Google announces passage-based ranking and this week’s digital marketing news [PODCAST]

If you can’t hear Spotify, be sure to check out the video version of the show on the search engine journal’s YouTube channel.

https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/1316822278038929408

Google announced a number of upcoming changes and improvements to search, including the announcement that it will soon be able to identify individual passages on a webpage to display relevant content in search results.

New Google Shopping features

Google announced new shopping features that will benefit both shoppers and retailers over the coming holiday season.

Consumer-related changes

• price comparison: Items can be flagged to indicate whether their prices are high, low, or typical compared to other products on Google Shopping.
• Price tracking: Buyers can sign up to receive price tracking notifications in Gmail or the Google app.

Changes for retailers

• Dealer promotions: Merchant promotions are now available in the US and appear in multiple locations on Google for both free and organic shopping deals. Google also said they will expedite the Christmas shopping season approval process.
• New smart shopping destination: The new target of customer acquisition for Smart Shopping campaigns is no longer in the beta phase and is available to all advertisers.
• New Google Shopping coverage: Auction Insights metrics are available for shopping campaigns in the Google Ads Report Editor

Google is charged with antitrust proceedings

The US Department of Justice is suing Google for multiple antitrust violations related to online search.

The suit is the result of a year-long investigation by the tech giant.

New Facebook e-commerce functions

Facebook announced new e-commerce features ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

First, brands can create shoppable product tag ads right from Facebook Ads Manager.

They also announced new ecommerce audiences, including custom audiences for shopping engagements and shopping-like audiences for brands using Facebook stores.

Brands can also manage and promote sales for their store from the Promotions tab of Commerce Manager.

In our Take of the Week segment, digital marketers wrote some passionate limericks about the challenges they face in response Tim Halloran‘s poetry challenge.

Then, ICYMI, Pamela Lund has some advice for advertisers with upcoming Facebook campaign launches. Do not wait.

We’ll answer your burning questions about digital marketing during our lightning lap segment:

• Who just made Target ROAS bids available to advertisers on their platform?
• What you need to know about Google Tag Manager’s new preview tool.
• When do most people listen to podcasts?
• Find the best seafood in Colorado here.
• Why Advertisers Using Facebook Audience Network May Change Their Strategy Soon.
• How the Biden campaign became the figurehead for disabling ad placements for search partners.

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Many thanks to our sponsor Upfluence!

Selected image source: Cypress North