Greetings!

Lots of news for ya this week – let’s get to it!

• The rollout is complete… Google’s November 2024 core update, that is. This is the time to check for impacts on rankings. If you have been hit, here are some questions to consider from Search Engine Land.

• Want to be a smooth Google search operator? Google has a new search operator that allows for searching by date with before: and after: commands. You can see a SERP page from before and after SEO optimization tactics have been implemented. Of course, we always benchmark SERP rankings with a third-party tool before implementation, but this operator will certainly come in handy for sifting through seasonality and competitive activity over time. (🔥 Hot tip: Click the link at the bottom of the article for a complete guide to advanced search operators. It includes one of our favorites – site: – which lets you search for content across a specific domain.)

• To personalize or not to personalize… that is Google’s question for you. You may be noticing higher levels of personalization on Google results. You can check to see if your results are personalized by scrolling to the bottom of your search results. If yes, you may see a button that says, “Try without personalization.”

• How are people really using Google? In a analysis of 332 million queries by Datos and Sparktoro, here are some top insights:
  • 55.8% of total search volume was generic, while 44.19% was branded
  • 52% of search queries were informational, 32.15% navigational, 14.51% commercial, and less than 1% were transactional.
  • Zero-click answers appear 5/9 times in the largest categories of search demand (Arts & Entertainment, Games, Sports, Finance, and Reference).
  • Google is the place people go after they figure out what they need. It’s a demand-nudging over demand-creation platform.

• Here’s a cool tool: Copyleaks allows you to check for AI plagiarism and ensures content is original. I remember these kinds of tools in school. Teachers would have you submit your work to websites that check for plagiarism. Part of me wonders if these AI plagiarism tools will be necessary for the future of tightening legislation.

• Here’s what TikTok had to say on 2024 trends: 🎶
  “In 2024, we were very demure, reveled in brat summer, and adored a cheeky pygmy hippo, all while supporting businesses of all sizes that significantly contribute to the US economy. Throughout the year, over 170 million Americans continue to be part of a billion-strong global community to discover new ideas, share passions, and inspire change. From record-breaking artists to reimagined recipes, best-sellers, and bustling businesses of all sizes, we found joy in learning, laughing, and connecting with one another.”
  Get a very mindful, very demure summary in Social Media Today.

• By 2026, worldwide B2B digital ad spend is expected to almost triple the pre-pandemic level, according to EMARKETER. Some more tidbits:
  • Half of the global B2B digital spend is happening in the US and the almost $38B B2B digital ad spend represents only about 5.5% of total digital ad spend.

• In a separate but related story, MarketingCharts shows B2B Paid Digital Media growing 11% over the next four years while B2B Paid Traditional Media growth will be down 3%.

Thoughts to Take With You… 💞

Why do certain songs make us tear up? Why does our perception of time change when listening to music? Why do we listen to sad music?

Music has the power to influence our moods. I’ve seen this in my yoga classes. Soothing playlists evoke slower movements. Upbeat songs before class raise the number of conversations people have.

Psychology Today shares reasoning for the effects music has on our mood. Knowing how music affects you can help prepare you for future events or release logged up emotions. 

My reminder here: Music can be a marvelous tool… when used the right way. 🎧

Stay warm … because you’re cool. 😎

Natalie

You know that magical effect when a person taps a super cold, liquid water bottle and it transforms into solid ice? Catch the explanation for this and 3 more cold-weather phenomena in this Weather Channel article!