• Google search retains relevance among U.S. audiences, especially on desktop.
• YouTube ranking factors are now clearer than ever thanks to extensive new report.
• LinkedIn implements new analytics to boost its value as a publishing platform.
• TikTok blazes past competition on two essential digital marketing metrics.

New Research Shows Google Search Still Relevant, Especially Among Desktop Users

New research by Rand Fishkin shows Google has maintained strong relevance among key consumer groups, especially those who use desktop. U.S. users execute more than 120 searches monthly, with the majority starting from the default Google.com home page.

As of March 2025, ChatGPT holds about 4% of the total search market, while Google retains a share over 83%. Smaller search engines such as Bing are comparable in reach to ChatGPT: Bing has about 4% of the global search engine market share as well.

What does it mean? Much is being made of ChatGPT’s use as a search engine, but the numbers don’t bear out the idea it will upend search. Instead, it’s Google’s native AI functionality that makes the biggest impact on the way search behavior is changing. Service-based businesses should focus on search engine optimization and use a marketing agency for long-term “AI optimization.”

Independent Research Cracks the Code on YouTube Ranking Factors

Video marketing is one of the most important digital marketing tactics around. However, YouTube, the world’s #1 video platform, has traditionally been opaque when it comes to the different factors that can make a video more successful on the platform. Now, an independent analysis of 1.6 million videos offers some answers.

According to the study, the biggest factors for improving YouTube video SEO include engagement, length (the most effective length being 8-9 minutes), and a video transcript. About 94% of the YouTube videos ranking in prominent positions in the top three search results had a video transcript.

Let’s combine this with another recent piece of information from a study by BrightEdge: Google AI Overviews consistently drive traffic to YouTube. Since January 1, 2025, there has been a striking 21% increase in AI Overview traffic to YouTube. There was also a major increase between January and February.

What does it mean? Even a relatively small number of videos can make a significant difference in a company’s ability to gain search attention. Google frequently shows videos, including very recent ones, in results – and it’s especially noticeable when the available text content isn’t high quality. A digital marketing agency can help you make the most useful tweaks, such as using time stamps and external links, to improve performance.

LinkedIn Is Now Easier to Use as a Publishing Platform Thanks to New Analytics

LinkedIn is an effective publishing platform for a variety of industries, including real estate and luxury goods. Now, LinkedIn helps you validate your digital marketing strategy further with enhanced analytics.

Integrating with existing LinkedIn newsletter functionality, the new newsletter analytics will allow publishers to track email sends and open rates. For service-based businesses, that will make it easier to attribute revenue to your LinkedIn publishing and save money on digital marketing.

What does it mean? Even though LinkedIn has been expanding its publishing tools for some time now, there are still certain ways it’s been behind the curve. This latest move aligns LinkedIn with other social media analytics. Now is a fresh opportunity to make LinkedIn part of your social strategy or give it another try.

TikTok Surpassing Social Media Competitors on Two Key Digital Marketing Metrics

The odyssey behind TikTok’s “on again, off again” ban in the United States appears to be at an end. The biggest question is: “Is TikTok good for digital marketers?” Not every service-based company will have a strong business case for TikTok, but those who might consider it got two excellent pieces of news recently.

First, TikTok’s in-app purchases shattered records, reaching a staggering $6 billion. That amount puts it head and shoulders over its nearest competitors, like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Mobile-first architecture enabling seamless purchases is just one of the advantages TikTok brings to the table.

Second, TikTok ads have yielded great value for many vendors, enabling even smaller players to get in on the action (at least for now). Research demonstrates that TikTok ads deliver the highest short-term ROI of all social media advertising, hitting nearly 12X ROI in as little as six weeks.

What does it mean? Because TikTok’s audience skews young, it isn’t always the best option for service-based businesses. But recent controversies raised its profile among other users, and it may be worth a second look.

Contact New York Ave to harness the power of effective digital marketing intelligence.