Category: Internet Marketing

Google fixing bug that shows 5 ads on top of SERPs

An issue is causing too many ads to show at the top of Google’s search results.

The issue. The search engine is showing five sponsored posts at the top of SERPs, when there should only be four, for some queries. For example:

Advertising

SERPs error. Marketers raised the ads display issue on X (the platform previously known as Twitter), noting that Google has historically said that it only displays four ads at the top of search results pages.

Is Google showing five ads now? No.

Google’s policy hasn’t changed. Something is wrong on Google’s end, according to Ginny Marvin, ads product liaison at Google.

Why we care. We wondered whether Google had increased the number of ads at the top of SERPs, from four to five, on purpose. But now we know that isn’t the case. Rather, it is just the latest stumble for the Google Ads platform.

What has Google said? Marvin said the error is being addressed, via X:

  • “Thanks for bringing it to my attention. This is is not working as intended and we’re working to address it.”

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The post Google fixing bug that shows 5 ads on top of SERPs appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-fixing-ad-error-serps-430122

Meta to get consent before collecting data for targeted advertising in Europe

Meta has offered to get consent from all users in Europe before collecting their data for targeted advertising purposes.

The company put forward the proposal in a bid to try and end a year-long dispute with the European Union over the legality of its targeted ad operations.

Although the changes could have a catastrophic impact on the effectiveness of its targeted ads, Meta has assured that marketers will still be able to promote personalised ad campaigns on the platform in Europe regardless.

Why we care. If a large number of people in Europe refuse to give permission for their data to be collected, Meta will receive fewer signals to identify their interests and behavioural patterns. Without this data, Meta won’t be able to build audiences for ads as effectively, making its targeted advertising operation weaker. This may result in marketers opting not to spend money to advertise on the platform, which may decrease the value of Meta’s ad space.

When is it happening? Meta has said that seeking consent would be a major obstacle and that the changes would take at least three months to implement. This means Meta could be required to ask permission to collect data from users in Europe from October.

However, Meta has also proposed waiting until early next to update its policy to coincide with changes to EU regulations.

An exact timeline is yet to be confirmed but we will keep you posted.

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Why now? Meta suggested updating its policy after meeting with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission – its lead privacy regulator. Following lengthy discussions with the commission, during which substantial guidance was offered, Meta proposed updating its consent policy to ensure it adhered to EU laws.

Deep dive. Read Meta’s privacy policy for more information on how the company collects and stores data.

The post Meta to get consent before collecting data for targeted advertising in Europe appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/meta-consent-collecting-data-targeted-ads-europe-430125

Having a child costs £96,000 – here are 7 tips for new parents

Having a child costs £96,000 – here are 7 tips for new parents

It has been revealed that couples with children spend an average of £5,356 more a year than couples without kids. Over the course of 18 years, this comes to an eye- watering £96,416, with parents less likely to have enough cash leftover at the end of the month. They are also far less likely to have emergency savings or life insurance, compared to non-parents. Figures from the HL Savings and Resilience Barometer also show those with kids are more worried about debt.

So, here are 7 top tips for new parents, to help you save money in the short and long term, giving both yourself and your children financial security and resilience.

Try to get into a better financial position before having children

You’re going to need to draw up a tighter budget when the child is born, so why not do it as soon as you start planning for a family? You can use the cash you free up in order to pay down expensive short-term debts and build up any savings you can.

Make decisions about childcare

Often the biggest challenge in the early years is childcare. In some cases, a parent will want to give up work for a while, but in other cases they would prefer to work, but don’t feel they can afford the cost of childcare. It’s worth considering all the options before deciding.

Take the time to explore everything that’s available in your area – the difference between an expensive nursery and a childminder can be significant. You can also take steps to cut the formal care you need to pay for. This can include asking grandparents for help, juggling shifts with your partner, or sharing care with other friends.

See what help is available

Check if the government will offer help too, because both tax credit and universal credit have childcare allowances. Today’s babies will also benefit from the change that means from April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare. From September next year, this will be extended to babies from the age of nine months.

From September 2025, this will be expanded to 30 hours. In the interim, if you don’t already use childcare vouchers, you can’t sign up for them, but you can still get tax-free childcare to make your money go further.

Protect your family

Make sure your will is up to date and takes all your children into account – including establishing guardians if something was to happen to both parents. You also need to make sure you have enough life insurance, so they’re financially cared for if you pass away. Check your sick pay too – what it covers and how long it lasts for. If it’s not very generous, consider income protection, which will provide cash for you and your family if you are unable to work for a period.

Widen your safety net

We should all have a savings safety net of 3-6 months’ worth of essential expenses in an easy access savings account, in case of nasty surprises. When you have children, your essential expenses will increase, so you need to build your net bigger to account for this. If you already have emergency savings, consider the impact of inflation too – which will mean you’ll need more emergency cash to cover any expenses.

Set up a Junior ISA for gifts

If family and friends want to buy a present to celebrate your child’s birth – or for any subsequent birthday or Christmas – you can ask them to pay into the JISA and help build up a nest egg for when they turn 18. You can choose between a cash or stocks and shares JISA.

Parents may worry about investing, because they see it as a risk. However, while investments will go up and down in value in the short term, over an 18-year timescale, share-based investments will offer far more potential for growth than cash.

Don’t neglect your own needs

Children can easily soak up all the cash available, but it’s vital to keep your own needs in mind too. If you put your savings and long-term investments on hold, you’ll have an enormous amount of ground to make up later – particularly when it comes to pensions.

Where one parent works part-time for a longer period, there’s a risk they have a long break from paying into their pension, which can have serious repercussions for their retirement income. Some parents will choose to make extra contributions into the pension of the person working full time to make up for it, but it’s worth understanding the implications of that – particularly for unmarried parents. It makes sense to consider your household finances in the round and talk about ways you can free up cash so you can both pay into a pension if possible.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance, Hargreaves Lansdown, says:

“Children may be priceless, but they come with a shocking price tag. Couples with kids spend an average of £5,356 more every year than couples without – which over 18 years comes to an eye-watering £96,416. And as a result, their financial resilience suffers across the board. For single parents, life is even tougher, and they face far lower resilience on almost every measure.

“It’s not what parents need to hear as they embark on one of the most expensive times of year, but everything is more expensive with children in tow. Even when you just boil it down to the absolute essentials, couples with kids spend almost a fifth more than those without (£2,266 a month vs £1,923), while single parents spend more than a quarter more than singles without (£1,428 vs £1,150). It’s no wonder that, at the end of the month, a couple with kids has an average of £227 left after paying the bills, while a couple without children has £382, a single person living alone has £34 and a single parent just £25.

“It’s no wonder that only among couples with no children do more than half of people have enough cash at the end of the month to be resilient. Only 44% of parental couples have enough cash at the end of the month – and 25% of single parents (compared with 34% of singles living alone, and 54% of couples with no children).”

The post Having a child costs £96,000 – here are 7 tips for new parents appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/having-a-child-costs-96000-here-are-7-tips-for-new-parents

How can you get food vouchers for the school holidays?

How can you get food vouchers for the school holidays?

The school summer holidays are in full swing, and children everywhere are basking in the thrill of time off school. But it can be difficult during the school breaks for those who claim free school meals during term time.

Feeding children when they are away from being able to get free school meals daily can place strain on the wallets of parents everywhere, as well as bringing a new stress to them daily. Thousands of struggling households can get up to £390 in food vouchers for the holidays.

The Household Support Fund (HSF)

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was introduced by the government in 2021, and is a pot of money allocated to councils across England. The fund is worth over £2 billion so far, helping vulnerable households across the country.

Part of the fund is allocated to food – and helping those who claim free school meals or certain benefits receive support during the school holidays. What you can receive from the HSF depends on where you live – different council have received different amounts of money from the government. Similarly, some help is targeted at those who claim free school meals specifically, whilst other support is for those on certain benefits.

Food vouchers

Local authorities tend to deliver the scheme through a variety of routes – however many give vouchers to households. Other councils may provide food or goods directly, or issue grants to third parties. Vouchers can be redeemed at a number of food outlets including supermarkets and foodbanks.

The HSF is different from the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF). The HAF programme provides free holiday club places with enriching activities and healthy meals to eligible children from low-income families. 

To find out more about accessing support during the school holidays, click here.

England

The HSF is only available in England at present. Below you will find the support available for every county in England.

Avon

For those in Avon, you can gain access to free support with money, including help with food, housing, energy bills, training and general wellbeing. You can apply here.

Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £2.9 million of funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to support households in Central Bedfordshire between April 2023 and March 2024 with food, energy and water bills, and other wider essentials. Click here to apply.

Berkshire

West Berkshire Council has been allocated funding to assist with costs such as energy bills, food, clothing and housing in exceptional circumstances. Priority will be given to households who are ineligible for other government support and vulnerable groups regarding the cost of living crisis. Click here to apply.

Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council provide free digital food vouchers to families with children eligible for free school meals, early years’ pupil premium or a 2-year-old funded free education place. If your family is eligible you will receive a voucher code from your school or early years setting. Find out more here.

Cambridgeshire

In Cambridgeshire, you are eligible to accesssupport through the HSF if all the following apply to you (and your spouse/partner):

  • Currently live in Cambridgeshire
  • Have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments
  • Have low income levels
  • Have not applied within the last 3 months

Find out more here.

Cheshire

Cheshire East Council have loads of help available here.

Cheshire West Council will be allocating £15 per week for each free school meal pupil to ensure families have the necessary financial support for food during the school holiday periods. There is no need for families to apply for this support as schools in Cheshire West and Chester will distribute the vouchers to eligible families prior to the following school holiday periods. Read more here.

Cornwall

Cornwall Council has secured £9 million pounds from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the HSF. The Fund will mainly be used to provide one-off cash payments to help with the increased cost of living. £160 per child to families with children eligible for benefits related free school meals in Reception to Year 11 is available. 2 payments of £80 will be made, with the first payment being made in June 2023. A second payment will be made in November 2023. Payments will be made direct to families and you do not need to apply. Find out more here.

  • Cumbria

  • Cumberland Council has a limited amount of money available through the Household Support Fund to help people who are in financial crisis because of rising prices. Payments will only be made to help households in immediate crisis – for example, those unable to buy food, pay energy bills or buy other essentials. Click here to apply.

Derbyshire

Households facing financial hardship in Derbyshire can apply directly to the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund for help towards their food, and energy costs. Households can access up to 3 awards in a 12-month period. Payments are £64 per household plus an extra £20 will be provided for a partner or spouse, and each dependent child aged under 19. Click here to apply.

    Devon

    If a child or young person in a household qualifies for free school meals in term time then, currently, they automatically qualify for free school meal holiday vouchers from Devon Council. Households currently in receipt of free school meals are eligible for a supermarket voucher to the value of £15 per child per week of the school holidays to help pay for groceries over the break.

    The vouchers will automatically be distributed to eligible households prior to the summer holiday. Find out more here.

    Dorset

    Citizens Advice in Dorset are managing some of the Fund on our behalf via a voucher scheme. Supermarket vouchers of £150 will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within 6 to 8 weeks of their application date. Applications are limited to one per household. Click here to apply.

    Durham

    Durham council has been allocated £9.3 million to provide support to low income and vulnerable households who may be struggling with their energy and food costs, or who need other essential household items. You should automatically receive help. If you haven’t, click here.

    Essex

    If you are facing hardship, you can get help with your essential household costs. The organisations on this page can help you to access support through the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund. You do not need to be claiming benefits to get support.

    Gloucestershire

    The DWP has provided Gloucestershire with of funding of £7,384,966. This will provide support to vulnerable households in most need of support, to help with significantly rising living costs. Click here to apply.

    Hampshire

    Households in Hampshire who are struggling to afford necessities such as food and fuel can get extra help from the connect4communities programme, funded by the HSF. Click here to find out more.

    Herefordshire

    Food vouchers will be provided for free school meal or pupil premium children during the school holidays. The vouchers are based on a minimum of £15 per week for each week of the holidays and schools should have organised directly with families who are entitled. Click here for more.

    Hertfordshire

    To support with the cost of living, Hertfordshire Council has been provided with funding from the government’s Household Support Fund. This will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food. Click here to apply.

    Isle of Wight

    Those on the Isle of Wight can find out more about receiving food vouchers from the HSF here.

    Kent

    In Kent, you will be eligible for food vouchers if one or more of the following apply:

    • Aged 16 or over
    • Be permanently living within one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bexley or Bromley)
    • Be in receipt of means tested benefits or have a household income of less than £40,000 a year before tax
    • Have less than £1,000 in savings
    • Not get means-tested free school meals for any of your children

    Find out more here.

    Lancashire

    If you are a parent or carer of a child attending school (5 to 16-year-old) you will receive an electronic shopping voucher from your child’s school. If you are eligible, and have any questions, please speak to your child’s school. Find out more here.

    Leicestershire

    Households with children are eligible for up to £20  per adult per week and £15  per child  per week (for maximum of 2 weeks). Single households can get up to £25  per week (for maximum of 2 weeks). Multiple adult households can get £20 per adult per week (for maximum of 2 weeks). Find out more here.

    Lincolnshire

    Lincolnshire has been awarded a further £10,929,370 from the HSF. Approximately 43% of the funding will be delegated to schools and early years providers to support for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals, early years pupil premium and families with a 2-year-old eligible for early years entitlement. Click here to find out more.

    London

    Those in London can check with their local council to find out what support is available. Find your local council here.

    Merseyside

    Those in Liverpool can find a host of financial support and food help during the school holidays. Click here to find out more.

    Norfolk

    Norfolk was given £13.39m from the Government to support residents who are struggling to pay their energy and utility bills. This includes support for single households, families with or without children, older people and disabled people. The council have also provided an extra £400,000 to support people further. Click here to apply.

    Northamptonshire

    North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils have different provisions for residents, depending on your location. Click here to find out what your council has to offer.

    Northumberland

    In Northumberland, the HSF can support with food, energy and bills, housing costs and more. If you are awarded a food e-voucher, you will need to go online to convert this into a gift card for Aldi, Iceland, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. Click here to apply.

    £11.2 million in total has been given to Nottinghamshire to be administered by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with local district and borough councils. Summer and Winter support payments, both worth around £100 per household (based on number of eligible household occupants), will continue to support families with children entitled to Free School Meals as well as other households and individuals struggling with rising costs. Click here for more.

    Oxfordshire

    1. Those who receive Housing Benefits but do not also receive other qualifying benefits will not receive the national cost of living payments in 2022/23 or 2023/24. The County Council is using the Household Support Fund to make an expected payment of £450 to these residents. Those eligible residents will receive a letter from the Council during the summer. Click here for more information.

    • Rutland

    Those is Rutland may be able to receive a food voucher for households with school aged children for the school breaks, a one-off payment of £100 to eligible households in receipt of Local Council Tax Support, or a one-off payment of £100 to care leavers. Click here to apply.

    Shropshire

    Shropshire has been given a grant of £4.1 million from the Government’s national HSF Grant Scheme. Children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals in Shropshire will continue to receive support, usually through meal vouchers. Funding is for 10 weeks in total, which includes summer half term, 3 weeks of  the summer holiday, October half term, Christmas holiday, spring half term and the Easter holiday. This would benefit around 7,500 children, who will get an equivalent to £15 a week of support during these holiday periods.increases. Click here to apply.

    Somerset

    In Somerset, you can get help regardless of your work situation, provided you show that you are struggling to pay for essentials. The Household Support Fund will not affect your benefits. Click here to apply.

    Staffordshire

    Education Settings in Staffordshire will be provided with £20.00 supermarket eVouchers for their children that meet the eligibility criteria. Click here to find out more.

    Suffolk

    Where a child is eligible for income related free school meals, families will be contacted directly by their child’s school regarding supermarket voucher grants, available to them during the school holidays from April 2023 until March 2024. Further information is available here.

    Surrey

    The county of Surrey has been given £10.6m of funding from the HSF. The council decided that £5.232m of the fund would be used to enable the continued provision of food vouchers to eligible children over the school holidays. Read more here.

    Sussex

    Those in West Sussex can apply for the HSF here.

    Residents in East Sussex need to contact their local council for support.

    Click here to find out more. If you are located in Mid-Sussex, click here for info on getting the financial support you need.

    Tyne & Wear

    Those under the jurisdiction of South Tyneside Council may be eligible to  a single payment of £150 per household. Click here to find out more. 

    North Tyneside has been awarded £3,219,996 to help our most financially vulnerable households in the borough over the coming year. Those entitled to income related Free School Meals will receive £15 supermarket vouchers for each week of the school holidays per child. Click here to find out more.

    Newcastle City Council will also provide food vouchers for those entitled to free school meals. Read more.

    Warwickshire

    Due to the limited amount of funds Warwickshire Council has available, they will prioritise items necessary for day to day living such as food, energy and water and particularly those who may not be eligible for other support the government has recently made available. Find out more here.

    West Midlands

    Applications for Birmingham City Council Hardship Grant Community Fund open on Monday 31 July 2023. The Council will distribute grants of up to £200 to Birmingham households facing financial hardship. The funds are intended to help with food and energy costs. Click here to apply.

    Wiltshire

    Wiltshire Council has been allocated £5.4 million in round four of the HSF. The funding will be distributed through partner organisation and council departments. Families and young children can receive food vouchers and parcels. Click here to apply.

    Worcestershire

    Worcestershire City Council is supporting people who receive free school meals in the holidays. You will need to contact your school directly regarding the issuing of Free School Meal vouchers during school holidays. Find more information here.

    Yorkshire

    Those in the City of York will be invited to apply for the HSF. If you think you are eligible but have not been contacted, click here.

    In North Yorks, you can receive food e-Vouchers to use in-store and online with supermarkets. More information will be released in the coming months here.

    If you are in East Riding, your school should have already given you a supermarket voucher for the holidays. Get more info here.

    Wales

    The Welsh government recently axed support for those receiving free school meals. However, three district councils – Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Powys councils have found the cash from their own budgets for the school break.

    It is also worth contacting your local council, as they may have an allocated budget for this.

    Scotland

    If you get free school meals you may also be able to get help during the school holidays. To qualify you need to get one of the benefits in the eligibility section. You need to contact your local council to find out how to apply. This does not apply if your child gets free school meals due to only being in primary 1 to 5. You need to also get the benefits in the eligibility section. Contact your local council for more information.

    Northern Ireland

    Those in Northern Ireland are encourage to contact the Education Authority to receive help.

    The post How can you get food vouchers for the school holidays? appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

    Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/where-can-you-get-food-vouchers-in-the-holidays

    8 Reliable Sources of Capital for Small Businesses

    Home Business Magazine Online

    One of the most challenging things for small business owners is the lack of enough capital. It affects your company’s daily operations and stalls various projects, such as expansion opportunities and launching of new products.

    As a matter of fact, according to a study by CB Insights, 38% of over 110 startups fail as a result of running out of cash.

    Fortunately, there are great ways of collecting funds for your business. Let us take you through reliable sources of capital for small businesses.

    1. Angel Investors

    Angel investors are wealthy private people who finance small businesses in exchange for equity. They use their net worth and are usually more patient and friendly to entrepreneurs by giving them smaller dollar amounts for a long time.

    However, angel investors want to see an exit strategy where they can get their profits through either an acquisition or a public offering. Best of all, they fund businesses in various industries, but your company must be established beyond the startup phase to get an angel.

    2. Small Business Loans

    They are business loans issued by participating lenders, mainly banks with low-interest rates and flexible terms. A small business loan helps to cover things like working capital needs, startup costs, real estate purchases, expansions, and more. These loans are favorable because they are backed by the federal government and issued by a private lender that provides a guide to help with all your money-related interactions.

    You apply for small business loans through a lending institution, such as a credit union or a bank affiliated with the program. Also, the loans are backed by the government, and if you default on the money, it pays back the financial institution the guaranteed amount. Unfortunately, you should have at least 20% ownership in the business to qualify for the loan.

    3. Friends and Family

    Seeking investments from your personal network helps you to raise low-interest finances for your small business. The good thing about it is that the investment compensation for family and friends is typically lower than that of professional investors.

    So, identify suitable candidates who have enough finances and may accept to offer their help. After, pitch to them your idea with the amount of money you need, the terms, repayment plans, and the amount of interest to give on their funds. They could be close family members, childhood friends, or work colleagues.

    4. Venture Capitalists

    Venture capitalists are private equity investors that provide capital to businesses with high growth potential. However, they need an equity stake in exchange for the funding. They fund both small companies wishing to expand and startup ventures.

    Additionally, venture capitalists look for businesses with a large potential market, strong management teams, and unique products. They risk investing in a high-potential business because they earn massive returns when it succeeds.

    5. CrowdFunding

    Successful crowdfunding campaigns are great sources of capital for many small businesses. But you need to first win the attention of various backers by convincing them that your business idea is worthy of their funds.

    They will analyze your project and decide whether it is worth investing in the business. There are different ways how the funding is made, including:

    • Donation-based funding. Backers do not want anything in return.
    • Equity funding. Contributors get shares.
    • Debt-based funding. You repay donors with interest.
    • Reward-based funding. Backers receive services or goods in return for their funds.

    Crowdfunding provides the necessary cash flow for your business to launch new projects or get off the ground. Moreover, the campaigns are mainly held on internet platforms with set time frames for raising money.

    6. Government Grants

    Government grants are quantities of money awarded to individuals, businesses, or organizations by a government agency to finance particular projects. They are excellent sources of finances for small businesses and provide the needed capital for starting or expanding operations. Also, you can use a grant to develop new products or access new markets.

    On the other hand, governments usually have different types of grants, and the application process varies depending on the agency in charge of the program. But it usually includes submitting a proposal outlining the goals and objectives of your company.

    7. Invoice Factoring

    It is a process where you turn over your business’s outstanding invoices to a factoring firm for immediate cash. You get a partial payment in advance as soon as you submit them. Invoice factoring saves you when you have a pile of unpaid invoices but need quick money to cover some business expenses.

    The firm gives you money and waits for the invoices to get paid, and once your clients pay, it gives you the balance after deducting its money. To qualify for invoice factoring, you must have:

    • Issued invoices already to clients.
    • No history of bankruptcy and clean tax records.
    • Good clients with clean credit history.

    8. Credit Cards

    Both owners of large multinational companies and sole proprietors qualify for business credit cards. Most companies use them to handle expenses like supplies, traveling, and paying utility bills.

    Best of all, business credit cards help you to build business credit, which banks and other lenders consider when you apply for a company loan. Check the various cards and choose one that is the best fit for your business needs.

    Collect Enough Capital for Your Business

    Collecting enough capital for your small business improves its survival rate because it enables you to finance all-important company projects. When you have the needed finances, you easily keep up with the competition in your industry, like launching better new products before your competitors.

    The post 8 Reliable Sources of Capital for Small Businesses appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

    Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/business-start-up/raising-money/8-reliable-sources-capital-small-businesses/

    Andi Search launches new semantic content engine

    Andi Search today is launching a new semantic content engine, as well as better source attribution and a new user experience.

    Concepts over keywords. Andi Search is now better at understanding concepts, according to company founder Angela Hoover. The goal is to better highlight content. Being able to rank content semantically helps Andi do that, Hoover said.

    • “What makes the web great is the high-quality content that producers spend hours researching, writing and creating. Fair content attribution, however, has been an issue in search from all the way back when Google started doing snippets, and now LLM search opens up a new paradigm for an experience that buries the original content producer even more.
    • “Our commitment is to showcase great content and useful information, not steal it. There’s a way to do GenAI search that benefits both the user and producers of media,” Hoover said.

    What it looks like. Here’s an example search for [suggest ideas for lowering blood pressure as a 35 year old]:

    ANDi

    Visual updates. Andi now uses a “universal image discriminator,” which detects an image’s size and quality, then dynamically resizes it to display in its visual feed. Images are sourced from the webpages in Andi’s search results.

    What is Andi. Andi is a startup search engine that was doing conversational, generative question answering before the new Bing and Google Search Generative Experience. It generates results from its index of 30,000 high-quality websites.

    Dig deeper. Andi Search adds Generated Content feature.

    Why we care. Andi, recognizing the importance of citing its sources, is trying to set itself apart from the generative AI experiences from Google and Bing. While Andi is an alternative search engine with a tiny fraction of Google’s user base and isn’t on your SEO radar, watching the evolution of Andi’s visual, feed-based take on search results is interesting.

    The post Andi Search launches new semantic content engine appeared first on Search Engine Land.

    Original source: https://searchengineland.com/andi-search-semantic-content-engine-430029

    Google Search rolls out site name updates and workarounds

    Google has released some really needed updates to its site names feature in Google Search. Site names are now supported on subdomains on all devices in English, French, German, and Japanese languages. Google also made other improvements and added workarounds when Google gets your site name wrong, Google announced.

    Site names. Site names is the title and name of the site Google shows in the search results listings. “When Google lists a page in search results, it shows the name of the site the page comes from,” Google explained.

    Subdomain support expanded. Google added support for site names with subdomains on mobile devices only, for English, French, German, and Japanese. Now it also works for all devices, not just subdomains.

    Here is an example from Google’s own site.

    Alphabet Inc.

    Updated guidance. Google also updated its guidance on how to communicate your preferred site name to Google Search. Google wrote, “As a reminder, the best way to indicate a preferred site name to Google is to make use of WebSite structured data, as explained on our site name documentation.”

    Also, Google now encourages more use of the alternateName property when sometimes a preferred site name isn’t available for your site.

    Workarounds for site names. Google also listed a few workarounds for when the preferred or alternative names are not selected by Google Search. Google posted new workarounds in its help documentation that lists these workarounds:

    • First, try providing an alternative name using the alternateName property. If our site name system isn’t confident enough to use your preferred name, it strongly considers this option.
    • Provide your domain or subdomain name as a backup option. To provide your domain or subdomain as a backup option, add your domain or subdomain name as your alternative name. Your domain or subdomain needs to be in all lowercase (for example, example.com not Example.com) for our system to detect this as a site name preference. Our system will strongly consider using it if your preferred name isn’t selected. In this example, Burnt Toast is the most preferred option, followed by BT, and ending with the domain example.com as the final name preference.
    • If that’s still not working, then try providing your domain or subdomain name (in all lowercase) as your preferred name, as a last-resort workaround option. If you provide your domain or subdomain name as your preferred name, our system will generally select that (but we recommend only doing this as a last resort). In this example, the only preference is the domain example.com.

    Need support. Having issues with your site name? Google posted a support thread in the Google support forums over here, including more FAQs.

    We saw some issues with site names, some of which Google resolved. This should resolve more of those issues. In fact, I did capture some before and after examples and posted them this morning on the Search Engine Roundtable.

    What it looks like. Here is where the site name shows in the search result snippet:

    Site Name 800x251

    Site names timeline. Here is the timeline Google posted of the evolution of site names since it launched in October:

    • October 2022: Site names for the domain level were introduced for mobile search results for English, French, German and Japanese.
    • April 2023 (I have this as March): Site names were added for desktop for the same set of languages.
    • May 2023: Site names are now supported on the subdomain level for the same set of languages and on mobile search results only.

    Controlling site names. Google back in October explained that Google Search uses a number of ways to identify the site name for the search result. But if you want, you can use structured data on your home page to communicate to Google what the site name should be for your site. Google has specific documentation on this new Site name structured data available over here.

    Upgrading the favicon. Google also recommended revisiting the documentation for favicons for the latest best practices. Google is now also suggesting you provide an icon that’s at least 48 pixels and follows the existing favicon guidelines.

    Ads. This is also rolled out to the Google search ads on desktop, so the size of the site name, favicons, and also the ad label will be more prominent in mobile search. In fact, Google rolled out the “Sponsored” label in mobile search last October and today on desktop, officially replacing the “Ads” label from January 2020.

    Why we care. Google has made several improvements to how it selects and shows your site name in the Google Search results. If Google is still getting it wrong and you are following the documentation, then maybe try some of those new workarounds to get your site name showing exactly how you want it in Google Search.

    The post Google Search rolls out site name updates and workarounds appeared first on Search Engine Land.

    Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-search-rolls-out-site-name-updates-and-workarounds-429979

    New Google Merchant Center policy: AI-generated reviews are spam

    A new Google Merchant Center policy on “automated content” says reviews generated using an automated program or artificial intelligence application are considered spam and against the Google Merchant Center policies.

    Google posted this update here and clarified its existing Merchant Center policies and enforcement.

    Automated content policy. The new policy reads:

    “Automated Content: We don’t allow reviews that are primarily generated by an automated program or artificial intelligence application. If you have identified such content, it should be marked as spam in your feed using the is_spam attribute.”

    AI Content and Google. Generally, Google has been OK with people using AI to generate content, assuming that content is helpful for users and not written primarily for search engines. This is a bit of a deviation from Google’s recent messaging on using AI for content.

    But one would assume that reviews require a human to use the product to generate a review and thus AI-generated reviews would be an exception. Maybe?

    Other policy clarifications. Google also posted clarifications on its other Merchant Center policies. Here is what Google posted:

    • Spam: We don’t allow spam content. Ensure any content known to contain irrelevant, repetitive, or nonsensical text is marked as spam in your feed using the is_spam attribute.
    • Dangerous products or acts: Don’t submit reviews of regulated products that can cause damage, harm, or injury. For example, don’t submit reviews of guns, tobacco products, or regulated drugs. Additionally, don’t include content that depicts or provides instructions to complete activities that are dangerous and/or widely illegal.
    • Phone numbers, email addresses or URLs: Don’t submit phone numbers, email addresses and links to other websites in the review content.
    • Personal and confidential information: Don’t submit reviews that contain personal information, including but not limited to full names, credit card information, national insurance number, driving license information, etc.
    • Keep it clean: Don’t submit reviews that use obscene, profane, or offensive language or include content that depicts scenes of violence, serious injury or death, contains personal attacks, or are defamatory.
    • Conflict of interest: Don’t submit reviews that were paid for or are otherwise inauthentic. Reviews are most valuable when they are honest and unbiased. We remove reviews that we believe have conflicts of interest and/or have been written by employees or people with a vested interest in the product. Only submit reviews that were honestly solicited from customers who made a purchase.
    • Illegal content: Don’t submit reviews that contain or link to unlawful content, such as links that facilitate the sale of prescription drugs without a prescription, illegal drugs, counterfeit products, or illicit weapons. This content is not allowed.
    • Malware & Phishing: Don’t submit reviews containing links to malware, viruses, or other harmful software. We don’t allow phishing or other content that harms or interferes with the operation of the networks, servers, or other infrastructure of Google or others.
    • Copyrighted content: Don’t submit reviews that infringe on others’ rights, including copyright. For more information or to file a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) request, review our copyright procedures.
    • Trademark infringement: Don’t submit content that uses a trademark in a way that’s likely to cause confusion about the origin of the product being reviewed.
    • Plagiarism: Don’t submit reviews containing appropriation of content created by another person or entity.
    • Sexually explicit material: Don’t submit reviews that contain sexually explicit material. We also don’t allow reviews that sexually exploit children or present them in a sexual manner. For this type of content, we remove the review, shut down the product reviews feed, and send a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to law enforcement. This content is not allowed.
    • Hate speech: Don’t submit reviews that advocate against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, nationality, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Violent language, terrorist content, or content intended to incite and encourage violent acts or extremist behavior, are not allowed in reviews.
    • Cross promotion of other products/websites: We don’t allow reviews that include promotional content for other unrelated websites, products, or services. If you have identified such content, it should be marked as spam in your feed using the attribute.
    • Off-topic reviews: We may remove reviews that primarily seek to discuss other topics unrelated to the product itself. This includes comments about shipping and delivery, experiences with particular retailers, political or social controversy, attacks on others, or don’t represent a first-hand experience with the product. This also includes merchant responses to reviewer comments.
    • Impersonation: We don’t allow reviews from people claiming to be someone that they aren’t.
    • Language: Reviews should be submitted in the original language they are written in. Google will display reviews in the original language with an option on the Shopping page to be translated to the user’s language.
    • Duplicate content: Each review should only appear in one feed and only once in that feed. If a review applies to multiple variations of a product, this should be designated by including multiple unique product identifiers and URLs with the review. The same review shouldn’t appear in feeds from different retailers. The retailer should own the review and shouldn’t send Google content syndicated from other sources. In the case of duplicate reviews in multiple feeds, we may blocklist one or more of the reviews or entire feeds.

    Enforcement clarification. Google also posted the following clarification about how Google enforces the policies listed above:

    • We use a combination of automated and human evaluation to ensure that content and reviews comply with our policies. Our enforcement technologies use machine-learning algorithms to help protect our merchants and users by keeping our shopping platforms safe. More complex, nuanced, or severe cases are reviewed and evaluated by our specially trained experts who conduct content evaluations that might be difficult for algorithms to perform alone, for example, because an understanding of the context of the piece of content is required.
    • We take action on content and reviews that violate our policies. This may include disapproving violating content or a violating review, as well as issuing warnings or suspending accounts for repeated or egregious violations. We take repeat violations of our policies seriously.
    • When an image is flagged for a policy violation, we will now also block the associated review content.

    Why we care. If you use Google Merchant Center, you should know all the existing policies and how Google enforces those policies. If you post reviews to your Merchant Center feed, it sounds like you need to ensure those reviews are not generated by AI or other automated means. If they are, you need to add the is_spam attribute to those reviews.

    The post New Google Merchant Center policy: AI-generated reviews are spam appeared first on Search Engine Land.

    Original source: https://searchengineland.com/new-google-policy-says-ai-generated-reviews-are-spam-and-against-merchant-center-policies-429984