As the year wrapped up, so did the gifts. November proved to be another big month in the digital space with Black Friday once again making a massive impact, capping off a busy peak season. 

With so much happening, it was easy to fall behind important updates across the digital ecosystem, and so we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Here’s a look back at what made headlines to close out 2024. 

The Google Stuff

As is the tradition, Google rolled out a Core algorithm update right before a major event (in this case, BF/ CM). 

The November 2024 Google Core Update rolled out. These updates are part of Google’s search algorithm and are designed to improve the quality of search results. The update took about 2 weeks to (from 11/11 to 26/11). 

These core updates are part of Google’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of search results and typically occur several times a year, as outlined in the history of ranking report. As expected, this update caused noticeable ranking fluctuations across the SEO community, with many sites seeing shifts in visibility throughout the two-week rollout.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Today we released the November 2024 core update. We&#39;ll add it to our ranking release history page in the near future and update when the rollout is complete. For more on core updates: <a href=”https://t.co/43pVoYH8k7″>https://t.co/43pVoYH8k7</a></p>&mdash; Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) <a href=”https://twitter.com/googlesearchc/status/1856072700751687910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>November 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Google Search Console recommendations became fully live in November. A feature that was first tested in August 2024, all Google Search Console users can now see recommendations for how to improve their website’s search rankings. These recommendations are based on data that Google has collected about your website.

The Search Engine announced that their ‘Google Lens’ is now available for in-store and local shopping, just in time for the holiday shopping period. This means that you can use your phone’s camera to scan a product or place and get more information about it. For example, you can scan a product to see its price, reviews, and where to buy it. See more details at Search Engine Land.

Google released its list of the top 100 consumer products for the holiday season. This list is based on data from Google Trends and other sources. The list includes a variety of products, from toys and electronics to clothing and home goods. The data is great for seeing trending products to aid eCommerce businesses heading into 2025.

In a possible big shake-up to Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), users have spotted Overviews ads on mobile search. These ads are a new way to reach users directly in Google’s conversational AI responses. This could increase visibility and engagement. The Search Engine had stated in May that they would be testing this and it looks to have rolled out though we don’t think in Australia yet. So watch this space!

Also just in time for the holidays, Google introduced a new Sale Event promotion type in the Merchant Center. This new feature makes it easier for merchants to advertise sales and discounts. More information here.

In other news….

YouTube has unveiled new tools to help brands tap into creator content and Shorts ads. These new tools will make it easier for brands to create and promote content on YouTube. It seems that they’re ‘pulling out all the stops’ to aid brands and creators make the most of their platform.

Meanwhile, TikTok has launched a new AI video generation tool called Symphony Creative Studio. This tool allows users to create videos without having to do any editing or filming.

It’s ramping up to be a killer end of year in the Digital space. What’s in store for December and beyond? Stay tuned for another addition. If you have any questions about these stories or anything Digital, please drop the Megantic Team a line. We’re always here for a chat!