Industry Round-Up (11-17 Jan 2016)

We’re not even done with January and already there’s big changes afoot! From Google’s core ranking algorithm update, to the rise of Display Ads, here’s our round-up for the biggest digital marketing news of the previous week.

Search

Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst John Mueller says webmasters probably won’t notice future Panda updates, and Google Cache switching to HTTPS for Secure Sites.  Also, Google’s competitor – Bing, recently added four new features to its Keyword Planner.

• Google Had A Major Core Ranking Algorithm Update This Past Weekend
• Google: Webmasters Likely Won’t Notice Future Panda Updates
• Bing Ads Updates Keyword Planner With Impression Share Comparisons And More

A study by eMarketer projects Display Advertising will surpass Search Advertising in the US in 2016. Search Engine Watch finds this strange, since Ad-Blockers are more popular than ever.

• Marketers to Spend More on Display Advertising vs. Search Advertising in 2016
• US display ad spend will overtake search ad spend in 2016… wait, what?

Mobile

New Android features emphasized on location-sensitivity: Search let’s you know what’s happening nearby, while Maps tries to predict where you’re headed. Facebook’s Audience Network, which recently reached $1B in revenue, goes head-to-head with Google’s AdSense as it moves beyond brokering in-app ad inventory to Mobile Web Pages. Also, Microsoft keeping silent about their unconfirmed new purchase, while smartphone users hit $13 Billion in retail sales over the holidays.

• Google Maps On Android To Predict Where You Want to Go Next
• Google Tests “What’s Hot” & “What’s Nearby” As Android Search Options
• Facebook Audience Network Testing Expansion Into Mobile Web Advertising
• Report: Microsoft To Buy Global Mobile Ad Platform InMobi
• Mobile Holiday Sales Reach $13 Billion; 64% Of Retailers To Increase Smartphone Investments

That’s it for last week’s news! Subscribe to our blog and stay updated on the latest industry trends.