The Roundup – March 31st ⚑️


πŸ‘‹ Welcome back Reader

This week in The Roundup we're discussing:
​

β†’ What to focus on for SEO in 2025
β†’ The latest social media news
β†’ Nominations for the bCreators Awards are open
​

Let's dive in...


πŸ“Œ SEO in 2025 – Answers, Authority and Awareness

​Wordlift explains that in 2025, SEO is all about delivering trusted answers, building authority, and boosting brand awareness.

It's not just about getting clicks anymore; it's about being the go-to source for reliable information, even if users don't visit your site. This means creating content that not only ranks well but also establishes you as an authority.

Visibility across various platforms is crucial. With users discovering content through search engines, social media, AI and voice assistants, ensuring you are present and engaging on multiple channels is key.

Influencing the customer journey has become more complex, especially when attribution isn't always clear. By focusing on providing valuable content and maintaining a strong presence across different platforms, you can guide potential clients or customers through their decision-making process. The goal is to be a trusted source that users rely on, regardless of how they find your content.​

Meanwhile, at the recent Search Central Live event in NYC, Google shared insights to how they are supporting independent sites. Danny Sullivan emphasised that Google is committed to showcasing high-quality content from independent creators, not just large brands.

He also assured that they are aware of the challenges faced by smaller sites and are committed to addressing them through continuous improvements in their search algorithms. Finally, he encouraged independent creators to focus on producing high-quality, original content that is more likely to be recognised and rewarded by Google's evolving search algorithms. ​


πŸ“° In the news

Instagram Reels get a 2X speed

Oh yes, the one thing we all wanted Instagram to copy from TikTok is here! Holding the edge of the screen while watching a Reel will now play the video at 2X speed πŸ™Œ

Other updates

  • Instagram is adding Re-Posts, allowing you to reshare content that may appear within the feeds of your followers in the app
  • Instagram will be improving search capabilities this year
  • Instagram experiments with Al-Generated comments on posts
  • Instagram removes Notes from Feed Posts and Reels
  • Facebook is bringing back the Friends-Only Feed
  • TikTok finally pulls "chubby filter" after backlash
  • TikTok retires its separate Notes app
  • TikTok expands in-stream shopping to businesses in France, Germany and Italy
  • The April 4th extension deadline for TikTok is approaching, as senators urge Trump to work with Congress to save the app from going dark​
  • AI search startup Perplexity wants to buy TikTok and make its algorithm open-source
  • Threads now lets you set the following feed as default
  • Threads is apparently working on an option to follow all of the same profiles in the app that you currently follow on X/Twitter
  • LinkedIn adds Calendly integration for profile CTA buttons
  • LinkedIn has launched its Create Video newsletter to share video tips and usage insights
  • YouTube Shorts will count views even if you scroll past, counting the number of times a video starts to play or replay (just like Instagram and TikTok)
  • Meta adds improved Creator Marketplace tools to better facilitate promotional collaborations
  • Buffer found that TikTok videos longer than 1min get 63.8% more watch time than videos in the 30-60 second range
  • New Adobe data reveals AI search referrals are on the rise​

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πŸ’­ From my desk

Last week, I had a wonderful morning at the bCreator Committee Brunch to celebrate the launch of the 2025 bCreator Awards sponsored by ITV. This also means that nominations are officially open – time to nominate your favourite creators, agencies, industry experts and creator brand campaigns!!

On a more personal note, I'm starting the final week of my Couch to 5K challenge and I can't believe how much my fitness has improved in the last 8 weeks! I'm also getting ready to head to Dublin later this month for some birthday celebrations. Annnnddd I'm starting a new job this week too πŸ‘€ more on this soon but in the meantime... wish me luck!

Until next time,
Elaine XO

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​Elaine, 600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246

Marketing Malone

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