Jetpack Acquires WordPress Social Image Generator
WordPress toolkit company Jetpack announced it has acquired Social Image Generator, a plugin that generates social sharing images.
Jetpack, a company owned by WordPress.com parent company Automattic, acquired the popular WordPress plugin Social Image Generator. The plugin automatically generates attractive social media sharing images. It proved so popular that in seven months it was acquired and will be integrated as part of Jetpack.
The Jetpack Twitter announcement said:
“Jetpack is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Social Image Generator, a #WordPress plugin that automatically creates social share images for your content.”
Source: Jetpack Acquires WordPress Social Image Generator
Google Lighthouse 8.3.0 Update
Google Lighthouse is an open source tool created by Google that tests web pages for web performance bottlenecks, accessibility issues and identify SEO opportunities.
Because the tool is open source, the underlying code that powers Lighthouse can be found in numerous third party tools, some of which extend Lighthouse by adding different capabilities and more helpful data visualizations.
That means that any changes to Lighthouse will inevitably make it into third party tools as well.
Lighthouse can be used as part of the Chrome Dev Tools suite of tools that is native in every Chrome-based browser.
Lighthouse 8.3.0 is coming Chrome 94, which is due to be released on September 21, 2021.
Source: Google Lighthouse 8.3.0 Update
Google News app will display non-AMP content and send readers to publisher pages
As part of the page experience update, Google News will be displaying both AMP and non-AMP web content, the company announced in an email to publishers on Friday. The platform will also no longer render article text from RSS feeds in the Google News app; instead, it will send readers directly to publishers’ webpages.
AMP no longer required. “In the coming weeks the Google News app will improve its support for web content, displaying both AMP and non-AMP web content with more regularity from sites worldwide,” the company said in the announcement.
The AMP framework was previously a requirement to be included in Google News. Now that Google has gotten rid of the requirement, the platform may be a more viable way to attract readers for publishers that didn’t adopt AMP.
“We’ll send readers directly to publishers’ web pages.” Google News will also no longer render article text provided via RSS feeds. As such, the platform is sending readers straight to the publisher’s content hosted on their own site.
The company is also removing functionality in Publisher Center related to feed-based article rendering, including custom Analytics tracking IDs, third-party tracking pixels, custom RSS styling and feed ads. These functionalities are scheduled to be removed in early November.
Source: Google News app will display non-AMP content and send readers to publisher pages
Microsoft Ads announces optimization score
Optimization Score is now available on the Recommendations tab in Microsoft Ads, according to the latest announcement from the company. The new scoring system is meant to help improve advertisers’ account optimization status and potential, help advertisers spend their time more efficiently and to prioritize the optimization actions with higher impact, and track their optimization efforts over time.
“Along with the overall Optimization Score, you’ll see a list of recommendations tailored specifically for your account, to help you optimize each campaign. Each recommendation displays a score uplift percentage, showing how much your optimization score will be impacted when you apply or dismiss that recommendation. Optimization Score is available at Account and Campaign level, and is shown for active Search, Shopping and Audience campaigns,” said Jessica Cui, Principal Program Manager and Cristiano Ventura Sr. Product Marketing Manager.
How to check Optimization Score in Microsoft Ads. Visit the Recommendations page in Microsoft Advertising. “You’ll see a percentage score in blue (see below). Each category of recommendations is shown with an aggregated score uplift from the recommendations belonging to it, and each recommendation is indicated with a score uplift in an ellipse on the top right of the card with a value from 0.1% to 100%, representing its estimated impact on your account or campaign performance,” wrote Cui and Ventura. If you apply or dismiss a recommendation, your score will adjust accordingly.
Source: Microsoft Ads announces optimization score
FSE Program: Insights Into Switching Between Block Themes
Unlike routine testing rounds for the FSE Outreach Program, Anne McCarthy threw a bit of a twist on the Make WordPress Test blog earlier today. The announcement asks users to think about what they would like to see when switching between block themes. The test is open to anyone who wants to participate through September 29.
The steps are loose and not required. The goal is to get people thinking and discussing what the theme-switching flow will look like over time. McCarthy asked several questions, but they are merely a starting point for a more open-ended discussion.
While I sometimes need structure, I tend to break the rules anyway. The format of this test suited me well today.
Source: FSE Program: Insights Into Switching Between Block Themes
What Is Microcopy? How To Make a Big Impact in Fewer Words
You interact with hundreds of instances of microcopy every day.
Not convinced?
Open a new tab on your browser. You can see a search bar with a placeholder text, right. That’s a form of a microcopy.
These tiny bits of information can make the difference between an online user experience that facilitates a customer and a user experience that pushes a customer away.
Microcopy guides a user, provides context, conveys personality and builds trust. But, how do you choose your words in the limited space?
We are here to guide you.
Learn what makes a microcopy successful. Read through the tips and associated examples to craft your own small but mighty moments of interaction in no time.
Microcopy 101
Microcopy refers to the short snippets of text that improve the usability of your website, app or any other digital interface. Similar to longer-form copies like landing pages, the goal of microcopy is to inspire action and guide a user in his journey.
Source: What Is Microcopy? How To Make a Big Impact in Fewer Words
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LinkedIn Removing Stories on September 30
