Happy Tuesday,
This week we’re back with more exciting news in the world of internet marketing. Firstly, we’ll take a look at Instagram launching a new appeals process for disabled accounts and adding report tracking in-app. Google search console is starting to report on review or rating markup, and Google’s new third-party cookie update will be rolling out with chrome 80. Google’s also suggested to use relevant keywords in Google My Business description. Finally, Facebook is buying an AR startup to build a 1:1 digital map of the physical world.
Instagram Launches New Appeals Process for Disabled Accounts, Adds Report Tracking In-App
Welcome news for all those who've had their Instagram account disabled. As a part of Safer Internet Day, Instagram has announced the launch of a new feature. This will enable users to appeal to disabled account decisions in-app, directly from the log-in screen.
This new process will enable those disabled accounts to request a review of the decision when they attempt to log in. So, from now on, as you enter your username and password, you'll see a prompt informing you that your account will get deleted, with 30 days to appeal the decision.
You then have two options- 'Download Data' to get access to all your Instagram content, or 'Request Review.' As you tap on 'Request Review,' you will be taken to the third screen, where you will have to enter your full name and e-mail with a reason why you feel Instagram's decision to disable your account was a mistake.
Instagram will then review the decision, which generally takes up to 24 hours. This will be good news for many users who have problems trying to get in touch with Instagram after having their account disabled!
Google Search Console Begins Reporting on Review/Ratings Markup
Google is introducing a new report in Search Console for sites that utilize reviews or rating markup. It will generate a featured snippet every time a site marks up its ratings or reviews with the appropriate structured data.
These review snippets can appear either directly in search results or as part of a knowledge panel. Google's new reports in the Search Console are set to help site owners with the implementation of review markup.
The report will monitor whether the markup is properly implemented or not, and track the performance of the rich results in search!
Google's new third-party cookie update to roll out with Chrome 80
Google has recently announced that it's planning to phase out third-party cookies. Google 80 rolled out the previous week with a new set of cookie-blocked features first. Although this change will not affect third-party cookies, it will push marketers to make adjustments or risk site disruptions.
So, what do webmasters need to do today to ensure that their website doesn't experience any service issues?
In this article, Dylan tells us about what's changing and how webmasters need to adapt and keep up. Google is still aiming at launching a privacy sandbox. This will provide ad tech companies with the means to explore and track user behaviour without any privacy risks. Yet don't know what it will look like!
Google: Use (Relevant) Keywords in your Google My Business Description
A lot of marketers debate whether or not keywords can impact the visibility of any page in local search results. To end this debate, an update has been rolled out by Google.
A new "Describe Your Business(es)" section in the "Improve your Local Ranking on Google" page is now in Google My Business. It helps sites encourage local business owners to include relevant keywords in their GMB descriptions.
Google still advises in the "Relevance" section on that page to give as many signals as possible about your business. Adding detailed business information can help Google better understand your business and match your listing to relevant searches.
The new section explicitly states to include keywords within a GMB listing's description. Thus, settling the debate as to whether adding keywords has an impact or not.
Facebook Buys AR Startup Building a 1:1 Digital Map of the Physical World
Facebook has reportedly acquired Scape Technologies, a UK based augmented reality (AR) startup. However, Scape is not just another AR company, and that's what makes things interesting.
Scape's technology is based on formulating a 1:1 digital representation of the physical world. It's looking forward to building an infrastructure for the next generation of "spatial-computing devices." This includes wearables, autonomous vehicles, and other devices.
Scape has created 3D renderings of the world with location precision that doesn't rely on current location technologies. Things like cell-tower triangulation, GPS, or reverse IP targeting. Click here to learn more!
Conclusion
There's been quite a lot happening in the world of internet marketing over the past week. We saw how Instagram is allowing its users to question them regarding disabled accounts with a new appeal process.
Google introduced a new report in search console for sites that utilize reviews or rating markup by generating a featured snippet. Google's new third-party cookies were recently blocked, putting marketers in a spin recently, but there has been a solution to this issue.
Finally, we have Facebook looking at their next catch (Scape Technologies) to modulate a 1:1 digital map of the physical world. Read our blog next week to stay up to date on all the changes happening in internet marketing!
