EDGE of the Web - The Best SEO Podcast for Today's Digital Marketer

Cookie Monster Sorrows Happy New Year, folks! Kick-off 2024 the right way, and get up to date on all the latest SEO and marketing news you missed during the time off.  Kicking things off, Facebook is moving to a cookieless environment as they transition to an internal behavioral tracking system. The company recently announced the rollout of ‘link history’ for all accounts to promote specialized ad targeting of users - but there’s a catch…    Google says cookies are coming to an end. Access to third-party data will soon be unavailable to advertisers, leaving them no choice but to seek behavior-tracking alternatives for the future.  Be ready for a year of extreme volatility! Gear up for a thriving 2024 and stay ahead of the pack as always. Check out all the other early-bird news of the year right here on the EDGE of the Web! News from the EDGE: [00:04:26] Do you prefer opt-in or opt-out for new features? Facebook assumes you want opt out! [00:07:05] Google Ads assures users that support remains steadfast while 'big' AI improvements are on the horizon. [00:11:44] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics [00:14:10] 90% of small and medium-sized businesses are concerned about losing the same thing… find out what it is! AI Blitz: [00:18:01] Google is bringing AI to Android Auto for some reason [00:20:27] Beyond SEO: John Mueller On AI-Generated Images & Stock Photography [00:21:57] Over 2 months, by feeding every word Seligman had ever written into cutting-edge AI software AI Tools: [00:25:48] PatternedAI - Generate unique patterns for your product using AI! [00:27:44] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: InLinks Barry Blast from Search Engine Roundtable: [00:30:21] Google New Years Eve Search Algorithm Update [00:31:30] Bing Tests Copying Google's Knowledge Panel Design [00:33:10] Wharton Professor, Ethan Mollick, On The Decay Of Internet Search  Thanks to our sponsors! Site Strategics https://edgeofthewebradio.com/site     Inlinks https://edgeofthewebradio.com/inlinks

In this episode, the hosts discuss topics such as the 2024 listicle apocalypse, AI drama with Chat GPT and The New York Times, Burger King's hangover-detecting robots, SEO's 2024 crystal ball, Google's ad experiments, and WordPress' competitive platform exodus guides. They also cover important search trends of 2024, limitations of AI-generated summaries, the impact of featured snippets on search results, and the future of AI in business.

Welcome back to the EDGE! Retail Media expert, Elizabeth Marsten, is back for her second segment this time to talk about the impact data has on the retail marketing and e-commerce industry.  Elizabeth helps you navigate the high intent consumer funnel, explaining how retail media is leveraging data to form predictive purchasing models. We evaluate ways in which corporations are addressing significant privacy concerns surrounding big data, and third-party cookies to predict consumer behavior.  The third wave of marketing is imminent! Join us this week as Elizabeth Marsten showcases the strength of user data in a retail media network and e-commerce setting right here on The EDGE of The Web! [00:02:58] Introducing Elizabeth Marsten [00:04:12] Who are Key Influencers in Retail Media?  [00:06:38] Understanding the High Intent Consumer [00:11:22] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics [00:13:19] How Can You Predict Consumer Purchasing?  [00:16:42] Demonstrating Products in Real Time With Livestream Shopping [00:21:10] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Hostinger [00:22:13] Data Privacy and Surveillance Moving Forward [00:25:40] Implications of Targeting Consumers Based on Highly Personal Data [00:29:37] Is There a Governing Body Ensuring Ethical Practices Throughout the Retail Media Industry?  [00:31:33] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Wix  [00:33:10] Are We Going To Lose Third-Party Cookie Access?  [00:34:14] Final Pro Tip From Elizabeth Marsten Thanks to Our Sponsors! Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site   Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix Hostinger: https://edgeofthewebradio.com/hostinger Follow Our Guest Twitter: https://x.com/ebkendo?s=20 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmarsten/

A four-time guest of the EDGE and VP of commerce strategic services at Tinuiti, Elizabeth Marsten, joins the show this week to explore the profound landscape of retail media network marketing. Elizabeth stands out as a distinguished Digital Marketing expert with extensive experience in e-commerce and online marketplaces.  Discover the essence of Retail Media Networks and explore how the retail industry giants leverage strategies for optimized results. Elizabeth describes the extreme levels of personalization retail media generates, outlining how personalization is expected to skyrocket. Grasp the vast scale of Retail Media Networks, and learn how data-driven positioning has become a centerpiece of digital marketing this week on The EDGE of The Web! Key Segments: [00:03:34] Introducing Elizabeth Marsten [00:05:40 ] How Elizabeth Got Into Retail Marketing [00:08:16] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics [00:09:03] How has the Digital Marketing Industry Evolved in Recent Years?  [00:11:29] What Are Retail Media Networks?  [00:17:20] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Hostinger [00:18:25] Digital Commerce Category Leading All Others [00:22:28] How Personalized is Retail Media?  [00:25:26] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Wix  [00:26:38] Fully Immersive Virtual Shopping  [00:34:46] Bringing the Real World Connection to Marketing [00:36:51] How Does a Small Business Leverage Retail Media?  Thanks to Our Sponsors! Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site   Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix Hostinger: https://edgeofthewebradio.com/hostinger Follow Our Guest Twitter: https://x.com/ebkendo?s=20 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethmarsten/ Resources Tinuiti Retail Media: The 4 Pillars Amazon Advertising

Rock, Paper, Scissors - Shoot! Listen in as we're joined by Crystal Carter, head of communications at Wix, to discuss the world of SEO and digital marketing, focusing on Google's latest AI model, Gemini. We cover the model's various versions, its potential to impact search and creative industries, and how Google may have pushed the envelope of reality a little bit with the tool's debut video.  Covering other AI and marketing news, including X's chatbot, Grok, the AWS and NVIDIA partnership for advanced generative AI, and the discussion about the SEC's probe into investment advisors' use of AI and the potential risks involved. News from the EDGE: [00:03:09] Unveiling Gemini: Google's Latest Innovation and Bard's Gemini Pro Upgrade [00:13:16] Meet Grok: The New ChatGPT Competitor Launched by X [00:18:45] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics [00:19:18] Landmark Decision: Jury Rules Google Guilty of Unlawful Monopoly in App Store Battle [00:23:06] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Hostinger AI Blitz: [00:24:19] AWS and NVIDIA expand partnership to advance generative AI [00:25:54] SEC Probes Investment Advisers’ Use of AI AI Tools: [00:28:17] Freeflo- Create better AI images with beautiful, free and endlessly reusable style prompts for Midjourney, Clipdrop, Firefly and DALL-E [00:30:45] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: InLinks Barry Blast from Search Engine Roundtable: [00:31:42] Barry Blast 1: Report: Google Local Ranking Now Looks If A Business Is Open Or Closed (Business Hours) Thanks to our sponsors! Site Strategics https://edgeofthewebradio.com/site  Inlinks https://edgeofthewebradio.com/inlinks Hostinger https://edgeofthewebradio.com/hostinger   Follow Us: Twitter: @ErinSparks Twitter: @CrystalontheWeb Twitter: @TheMann00 Twitter: @EDGEWebRadio   #StandwithUkraine edgeofthewebradio.com/ukraine

Are you struggling to fully grasp Google Analytics 4? This week we welcome back founding partner at Kick Point, Dana DiTomaso, for her second interview segment to reveal how you can best optimize GA4 in the workplace.  Listen in, as Dana unveils her insider scoop into variances within the dynamic landscape of Google Analytics. Plus, learn about Looker Studio’s blending functions which allows you to seamlessly combine Universal Analytics and GA4 into one unified report. If you’re still unsure about GA4, be sure to check out Dana’s incredible training package, which fosters a motivating approach to optimizing client analytics. Fully discover how you can maximize your SEO capabilities through utilization of GA4 and other tools on this episode of The EDGE of the Web!  Discount for EDGE of the Web Listeners: Analytics For Agencies: https://kpplaybook.com/analytics-for-agencies/  *Use Code EDGE for 20% Off!* Key Segments: [00:03:30] Introducing Dana DiTomaso  [00:05:38] Dana’s GA4 Audit Tool [00:11:07] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics [00:12:42] When Can We Update UTM Tracking?  [00:19:54] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Hostinger [00:21:50] Will Looker Studio Be More Streamlined Than GA4?  [00:26:14] GA4 Training Package For Agencies [00:33:50] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Wix  [00:39:22] Industry Pet Peeves  [00:41:53] The Most Exciting Element Of The Industry Thanks to Our Sponsors! Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix Hostinger: https://edgeofthewebradio.com/hostinger  Follow Our Guest Twitter: https://twitter.com/danaditomaso?lang=en  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dditomaso/ Resources: Auditing Your Google Analytics 4 Account Blending UTM Data with GA4 Data

Welcome back to News from the EDGE! Host Erin Sparks was out this week, so the pivot man Mordy Oberstein, and 3D-printer extraordinaire Jacob Mann took the reins. The northerners prevail as Google agrees to fork up a hefty sum to Canadian publishers in light of the Online News Act. Google complies to U.S antitrust lawsuit, revealing how many websites are actually indexed on the web. OpenAI is under notable changes, revealing an early 2024 release date of GPT Store shortly after the return of CEO Sam Altman. Plus, Google’s November core update is now complete, and the results may surprise you. Stay connected this week as we walk you through everything going on inside of SEO, right here on The EDGE!  News from the EDGE: [00:03:52] How Many Web Pages does Google Actually Index? [00:08:49] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Hostinger [00:10:13] Spotify Slashes 1,500 Jobs, CEO Cites Economic Challenges [00:17:05] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics [00:18:13] Google will pay $73 Million in a Deal with Canadian Publishers AI Blitz: [00:19:33] OpenAI Welcomes Back Sam Altman As CEO With New Board [00:19:58] GPT Store Set To Launch In 2024 After ‘Unexpected’ Delays AI Tools: [00:21:39] Dubbing AI- Change your voice in real-time with AI [00:22:44] Rizzpad- The first build-in AI toolkit for flirting on any dating app [00:24:50] Plus AI Google Analytics Reports- AI-powered presentations with your Google Analytics data  [00:25:54] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: InLinks Barry Blast from Search Engine Roundtable: [00:27:19] Google November 2023 core update rollout is now complete  [00:28:00] Google Search now supports discussion forum and profile page structured data [00:29:24] Google May Be Testing Removing Cache Link From Search Results [00:30:30] Google officially drops Mobile Usability report, Mobile-Friendly Test tool and Mobile-Friendly Test API Thanks to our sponsors! Site Strategics https://edgeofthewebradio.com/site     Inlinks https://edgeofthewebradio.com/inlinks Hostinger https://edgeofthewebradio.com/hostinger Follow Us: Twitter: @ErinSparks Twitter: @MordyOberstein Twitter: @TheMann00 Twitter: @EDGEWebRadio #StandwithUkraine edgeofthewebradio.com/ukraine

This week, we welcome Dana DiTomaso to the show for her long-awaited return to the EDGE. Dana is a marketing partner at Kick Point, working to help clients grow businesses by making digital marketing and traditional marketing work well together. In this episode, Dana and Erin discuss the role of the agency and its responsibility to help shepherd the Google assets of its clients.  Pay attention to how Big Query is set up for your clients: they must own the connection - it cannot be moved from an agency account to the client after set up! This discussion also hones in on topics ranging from data-channeling, restrictions, and interpretation methods that help you optimize your utilization of Google Analytics. Grasp the power of Google’s advanced user-centric analytics in GA4, right here on The EDGE of The Web! Key Segments: [00:03:29] Introducing Dana DiTomaso [00:05:07] How Dana got into SEO [00:08:17] New Responsibilities For Digital Marketers with the Birth of GA4 [00:13:26] EDGE of the Web Title Sponsor: Site Strategics  [00:21:00] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Hostinger  [00:22:40] Differences Between UA and GA4  [00:28:16] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: Wix  [00:29:39] Was GA4 Prematurely Implemented?  [00:32:27] What Metrics Have Changed as a Result of GA4? [00:35:33] A New Approach to Interpretation With GA4  Thanks to Our Sponsors! Site Strategics: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/site Wix: http://edgeofthewebradio.com/wix Hostinger: https://edgeofthewebradio.com/hostinger  Follow Our Guest Twitter: https://twitter.com/danaditomaso?lang=en  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dditomaso/ Resources Mentioned in the Show: Grow Your Agency with Google Analytics Training & Templates 9 Google Ads Mistakes That Are Hurting Your Business

Welcome back to News from the EDGE! There’s plenty of chaos within OpenAI as CEO Sam Altman is ousted by the board who justifies the decision as ‘for the betterment of mankind’. Google adds ‘Notes’ feature to its artillery, allowing searchers the ability to write their own note on a specific search result listing… What could go wrong here! Plus, Google makes changes to ad policy to further protect children from dangers on the web. The landscape of the SERP is changing, so tune in for all the updates on digital marketing and AI from this past week right here on the EDGE  News from the EDGE: [00:11:48] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: Site Strategics  [00:05:04] Google Search tests Notes on search results [00:07:33] Google launches new personal search experience with follow button and personalized ranking [00:11:48] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: InLinks [00:12:35] Google announces update to child and teen ad policy language AI Blitz: [00:18:12] Microsoft recruits former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Co-Founder Greg Brockman [00:22:07] Meta disbanded its Responsible AI team  [00:23:39] EDGE of the Web Sponsor: Hostinger  AI Tools: [00:25:00] GPT Zero - More than an AI detector. Preserve what's human  [00:25:59] Munch - Extract the most engaging and impactful clips from your long-form videos Barry Blast from Search Engine Roundtable: [00:27:34] Avoid including prices of flights in your title tags, says Google [00:29:07] New Yahoo Search Experience May Launch Soon [00:31:01] Google updates search quality raters guidelines Thanks to our sponsors! Site Strategics https://edgeofthewebradio.com/site Inlinks https://edgeofthewebradio.com/inlinks Hostinger https://edgeofhtewebradio.com/hostinger Follow Us: Twitter: @ErinSparks Twitter: @MordyOberstein Twitter: @TheMann00 Twitter: @EDGEWebRadio

The EDGE of the WEB team ventured across the country to attend the inaugural BrightonSEO U.S conference in beautiful San Diego! This special podcast was filmed LIVE in front of an audience with 5 of the industry's best as panelists. Witness industry experts collaborate in forecasting the unpredictable future of SEO. The panel evaluates the industry’s most disruptive topics, including Content at Scale, E-E-A-T, AI Generated Content, SGE, Google’s Knowledge Graph, and beyond, offering insights that light the path ahead. Do not miss this very special feature of The EDGE of the Web as we discover the true trajectory of our industry, and SEO’s unite to scale the expansive future ahead!   *Thanks to our panelists!* Mordy Oberstein Cindy Krum Julie McCoy Ola King JR Oakes Key Segments: [00:07:20] Panel Segments [00:06:24] Title Sponsor: SE Ranking [00:07:44] How Can We Maintain Creative Control When Using AI To Operate At Scale?  [00:14:52] The Journey Ahead For SEO’s As In Relation To Content [00:27:56] How Ca n We Ensure The Accuracy And Reliability Of AI Generated Content?  [00:35:35] The Expanding Google Knowledge Graph [00:45:34] How Is Search Generative AI Going To Transform The Way We Search For Information? [00:55:34] How Will SGE Change Organic Links On The SERP? [01:00:00] EDGE of The Web Sponsor: SE Ranking [01:04:27] How Can SEO Tools Gauge The Success Of SEO Campaigns In The Context Of SGE? [01:11:52] The Future Of SEO In The Next 18 Months   Thanks to Our Sponsor! SE Ranking: edgeofthewebradio.com/seranking  Follow Our Panelists  Cindy Krum Julie McCoy Ola King JR Oakes Mordy Oberstein