Important Changes in SEO and Digital Marketing in August 2024

We will learn about the changes in SEO, Digital Marketing, PPC, and AI trends related to search engines from the last month. Stay updated in these fast-changing industries hassle-free.

Search and Digital Marketing are one of the fastest changing industries in the world. These industries will see even more rapid changes from 2023 onwards, especially with the integration of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and LLM (Large Language Models). So, let me let you know what changes have come in Search and Digital Marketing in August 2024.

1. Google Implements “Block All” Rule – Robots.txt Update

The biggest news of August 2024 was that Google has introduced a new rule called “Block All” for their websites. This rule is implemented in the robots.txt file. Now, Google has completely blocked access to content on some websites. For this reason, websites like Reddit have started to prohibit the use of their content by AI models.

Reddit has created great content on its platform with the help of moderators, which are overseen and managed by independent moderators. There has also been growing controversy over the sale of Reddit's content, as Reddit itself does not create content, but it is created by its users.

2. Google's New Tax: Digital Services Tax 2.5% (Canada)

Google has introduced a new digital services tax in Canada. This tax will be 2.5% and will be implemented in Canada. This means that Canadian businesses and companies will have to pay additional tax on their ads. This will affect all agencies and companies that advertise in Canada.

3. New features and optimization tools in Meta ads

Meta has made many major changes to its advertising platform. New features include "Customize Ad Optimization", "Conversion Value Rules", and "New Attribution Models". This will allow advertisers to optimize their ad campaigns in a better way.

Companies can now target their ad campaigns based on their business goals and set different types of rules for different audiences to improve conversion rates and reduce costs. This is an AI-powered optimization that allows advertisers to set rules for different conversion values within the same campaign.

4. New version of Google API – 17.0

On August 7, 2024, Google released a new version of its API, 17.0. This version adds several important improvements and features, including shareable ad previews, offline conversion reporting, bidding strategy information for video ads, and segmentation for ad formats.

These updates make it easier for advertisers to manage their campaigns and update their internal tools with new features.

5. Google Core Update (August 15)

On August 15, 2024, Google began rolling out a new core update aimed at further improving the quality of content available on websites. This update is considered part of the “useful content update.”

This update had a positive impact on some websites, but a negative impact on others. The rollout of this update was completed on September 4, 2024, and its effects can now be seen in full.

6. New attribution model for Meta Ads

Meta Ads introduced a new opt-in based attribution model. This model also tracks conversions that did not occur through a direct click on an ad, but occurred several days later. Through this feature, Meta can show advertisers how their ads led to indirect conversions.

However, this feature may not suit some advertisers, as Meta tries to claim all conversions that occurred through ads, even if they were not directly caused by the ad.

7. New changes in Google Trends

On August 14, 2024, Google made some important changes to the Trends section. Instead of a list view, it was given a modern and simple design, making it easier for users to navigate. In addition, trends can now be customized and can look back up to a week.

Google Trends is now faster, reports are easier to customize, and you can get a deeper understanding of trending topics on websites.

Conclusion:

It's clear from these updates that the world of SEO and digital marketing is changing every day, and even faster with the integration of AI and search engines. All these changes are aimed at helping advertisers, website owners, and content creators to do their jobs even better with new features and tools.

As every month, this month too we're highlighting all the important updates and changes in one place, so you don't have to visit hundreds of websites and blogs to find out.