#9: AI model 'Lumiere' / Is SEO dead? / Voice cloning scams / Artists ‘Nightshade’ tool / Google My Business Listing

Happy Mondays.

With January almost out of the way, let’s have a look at all things Ai / Brand / Content / Web / SEO / for the week ahead…

Last week’s highlights:

Projects wise: Continuing to get great traction with our clients Tanner Bates and Glo Renewables SEO campaigns and a new London-based Solar rebrand is progressing nicely alongside all other ongoing projects. Visited the River Dart Country Park for some muddy climbing fun too!

Here we are with edition #9 of your Weekly Dose of: Ai / Brand / Content / Web / SEO / ??

VIDEO:

Google's new video generation AI model 'Lumiere' just announced.

It seems these days, you only need to blink, and there's a new Google Ai product or announcement. This time is the world of text to video. Utilising a new diffusion model named Space-Time-U-Net (STUNet), Lumiere can generate 5 seconds of video content from a prompt with realistic movement. One of the highlights from the demonstration was a turtle moving in water, so lifelike that it could easily be mistaken for a real turtle!

This proves that AI video generation tools have evolved from the uncanny valley to near realism in a few short years.

Unlike traditional methods where videos are stitched together from generated keyframes, Lumiere focuses on the movement itself, producing a more seamless and lifelike visual experience.

While Lumiere's video generation capacity holds immense potential, it's worth noting that Google has expressed concerns about the risk of misuse for creating fake or harmful content. Beyond text-to-video generation, Lumiere provides several other functionalities.

These include:

- Image-to-video generation

- Stylised generation

- Cinemagraphs

- Inpainting.

Each function has unique applications. - Image-to-video generation allows for the creation of dynamic content from static images. - The stylised generation feature enables users to create videos in a specific style. - With cinemagraphs, you can animate only a certain part of a video, adding a level of depth and interest to the piece. - Inpainting is used to mask out an area of the video to alter its colour or pattern.

The tech giant emphasises the need for tools to detect biases and malicious use to ensure the safe and fair use of this technology.

Will you be using Google Lumiere?

AI FUN:

Apple’s everyday items

SEO:

Is SEO dead?

No, SEO isn't dead. But it has indeed evolved.

Let's rewind to the early 2000s. SEO was all about keywords and backlinks. The more, the merrier. But, as search engines have evolved, so has SEO.

Fast forward to 2022, and SEO is about relevance, user experience, and quality content. It’s not just about stuffing your content with keywords or building countless backlinks.

Google’s algorithm, for instance, now prioritises websites that provide value to their visitors - high-quality content that answers searcher's queries. It’s all about how well you can serve your audience.

Moreover, SEO isn't just a one-time task. It's an ongoing process because search engines continuously update their algorithms to deliver better results. You need to stay updated with these changes and tweak your SEO strategy accordingly.

And let's not forget the importance of local SEO. With the rise of voice search and mobile usage, local SEO has become more critical than ever. It helps businesses promote their products and services to local customers at the exact time they're looking for them online.

So, no, SEO is not dead.

It's just different now. And it continues to be an essential component of any digital marketing strategy.

If you’re not focusing on SEO, you're missing out on a significant opportunity to increase your online visibility and attract more customers.

Remember, the best place to hide a dead body is the second page of Google search results – you don't want your business to be there!

So, keep improving your SEO game. You may not see instant results, but remember, SEO is a long-term investment. Stay patient, stay persistent.

AI:

AI, voice cloning scams on the rise.

Imagine your son/daughter calling for help with some money.

Except it’s not them. It's an AI scam.

With the rise in AI, voice cloning scams are becoming increasingly prevalent.

Cybercriminals are using AI tools to mimic voices, even going so far as to impersonate well-known public figures.

One example recently involved robocalls impersonating President Joe Biden, advising voters not to participate in a presidential primary. This demonstrates the capacity of AI voice scams to disrupt important events.

Another example is scams targeting ordinary people. Scammers mimicking family members' voices, asking you to send them money.

Here are a couple of tips from CNBC to protect yourself:

1?? Fact-check and verify: If something sounds suspicious, double-check the information online.

2?? End the call: If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the person or institution directly using their official contact details.

Remember, scammers don't need a lengthy audio clip to clone a voice.

Even a simple "Hello" can give them plenty to work with.

Local Search:

Enhancing Your Google My Business Listing: Quick Guide

Google My Business (GMB) is a valuable tool that offers businesses the chance to create a compelling digital storefront on Google's platform. This essential tool helps businesses stand out in Google's search results, making it easier for customers to find them.

Here's an easy-to-follow guide on how you can optimise your Google My Business listing in just 30 minutes to get better results.

Why Should You Optimise Your Google My Business Listing?

Optimising your Google My Business listing brings several benefits. It ensures your business gets improved visibility on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs), increases web traffic, and boosts local SEO. Moreover, a well-optimised listing provides potential customers with easy access to essential business information, leading to an increase in footfall for brick-and-mortar businesses.

Getting Started: Claim and Verify Your GMB Listing

Before you can start optimising, you need to claim and verify your Google My Business listing. Google usually creates a basic listing for businesses it identifies, but these often lack vital information or may have inaccuracies.

To claim your GMB listing:

Visit Google My Business

Click on "Claim"

Follow the straightforward instructions provided

Accurate Information

Once you've claimed your listing, the next step is to ensure all your business details are correct. This includes your business name, address, and phone number, often referred to as NAP (Name, Address, Phone). Ensure this information aligns with the details provided in your other online profiles and on your website.

Adding the Right Categories for Your Business

Google allows you to select a primary category that best describes your business. However, you can also add additional categories if your business offers more services. This categorisation helps Google understand your business better and improves your chances of appearing in relevant local searches.

Setting Your Business Hours

Ensure you provide accurate information about your business hours. This information is critical to customers who may want to visit your premises. Also, remember to update your listing with special hours during holidays or other special occasions.

Rich Content: Adding Photos and Videos

Visual content is an excellent way to grab attention and make your listing more appealing. Google encourages businesses to add photos or videos showcasing their products or services, premises, team members, and any other relevant images that could enhance the customer's understanding of the business.

Encouraging Customer Reviews

Customer reviews play a crucial role in shaping your online reputation. Positive reviews can boost your business's credibility and improve your local search rankings. Encourage your customers to leave reviews, and make sure to respond to these reviews, regardless of whether they're positive or negative.

Anticipating Customer Questions with FAQs

Google My Business allows you to add a Frequently Asked Questions section to your listing. Use this feature to answer common queries about your business, products, or services. This proactive approach can save customers' time and enhance their experience.

Linking Your Social Media Accounts

Your GMB listing offers a great opportunity to connect your social media accounts. This not only increases your online discoverability but also provides customers with more ways to engage with your business.

Keeping Your Listing Fresh and Updated

Regularly reviewing and updating your GMB listing ensures that your business details are always accurate and up-to-date. This regular maintenance can lead to improved customer trust and increased visibility on Google.

Advanced Features for Enhanced User Experience

Google My Business offers advanced features such as the ability to add a product catalogue, appointment bookings, and welcome offers. Utilising these features can provide a richer user experience and further enhance your listing.

Utilising SEO Strategies

Optimising your Google My Business listing can significantly improve your local SEO. This involves incorporating relevant keywords in your business description, posts, and responses to customer reviews. Consistent use of keywords can enhance your visibility in search results for those terms.

Optimising your Google My Business listing doesn't have to be a daunting task. By dedicating just 30 minutes, you can significantly improve your listing's performance and increase your business's visibility on Google. With a well-optimised GMB listing, your business can stand out, attract more customers, and, ultimately, boost your bottom line.

Remember, Google My Business optimisation isn't a one-time task. It requires regular updates and maintenance to ensure your business details remain accurate and to take full advantage of new features as Google rolls them out. So get started, stay consistent, and watch your business grow.

AI:

Artists using ‘Nightshade’ tool to protect their work.

What if there was a tool that could protect your digital artwork from AI theft?

Meet Nightshade, a revolutionary software tool from the University of Chicago, designed to safeguard your creative works from unauthorised use by AI models.

Unlike traditional methods, Nightshade 'poisons' your artwork images making them unusable for AI training purposes. It subtly alters images at the pixel level, with changes imperceptible to the human eye but meaningful to AI models.

This means an AI might misinterpret a handbag as a toaster, or a dog as a cat, if trained on a Nightshade-altered image.

The beauty of Nightshade is its resilience. The final images can withstand traditional image manipulation techniques like cropping or compressing, making it a robust tool for artists looking to protect their work from AI copying.

Now available for public use over at Nightshade.

Are you ready to employ this digital vigilante for your creations? Image from @ DeepAIDigest

COPY:

Word Mash

“Gigglefit”.

This week's wordmash is 'Gigglefit'.

It's that uncontrollable burst of laughter that catches you off guard and just won't stop.

Sometimes it's over something silly, like a joke or a funny memory.

It's the kind of laughter that makes your stomach hurt and your eyes water.

Ever had a 'gigglefit' at the most inappropriate time?

What caused your last 'gigglefit'?

*Fun Fact - Laughter, even in the form of a 'gigglefit', is known to release endorphins, the body's natural stress-relievers and feel-good hormones..

RECOMMENDED TOOLS:

?? DotGrowth The Ultimate All-In-One Marketing Tool. Get More Customers & Clients. ??

WriteSonic - Stuck for what to write? It is a great tool for helping you get the juices flowing and the structure and ideas underway.

?? Answer: Can’t always answer the phone? Never miss a call with Answer Telephone Receptionist.

Offer Fancy a website review on us?

Special offer: a weekly complimentary website review for one lucky business!

It's a first-come, first-served opportunity, only one a week, so don't miss out!

Here's what we'll dive into:

• Aesthetic and Functionality: A look at your overall website design.
• User Experience: Evaluating the ease and efficiency of your site's UI.
• SEO and Traffic Boosters: Identifying strategies to amplify your online presence.
• Tailored Insights: Focusing on specific areas you're curious about.

Our goal?

To pinpoint key improvements that can increase your traffic, enhance lead conversion, and boost customer engagement.

Interested? Just say the word, and it's yours. This personalised review will be exclusively shared with you – it won’t be a feature in our newsletter. Let's make your website shine and turn clicks into customers!

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Have a great week and I’ll see you next Monday!

Gareth

https://dot-design.co.uk