SEO & Search
237 articlesThe section includes news, analysis, case studies and practical guidance on search performance, indexing problems, platform changes and their effect on publisher traffic.
Related coverage includes Google Search, Google News, Google Discover and Technical SEO, connecting platform updates with practical publishing and traffic consequences.
Google Clarifies Location Asset Setup for Advertisers
Google has updated its instructions for setting up business location assets in Google Ads. The rules themselves haven’t changed, but advertisers now get clearer, step-by-step troubleshooting guidance.
AI audio takes hold as robots.txt becomes a publisher's bargaining chip
AI-narrated audio now reaches a fifth of some publishers' audiences. Robots.txt files are turning into strategic tools. Gen Z engagement and new approaches to sponsored content are changing how media companies make money.
AI Workflows Are Quietly Consuming Your Marketing Team
Marketers are spending record hours building and fixing AI tools that rarely appear on dashboards. New research shows promised productivity gains often vanish as teams trade real output for invisible maintenance.
AI Now Decides Which Restaurant Chains Expand or Disappear
Chains with strong local digital presence are opening new locations while rivals with weak AI and search visibility are shutting doors. SOCi’s latest data reveals a 14.8-point gap in digital performance that predicts real-world expansion or contraction.
AI Search Tactics Face Backlash as Brands Chase Answer Engine Visibility
Brands are flooding AI search with new tactics to boost visibility. Some strategies are already backfiring. Here is what actually works and what is getting penalized.
Search Intent Now Outranks Backlinks in Google’s Algorithm
SEO experts say matching search intent is now the top factor for Google rankings. Backlinks remain important, but original research and user satisfaction are gaining ground. AI-generated content still faces skepticism.
Negative Content Now Rises Fast in Branded Search Results
A single critical post or review can now dominate your brand’s search results overnight. AI-driven search and overlooked features make brands more vulnerable than ever. Here’s what publishers and marketers need to watch to avoid a reputation crisis.
Manual Spam Actions Hit Publishers as Google Update Ends
Traffic and revenue for established sites plummeted after Google’s August 2026 spam update. Manual penalties are compounding the fallout. Here’s what publishers must do to avoid deeper losses and why quick fixes often backfire.
Scaling Programmatic SEO Hinges on Proving the Template
Launching thousands of SEO pages without proof risks wasted effort and weak results. A small pilot can reveal if your template attracts the right queries and drives real business outcomes before you commit to mass production.
Google overhauls European search to comply with EU rules
Travel and restaurant search in Europe faces a major shakeup as Google revamps its results to meet strict EU antitrust demands. Aggregators like Booking and Expedia are set to benefit while Google warns of lower quality for users.
Google Forces AI Max Upgrade on Search Campaigns Without Opt Out
Some Google search campaigns are being upgraded to AI Max automatically. Account owners have no way to opt out. The change impacts campaign control and visibility.
AI Governance Fails Expose SEO Teams to Data and Credibility Risks
SEO teams are making high-stakes mistakes with AI tools, risking client data and publishing hallucinated metrics. Learn the practical framework that stops AI from turning routine tasks into brand-damaging incidents.
YouTube Now Leads Google AI Overviews for Supplement Searches
Over half of Google’s AI Overviews for vitamins and supplements now cite YouTube as a main source. New research shows how video content is shaping search results and what this shift means for publishers and health brands.
Five Steps to SEO Success Revealed in Live Webinar
A practical SEO roadmap will be unveiled on September 16 at 19:00 MSK. Dmitriy Shakhov promises actionable steps for business owners and marketers. Registration is open for those ready to move beyond scattered tactics.
SEO Budgets Face Hard Choices as AI Disrupts Search
Two thirds of Google searches now end without a click. AI summaries are slashing organic traffic and upending old SEO playbooks. Here’s how to defend your budget and prove value as search behavior shifts in 2027.
AI Search Forces USA TODAY to Restructure Audience Team
Fewer readers are reaching publisher sites as AI-powered search keeps users on platforms. USA TODAY is cutting staff and rebuilding its audience team to confront the new digital reality.
Search Budgets Leak Away When SEO and PPC Refuse to Collaborate
Brands are burning cash on paid clicks for keywords they already own organically. When SEO and PPC teams operate in silos, both miss out on critical data that could drive smarter strategy and higher ROI. Here’s how to fix it.
Why Google’s Knowledge Graph Now Judges Every Author
Invisible profiles are shaping your site’s fate. Google’s Knowledge Graph quietly builds an entity for every author-real or fake-using articles, social profiles, and third-party mentions. Here’s how this impacts your E-E-A-T and site visibility.
SEO’s New Reality: Winning When AI Owns the Click
AI Overviews, chatbots, and community platforms now shape who gets seen-and who gets ignored. Traffic is shifting, but conversions and brand trust are up for grabs. Here’s what creators must do to stay visible in 2027.
Google Trends Adds Category Filters for Faster Topic Discovery
Writers and publishers can now browse trending topics by category on Google Trends without entering a search term. The new feature promises sharper insights and more relevant data for content planning.
Freshness and Numbers: The Real Drivers of Listicle Rankings
A review of 3,000 listicles shows that recent publication dates and clear item counts are the main factors for ranking high in Google and AI-powered search. Publishers still lead, but the landscape is changing quickly.
Google Analytics Bug Erases September 1 Traffic Data
Traffic numbers for September 1 disappeared from Google Analytics dashboards, leaving publishers and marketers scrambling. The missing data appears to be a widespread technical issue, not a real drop in site visits. Google has not yet commented on the outage.
How to Surface AI Mode and AI Overview Queries in Search Console
Publishers can use targeted regex filters in Google Search Console to identify long-tail and question-based queries likely triggered by AI Mode or AI Overviews. While not foolproof, these methods offer a practical workaround for tracking AI-driven search activity.
Google Introduces Click-to-Proceed Barrier, Disrupting Search Scraping
Google Search now blocks automated scraping by requiring a manual button click before showing results. The change disrupts SEO tools and data extraction, affecting publishers and AI-driven content teams.
AI Forces Publishers to Rethink Evergreen Content Strategy
Publishers face declining click-through rates as AI platforms reshape the value of evergreen content. Industry experts reveal why brand authority and engagement now matter more than raw traffic, and what publishers must change to stay relevant.
AI Search Prompts Now Define Your Sales Funnel Visibility
Brands are losing buyers earlier in the funnel as AI search reshapes how prospects discover, compare, and select solutions. Learn how prompt mapping exposes where your company appears-or vanishes-across each stage of the buyer journey.
Google Tests AI Overviews Without Expand Button
Google is piloting a new AI-powered search interface that removes the 'Expand' button and introduces a direct question field. Early tests show users find answers faster and engage more. Publishers and SEOs should monitor for changes in traffic and visibility.
Reddit Authority Now Drives Google and ChatGPT Results
Brands are seeing real gains in Google and AI search by building credibility on Reddit. A five-step framework reveals how community engagement, content upgrades, and transparent participation can boost visibility and trust-without relying on shortcuts.
How to Use Reddit Data for Smarter SEO Content
Millions of search queries now surface Reddit threads, revealing what audiences want but brands often miss. Learn how to mine Reddit’s rankings with Semrush to uncover content gaps and boost your search visibility.
Build a Reliable AI Content Workflow From Scratch
Months of testing reveal the real challenge in AI content creation: designing workflows that consistently deliver near-publish-ready articles. Learn how to define quality, set up agents, and integrate human review for dependable results.
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