The Beat | May 12, 2023

In times of “paid verification,” Google has launched its own free Blue Checkmark

While Twitter is literally forcing advertisers to pay for Twitter Blue in order to continue using the platform for ads, Google seems to be championing the original purpose of verification stamps: to bring authority to brands and security to users. Starting this month, when you receive an email in Gmail, you may notice a small blue checkmark next to the sender's name. This checkmark indicates that their email address is legitimate and trustworthy. The lingering question is: will people place their trust in this new feature? Don't waste another moment and scroll down to kickstart your morning with The Beat!

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Article

Google launched a blue checkmark to identify verified accounts on Gmail

Jéssica Fontoura

Talent Marketer

Google has introduced a new feature in Gmail that adds a blue checkmark of authenticity next to the sender's name to show that their email address is legit and trustworthy. This update, which kicked off on May 3rd, automatically applies to accounts that have their logo registered and security protocols all set up. The aim? Boosting email security for both admins and users. Now, you might be thinking, "Hey, isn't that the same thing as the blue checkmark on Twitter?" Well, not quite! Twitter recently went a bit crazy with their verification system and started charging people for the privilege. That got folks wondering if a paid checkmark really means anything anymore. So, the question remains: Will this new blue badge on Gmail accounts bring the credibility that Google hopes for? If you want to dive deeper into this topic and explore all its implications, check out the full article. It's definitely worth a read!
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Article

How the April Core Update impacted our blog and what we did to recover traffic and keywords

Diana Martins

SEO Planner

April 2023 brought a significant Google Core Update that had a major impact on the rankings of various websites, blogs, portals, and e-commerce platforms. Unfortunately, our very own Rock Content blog got caught in the whirlwind, with many of our articles taking a nosedive in rankings or vanishing from search engine results altogether. Ouch! It was a tough blow, especially considering March wasn't exactly a traffic party for us either. We saw a 16.31% drop in traffic compared to that lackluster month. But fear not, my SEO-savvy friend! In this special article, we spill the beans on how we uncovered the traffic drop caused by April's Core Update and, more importantly, what we did to reclaim that coveted first position and achieve awesome results. Trust me, if you're in the SEO game, this is mandatory reading. Get ready for some serious insights!
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Case

How 6Connex doubled their traffic and increased their CTR by 25% in just one year through Content Marketing

Raphael Pires

Digital Marketer

6Connex, a virtual event platform, managed to boost their traffic and increase their click-through rate (CTR) by 25% in just one year thanks to a killer content marketing strategy. By integrating long-form blog posts into their plan, they were able to rank first for metaverse-related and other vital keywords for the business. This case study provides a great example of how effective content marketing can be for businesses looking to increase their online presence and visibility. Want to know more details and apply some of these tactics to your brand? Check out the full story.
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Article

What the warnings from the ‘Godfather of AI’ mean for the future of human-AI relations?

Luciana Pio

Expert Analyst in Digital Marketing 

AI trailblazer Geoffrey Hinton's departure from Google has ignited discussions into transparency and ethics in AI development. Hinton's concerns revolve around the rise of new large language models such as GPT-4. In this article, we delve into Hinton's apprehensions and highlight the importance of responsible AI practices in shaping the relationship between humans and AI. Get ready to dive in and explore all the intriguing details.
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Article

What is BlueSky, Twitter's co-founder's new decentralized social network

Beatriz Fontenelle

Content Strategist

Ever since Elon Musk announced his intent to buy Twitter over a year ago, alternative platforms like Mastodon, Substack Notes, and T2 have emerged as potential alternatives. However, none of them have quite captured the excitement like Bluesky, a decentralized social app conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. While still in its invite-only beta phase, Bluesky has been generating hype and has garnered around 50,000 users. With an interface similar to Twitter, algorithmic choice, federated design, and community-specific moderation, it aims to be the next big thing in social networking. Curious to know more about Bluesky and its potential as a Twitter killer? Dive into the full article to explore its features and implications for marketing. 
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