Digital Marketing Updates for August 2024

Staying ahead of the curve is crucial.?

The world of SEO and digital marketing has always been fast-paced, but since 2023, AI and large language models (LLMs) have accelerated this change even more.?

In this article, we'll explore the key trends reshaping search engines, digital marketing, and AI—trends every marketer should know to stay relevant in 2024 and beyond.

Major Updates in Digital Marketing for August 2024

August 1: Reddit's Robots.txt Update

• Reddit disallowed all bots, except Google, from crawling its content unless they paid for it. Google benefits with a $60 million per year deal, while other search engines are restricted from accessing Reddit's content.

August 2: Google's 2.5% Digital Service Tax

• Google introduced a 2.5% digital service tax on Google Ads in Canada. Starting October 2024, advertisers targeting Canadian businesses must pay this additional cost.

August 2: Google Ads Consent Settings Update

• Google added a new "Consent Settings" tab in Google Ads, allowing advertisers to manage data collection settings from website data and uploaded customer lists. The rollout is happening gradually.

August 5: Google Search Console Recommendations Tab

• Google introduced a 'Recommendations' tab in the Search Console. This feature provides insights and suggestions to improve website performance based on Google's machine learning and AI algorithms.

August 7: Google Ads API v17 Launch

• Google released the 17th version of the Google Ads API with eight critical updates, including shareable ad previews, auto-created assets removal, offline conversion diagnostic reports, and more.

August 14: Google Trends Interface and Performance Update

• Google rolled out a visual update for Google Trends, switching to a modern list-view design. The performance of Google Trends has also been improved, with faster data updates and customizable reports.

August 14: Meta Ads Attribution and AI Optimization Updates

• Meta Ads introduced a new attribution model, crediting conversions after ad exposure, even if they do not happen directly through the ad click. Meta also expanded the AI-driven conversion value rule for improved ad performance.

August 15: Google Core Update (IMPORTANT!)

• Google began rolling out its August 2024 Core Update, affecting site rankings. This update is part of the helpful content series, with some websites seeing positive impacts while others experienced drops in rankings.

August 15: Google AI Overviews Expansion

• Google expanded its AI-generated overviews to six new countries, including the UK, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. The AI overviews are now also available in multiple local languages, catering to a global audience.

August 21: Google Ad Manager API 202408 Update

• Google launched a new version of the Google Ad Manager API (202408), with various improvements and features for developers to better manage their ad inventories.

August 24: Google Looker Studio Auction Insights Data Removal

• Google announced that Auction Insights data would no longer be available via the Google Ads Connector in Looker Studio. This change affects reports using Auction Insights after September 23, 2024.

August 26: Google's Use of OG Title Tags for Meta Titles

• Google updated its search algorithm to use OG title tags (commonly used for Facebook SEO) when generating meta titles. This change impacts how Google rewrites page titles based on on-page elements.

August 30: Google Search AVIF Image Support

• Google Search now supports the AVIF image format, which offers smaller file sizes than WebP. However, AVIF adoption remains limited on older browsers and devices.

August 30: Meta Ads Direct Analysis Integration

• Meta Ads allows direct integration with analytics platforms such as Google Analytics and Northam. This helps marketers analyze data more easily across different platforms.

As the digital marketing landscape continues to evolve at lightning speed, keeping up with these trends is essential for success. AI, LLMs, and new tools are transforming how we approach search and advertising.?

Identifying and adjusting to these changes allows marketers to stay ahead of the competition and keep their strategies future-proof. For a deeper dive into these updates, stay informed with the latest industry news and trends.