Digital marketing news 2018
Here are some of the top digital marketing news stories from 2018:
- Google's Algorithm Updates: Google made several significant algorithm updates in 2018, including the "Medic Update" which affected the healthcare industry, and the "Speed Update" which prioritized page speed in search rankings.
- Facebook's Data Breach: In March 2018, Facebook announced that it had been hacked, exposing the personal data of 87 million users. The breach led to increased scrutiny of the company's data handling practices.
- GDPR and Data Protection: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect in May 2018, requiring companies to obtain explicit consent from users to collect and process their personal data.
- Voice Search and AI: Voice search and artificial intelligence (AI) continued to gain traction in 2018, with Google announcing the launch of its Google Assistant-powered smart display, and Amazon introducing its Echo smart speaker.
- Influencer Marketing: Influencer marketing continued to grow in popularity in 2018, with brands partnering with social media influencers to reach new audiences and promote their products.
- Video Content: Video content continued to dominate the digital landscape in 2018, with YouTube announcing that it had reached 2 billion monthly active users, and Facebook introducing its "Watch" video-on-demand service.
- Mobile-First Indexing: Google announced that it would be switching to mobile-first indexing, prioritizing mobile-friendly websites in search rankings.
- Amazon's Advertising Growth: Amazon's advertising business continued to grow in 2018, with the company announcing that it had reached $10 billion in ad revenue.
- Snapchat's Redesign: Snapchat underwent a major redesign in 2018, introducing a new interface and features such as "Discover" and "Story" ads.
- Twitter's Algorithm Update: Twitter introduced an algorithmic timeline in 2018, prioritizing tweets from users that users interact with most.
- LinkedIn's Acquisition of Glint: LinkedIn acquired Glint, a people analytics platform, in 2018, expanding its capabilities in the HR and recruitment space.
- Pinterest's IPO: Pinterest went public in 2018, raising $1.4 billion in its initial public offering (IPO).
- Instagram's IGTV: Instagram launched IGTV, a long-form video platform, in 2018, allowing users to upload videos up to 60 minutes in length.
- Google's Duplex: Google introduced Duplex, an AI-powered virtual assistant that can make phone calls on behalf of users, in 2018.
- Facebook's Portal: Facebook launched Portal, a smart display with a camera and microphone, in 2018, allowing users to make video calls and access their Facebook content.
These are just a few of the many digital marketing news stories from 2018. The year was marked by significant changes in the digital landscape, including the rise of voice search, AI, and video content, as well as increased scrutiny of data handling practices and the introduction of new technologies and platforms.