1. Google Rolls Out AdSense Reporting Update with Improved UX and Mobile Support
Google has begun rolling out a new version of its AdSense Reporting dashboard, which focuses on making the available insights easier to access, and visualize, while also enabling full mobile support. [Source: Social Media Today]
2. Google Chrome’s new ‘heavy ads’ blocker catches some publishers by surprise
Google Chrome this week began rolling out a new feature designed to block ads that use an “egregious” amount of network bandwidth or battery power — an update that has caught some publishers on the back foot. [Source: Digiday]
3. Facebook Announces Beta Launch of ‘Horizon’ VR Social Experience
With virtual reality gradually becoming more mainstream, accelerated by increased take-up amid the COVID-19 lockdowns, Facebook has announced that its new social VR experience platform, called ‘Horizon’, is now moving into closed beta. [Source: Social Media Today]
4. Home activities structured data now supported by Google Search
Google has added new search developer documentation for the home activities structured data. Home activities structured data is primarily to be used for activities that you can do at home such as watching videos and online events. It appears in the Google Search results as special rich results. [Source: Search Engine Land
5. Google Adds Option to Cast Meet Video Calls to Your Home TV
Google is looking to get a leg-up on fast-rising video conferencing competitor Zoom by adding the capacity to cast your Google Meet video calls to your home TV screen. [Source: Social Media Today]
6. Facebook Shops & Instagram Checkout Expand to All US Businesses
Facebook is rolling out a dedicated shopping tab, and expanding Shops and Instagram Checkout to all US businesses. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
7. Google Lets Retailers Customize Product Info in Search Results
Retailers have new ways to control how their products appear in Google search results through the use of robots meta tags and an HTML attribute. These new methods of marking up product pages allow retailers to customize search snippets according to their preferences. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
8. Google Launches ‘Accelerating Retail’ Digital Marketing Training Program for Businesses in Europe
With more businesses looking to ramp up their online presence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Google has this week launched a new program aimed at helping European retailers make the most of their digital opportunities. [Source: Social Media Today]
9. Facebook plans to expand its news tab beyond the US
Facebook is planning to expand its dedicated news section and says it is “considering” the UK, Germany, France, India, and Brazil as possible recipients. But given Facebook’s volatile history with the news industry, and the trend toward requiring platforms to pay news outlets for their content, it’s possible the company is simply testing the waters for its next move. [Source: The Verge]
10. Google Ads Tests Product Image Rotation On Hover
Jackson Lo shared a video-cast of a set of Google Shopping Ads that shows the product image change and rotate to a new product image when you hover your mouse over the image. [Source: Search Engine Roundtable]
