Monthly Industry Roundup: September 2020

Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash

Google’s Search Terms Report Update 

The update to Google’s Search Terms report is ruffling feathers across the industry – there is a pronounced decrease in visibility into queries driving clicks and cost. Location3 is weighing in and staying tuned to industry analysis on the matter. Read Frederick Vallaeys’s article for Search Engine Land for a helpful script that will help you calculate the daily percentage of clicks going to search terms that Google doesn’t report. 

Apple’s iOS 14 Updates 

Apple’s in-app targeting restrictions have been delayed, but a rollout this month of iOS 14 updates is generating new tensions. The Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) is turned on by default in Google Chrome, meaning limitations in the advertising world on our ability to identify specific audience types. Ronan Shields and Sara Jerde cover the update in their article for Adweek. 

Google’s New Features for Local Ads 

Last week, Google announced new features for local ads to meet consumer demand for online-to-offline capabilities. Included in the release: service attributes for Local Campaigns, ‘pick up later’ for Local Inventory Ads, and Smart Bidding optimization for in-store sales. Greg Sterling has the details in his piece for Search Engine Land. Read more. 

2020 Local Search Ranking Factors

Whitespark held their Local Search Summit, highlighting the results of their Local Search Ranking Factors Survey. The survey tapped the experts in local search, among them Matt Lacuesta, Location3’s Director of Earned and Owned. Learn more about the factors at play in Local Search with Darren Shaw’s slide deck. More complete survey analysis and additional resources are coming soon.

Wild Birds Unlimited Local Marketing Success 

We’re proud of our work for Wild Birds Unlimited; delivering returns for our partners is top priority! Check out what Wild Birds Unlimited store owner Jeanette McDaniel is saying about our local Paid Search and Paid Social ad campaigns in LOCALACT. See the results.