Of our 15 predictions, six have hit so far ... and a few more are creeping toward the finish. Here are a few notable ones — you’ll have to listen to the episode and check out the Bingo board below for more.
Prediction: Google delays the sunset of third-party cookies … again
Result: Hit!
We talked about this one in May when Google announced that they postponed the sunset of third-party cookies. And we weren’t alone. 61% of business-to-consumer (B2C) marketers said they did not believe Google would deprecate the third-party cookies in a 2024 survey. Since that episode, Google announced they’re scrapping the plans altogether. Instead, they’ll focus on striking the balance between privacy and its own business model through other privacy strategies. They recently announced a new privacy solution called confidential matching — a feature in Google Ads Data Manager designed to protect data so that no one can access the information.
It’s a solid hit on our Bingo board, but don’t expect this to be the end of Google’s privacy balancing act.
Prediction: Google makes more unnecessary changes to Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Result: Hit!
Would you look at that? New updates, tweaks, and features have emerged in 2024 — and so have pain points. While the updates have given users more customization, cross-platform functionality, and predictive metrics, they’ve also produced a more complex platform that demands a steeper learning curve and more technical knowledge to maximize it.
Prediction: Overseas arrivals beat 2019 levels
Result: On the fence
International travel is rebounding, and we’re trending toward a nailbiter. Recent projections show overseas arrivals are estimated to reach 98% of their 2019 numbers. Stay tuned on this one.
Prediction: Sports-driven travel continues to rise rapidly for professional, amateur, and youth sports
Result: Hit!
This prediction was a home run. We’ve seen a huge spike in sports tourism, especially for youth leagues and amateur events, and the data supports it. Around 10% of global tourism is spent on sports tourism, and that’s expected to grow 17.5% by 2030 (UN Tourism). Just a tip — we’ve partnered with PlayEasy to help you tap this market. Check out our full suite of sports solutions to step up your game.
Prediction: User Experience (UX) becomes an official SEO ranking factor
Result: Hit(ish)!
This is a little difficult to prove, but UX elements absolutely impact your ranking. We already knew that mobile-optimized websites rank higher, but site navigation and structure, content readability, and user engagement signals like bounce rate, dwell time, and click-through rate all contribute to your ranking. UX itself may not be official, but so many of its components are proven players in SEO algorithms that we’re calling this a hit.
Prediction: You’ll learn something at Simpleview Summit
Result: Smash hit!
We may be biased, but Simpleview Summit is one of the best ways to elevate both your Simpleview system and digital marketing skills. If you didn’t make it to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, here’s a quick peek at what you may have missed at Simpleview Summit 2024.
Consider this a personal invite to meet me, the Simpleview crew, and hundreds of DMO pros from around the country in San Francisco, California, for Simpleview Summit 2025.
