Hey-O

It’s the day-O for your favorite digital marketing newsletter! And have we got neeeewwwwss for you!

• We’ve seen Google Ad’s exact match go from super-strict-to-the-keyword to a relevancy-schmelavancy technique. As Search pulls us more into a “keywordless” world, keyword match types are still a key way to hold onto highly relevant search terms. Search Engine Journal has the story.

• Not sure you’ve seen, but Think With Google has a new sub-topic category in its nav bar – Automation. This month’s entry is “Does our marketing have the essentials to succeed with AI?” Here’s a key takeaway if you’re strapped for time: “AI is capable of multiplying business results and growth, but only when it’s paired with human expertise.”

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Firefighters Without Borders 🌟

The whole world has been impacted by the wildfires in Canada. Firefighters Without Borders is helping to equip firefighters with emergency response training and fire response equipment across Canada and the world. See what they do here: Firefighters Without Borders.

• The Search 🔎 Wars: “Is Google past it’s search advertising prime?” This eMarketer chart shows Google’s share of non retail search spend has declined since 2021. Don’t fall for the clickbait headline though.
  Yes, Google’s share is down a tad since 2021…and, yes, Microsoft and Apple are on the upticks,…BUT Google still captures ~70% of the search spend. So to paraphrase a lotto motto, you still gotta be in it to win it.

• You might have seen auto-reply messages in Instagram, but do you know how you can set them up? HootSuite shows us how to do it directly on Instagram and if you’re a paying HootSuite user, how to set up auto-replies on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. That’s not the only cool thing about the video… It’s also narrated by a dog. 🐕 It’s a fun watch!

Wishing you a healthy and happy week!

Natalie

You know the Day-O (Banana Boat) song I mentioned at the beginning?

Turns out, it is based on a Jamaican work song.

To share more interesting facts and news with your buddies, send them this signup link!

Hi! 👋🏼

I don’t know about you, but I love grabbing my laptop, setting up an umbrella, and working outside. There’s nothing like a face full of fresh air while you work. (I’m actually writing this edition on my deck.) If you have the ability, try changing up your workstation. Shifting the scenery is often refreshing for the brain and mindset. Anywho, let’s get to it!

• Want to take a peak at what the new AI-driven Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) will look like? For now, you will have to see it through screen captures from Search Engine Land and detailed explanations on how it will work.

• TikTok is at it again… trying hard to break into the search engine space. This time, it’s with a TikTok search widget. This is what I imagine whenever TikTok says it’s encroaching on Google search engine territory:

• eMarketer reports on a Razorfish survey on “Factors That Would Influence US Consumers To Gain Trust in a Company.” Their answers may surprise you as only 40% said “If I heard good reviews from other people” 🤔 while 66% said “If the company was transparent about how they use my personal data.” 👏🏼

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 One Tree Planted 🌟

Their goal is simple. Plant More Trees. One Tree Planted is a global organization focused on reforestation in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. Every dollar is one tree planted. Check them out: One Tree Planted.

• You know when you said something funny, but then someone else reframed it slightly and got the whole room laughing? WELP, looks like something similar is happening to Bing. Bing’s efforts in obtaining search market share has backfired in Google’s favor.

• Not everyone has a super-rad, performance-based digital marketing agency (*cough cough* like us) in their back pockets. Sooo, if you need a little help with Facebook advertising, here’s a nice guidebook for ya!

May your successes be sweet, and may your workdays be smooth. Have a great rest of your week, y’all!

¡Adios!

Natalie

Here’s how to say ‘hello’ in 21 different languages: Babel.

You can use them as conversation starters for telling your friends about us. 😎

Send your buddies this signup link!

Welcome!

I don’t know about you, but April was beyond busy! Everyone in my friend circles agreed. It’s a new month though, so let’s wipe the slate. Take moments of pause when you need it. There’s wayyy too many studies proving breaks are healthy for you (including this one from the American Psychological Association). This is your opportunity to make sure you’re getting the mental, physical, physiological reprieves you need to keep being the best you possible.

Okay, now to the nitty gritty in digital marketing!

• “If SEO vs. PPC was a monster film (ala Godzilla vs. Mothra), we would have already had a ton of sequels but with no real plot twists.” ~ Marc Engelsman
  You can read the pros and cons for each OR you can fast-forward yourself to the happy ending that (spoiler alert!) SEO and PPC are better together in your marketing plan.

• Brendon Kraham, Google’s VP of search and commerce, discusses “How AI is helping marketers” and how Google Ads is using it. Of course, our readers need to read this with a critical eye as the examples he provides for using “broad match” and “Performance Max” settings cede more and more control to the machine. But we thought it is still worth your time to see Google’s perspective.

• Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, has some interesting viewpoints on growth and sustainability in today’s complex corporate environment (pun intended 🌍). Learn how business doesn’t have to be bad for the earth in this McKinsey interview.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Dress for Success 🌟

Since 1997, Dress for Success has been empowering women toward self-sufficiency by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools. This not-for-profit has chapters in communities across the globe and has helped over 1.3 million women. Learn about this organization and find ways to get involved: Dress for Success.

• As competitors ramp up to become Twitter alternatives, they’re running into a few snags. Challenges like the complexity of decentralization for some users are at the top of the list.

• Hey, are you looking for some positive, cool, science news. (I’m sure you are.) Sooo, check out this volcanic microbe that is very hungry for CO2. It’s a potential solution to the over-abundance of carbon in the atmosphere!

Hope you have a shimmery, beautiful spring month. Remember to slow down when you need it.

Toodles!

Natalie

It’s the third of the month, and do you know what that means?

Time for you to invite your friends to join our club!

How do you do? 🤠

It’s 2/22/23. That’s a lot of twos.

Hey, this rhyming game is keeping me amused.

Stay tuned for lots of great news!

• Will Chat GPT replace Google? 🤔 Moz is saying no. Why? ChatGPT is more of a “robot friend” who answers your questions, while Google has a leg up on attribution, giving people more context (which ultimately makes it more credible).

• What moments in the Super Bowl generated the highest volume of discussion? What were the top 10 ads for delivering the highest purchase intent? Martech has the scoop here.

• Oldie but a goody: Instagram has been trying on the search engine outfit since mid-2022. To gain reach and visibility overall, most people used to think: #HASHTAGS#. But, actually, keyword-rich, SEO-optimized captions are the way to go.

• eMarketer uses a chess graphic to show how generative AI is changing the game between Google and Microsoft. Don’t miss the small text at the bottom that references other players who are lining up to play, including Amazon, Meta, IBM, Watson, and more.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Charity Navigator 🌟

Ever get a little sketched when looking at a charity’s website? Hey, that’s natural. You want to make sure your support is going to the right place. Charity Navigator helps you find reputable charities you’re passionate about. Let’s give them a hand and support them, too: Charity Navigator.

• Is an Apple Search Engine already here? 😲 I know we talked about this last year in another WHW, but it turns out with the iOS 14 update, Siri started drawing on Apple’s web index instead of Google’s.

• Is that another annoying spam Instagram comment? *shakes head in disappointment* No worries, there’s a way to block annoying spam comments through your settings. Check it out!

• QUICK ⏲ Who makes more money per post: Instagram or TikTok influencers? The answer may surprise you!

Happy last full week of February! I hope you are ready to spring into March!

Natalie

I don’t know if you knew,

But I’d love to see more people in our crew.

Send them this link, okay, now I’m through. 🙂

What’s groovin’?

Another week with more juicy content to share. 🧃 Let’s dive in!

• Think with Google is out with their Year in Search 2022 trends and insights. Here’s the low-down:
• Their intro summary is “From redefining value and shifting priorities to reflecting on our identities and seeking ways to help others, people are turning to Search to answer questions big and small in uncertain times.”
• The report explores 3 overarching trends: “Value, reevaluated”, “Aid and allyship”, and “Revising priorities.”
• Here’s a nugget from the report that reminds us search should be used at different stages of the customer acquisition journey: “You cannot expect to have someone move directly from ‘I know you’ to ‘I buy you’ without all the steps that are required in between.”

• Speaking of search, there is a lot of buzz around Yahoo getting back into search including some teaser tweets like “Just popping in to remind everyone that we did search before it was cool. BRB making it cool again.” But don’t hold your breath as it might be a while….

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Episcopal Community Services Philadelphia 🌟

Episcopal Community Services Philadelphia aims to transform communities by helping people improve their lives and achieve economic independence. Some of their impactful programs include programs for kids after school, rapid re-housing, and health and wellness. See their impact: Episcopal Community Services Philadelphia.

• Snap has been losing its credibility with advertisers, and Q4 results back up that claim. 👻 Many marketers have viewed the platform for more top-of-the-funnel advertising than a conversion strategy. As advertiser budgets shrink, what platform do you think will be the first to go? See more.

• Google has been testing out a new look for search with AI answers in response to competition against chatbot services. Yeah. I know. Everyone is hopping on the AI train now. It’s, like, so last year….

Why We 💗 What We Do…

Have you heard through the grapevine? Our one-of-kind, master-networker CEO & President, Niki Fielding, is starting the Philadelphia chapter of The Connective. Check out the story!

• Some Fun for You 😄 If you’re up for some marketing humor, check out Tom Fishburne’s Marketoonist depiction of the “evolution of smart products” using a toaster as an example. It’s funny but also a little scary.

Natalie

What’s that?

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It’s a wrap, y’all!

Just like Spotify, we’re wrapping up the year! We’ve had a wonderful time sharing the latest digital buzz with you, AND we cannot wait for a new year of hot digital marketing news to send your way! For now, let’s get this end-of-year party started! 🎉

• Are you among the 43% of US B2B and B2C decision-makers who get their business-related or thought leadership content from business podcasts? Get the full breakdown of business-related content sources from this article and graphic via Marketing Charts.

• Twitter is on the move again, starting with the re-launch of its Controversial $8 Verification Program. And guess what… iOS users are getting a price increase. Catch up with Social Media Today.

• If you’ve got evergreen campaigns, you know that regular optimization is a must. Search Engine Journal does a good job with this tip list. We do most of these with our clients.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Marty’s Place 🌟

Marty’s Place provides love, care, and shelter to senior dogs without homes. This sanctuary allows older dogs to live their golden years out in a peaceful environment. Don’t you just love that? Learn more about them: Marty’s Place.

• Google is running the first update of its helpful content system that launched in August 2022. This update reportedly will help Google identify more content created primarily for search engines vs. for helping people with content relevant to their needs. So, when you’re working on website optimization, remember people come first.

Why We 💗 What We Do…

This is more of why I love DBE… In this world where “business” is often associated with negative connotations like abusive power and greed, I love how DBE is able to give back. This year, we’ve had the opportunity to donate to 41 different charities. If you’re looking for more ways to “do good’ in your life, check out these upstanding causes: Do Good Spotlight Roundup.

• Continuous scrolling is being rolled out for Google’s desktop search results. (This was done for mobile results back in 2021.) The intent is to encourage review of deeper search results by removing the search result “pages.” So, we will no longer be making jokes about hiding dead bodies on Page 2 of search results but it remains to be seen if people will really scroll deeper than the first 10 results (that previously were presented on Page 1).

Happy New Year! 🎊

Natalie

🎂 Happy new year to you

😊 Happy new year to you

🎉 Happy new year to you and your digital marketing friends…

Hey, while we’re on that, don’t forget to send them this signup link!

Wait, sit down!

Seriously, you’re gonna wanna read this totally fetch edition of your favorite digital marketing newsletter. (Sorry, Mean Girls Day was on Monday, and I’m releasing this post on a Wednesday…can’t help but steal a few movie quips and quotes!) So, let’s get started!

• You’ve heard about AI-generated art before. Now, Facebook jumped on the bandwagon with Make-A-Video, an AI that generates videos from text. People have a lot to say about it. Here’s one opinion from Andrew Hutchinson in Social Media Today.

• Check out the latest Google Search updates and innovations from the Google Search On 2022 Highlights include “multisearch” (that lets you search via images and text at the same time) and Business Messages (that will let consumers message brands through search ads).
  • For a third-party perspective, check out Search Engine Land’s “10 biggest announcements” article.

• Who made it in Gen Z’s Favorite Brand book?? Morning Consult gives us a surprisingly unsurprising review of the post-Millennial mindset including how theirs compares with the general public.

Do Good Spotlight
🌟 Sunny Ronald’s Lemonade Stand 🌟

We have always loved the message behind Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Our team members just supported Sunny Ronald’s Lemonade Stand to help fund the cure for childhood cancer. See how you can support the cause, too.

• What most affects US social media users’ decision to engage with ads/sponsored content on social media platforms? eMarketer reports:
  • 52% say a platform’s privacy and data practices are extremely impactful
  • Only 13% say “the platform shows me relevant ads” is extremely impactful. Check out the other factors here.

• If you’re a numbers person or a list person, here are a few articles to spark your interest:
  • 4 New Useful LinkedIn Ads Features
  • 5 New Updates to Meta Call Ads
  • 9 New Google Search Features and Tools for Shopping

Just remember you’re, like, really awesome. 😊

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Natalie

*ring, ring* 📳

Hey, I heard from my best friend’s mom’s boyfriend’s brother’s cousin’s daughter that you haven’t told all your digital marketing friends about What’s Hot Wednesday.

You need to send them this signup link, like, now!