Welcome to the week in SEO! Every Saturday, Supersede Media will trawl the internet and bring together a delightful smörgåsbord of the top stories, updates, tips and general happenings in the world of tech. Here’s what you need to know from the past 7 days!
The Headlines
It’s the beginning of the end for Expanded Text Ads, and just the beginning for photo ID on iPhone. Here’s the headlines from this week across some of the major players in tech.
Google moves to phase out Expanded Text Ads in 2022
Earlier this year, Google changed its default ad creation type from Expanded Text Ads (ETAs) to Responsive Search Ads (RSAs). As it turns out, that move was a harbinger of things to come, as Google has now announced plans to sunset ETAs in June 2022.
From June 30th next year, it will no longer be possible to create or edit any ETAs. Advertisers will still be able to pause, reactivate or remove any existing ETAs in their account. Though some advertisers have bemoaned the lack of control over specific messaging that this will entail, Google has defended the change as ensuring that ‘the right message’ will always be shown in response to a specific query.
Eight US states set to accept photo ID on iPhone
Arizona and Georgia will be the first US states to allow citizens to store their driving licences and state IDs in the iPhone Wallet app. The feature, which was introduced as part of iOS 15, is also set to be adopted at an unspecified later date by authorities in Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah. Those using the Wallet app to store their ID will need to provide a selfie for verification, complete with a series of ‘facial and head movements’.
Apple has emphasised that the new system will come with privacy protections. For example, biometric information will be required to show the ID, and doing so should not require fully unlocking your phone. Additionally, Apple has confirmed that neither they, nor the states issuing the ID, will know when and where they are shown.
Some Twitter users can now charge for access to their tweets
Would you be willing to pay to view someone’s tweets? That question is no longer merely hypothetical. Twitter has begun rolling out Super Follows, a feature that will allow users to subscribe to another user, giving them access to exclusive content.
At present, only accounts in a select test group are able to charge for access to their content, with the ability to set their pricing at either $2.99, $4.99 or $9.99 per month. iOS users located in the US or Canada are able to subscribe. However, Twitter has already put a waitlist in place for those hoping to attract Super Follows once the feature is rolled out more widely.
Other tech news on our radar…
- Everything You Need to Know About the Google MUM Update
- LinkedIn Removing Stories on September 30
- Microsoft Will Release Windows 11 on October 5
Step up your SEO game
There’s no time like the present to improve your SEO. We’ve brought together a few top links to help you optimise your site and its content.
- 7 Niche Market Examples You Can Learn From
- Wading into Local SEO: 7 Absolute Beginner FAQs, Simply Answered
- How SEO Leaders Use Empathy for Winning Strategy, Performance and Teams
Workplace wellness
Whether you’re back at the office or still holed up in your WFH den, here are some gems of wisdom (this week’s come courtesy of the team at Wellable) that will make a difference to your professional and personal wellbeing. You’re welcome!
Image source: Stillness InMotion (via Unsplash)
“[R]esults from several studies suggest that the degree to which younger employees feel respected has a significant impact on a variety of positive organizational outcomes (e.g., attraction and retention of young employees).”
If your strategy for retaining younger employees goes no further than a foosball table and pizza on Fridays, then you might be in need of a rethink. Instead, a focus on creating a respectful work environment could be key to ensuring they stick around. Find out more about how you can help to foster this atmosphere by checking out R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find Out What It Means to Employees from Wellable.
That completes this weekly roundup! Have a great weekend, and come back next week for another round of SEO tips, tricks and news.
