This is a 100% Organic Coffee that is uniquely infused with a potent nootropic mushroom blend of full-spectrum, Organic Lion’s Mane and Chaga mushrooms. Lion’s Mane supports healthy brain function, concentration, memory recall, creativity, and productivity, while Chaga supports the reduction of inflammation and is extremely high in antioxidants. And there’s no mushroom taste whatsoever, just high-quality, smooth, rich REAL coffee. This coffee is ethically sourced from Fairtrade farmers only and is 100% Organic & Mycotoxin Free because what she drinks daily should be toxin free. Retails for $31.45 at yonderfood.com. You can further upgrade her morning routine with a fantastic addition to her coffee with Yonder’s Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides. With this duo, she’ll enjoy a clean caffeine boost while also supporting better hair, nails, gut health, skin, and mental focus all in one cup.*

Smashbox HALO Healthy Glow 4-In-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer

Gifting quality makeup from Smashbox to your special entrepreneur is something she will appreciate every day. A newest Smashbox release, their HALO Healthy Glow 4-In-1 Perfecting Pen Concealer is perfect for any of her summer destinations or activities. This concealer combines Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Green Tea, and Ginseng Formula making for the perfect blend of instant radiance. It also offers 24-hour wear and all-day hydration making for the ultimate multitasker for concealing, highlighting, contouring and correcting no matter the summer destination or activity. And she’ll love that there are 26 shades for her to choose from to find her perfect match. Retails for $29 at smashbox.com.

Luxeire Classic Button Up and Reversible Scoop Tank

Luxeire was created for the woman who appreciates great quality and longevity over fast-fashion and trends. Luxeire’s Classic Button Up provides women with the style and sophistication of a traditional button up, but with a sustainable, comfortable, easy-care technical fabric called Renew Fine. Part of Luxeire’s Signature Collection, this classic button-up top is slim fitting, polished and non-constrictive, so she never has to sacrifice comfort for style. Renew Fine is an eco-sustainable fabric made with ECONYL®regenerated nylon thread. It is compact, light, and soft, with stretch where she needs it. It’s also lightweight, breathable thermoregulating and quick-dry, with a UPF rating of 50+. This button up minimizes gaping at the bust, stays tucked in, and moves with her. All Luxeire products are easy care wash and wear with natural wrinkle release. It is made in New York City and comes in the colors black, white, navy, and in the limited edition colors of sky blue and mint. Retails for $228 at luxeire.com.

Part of their Signature Collection, the Luxeire Reversible Scoop Tank offers two necklines – a traditional scoop and a ballet neckline when worn in reverse. Silky, sleek and non-constrictive, this top is designed for her to wear on its own but is also perfect for layering. It also features the Renew Fine fabric. This top will add a sophisticated silhouette to her wardrobe and doubles as active wear with moisture-wicking and quick-dry technology. She’ll love the versatility of this scoop tank. It is made in New York City and comes in the colors of black and navy. Retails for $108 at luxeire.com.

The post Presents for Female Entrepreneurs Fit for Any Occasion appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/lifestyles/presents-female-entrepreneurs-any-occasion/

Google Search Console link report fixed

Google has fixed the issues with the Search Console link report we reported a couple of weeks ago. The issue was the number of links being reported dropped drastically for some site owners.

Resolved. The issue is now resolved. I noticed the links increasing in the report this morning, and then John Mueller, Google’s Search Advocate, confirmed, saying, “Yeah, I think it should be ok now.”

Reporting glitch only. Google wanted to clarify that this was “just a reporting thing.” The link report did not impact any actual ranking, indexing, or crawling of your website. It just was an issue with the number of links Google displayed in the Search Console link report.

John wrote, “FWIW, it doesn’t have anything to do with how search results work.”

What it looks like. Here is a screenshot from my link report showing an increase in the number of links being reported by Google compared to the previous number. I should add the number is still very low compared to historical data for this site.

Here is the report from a couple of weeks ago:

The screenshot above is from this week, but the screenshot below is from July 2022:

If we go back to August 2018, you can see it reported 2.5 million links:

Why we care. Again, this fix did not fix any specific ranking issues. It only fixed the link report in Google Search Console. Those of you who track links this way can go back into the report and hopefully they will find the number of links being reported more appealing.

The post Google Search Console link report fixed appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-search-console-link-report-fixed-430277

A tale of two snippets: What link attribution in SGE tells us about search

Are Google’s AI-generated summaries in their Search Generative Experience (SGE) interface unfairly stealing clicks from the website publishers who originally created those answers?

This is the question everyone in SEO and digital marketing has been asking for a couple of months now.

With Google’s latest update displaying links to SGE’s sources more prominently, now seems the best time to revisit that question.

Let’s stop talking about AI for a moment

But before we start, please do me a favor. for the next couple of sections, let’s set aside how the snippets in SGE are generated.

Why? Because I’ve noticed that too many discussions about SGE devolve into arguments about generative AI and large language models.

It’s a worthwhile discussion to have, and we should be talking about it. But we’re missing the point by reducing our thinking about SGE to the particular algorithm that’s currently powering it.

Fixating on this particular iteration of an algorithm that Google uses to generate previews of search results distracts us from asking much more interesting questions.

As SEOs, we should think about features in terms of the search experience itself and ask:

What is the search page displaying?
In what ways is the search page presenting that information?
How do the structure and content of the search page impact those who create the content being displayed (website publishers) and those seeking answers to their search queries (users)?
How do those impacts compare against alternative implementations of a search results page?
Which of those implementations makes for the best search experience (whatever that might mean)?

We can’t ask any of those questions when we are getting stuck in the complexities of how Google’s generative AI model works.

So, for a few minutes, let’s pretend it doesn’t matter how Google generates the answers displayed in SGE.

Our discussion won’t depend on whether those answers are crafted by generative AI, a different algorithm, submitted by website owners, hand-written by a Googler stuck in some basement office, or magically cast into existence by a team of little green fairies.

Can you do that for me? Great!

Now, let’s talk about SGE.

SGE’s new link attribution

On Tuesday, Google introduced a new design to SGE that made links more visually prominent.

Previously, the default SGE interface didn’t show sources in an obvious way. Instead, users had to click on a button to see links explicitly within the text of that snippet:

Old SGE interface as documented by yours truly on May 26, 2023. — *Old SGE interface as documented by yours truly on May 26.*

As of Aug. 1, there is only one mode, which shows a clickable chevron at the end of each paragraph:

*The SGE snippet from one of my searches earlier today.*

When you click on that chevron, you’ll see a dropdown with clickable links for webpages where SGE sourced its summary:

Same search result, but now I've clicked to see expanded link information. — *Same search result, but now I’ve clicked to see expanded link information.*

As you can probably tell, this new UI looks very similar to the expanded mode on SGE’s old interface.

However, I suspect this will be a major improvement for most users. I’m probably in the minority for having regularly clicked on that tiny expansion button.

Why do we care?

Even small design tweaks to how Google displays attribution are important to anybody creating and publishing content on the web.

After all, Google’s previous iteration of SGE received a lot of public criticism. Most notably, Avram Piltch from Tom’s Hardware wrote in early June:

“Instead of highlighting links to content from expert humans, the ‘Search Generative Experience’ (SGE) uses an AI plagiarism engine that grabs facts and snippets of text from a variety of sites, cobbles them together (often word-for-word) and passes off the work as its creation.”

Many have already praised Google’s new UI as a significant improvement.

SGE “is learning to give credit where it’s due,” says Android Police.
9to5Google hopes this design will end up “directing more traffic through to the sources.”

I even heard good things from one of the more vocal critics of SGE’s initial lack of attribution, Lily Ray. Ray, who serves as the Senior Director, SEO and Head of Organic Research at Amsive Digital, told me:

“I’ve been very vocal since day one about the importance of Google incorporating links into SGE answers, just like Bing Chat has done from the start. I was excited (and relieved) today to see that Google took our concerns seriously and seems to be testing multiple layouts for incorporating links in SGE answers.”

Slow down: Is SGE actually a ‘plagiarism engine’?

But wait. What did Tom’s Hardware mean by “plagiarism” in the quote above?

Piltch’s description is genuinely fascinating.

Read this again, but apply every statement to Google’s pre-existing featured snippets:

“…engine that grabs facts and snippets of text from a variety of sites, cobbles them together (often word-for-word) and passes off the work as its creation.”

The only real difference between SGE’s summaries and featured snippets is the number of links they include (and a lack of pretty colors):

Featured snippet result for "how to learn Italian", featuring only one website. — *Featured snippet result for “how to learn Italian”, featuring only one website.*

You could say that the example above, like SGE, also “grabs facts and snippets of text” explicitly “word-for-word” from Untold Italy’s website.

So why is one interface treated as searching while the other as stealing?

I believe SGE includes quotes from websites functionally the same as the text displayed in featured snippets or most other rich results within Google’s SERP.

Danielle Stout Rohe, Sr. Data Program Manager, Content and SEO at Cox Automotive Inc., agrees. As she told me:

“When SGE first came out, it felt like an expanded featured snippet (FS) to me. The only major difference was that the default view in SGE didn’t clearly indicate what text was tied to what site, but the other SGE view does.”

SGE feels like a natural development from previous SERP features.

In 2007, Google wrote about meta descriptions that they “want snippets to accurately represent the web result.”
In 2012, they introduced rich snippets guidelines to “provide even better summaries” to users.
In 2014, they added “structured snippets” for additional data.
In 2018, Danny Sullivan announced a relaunch of featured snippets, saying:

“We display featured snippets in search when we believe this format will help people more easily discover what they’re seeking, both from the description and when they click on the link to read the page itself. It’s especially helpful for those on mobile or searching by voice.”

Most of this language tracks pretty directly across all those developments, from 2007 to the 2023 test with SGE.

But I wasn’t there in those early days of SEO. Thankfully, I know someone who was.

So, I asked fellow marketer and my occasional collaborator Rand Fishkin (CEO of SparkToro; formerly Moz), who told me:

“Even in the pre-2010 days, most SEOs I talked to had the sense that the “10-blue-links” era was fading (especially after the integration of things like Google Maps, weather, sports scores, etc. between 2006-2009). I never believed much in predicting the future, but I don’t think the rise of zero-click searches and instant answers would have been a huge surprise to anyone who watched the SERPs in those years.”

We can speculate how much SGE was influenced by the recent popularity of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. But I don’t think these features are simply Google’s attempt to capture industry hype.

SGE’s summaries are simply the newest form of “instant answers” in a long line of previous iterations.

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Why were we afraid of featured snippets?

What do we fear when we accuse a search engine like Google of “stealing”?

One way to approach this problem is to look backward. How did we feel when featured snippets and their lengthy quotes first launched?

Featured snippets also caused a fair amount of anxiety. As Paul Shapiro, Head of Technical SEO at Shopify, explained to me:

“When Google first introduced featured snippets, I was concerned about the potential rise of ‘zero-click’ searches, fearing that Google might retain all traffic on the SERP or within its own ecosystem.”

Shapiro’s fear makes a lot of sense. When we publish content online, we hope that users will find it. The whole premise of SEO is to help websites get found for relevant queries.

Ranking higher on the SERP is merely a way to increase a site’s exposure to more users, in the hopes that they’ll click through.

Even Google themselves agree. When describing the new link UI in an Aug. 2 update, they wrote:

“SGE is designed to be a jumping-off point for exploring helpful information on the web, with links to search results included alongside each AI overview.”

It’s completely fair to question whether we want a search engine “stealing” our clicks or reducing our CTRs. But that question is not unique to SGE. Our concern about losing clicks to SERP previews should also apply to other content previews that were introduced in the past.

When Google first announced rich snippets in a 2009 blog post, they described the feature as a way to increase the amount of clicks that websites would receive:

“It’s a simple change to the display of search results, yet our experiments have shown that users find the new data valuable—if they see useful and relevant information from the page, they are more likely to click through.”

Worried about losing clicks to SGE’s summaries? We also need to consider those worries’ place within the long history of search engines featuring samples of website content in other forms.

We could argue that a search engine is taking away readers by presenting featured snippets, rich cards, meta descriptions, ranking algorithms, or the very design of the SERP.

After all, webpages ranking higher on search results get more clicks than those ranked below.

Why don’t we wonder how “fair” it is for a search engine to decide which sites are more worthy of being featured?

Do ‘zero-click’ snippets really reduce traffic?

It’s easy to look at a search snippet and think that users won’t click on your site when they can simply get their answers inside the SERP itself.

But user behavior is much more complicated than that, and some users will still look at the usual “blue links” even with SGE.

For example, Rohe noted:

“Other times, I still find myself scrolling the results. Old habits die hard? Or I think it is more of the fact that we still want choice if we can have it (at least I do).”

And in the years we’ve witnessed other iterations of Google embedding content directly within the SERP, our websites haven’t exactly collapsed. As Shapiro observed:

“The impact hasn’t been as severe as I initially anticipated. Featured snippets continue to direct traffic to the originating website. While I acknowledge that Google might continue to cannibalize more traffic over time, I don’t believe that SGE represents a future of SEO that we should worry about, at least not in its current form.”

Yes, Google as a corporation has reason to keep users on their own search results page.

However, if all users abandon their search engine because it’s not helping them find relevant websites, then Google’s revenue would suffer.

At the end of the day, they have to keep providing a decent enough user experience and provide publishers with enough visitors to make Google worth indexing their sites on.

And, as far as I can tell, the visually distinct top featured snippet actually tends to increase CTR.

Websites ranking in the top spot get 74.5% more clicks than the ones ranking second, according to Backlinko.

In that case, wouldn’t featuring even more websites in that coveted “spot zero”, as SGE does, be even better for driving visitors to websites?

What makes a good search engine?

At the core of our unease with significant changes to the SERP is a much bigger question than their impact on CTR: what makes a search engine like Google’s “good”?

We might not know it, but we all make certain assumptions about search.

Whenever we discuss updates to SERP features, we’re wrestling with our understanding of what makes a “natural” UX when searching the web.

The main problem that Google is solving is not “how do we steal traffic from websites.”

It’s easy to hate a large corporation, but for those working on Google search, the main question is, “how can we help users determine if certain results are what they are looking for?”

From that perspective, contextual curation is extremely useful. SGE feels like features of certain academic and professional databases, such as EBSCOhost or Westlaw.

Especially when meta descriptions and titles for multiple sites might sound similar, getting a more detailed content preview can be extremely helpful in figuring out what content to click on.

However, in its current form, SGE is often tacked on above other rich SERP features:

This search shows book covers and titles within SGE right above a large featured card with.... the same book covers and titles. — *This search shows book covers and titles within SGE right above a large featured card with…. the same book covers and titles.*

Ray noticed the same concern in her experience:

“SGE results are often highly redundant with the information we already had in other SERP features, like featured snippets, Top Stories and Google Maps. SGE often appears above or intertwined with these existing features, which can be a bit overwhelming, especially given that it takes a few seconds to load.”

I believe comparing the quality of results between SERP features is exactly the type of discussion we should have.

Many SEOs never get to it because we get stuck on a vision of scary AI coming to mess up everyone’s search experience.

But… were things even that good before?

Search wasn’t perfect – and neither was SEO

I’ll be honest – I was excited about SGE because I thought it could shake up SEO. And we need that. We need some more variety and randomness in our industry.

Perhaps we need the field of SEO to fundamentally change. Because as things stand now, many search results have become unusable for average internet users.

The Washington Post recently argued that Google is losing its relevance as the web’s main search engine, partly because certain website owners have manipulated their rankings too much.

And even from our perspective, many marketers aren’t actually excited to produce SEO content.

I’ve heard marketers say that they treat their search content as a drag, an obligation, a chore.

And others have speculated whether some SEOs might be ashamed of their own work.

We’re living with a dark legacy of SEO, having started as a field with a pretty bad reputation. As Fishkin recalled to me:

“SEO had a terrible reputation in the business, marketing, and technology world for the first decade I practiced it. My goal was always to prove that SEO was a respectable, powerful marketing channel and a world filled with wonderful people practicing a valuable craft. For years, Google hated the SEO community and treated it as a cancer to be eradicated. It took a long time and a lot of relationship building, content marketing, and value contribution before that turned around.”

It’s hard to feel like our work is not valued by the very search engine that we’ve made into one of our key marketing channels.

So when Google pushes out significant and disruptive changes to the SERP, we feel uncomfortable.

We don’t want the rug pulled out from under us or our clients, all of that hard-earned traffic taken away overnight.

But my question to you is – how valid is SGE, particularly, as the object of that fear?

Yes, there are plenty of reasons to be unhappy with Google as a corporation or their particular product decisions around search. And I am not going to defend the existence of large tech monopolies.

But I also know that whether we argue about SGE or not, Google will not cease to be a gigantic corporation. Those kinds of changes are up to lawyers and regulators, not SEOs.

We are marketing professionals living in a world where Google is the main search engine – a world where most people still use Google to browse the web.

We can foam at the mouth, arguing that Google might be stealing our traffic with a slightly fancier snippet, or we can ask more interesting questions.

And perhaps some of those questions could even shape the web in a direction we would like, whether it’s Google releasing those features or not.

The post A tale of two snippets: What link attribution in SGE tells us about search appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/snippets-link-attribution-sge-search-430235

TikTok pilots new ad-targeting tech that offers improved data security

TikTok is trialling a new ad-targeting tool that reportedly offers improved data privacy protection.

PrivacyGo operates like a data clean room, where separate parties can input multiple sets of data and find commonalities without sharing the original source.

Why we care. If PrivacyGo works as expected, this tool will provide marketers with deeper insights into who their target audience is, enabling them to make more efficient data-led decisions to improve campaign performance. The technology will also enhance TikTok’s ad-targeting capabilities, helping brands to reach the right people as well as previously untapped audiences. If TikTok is able to achieve these goals while adhering to evolving data privacy regulations, advertisers’ trust and confidence in the platform will inevitably increase, which will likely lead to more ad spend.

How it works. PrivacyGo functions by implementing a type of cryptography known as multi-party computation, or MPC, reports Business Insider. This technology is able to identify common audiences between multiple sets of data, while ensuring none of the parties have access to it. The US Government uses a similar approach to review census data, according to TikTok, and so the platform is hoping this will reassure officials that its data privacy protection is sufficient.

Why now? TikTok is still under investigation by the CFIUS over data privacy concerns and allegations it has been leaking data to the Chinese government. If the platform is found to be violating any data privacy regulations, it faces a full ban in the US. With that in mind, it’s little wonder TikTok is exploring different methods to improve its data privacy capabilities.

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General roll out. TikTok is in the process of piloting this new technology with select marketers. Once it gets the green light, the company has said that it is planning to make it more broadly available in the not-too-distant future.

Deep dive. Read our article about the moment TikTok’s CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress over data privacy concerns for more insight into why pressure is on the company to improve its data privacy security.

The post TikTok pilots new ad-targeting tech that offers improved data security appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/tiktok-ad-targeting-tool-privacygo-data-privacy-430283

Google releases Responsive Search Ads guide

Google has released a Responsive Search Ads guide to help marketers improve their campaign performance.

The new RSA guide includes Google’s advice and information on how:

To write ads for maximum conversions.
RSAs use Google AI to generate ad copy.
To evaluate a campaign’s effectiveness.

Why we care. You may find this guide to be a helpful resource, especially if you’re newer to working with RSAs. It may give you a better understanding of how RSAs work and how to optimize for maximum performance and potentially increase conversions and ROI.

A comprehensive guide. Google’s new document contains seven sections:

The challenge with delivering the right ads.
Why responsive search ads
How responsive search ads select combinations to generate Search ads
Ad Strength: a feedback mechanism for creative content
Tools to help create high quality assets
Evaluate the effectiveness of responsive search ads
AI-ready account structure: Smart Bidding, broad match, & responsive search ads

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Google also provided five key takeaways to get the most out of RSAs:

What has Google said? A Google spokesperson said:

“Our goal is to simplify the work it takes to create high-quality ads that achieve your business objectives at scale.”
“To do this, we’re hard at work applying the newest AI-powered innovations across asset generation, customizing assets for relevance, and both simplifying and improving tools for managing ads.”

Deep dive. Read Google’s Responsive Search Ads guide (PDF) for more information.

The post Google releases Responsive Search Ads guide appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-responsive-search-ads-guide-430296

Maximizing Visibility in Your Campaigns with Custom Advertising Inflatables

Home Business Magazine Online

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, it is essential for companies to employ creative and effective advertising strategies to cut through the noise and capture the attention of their target audience. Traditional advertising methods are often overlooked or ignored in the digital age. However, there is a unique and visually captivating advertising tool that has been gaining momentum and delivering outstanding results: inflatables for advertising. Today we will explore how custom advertising inflatables can help businesses maximize visibility and leave a lasting impression on their audience.

What Are Inflatables for Advertising?

Custom inflatables for advertising are large-scale, attention-grabbing promotional tools designed to captivate viewers and convey a specific brand message. These inflatables are typically made of durable materials such as PVC or nylon, ensuring their longevity and effectiveness in various environments. Custom advertising inflatables can take the form of towering replicas, product replicas, branded mascots, logos, or any other design that aligns with the brand’s identity and marketing objectives.

Eye-Catching and Memorable

One of the primary advantages of using custom inflatables for advertising is their ability to grab attention instantly. These custom inflatable marketing tools are hard to ignore, even in crowded spaces or amidst competing visual stimuli. Their towering presence, vibrant colors, and unique designs create a sense of curiosity and intrigue among viewers. By standing out from traditional advertising mediums, inflatables draw the attention of passersby, making them more likely to remember and engage with the brand being promoted. The visual impact and memorable nature of custom advertising inflatables contribute to long-lasting brand recall.

Customization for Brand Consistency

Custom advertising inflatables offer unparalleled customization options, allowing businesses to maintain brand consistency and reinforce their visual identity. By incorporating logos, brand colors, and unique design elements into the inflatable, companies can create a cohesive brand experience across various advertising platforms. Customization ensures that the inflatable aligns seamlessly with the overall marketing campaign, product launch, or event theme, strengthening brand recognition and reinforcing the desired brand image in the minds of consumers.

Increased Reach and Brand Exposure

One of the key objectives of any advertising campaign is to reach as many potential customers as possible. Inflatables for advertising excel in extending brand reach and exposure due to their large size and striking appearance. Placed strategically in high-traffic areas, these inflatables can capture the attention of a vast number of people, including pedestrians, motorists, and event attendees. The size and visibility of custom advertising inflatables ensure that the brand message reaches a broader audience, increasing the likelihood of brand recall and driving potential customers to take action.

Cost-Effective Advertising Solution

Compared to traditional advertising channels such as TV commercials or print ads, inflatables for advertising offer a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. Traditional advertising can be prohibitively expensive, especially for small or medium-sized enterprises with limited marketing budgets. In contrast, custom advertising inflatables provide a one-time investment that can be used repeatedly for various campaigns and events. With proper care and storage, these inflatables can maintain their effectiveness over an extended period, delivering excellent return on investment.

Versatility for Diverse Campaigns

Inflatables for advertising are versatile marketing tools that can adapt to a wide range of campaigns and events. Whether it’s a grand opening, trade show, sports event, or outdoor festival, custom advertising inflatables can be tailored to suit the specific needs and goals of each occasion. They can take the form of inflatable arches, tunnels, product replicas, characters, or even inflatable games. This versatility allows businesses to maximize their visibility and impact by leveraging inflatables in various settings and engaging with different target audiences.

Interactive and Engaging Experiences

To create a lasting impact, advertising campaigns must go beyond mere visuals and engage the audience on a deeper level. Inflatables for advertising offer opportunities for interactive and immersive experiences. Companies can incorporate interactive elements such as inflatable games, bounce houses, or photo opportunities into the design, allowing consumers to physically engage with the brand. This interactive experience not only leaves a positive impression but also encourages social sharing, word-of-mouth promotion, and increased brand advocacy.

Efficient and Portable Branding Solution

Inflatables for advertising provide businesses with a highly efficient and portable branding solution. Unlike traditional signage or installations, inflatables can be easily deflated, stored, and transported to different locations. This portability allows companies to maximize their branding opportunities by taking their custom advertising inflatables to various events, trade shows, or even on-the-go promotions. The ease of setup and teardown ensures that businesses can showcase their brand presence and make a visual impact wherever their target audience may be. The efficiency and portability of custom advertising inflatables make them a versatile and convenient choice for businesses looking to extend their brand reach and visibility.

Inflatables for advertising provide businesses with a unique and effective way to maximize visibility and leave a lasting impression on their target audience. With their eye-catching nature, customization options, versatility, and cost-effectiveness, custom advertising inflatables offer a dynamic advertising solution. By incorporating these inflatables into their marketing campaigns, companies can capture attention, increase brand exposure, and create memorable experiences for their customers. Whether for a grand opening, trade show, or outdoor event, inflatables for advertising are a powerful tool to take your advertising efforts to new heights and achieve remarkable results.

The post Maximizing Visibility in Your Campaigns with Custom Advertising Inflatables appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/marketing/advertising/maximizing-visibility-campaigns-custom-advertising-inflatables/

Digital Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

Home Business Magazine Online

In today’s world, the Internet, social media, and search engines have become a part of our everyday life. For business owners, it’s essential to understand these channels and utilize their prospects for growth.

Digital marketing involves advertising and promoting products or services to a specific audience through online platforms. This approach offers an even playing field to achieve exceptional success through creativity and innovation without overspending. There is hardly any organization that does not make use of the Internet. It can be through having a functional website or social media accounts.

As of April 2023, an estimated 5.18 billion people (64.6%) of the global population have access to the Internet. Out of these numbers, 4.8 billion (59.9%) people use one form of social media. Compared to the 2.85 billion people that do not have internet access, it shows that digital marketing is a necessity if you want your business to grow. This article highlights some of the major components of digital marketing that can help you maximize your reach, engage more customers and boost your growth.

Create a Compelling Website

Building a functional and compelling website is like creating a showroom for your products and services. To compete online, one has to be creative and think out of the box. Your website is the first point of contact with your potential customers. So, you want to keep it simple, informative, and interactive. It should contain valuable information about your products and services. A good website should connect with the customers and explain why you want them to patronize you.

The website should be designed with the user in mind, particularly for small businesses and start-ups. For instance, if your site is about the best Australian online pokies, it should cover details about different platforms that offer these services and their benefits. It must include details about the casino bonuses, games, reputation, etc, to help potential users make the best decisions. Furthermore, it should inform the users on how to play the pokies and about responsible gambling.

Know Your Audience

It is practically impossible to sell your products or services to everyone. Even the most prominent brands know this, which is why there is a saying that “the riches are in the niches.” You must define your target market and use their persona to build your brand. Get information about their preferences, interests, and demographics.

Moreover, if your services target professionals and business executives, LinkedIn might be the best place to market your online presence rather than Instagram or Twitter. The same goes for other components that define your target audience.

Use Social Media

As already mentioned, about 60% of the global population is on social media. It could be Instagram, Threads, or Twitter; dozens of platforms exist. Not all of them might be suitable, depending on the nature of your products or services. But one sure thing is that social media allows businesses to connect and relate with prospective and returning customers. Set up a profile that clearly defines your brand identity and includes contact information for easy access.

Another crucial aspect of leveraging social media is to be very active. Adopt a posting schedule and stay consistent in sharing intentional content. Sometimes, it doesn’t end with posting about your business. Interact with others, and comment on their content, especially those made by big influencers with millions of followers. This can cause your sales to skyrocket and put your business on the map, especially when done correctly.

Use Referral Program to Gain More Prospective Customers

Setting up a referral reward scheme is crucial for growth when your business is still in its infancy. The idea is to link with others who can attract prospective customers to your site. If the lead results in a purchase, the referee gets a commission, and the cycle keeps going.

Many businesses, even big brands like Shopify, Amazon, and AliExpress, use referral programs in the form of affiliate marketing. To succeed, you must use tracking tools to monitor the referrals and the resulting sales conversions.

Run Social Media Ads

It takes time to build organic traffic and get customers. For start-ups, this can be very frustrating. An easy tactic to hasten the build-up is running ads on social media. Depending on the budget, you can leverage the hundreds of millions of users on these platforms to get more clients.

On platforms like Instagram and Facebook, you must see an ad after every three stories you view. Most big brands use this reach to connect with more customers, primarily through targeted ads. It allows you to define your audience based on indicators like age, gender, location, interest, etc. With that, you will likely get more leads that may grow your business.

Leverage on Existing Customers and Their Feedback

Most people don’t know this, but getting a new customer costs more than keeping an existing one. Leverage the current relationship to cross-sell, upsell, and encourage repeat purchases. Always double down on what works by scaling up on previous experiments with positive outcomes. Customer feedback plays a huge role in providing relevant data and insights that can be used to nurture existing relationships while also looking for new customers.

Final Thoughts

The business world is a very competitive one. To stand out, you must create a unique identity for your brand and integrate the best digital marketing tools to reach your prospective customers. It starts with understanding and answering relevant questions about your prospective buyers.

That way, you can understand the best approach to creating an impressive website, choosing social media, and following blogging tips for the best outcomes.

The post Digital Marketing Tips for Small Businesses appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/marketing/internet-marketing/digital-marketing-tips-small-businesses/