Welcome to our weekly review of major happenings in the digital space. Here are a few significant updates that might interest you;
- Google Search Console Launches Desktop Page Experience Report
Google has just launched a new page experience report for desktop in Google Search Console. This is to support the upcoming rollout of page experience ranking on desktop. Page experience report first launched in April 2021 then the page experience update rolled out. The new Google Page Experience report offers metrics, such as the percentage of URLs with good page experience and search impressions over time, enabling users to quickly evaluate performance. Even though the update comes in handy, there may not be a huge ranking change but it may impact sites more if their stories show in the top stories section. You can access the report by clicking here and for more information about this update, click here
- Google Ads Launches Placement Reports for Performance Max Campaigns
Google Ads has just launched placement reports for Performance Max campaigns. Placement reports can be generated to see where ads have served for Performance Max campaigns and how many impressions they received. Placement report was launched to provide insight about where Performance Max ads are showing to give advertisers more transparency and assurance around where their ads are showing. For now, the data only shows where ads have served and their impressions and no click data. Performance Max campaigns became available to all advertisers in November 2021. Google also announced that sometime in 2022, Smart Shopping and Local campaigns will roll out into Performance Max. For more information, click here.Â
- Twitter Finally Brings Communities to its Android App
After months of the initial launch of Communities, Twitter has finally announced that Android users can now engage in Communities, expanding access to more dedicated discussion spaces. Communities is Twitter’s approach of tweeting and providing a form of community around specific subjects on the app. Communities operate on ‘invite-only’ or ‘open to all’ access which means that users need to know somebody already in an interest area to gain access to a closed community. While ‘open to all groups are mostly filled with spam. Twitter is working to address this challenge, with a new ‘request to join’ option, where community admins will be able to approve or deny requests. This can help improve accessibility to all closed communities. For more information, click here.Â
- Instagram Expands Video Remix Option to All Videos, Not Just Reels Clips
Instagram is adding the capacity to remix all videos that people post in the app and not just Reels. This increases the options for creative response and engagement on Instagram. Now, when a user is viewing any video on Instagram, they will be able to tap on the ‘Remix this video’ option to create their own version. Users can also choose to switch off remixes in their video settings. Instagram explained that Remix gives users ways to respond and reinvent creative videos shared on Instagram every day. This gives them the opportunity to collaborate with other users on the app and get discovered by new audiences. Reels remix option was introduced to Instagram in March 2021, and the new functionality will greatly expand the amount of video content that users can use to build their own responses and creativity. For more information, click here.
- Meta Announces Planned Integration of WhatsApp into its Workplace Platform
Meta is adding a new WhatsApp integration into its Workplace platform, to enable companies to share posts from Workplace over WhatsApp. This is to help businesses maintain connections with their staff, many of whom are now working remotely. The integration will provide another way to share internal information within Workplace, which could help to streamline messaging, while also facilitating more engagement and interaction between remote employees. Workplace currently has more than 7 million paid subscribers, and with more organizations moving to flexible working arrangements. Adding WhatApp to this platform provides even more options, and while the integration is not yet live, Meta is planning to roll out the new option soon, as part of the next major Workplace platform update.
Thank you for reading. See you next Friday for more news and interesting reads in the digital space.Â
