Google Updates Product Markup To Support Member Pricing
Google updates structured data guidelines, enabling merchants to showcase sale, member, and strikethrough pricing in search results. Google added support for new structured data properties to show different price types. Merchants can now display loyalty program pricing tiers in their product markup. These changes align Google Search with existing Merchant Center capabilities.
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Hackers Use Google Tag Manager to Steal Credit Card Numbers
Hackers are actively exploiting a vulnerability to inject an obfuscated script into Magento-based eCommerce websites. The malware is loaded via Google Tag Manager, allowing them to steal credit card numbers when customers check out. A hidden PHP backdoor is used to keep the code on the site and steal user data. The credit card skimmer […]
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Google CrUX Report Update Targets LCP & Network Delays
Google Chrome has released its latest Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX). This update zeroes in on individual components of page speed, offering fresh data on largest contentful paint (LCP) image subparts and real-world network conditions (RTT). For SEO professionals, this means you’ll have a better understanding of what needs improvement. Barry Pollard, Web Performance Developer […]
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YouTube Dominates TV Streaming: New Opportunities For Marketers
YouTube’s CEO, Neal Mohan, has announced that TV screens have become the most popular device for watching YouTube in the United States, surpassing mobile devices. In a blog post, Mohan states: “TV has surpassed mobile and is now the primary device for YouTube viewing in the U.S. (by watch time), and according to Nielsen, YouTube […]
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AI Chatbots Fail News Accuracy Test, BBC Study Reveals
BBC study finds leading AI chatbots consistently distort news content, raising concerns about information accuracy and trust. AI chatbots are getting news wrong more often than right. Trusted brands like BBC are losing control of their content. The problem is industry-wide, affecting all major AI platforms. The problem is industry-wide, affecting all major […]
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Public Trust In AI Surpasses Social Media, Rutgers Study Finds
Study shows Americans trust AI more than social media, with young men expressing the highest confidence. A study from Rutgers University finds trust in AI is higher than trust in social media. Younger, male, and educated populations show the most trust in AI. Most prefer human-created content over AI-generated material, especially in journalism.
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Google Updates Its Gambling & Games Advertising Policy
Google has announced an upcoming revision to its Gambling and Games advertising policy, which will take effect on April 14. The company shared a preview of the new guidelines before the official rollout. We observed several additions worth highlighting after comparing the preview to Google’s existing policy. Below is an overview of the changes advertisers […]
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LinkedIn Report Reveals 5 Key Trends Reshaping B2B Marketing
A new LinkedIn report shows how businesses are changing their approach to measuring marketing success. The report, based on insights from leaders at Microsoft, ServiceNow, PwC, and other global firms, identifies five key trends reshaping measurement strategies. 1. Revenue-Centric Metrics Marketers are now focusing more on revenue-related metrics instead of traditional cost-per-lead measures. Leaders are […]
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How To Repair & Recover Negative Brand Mentions In SERPs
This time on Ask An SEO, we’re diving into a branding question from someone dealing with negative SERP results: I have a client that recently had some financial issues and the SERP for their brand has many negative listings. Do you have any ideas for a strategy that could help to remove those listings and […]
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WordPress Leader Mullenweg Silences Joost De Valk
Matt Mullenweg, co-creator of WordPress, posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) announcing that Joost de Valk was no longer speaking at WordCamp Asia and was persona non grata for having “stabbed” him when he was vulnerable and betraying his confidence. Mullenweg cited statements by de Valk to prove his point, but those statements were […]
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Content Marketing Ethics And Transparency
We’re officially entering a new era: the content overload era. Content is no longer seen as a nice to have but a must for the majority of businesses. The sheer volume of content being created and published daily across the web is astounding, to say the least – WordPress alone sees about 70 million new posts […]
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Google’s Advice on Fixing Unwanted Indexed URLs
An SEO posted details about a site audit in which he critiqued the use of a rel=canonical for controlling what pages are indexed on a site. The SEO proposed using noindex to get the pages dropped from Google’s index and then adding the individual URLs to robots.txt. Google’s John Mueller suggested a solution that goes […]
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Google Market Share Slips, AI Referrals & Regional Search Engines Rise
Google leads organic search with 94.8% traffic, but AI tools and smaller engines show growing competition. Google still dominates with 94.8% organic traffic. AI tools like ChatGPT are gaining traction in referrals. Bing and smaller search engines show steady growth.
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Understanding Their Role In Enterprise-Level SEO Strategy
Understanding total addressable market (TAM), serviceable addressable market (SAM), and serviceable obtainable market (SOM) isn’t just useful for marketers. It’s an important tool for assessing whether a business idea is viable. These metrics give various business stakeholders, including marketers and product teams, the clarity they need to evaluate whether a new product has the potential […]
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Google Adds New Guidance For Merging GA4 & Search Console Data
Google has rolled out updated documentation on how to combine data from Google Analytics and Search Console. Unified SEO Insights The new guidelines recommend using Google Analytics and Google Search Console together. Google Analytics tracks user behavior on your website, while Search Console monitors your site’s performance in Google Search. This combination gives you a […]
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Device-Type Data In Audience Tab
YouTube updates Analytics with more prominent device data, helping you tailor content to shifting viewing habits. Creators can now view device type data easily. Data reveals how audiences watch content. Device usage shapes video recommendations.
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Up-To-Date Trends, AI-Driven Workflows, and Smarter Data Strategies for Q2
In the fast-paced world of PPC advertising, marketers are constantly seeking ways to streamline their workflows and improve performance. Managing PPC campaigns efficiently requires a delicate balancing act of multiple tasks: Analyzing data. Optimizing bid strategies. Testing creatives. Reporting performance. And so much more. While AI and machine learning have been around in PPC for […]
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Google’s Q4 Earnings Point To An AI-Focused Future
Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, reported strong fourth-quarter results for fiscal 2024, primarily driven by its commitment to AI. Alphabet announced revenues of $96.5 billion for Q4 2024, up 12% from last year. Google Services, including Search and YouTube ads, grew by 10% to $84.1 billion. Google Cloud increased revenues by 30% to $12.0 billion […]
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Why Aggregate Organic Traffic Is A Better Metric
This is my official eulogy for the SEO keyword, which died many years ago, but no one has noticed. As a result, many marketing teams make sub-par decisions, and decision-makers lose trust in SEO as a channel. Just look at the recent “SEO is dead” reactions to HubSpot’s traffic decline. Google Enforces JavaScript For Crawling […]
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How WordPress Hot Nacho Scandal Shapes WP Engine Dispute
In a recent interview, Matt Mullenweg referenced three scandals and controversies from his past that have been long forgotten to show how it’s possible that the WP Engine scandal will also be forgotten. One of the examples he cited, the Hot Nacho Scandal, led Google to ban WordPress.org, caused Mullenweg to be rebuked by influential […]
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Digital Ads Cost More, Convert Less: Frustration To Blame
New data shows what many marketers already suspect: it’s getting harder and more expensive to convert online visitors. A study of 90 billion sessions shows organic traffic is down from last year, pushing more brands toward paid channels to make up the difference. This information comes from Contentsquare’s Digital Experience Benchmark Report, which examines changes […]
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Elementor Rolls Out WordPress AI Site Planner
Elementor released a free to use standalone AI app called Site Planner that enables users to create a website in a step by step process beginning with the most general concept of the site and ending with a complete website design down to the individual page elements. I gave it a try and was stunned […]
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AI Overviews Data Shows Massive Changes In Search Results
Enterprise SEO platform BrightEdge published results on current AI Search trends, showing that Google AI Overviews (AIO) has expanded its presence by up to 100% in increasingly complex search queries. The changes suggest growing confidence in AI for search, with indications that Google is relying on authoritativeness and greater precision in context awareness for matching […]
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Why Genuine Connections Will Drive Social Media In 2025
Looking back on last year, fake content has reached new highs, challenging marketers to stand out with authentic, engaging campaigns that resonate with increasingly skeptical audiences. Overly polished or shallow content – such as slick paid media attempts, spammy posts, or poorly executed AI-generated content – is increasing, creating challenges for marketers to stand out […]
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DeepSeek Terms Make Users Liable For Company’s Travel Expenses
DeepSeek’s terms of use contain requirements that may make users reconsider using the app, as they could shift the balance between benefits and perceived risks by imposing significant financial obligations. One such requirement makes users liable for travel and litigation expenses if they violate the terms and the violation results in legal action. Terms Of […]
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Google To Migrate All reCAPTCHA Services To Cloud Platform
Google is informing users that its reCAPTCHA service will migrate to Google Cloud by the end of the year. An email states that all existing reCAPTCHA keys must be moved to Google Cloud projects. WordPress developer Jeff Starr shared a screenshot of the email that was sent out. #Google #reCaptcha service no longer will be […]
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Website Migration SEO Best Practices To Preserve Rankings And Avoid Common Pitfalls
There are several reasons to migrate your website. They might be to enhance website security through another hosting provider, update your brand image, or improve your user experience. Whatever the reason, you’ll need to follow a migration process that allows you to update your site without compromising your SEO rankings, traffic, and revenue. Many SEO […]
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Why Alignment With Customer Service Is Crucial For PPC
Let’s think through a hypothetical purchase journey. An individual is in the market for an air purifier, and she starts off by searching for [best air purifiers] in Google. Your ad shows up in results, and she clicks on it, impressed with the mention of being rated No. 1 in product rankings as well as […]
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Google AI Overviews Found In 74% Of Problem-Solving Queries
Write a summary for this article using no more than 20 words that would be suitable for a news publication A new report shows that AI Overviews (AIOs) in Google’s search results are uncommon but significantly affect visibility and user engagement. Authoritas’s study examines how generative AI Overviews impact organic search performance. In December, the […]
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How To Create Marketing Resilience
Advertising can pull your company forward like an 18 wheeler, but it can also create a risky dependency that backfires when you need to reduce budgets or reduce advertising spend. Think about it like over-watering a plant. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Lately, I’ve encountered a lot more companies […]
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How YouTube’s Recommendation System Works In 2025
In a recent video interview, YouTube Liaison René Ritchie spoke with Todd Beaupré, YouTube’s Senior Director of Growth & Discovery, to discuss the platform’s recommendation system functions and what creators can expect this year. Their discussion revealed how time of day, device type, viewer satisfaction, and the advent of large language models (LLMs) are reshaping […]
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How to Choose the Best WordPress Theme for SEO
Your WordPress theme encapsulates your brand and helps provide a good user experience. But people often forget about the search engine optimization aspect of it. A WordPress theme that isn’t SEO-friendly (or worse, is bloated and slow) can be a real hindrance in the fiercely competitive battle to land on top of the search engine result […]
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Meta Threads Takes the Next Step By Launching Ads
Big news from Meta: Threads, the platform everyone rushed to last summer, is officially testing ads. In its announcement today, Threads is launching an image ads test with select brands in the United States and Japan. For now, this is just a trial run with a handful of brands, but it’s a clear sign that […]
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Matt Mullenweg Hires New Lawyers In Fight Against WP Engine
A legal document filed in federal court formally notifies that Automattic and Matt Mullenweg have added new representation, a lawyer who has previously represented Meta and Facebook. The new documentation is formally called NOTICE of Appearance. A subsequent legal filing indicates that the new representation is currently handling the response to a Motion to Intervene […]
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LinkedIn Report Reveals Most In-Demand Marketing Skills
Marketing jobs are increasing, and many professionals are satisfied with their roles. However, rapid changes in technology and work environments pose new challenges. The LinkedIn Marketing Jobs Outlook report offers insights into the changing job market and strategies for career growth. Here’s all the data from the report that you need to know. Marketing Jobs […]
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How To Write Content For Each Stage Of Your Sales Funnel
Creating content for your audience involves much more than sprinkling the right keywords throughout your website. To truly resonate with potential customers and drive conversions, you need to understand your audience’s journey and tailor your content to align with each stage of your sales funnel. By developing an editorial calendar that not only meets business […]
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Does Google Favor UGC? Reddit Leads In Search Growth [STUDY]
This past year was a big one for SEO, with major changes in how Google ranks content. According to SISTRIX’s latest IndexWatch report, the year’s biggest winners were platforms focused on user-generated content (UGC), AI-powered tools, and large ecommerce brands. Reddit emerged as the leader among standout performers, but its dominance raises questions about Google’s […]
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Google Ads Introduces Advanced Targeting For Performance Max
Google Ads updates Performance Max with advanced controls, improved reporting, and smarter targeting to optimize campaign performance. Advertisers get more control over AI with new targeting and exclusion tools. Improved reporting provides clearer insights into search and asset performance. Updates focus on transparency, actionable data, and high-value customer targeting.
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Everything You Need To Know
Google has continued evolving its ad targeting systems, emphasizing AI-driven, intent-based matching that connects ads to user searches more flexibly. With this shift, Google Ads aims to give advertisers a balance between reach and control – where phrase match keywords can now capture broader, intent-aligned search terms. Recent updates focus on “relevant variations” of search […]
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Here’s What It Means For Marketers
Google is starting to roll out an AI-based Q&A feature to Google Business Profiles (GBP) on Google Maps for mobile. This feature will very likely replace Google Q&A, which has silently gone missing on some listings. The “Ask Maps about this place” AI feature was first announced in late October 2024, along with a number […]
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Are People Clicking Links In ChatGPT Search? Brands Say Yes
A report from Modern Retail shows that people who use ChatGPT and Google Gemini for quick summaries also click the links these tools provide. This is important for marketers, as it suggests that AI-driven search may change product discovery and online traffic. While these numbers are self-reported and lack broader data, they offer insight into […]
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How To Accelerate Your SEO Career
Advancing your in-house SEO career can be incredibly lucrative and fulfilling. But most advice is theoretical, too high-level, and comes from people who haven’t done it. I had the good fortune of a very fruitful in-house career, leading large organizations at companies like Atlassian, G2, or Shopify. Over the recent years, I have had the […]
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TikTok Ban Sparks 5000% Surge In Alternative App Searches
The recent TikTok ban drama in the U.S. has caused a surge in search activity as people look for answers, alternatives, and workarounds. The app temporarily shut down over the weekend and was restored after President-elect Donald Trump announced a 90-day extension. This led to a notable rise in search interest. An SEO consultant named […]
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Make Your Structured Data Accessible
A recent investigation has uncovered a problem for websites relying on JavaScript for structured data. This data, often in JSON-LD format, is difficult for AI crawlers to access if not in the initial HTML response. Crawlers like GPTBot (used by ChatGPT), ClaudeBot, and PerplexityBot can’t execute JavaScript and miss any structured data added later. This […]
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11 SEO Tips To Boost Your Restaurant Visibility In Search
Being successful with restaurant SEO can be a challenge. Whether it is finding the time, wearing a lot of hats, or not having the same type of budget and return on investment (ROI) measurement as other industries, you might be in a tough spot trying to figure out how to get it done. No matter […]
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8 Practical Tips For Businesses
Voice search is increasingly important and optimizing for voice search is essential for businesses to stay competitive in today’s SEO market. In the US and UK, 28% of consumers claim to use voice assistants daily, which is well over a quarter of users. This guide presents eight strategies for voice search optimization, including conversational keywords, […]
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Unclear If Opting Out AI Features Avoids Price Hike
Google has made its AI-powered features in Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Meet free for all Workspace users, but questions remain around pricing adjustments and feature visibility for specific accounts. AI Now Included Without Extra Cost Google announced that its full suite of AI tools, previously available only through the $20-per-user-per-month Gemini for Workspace plan, is […]
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Google Is Requiring JavaScript To Block SEO Tools
Google has made a change to how it’s search results are served which will also help to secure it against bots and scrapers. Whether this will have further effect on SEO Tools or if they can use a headless Chrome that uses JavaScript remains an open question at the moment but it’s likely that Google […]
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9 Actionable Steps to Improve Your Google Rankings
Many things have changed in SEO since Google first came online in 1998. Today, with personalized results influenced by user behavior, location, and device, standing out in search engine results is more challenging than ever. The one thing that hasn’t changed is this: Your organic traffic is directly tied to your search engine ranking positions […]
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How To Choose The Best WordPress Theme For SEO
Your WordPress theme encapsulates your brand and helps provide a good user experience. But people often forget about the search engine optimization aspect of it. A WordPress theme that isn’t SEO-friendly (or worse, is bloated and slow) can be a real hindrance in the fiercely competitive battle to land on top of the search engine result […]
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An Introduction To Pages At Scale
Programmatic SEO is an approach to SEO and content creation that leverages automation and technology to efficiently create, optimize, and manage a large volume of webpages. It’s particularly useful for websites that require thousands, or even millions, of pages to rank for diverse search queries. Ecommerce giants like Amazon or travel websites like Expedia rely […]
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Local SEO For Service Area Businesses: Targeting Your Coverage
For small, mobile, local businesses operating without a fixed storefront, navigating the world of local SEO can feel like charting uncharted territory. Service area businesses (SABs) – think plumbers, electricians, mobile pet groomers, and the like – face unique challenges in establishing a strong online presence. However, by understanding the nuances of local SEO for […]
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Google Retires Web Vitals Extension, Moves Everything to DevTools
Google has officially shut down its Web Vitals Chrome extension with the release of Chrome 132. All its key features are now fully integrated into DevTools’ Performance panel, making it the go-to tool for measuring Core Web Vitals. While nearly 200,000 users used the extension, the Chrome team has decided to focus solely on DevTools, […]
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Why I Recommend My Clients To Expand From SEO To YouTube
YouTube can be an effective source of B2C or B2C customers, but most companies look at it through the wrong lens: a performance channel. The desire for companies to immediately squeeze customers out of YouTube content is holding them back. After helping dozens of companies expand from SEO to YouTube, I’ve discovered that YouTube is […]
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How To Rank On Google’s AI Overviews
Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs) are AI-generated responses that appear at the top of the search engine results page (SERP). Unlike traditional search results, AIOs summarize information from multiple sources to provide direct answers to user queries while offering relevant links. These overviews are displayed prominently: the AI Overview appears on the left, with relevant links […]
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Everything You Need To Know
Google has continued evolving its ad targeting systems, emphasizing AI-driven, intent-based matching that connects ads to user searches more flexibly. With this shift, Google Ads aims to give advertisers a balance between reach and control – where phrase match keywords can now capture broader, intent-aligned search terms. Recent updates focus on “relevant variations” of search […]
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Will The Supreme Court Pull The Plug?
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on January 10 over a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the app or face a U.S. ban by January 19. The law, passed last year, is based on national security concerns related to TikTok’s data practices and its ties to the Chinese government. The case […]
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What You Need to Know
NewzDash’s latest survey of 100 news publishers and SEO professionals offers a snapshot of where news SEO is headed. The findings highlight emerging trends, challenges, and strategies to stay competitive. From Google Discover’s growing role to tackling AI-driven search disruptions, here’s what industry pros need to know. Top Takeaways Google Discover Google Discover is a […]
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How Performance Marketing + Brand Fuels Traffic Growth And Conversions [Webinar]
Building a brand that fuels trust, loyalty, and long-term value is no easy feat. But with the right strategy, your brand can become the cornerstone of a high-performing marketing campaign that drives real results. On January 16, 2025, at 2 pm, join us for an exclusive live webinar, How Performance Marketing + Brand Fuels Traffic […]
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Email Marketing: An In-Depth Guide
Email is as a highly effective direct marketing channel and could be considered the modern version of direct response marketing. Email marketing campaigns are core strategies in modern digital marketing, with entire businesses successfully built on the communication channel. The real benefit of email marketing is the direct relationship you can build with your audience […]
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Automattic Turns Against WordPress Community Itself
Automattic announced it is minimizing support for the WordPress.org CMS project, using words and phrases that present the withdrawal of support as a positive change to make WordPress stronger, while casting blame on WP Engine for its decision to minimize contributions. The entire statement uses double-speak, pretextual statements and passive-aggressive language to portray itself as […]
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11 SEO Tips To Boost Your Restaurant Visibility In Search
Being successful with restaurant SEO can be a challenge. Whether it is finding the time, wearing a lot of hats, or not having the same type of budget and return on investment (ROI) measurement as other industries, you might be in a tough spot trying to figure out how to get it done. No matter […]
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Top 10 Digital Marketing Trends For 2025
Digital marketing is changing and the industry is trying to adapt whilst accepting the uncertainty. So, let me offer an alternative approach that you could take this year. Invite all the key decision-makers in your organization – including C-level executives as well as the heads of digital analytics, digital advertising, SEO, content marketing, and social […]
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How To Leverage GA4 For The Analysis Of International SEO Strategies
Expanding and growing in new international markets is a challenge for many businesses around the world. Often, significant effort and resources are dedicated to international strategies, whether through PPC campaigns, social media, or SEO. But do we analyze the results of these actions effectively? Google Analytics 4 (GA4) can be a useful tool for analyzing […]
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How Long Should An SEO Migration Take? [Study]
Website migrations, specifically domain migrations, are often seen as one of the more complex parts of SEO. They are becoming increasingly more common as businesses are consolidating websites and assets to reduce costs and consolidate efforts as more channels and platforms come into play. As SEO professionals, we are tasked with mitigating as many risks […]
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New Study Highlights Martech Challenges To Reach Target Audiences
A new study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of TransUnion has revealed significant challenges faced by many marketing teams. These challenges primarily stem from the complexity of their marketing technology (martech) stacks. The study found that a substantial 70% of marketing leaders struggle to effectively identify and reach their target audiences across various channels. […]
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40% Of Consumers Support Brand Trend-Jumping
Social media influences modern culture and consumer behavior, so brands are pressured to stay relevant. The 2025 Sprout Social Index reveals that 40% of consumers find it “cool” when brands engage in viral trends, while 33% consider it “embarrassing.” Additionally, 27% of respondents say that participating in trends is only effective within 24-48 hours. This […]
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Google Criticizes Bing For Mimicking Google’s Homepage
Parisa Tabriz, the security leader for Google Chrome, has criticized Microsoft for a new strategy involving Bing’s search interface. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tabriz denounced Microsoft’s decision to imitate the design of Google’s homepage, labeling it “another tactic in its long history of tricks to confuse users and limit choice.” She concluded […]
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Google AI Overviews Appear in 18% Of Publisher-Related Queries
New research indicates that Google’s AI Overviews appear in 18% of publisher-related search queries. Additionally, the findings suggest that traditional search ranking factors may be less relevant for content appearing in AI Overviews. Here are more highlights from the study released by ZipTie.dev, which analyzes over 500,000 queries across multiple industries. Key Findings Data indicates […]
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7 Content Writing Trends For 2025
As the fourth industrial revolution continues to evolve, the ways we consume news, interact with brands, and market our products are radically shifting. A key driver of this shift remains on the content we create – both written and visual – and how we leverage emerging technologies to engage, influence, and convert readers. At the […]
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WordPress Backup Plugin Vulnerability Affects 3+ Million Sites
A high severity vulnerability in a popular WordPress backup plugin allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the flaw. The vulnerability is rated 8.8 on a scale of 0.0 to 10. UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin The vulnerability affects the popular Updraft Plus WordPress plugin, installed in over 3 million websites. Updraft Plus comes in a […]
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Google’s JavaScript Warning & How It Relates To AI Search
A recent discussion among the Google Search Relations team highlights a challenge in web development: getting JavaScript to work well with modern search tools. In Google’s latest Search Off The Record podcast, the team discussed the rising use of JavaScript, and the tendency to use it when it’s not required. Martin Splitt, a Search Developer […]
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Google Shows How To Confirm Indexing Issues Due To JavaScript
SearchNorwich recently published an excellent video featuring Google’s Martin Splitt discussing how to debug crawling and indexing issues related to JavaScript, saying that most of the times it’s not JavaScript that’s causing indexing issues, the actual cause is something else. Even if you don’t know how to code with JavaScript, the tips that Martin shares […]
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OpenAI Blames Cloud Provider For ChatGPT Outage
OpenAI published an incident report detailing the cause of last weeks ChatGPT outage and what they are doing to prevent a repeat. The outage began on December 26th, 2024 at 10:40 AM and was mostly resolved by 3:11 PM, except for except ChatGPT which was 100% recovered by 6:20 PM. The following services were impacted: […]
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How Brevity Is Winning Hearts
The less a person says to communicate, the better. Shakespeare said “Brevity is the soul of wit.” And in just six words, underlined why brevity impacts communication. I appreciate brevity in all things. Iconic one-liners work for punny slogans, catchy choruses, witty retorts, and more. But think about how true this is for social media. […]
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Google Podcast Discusses SEO Expertise
Google’s recent Search Off the Record podcast touched on the issue of SEO expertise and the disconnect between how SEOs think Google ranks websites how Googlers understand it. The disparity is so great that Gary Ilyes remarked that sometimes he doesn’t know what SEOs are talking about. Google: SEO Gurus’ Questions “Don’t Make Sense” Martin […]
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Introduction To Vector Databases And How To Use AI For SEO
A vector database is a collection of data where each piece of data is stored as a (numerical) vector. A vector represents an object or entity, such as an image, person, place etc. in the abstract N-dimensional space. Vectors, as explained in the previous chapter, are crucial for identifying how entities are related and can […]
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17 Expert Tips For Content Writing In 2025
Let’s face it: Creating content that makes an impact has gotten a lot harder. With AI becoming more sophisticated by the day, it’s no wonder there’s a looming fear of machines replacing humans. And as if that weren’t enough, Google’s Helpful Content Update has reshaped the game entirely, favoring people-first content over mass-produced AI-generated material. […]
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Keys To A Successful Webinar That Drives Leads For Brands
So, you’ve decided to host a webinar. After all, you’ve heard it’s a great means of thought leadership, communicating directly with your ideal audience and providing your expert insights in an exclusive and uninterrupted way. But then, the anxiety sets in. Where do I start? How do I go from a simple idea, or even […]
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Google Speculates If SEO ‘Is On A Dying Path’
Google’s latest Search Off the Record podcast discussed whether ‘SEO is on a dying path’ because of AI Search. Their assessment sought to explain that SEO remains unchanged by the introduction of AI Search, revealing a divide between their ‘nothing has changed’ outlook for SEO and the actual experiences of digital marketers and publishers. Google […]
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How To Build Real Connections And Succeed
Reddit has always been a tricky platform for brands to navigate. As someone who has been active on Reddit since it launched nearly 20 years ago, I’ve seen firsthand how its fiercely loyal and highly skeptical user base can challenge brands. It is quick to call out anything that feels inauthentic, which has long made […]
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Google AI Overviews Claims More Pixel Height in SERPs
New data from BrightEdge reveals that Google’s AI Overviews is increasingly blocking organic search results. If this trend continues, Google AI Overviews and advertisements could cover well over half of the available space in search results. Organic Results Blocking Creeping Up Google’s AI Overviews feature, launched in May 2024, has been a controversial feature among […]
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How Long Should An SEO Migration Take? [Study]
Website migrations, specifically domain migrations, are often seen as one of the more complex parts of SEO. They are becoming increasingly more common as businesses are consolidating websites and assets to reduce costs and consolidate efforts as more channels and platforms come into play. As SEO professionals, we are tasked with mitigating as many risks […]
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Google Gemini Deep Research May Erode Website Earnings
There’s a compelling theory floating around that Google’s AI agent, called Deep Research, could negatively impact affiliate sites. If true, not only would this impact affiliate site earnings, it could also decrease ad revenues and web traffic and to informational sites, including to the “lucky” sites that are linked to by Google’s AI research assistant. […]
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Google Explains How CDNs Impact Crawling & SEO
Google published an explainer that discusses how Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) influence search crawling and improve SEO but also how they can sometimes cause problems. What Is A CDN? A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a service that caches a web page and displays it from a data center that’s closest to the browser requesting […]
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Wikipedia And SEO: Everything You Need To Know
Explore the impact of Wikipedia on SEO and Google’s Knowledge Graph. Discover how to use Wikipedia for keyword research, content planning, and successful internal linking. The post Wikipedia And SEO: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Search Engine Journal.
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Major Outage Hits OpenAI ChatGPT
ChatGPT Search is down for users worldwide, becoming unresponsive at approximately 11 AM EST. Down detectors and reports on social media reflect that many users cannot access the site. OpenAI is reporting a major outage. Updated: ChatGPT Outage Is Mostly Resolved OpenAI is reporting that the outage is partially resolved: Update – ChatGPT is partially […]
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The Rise Of Situational Content Strategies
Content marketing is experiencing a paradigm shift. For decades, marketers have relied on the traditional funnel – a linear model designed to move consumers from awareness to action. But, as consumer behavior evolves, so must the strategies that guide them. The rigid structure of the traditional funnel no longer aligns with the complexities of modern […]
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22 SEO Experts Offer Their Predictions For 2025
This year continued with the same theme as the year before – a bombardment of updates and rapid developments in AI. AI Overviews were introduced in May, which then saw a drop in organic traffic alongside major drops from Google updates. It’s not been an easy year in SEO. Whereas last year was considering how […]
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Google Reveals Top Searches Of 2024
Google has released its annual “Year in Search” report, highlighting the top trending searches, news, people, entertainment, and more that captured the world’s attention in 2024. Based on Google search data, the report offers a glimpse into the topics, events, and figures that defined the year. Here’s an overview of top trending searches worldwide and […]
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Track Santa’s Journey With Google’s 2024 Santa Tracker
It’s Christmas Eve, excitement fills the air as children around the world eagerly await Santa Claus’s arrival. The waiting is over and the inevitable questions start: “Where is Santa?” “Do you think he’s in our neighborhood yet?” This year, the original Santa tracker from NORAD will help you to track Santa’s whereabouts as he starts […]
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10 Strategic SEO Insights & Tactical Advice For 2025 And Beyond
At the beginning of 2002, there were more than a dozen “search engines,” including crawlers, directories, and paid/PPC/CPC engines. But by the end of that year, Google had emerged from the pack to become the leading player. (According to Nielsen//NetRatings, Google had a 39% share of 47 million “search hours” in December 2002.1) I recently […]
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Microsoft Launches Multi-Format Campaigns for Audience Ads
Following on the footsteps of Performance Max campaigns, Microsoft Ads launched multi-format campaigns for Audience Ads. This new feature allows advertisers to create a single campaign that seamlessly integrates various ad formats, including native, display, and online video ads. Upon its launch, multi-format campaigns for Audience ads are available globally and now the default selection […]
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How Marketers Can Adapt To Drive Quality Over Quantity
If you want more quality in your pipeline, you need more quality in your marketing efforts. That means you should focus more on your ideal customer profile (ICP) and their journey to conversion. Reflecting on the year, I can tell you that these are some of the most impactful places to spend time and resources […]
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Voice Search SEO: How Does It Work
When Google Voice was released in 2012, and then Amazon Alexa was released in 2014 voice search was expected to be highly influential. Voice search didn’t quite take off in an industry-shaking way. But, as the technology has improved, it’s become integrated into so many devices and daily user journeys that it’s important to understand […]
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Google Offers To Loosen Search Engine Deals In Antitrust Response
Google has submitted its proposal to address the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust lawsuit, which accuses the company of monopolistic practices in search. Google disagrees with the court’s initial decision and plans to appeal. However, as part of the legal process, Google and the DOJ must present remedy proposals. Background In October 2020, the DOJ […]
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Yoast Co-Founder Calls For WordPress Leadership Change
Joost de Valk, co-founder of the Yoast SEO plugin, called for a change in WordPress governance that removes Mullenweg as the sole decision maker, offering to lead the transition to a more democratic and diverse board that is representative of WordPress stakeholders. Matt Mullenweg disagreed. Critique Of Mullenweg’s Leadership Joost says that he was prompted […]
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Trends And Tactics For Comprehensive Marketing In 2025 [Webinar]
As the dynamics of marketing shift in many product-focused and customer-centric industries, staying competitive can feel more challenging than ever. We’ve got the answers. Embracing a comprehensive approach to marketing – one that unifies every channel, message, and tactic to meet overarching business goals – is crucial these days. Watch on-demand as we explore the […]
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A Guide For Enterprise Marketers
Smartphones put the world at our fingertips. People have questions that need answering, as well as the services or products they need. All of these things are just a search away, and now, we’ve seen a cosmic shift from traditional search to voice search and voice assistants. Statistically, voice search and assistants are not something […]
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Marketing Calendar 2025 With Template To Plan Your Content
Setting yourself and your organization up for successful marketing means understanding the interesting dates, holidays, and events throughout the year that you can leverage for your brand. Pulling that information together takes time and effort, so we’ve done the legwork for you. Our complete marketing calendar for 2025 with a template gives you all the […]
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Google Launches (Final?) Spam Update Of The Year
Google announced the rollout of the December 2024 spam update. The update, expected to be completed within a week, arrives amid ongoing industry discussions about the effectiveness of Google’s spam-fighting measures. This December update caps off a year of spam-fighting measures, including the June Spam Update and the March Core Update, which targeted policy-violating websites […]
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How To Move From Page 2 To Top Positions
Today’s Ask an SEO question comes from Roy in Dinajpur: “My website URL [is] still [in] position No. 15. How can increase to No. 3 or 4?” Great question, and likely one of the top five that get asked. The answer is situational, and it is easier to resolve when you don’t overthink it. The […]
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OpenAI Announces 1-800-ChatGPT
OpenAI ChatGPT just rolled out speech access to ChatGPT by phone and text access through the WhatsApp messaging system. The new services allow users to talk to and message ChatGPT to get answers. The phone access method enables users with an unstable or no data connection to use ChatGPT from a telephone while on the […]
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What An Enterprise Client Wants From Their SEO Agency
A lasting relationship with an enterprise client is good for business. It gives you authority, it gives your staff exposure to how large organizations work, and there should be a financial element. But winning the pitch is just the beginning. Many agencies make the grave mistake of misunderstanding their role in the relationship, and it […]
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Google Formalizes Decade-Old Faceted Navigation Guidelines
Google has updated its guidelines on faceted navigation by turning an old blog post into an official help document. What started as a blog post in 2014 is now official technical documentation. This change reflects the complexity of ecommerce and content-heavy websites, as many sites adopt advanced filtering systems for larger catalogs. Faceted Navigation Issues […]
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Consumers Now Consider ChatGPT A Real Google Alternative
In just two years, ChatGPT has managed to do something no company has done in the last 20 years: present a viable challenge to Google. There’s evidence that people are using it instead of traditional search in an increasing number of cases. For example, ChatGPT’s traffic recently surpassed Bing, and its referral traffic has been […]
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Essential WordPress Plugins Every Site Should Have
WordPress is the most popular CMS with majority market share. Out of the box, it’s a powerful platform, but it’s the WordPress plugins that really add the functionality and versatility to be configured in many different ways. The WordPress plugin community is what really brings the platform to life and enables publishers and developers to […]
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The Definitive Guide For Your Online Store
In the world of ecommerce platforms, plugins, and shopping carts, there are a lot of technology options. WooCommerce for WordPress leads the way in terms of market share. All of the various ecommerce platforms have their own pros and cons in terms of features, content management, and overall integration with your business. Many of the […]
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Communicating The Impact Of AI On SEO To C-Level
AI has emerged as one of the most transformative and disruptive forces in marketing as an industry in a long time, probably the most impactful since the mass adoption of the internet. It will continue to evolve and change search as a practice for years to come. While brands are working on AI adoption at […]
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With An Eye To 2025
This year brought a steady stream of updates in Google Ads that spanned across campaign types and creative, media activation, and measurement solutions – many informed directly by advertiser feedback. I won’t cover every big update here, but building on a talk I gave at Hero Conf in San Diego recently, I’ll highlight some of […]
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Top 10 Content Management Systems (Nov. 2024)
WordPress has held the dominant share of the content management systems (CMS) market since it was launched in 2003. Currently, the popular platform stands at 62.2% market share, according to W3Techs, which offers the most reputable and trustworthy data source. But in the last two years, WordPress has seen it’s market share start to reduce […]
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Voice Search SEO: How Does It Work
When Google Voice was released in 2012, and then Amazon Alexa was released in 2014 voice search was expected to be highly influential. Voice search didn’t quite take off in an industry-shaking way. But, as the technology has improved, it’s become integrated into so many devices and daily user journeys that it’s important to understand […]
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Google Launches New ’24 Hours’ View In Search Console
Google launches 24-hour data view in Search Console, offering near real-time insights for website performance monitoring. Google Search Console now shows performance data from the last 24 hours with minimal delay. The new feature includes hourly data breakdowns and works across Search, Discover, and News reports. Google has cut data delay times by nearly half, […]
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Google Rolls Out December 2024 Core Update
Google announced it’s rolling out the December core algorithm update, which the company expects to complete over the next two weeks. The news comes just a week after Google finished rolling out the November core update. Google’s Announcement In a post on X, Google stated: “The Dec. 2024 core update is rolling out, and we […]
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Automattic Removes WP Engine Client List From Tracker Site
Automattic removed a spreadsheet containing the domain names of WP Engine customers from the WP Engine Tracker website. The removal is in response to a preliminary injunction granted to WP Engine, ordering Automattic and Matt Mullenweg to remove the spreadsheet within 72 hours. The preliminary injunction was warmly received on X (formerly Twitter), a tweet […]
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Google Announces Search Updates Powered By Gemini 2.0
Google has announced a series of updates to Search for 2025, powered by Gemini 2.0, the company’s latest AI model. Updates To AI Overviews One of the most notable updates is the enhancement of AI Overviews. CEO Sundar Pichai notes: “Our AI Overviews now reach 1 billion people, enabling them to ask entirely new types […]
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Judge Sides With WP Engine Against Automattic & Mullenweg In WordPress Dispute
A judge ruled in WP Engine’s favor in their request for a preliminary injunction against Automattic and Matt Mullenweg. The court agreed that WP Engine will suffer irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted and giving the defendants (Automattic and Mullenweg) 72 hours to return things to the way they were as of September […]
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Automattic Acquisition Will Bring AI Into WordPress
Automattic announced the acquisition of WPAI, a company that creates AI-powered functionalities that make WordPress easier and more efficient to use. The core technologies of the current apps will be integrated into new offerings by Automattic. WPAI WPAI released it’s first product, CodeWP in 2022. CodeWP was an AI integrated development environment (IDE) for developers, […]
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Google’s Updated Crawler Guidance Recommends ETags
Google announced an update to their crawler documentation, adding more information about caching which should help better understand how to optimize for Google’s crawler. By following the new guidelines on implementing proper HTTP caching headers, SEOs and publishers can improve crawling efficiency and optimize server resources. Updated Crawler Documentation The crawler documentation now has a […]
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WPForms Plugin Vulnerability Affects Up To 6 Million Sites
The WPForms plugin for WordPress exposes websites to a vulnerability that allows attackers to update subscriptions and issue refunds. This flaw enables attackers to modify data they normally should not have access to. Missing Capability Check The vulnerability is due to a missing capability check in a function within the plugin called wpforms_is_admin_page, which means […]
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How To Rank Higher On YouTube
Although YouTube is owned by Google, it’s a unique platform with a different approach to algorithms and discovery to Google Search. YouTube’s systems take a viewer-first approach, evaluating a user’s preferences and interests based on the data it has about their viewing habits and pulling lists of videos unique to that user. It also prioritizes […]
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How To Optimize TikTok Ads After You Set Up Your Campaign
TikTok isn’t just a place for dance challenges or trendy lip-sync videos; it’s now one of the most powerful platforms for advertisers. With its unique mix of authenticity and creativity, TikTok offers marketers a golden opportunity to reach engaged audiences in fresh ways. But setting up a campaign is only the beginning. Once your ads […]
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A Complete Guide To PPC Ad Targeting Options
Running a successful PPC campaign today requires more than just getting ads in front of people; it’s about reaching the right audience with precision. Whether you’re aiming for local shoppers or a global audience, ad targeting plays a pivotal role in maximizing your ROI. When targeting users through platforms like Google Ads or Microsoft Ads, […]
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Google Rolls Out One-Click Event Tracking In GA4
Google simplifies analytics tracking with new one-click key event features in GA4, powered by machine learning. Google released one-click event tracking in GA4 with two features: “Mark as key event” and “Create key event.” Machine learning identifies important site events automatically, eliminating manual setup time. These features are now available for all GA4 properties and […]
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Search Will Change Profoundly In 2025
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, was interviewed by Andrew Ross Sorkin at the New York Times DealBook Summit, where he discussed what to expect from Google Search in 2025 but also struggled to articulate Google’s concern for content creators. When asked to compare where Google is today relative to the rest of the industry and whether […]
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Focus On Field Data For Core Web Vitals
Google stresses the importance of using actual user data to assess Core Web Vitals instead of relying only on lab data from tools like PageSpeed Insights (PSI) and Lighthouse. This reminder comes as the company prepares to update the throttling settings in PSI. These updates are expected to increase the performance scores of websites in […]
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OpenAI Releases ChatGPT o1, ‘World’s Smartest Language Model”
Today OpenAI rolled out what Sam Altman says is the world’s smartest language model in the world plus a brand new Pro tier that comes with unlimited usage limits and with a higher level of computing resources. OpenAI ChatGPT o1 Model Sam Altman announced on X (formerly Twitter) that their new AI model is now […]
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Google Uses About 40 Signals To Determine Canonical URLs
In a recent episode of Google’s Search Off the Record podcast, Allan Scott from the “Dups” team explained how Google decides which URL to consider as the main one when there are duplicate pages. He revealed that Google looks at about 40 different signals to pick the main URL from a group of similar pages. […]
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A Checklist For Essential Year-Round Tasks
SEO is a multifaceted discipline. It requires a solid strategy, connection to broader digital marketing (and business goals), and accountability. While there are differing processes, approaches, and even opinions on how you should implement it, it is something that you can’t ignore or push off specific short-term tactics if you want to get to specific […]
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Google Announces New ‘Dating & Companionship’ Ads Policy
Google announced it will launch a new Dating and Companionship Ads policy and certification program on March 4. This update aims to improve oversight of dating ads on Google’s advertising platforms. New Policy Highlights Advertisers must get certification from Google to run dating or companionship ads under the new policy. The policy bans certain ads, […]
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Why Is Google Losing Market Share In The EU?
Most marketers don’t realize that Google has been losing search market share in EU countries. Image Credit: Kevin Indig The drop in market share comes at a time when Google’s business is under siege: The DoJ recommended separating Google from Chrome and Android amid a lawsuit against Alphabet. (I summarized the lawsuit and potential outcomes […]
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Host Resources On Different Hostname To Save Crawl Budget
Google Search Central has launched a new series called “Crawling December” to provide insights into how Googlebot crawls and indexes webpages. Google will publish a new article each week this month exploring various aspects of the crawling process that are not often discussed but can significantly impact website crawling. The first post in the series […]
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How To Fix Website Issues & Performance
This post was sponsored by Bluehost. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own. Your website’s hosting is more than a technical decision. It’s a cornerstone of your business’s online success that impacts everything from site speed and uptime to customer trust and overall branding. Yet, many businesses stick with subpar hosting providers, […]
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25 Of The Best Examples Of Homepages
For most websites, the homepage represents your brand’s first interaction with your audience on your website. As the catch-all landing page where people will be sent by default, your homepage needs to cater to a breadth of user needs and intent. Consider your homepage as your shop window. It showcases your most valuable content, positions […]
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How Chrome Site Engagement Metrics Are Used
Google Chrome collects site engagement metrics, and Chromium project documentation explains exactly what they are and how they are used. Site Engagement Metrics The documentation for the Site Engagement Metrics shares that typing the following into the browser address bar exposes the metrics: chrome://site-engagement/ What shows up is a list of sites that the browser […]
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New Report Shows AI Overviews Trends Are Stabilizing
As we enter the holiday season, October’s data reveals significant shifts and stabilization across industries in AI Overviews (AIOs). Critical insights from October reveal growth in certain sectors, stability in others, and strategic changes in content types and sources. These insights offer actionable strategies for marketers aiming to optimize for AIOs during this critical period. […]
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Automattic Quietly Intensifies WP Engine Tracker Site
Automattic quietly updated the WP Engine Tracker website with an activity log showing a continuously updated list of domains that have switched away from managed WordPress host, WP Engine. This update is part of Mullenweg’s self-described “nuclear war” against WP Engine, with the Tracker site actively promoting competitors by offering links to their hosting promotions. WP […]
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ChatGPT Search Shows 76.5% Error Rate In Attribution Study
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search is struggling to accurately cite news publishers, according to a study by Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism. The report found frequent misquotes and incorrect attributions, raising concerns among publishers about brand visibility and control over their content. Additionally, the findings challenge OpenAI’s commitment to responsible AI development in journalism. Background […]
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How To Rank Higher On YouTube
Although YouTube is owned by Google, it’s a unique platform with a different approach to algorithms and discovery to Google Search. YouTube’s systems take a viewer-first approach, evaluating a user’s preferences and interests based on the data it has about their viewing habits and pulling lists of videos unique to that user. It also prioritizes […]
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Google Business Profile Update Targets Delivery Of Age-Restricted Products
Google has updated its Business Profile rules for service-area businesses that sell age-restricted products. Now, businesses selling alcohol, cannabis, weapons, and similar items must have a physical storefront to maintain their Google Business Profile. We were alerted to this update by Stefan Somborac on X: Google actually uses the phrase “Businesses associated with…” not “Businesses […]
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A Complete Guide To PPC Ad Targeting Options
Running a successful PPC campaign today requires more than just getting ads in front of people; it’s about reaching the right audience with precision. Whether you’re aiming for local shoppers or a global audience, ad targeting plays a pivotal role in maximizing your ROI. When targeting users through platforms like Google Ads or Microsoft Ads, […]
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Google Search Sees UK Decline, Users Express Low Trust In AI
Google Search’s market share in the UK weakened this year, with user reach dropping to 83% from 86%, according to Ofcom’s Online Nation report. This decline comes as concerns grow over AI-powered search results, with only 18% of users confident in their accuracy. The Rise & Fall of AI Search Adoption Microsoft’s Bing gained popularity […]
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The Modern Guide To Robots.txt
Robots.txt just turned 30 – cue the existential crisis! Like many hitting the big 3-0, it’s wondering if it’s still relevant in today’s world of AI and advanced search algorithms. Spoiler alert: It definitely is! Let’s take a look at how this file still plays a key role in managing how search engines crawl your […]
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New Google Analytics Feature Helps Fix Hidden Product Listings
Google Analytics adds new feature to help merchants identify and fix hidden product listings, improving visibility on Google Shopping. Google Analytics now shows product disapproval alerts directly in its dashboard. Custom Channel Groups now support manual ad content parameters for better tracking. This can help fix product listings ahead of the busy shopping season.
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Future Trends In B2B Influencer Marketing Across Industries
This edited extract is from B2B Influencer Marketing by Nick Bennett ©2024 and is reproduced and adapted with permission from Kogan Page Ltd. Just a few years ago, B2B influencer marketing was a niche concept, reserved for selective people. Well, those days are long gone! Today, the landscape is buzzing with activity, as brands and […]
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LinkedIn Reveals Data-Backed Formula For B2B Ad Success
LinkedIn unveils research-backed creative principles to boost B2B ad performance, as 90% of CMOs seek bolder marketing approaches. Vertical mobile ads drive 31% higher engagement than horizontal formats on LinkedIn. 81% of B2B ad campaigns fail to achieve both attention capture and brand recall. Humorous content generates 65% higher engagement rates on LinkedIn.
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A Checklist For Essential Year-Round Tasks
SEO is a multifaceted discipline. It requires a solid strategy, connection to broader digital marketing (and business goals), and accountability. While there are differing processes, approaches, and even opinions on how you should implement it, it is something that you can’t ignore or push off specific short-term tactics if you want to get to specific […]
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Google May Have to Sell Chrome Browser To Comply With Court Ruling
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed that Google sell its Chrome web browser and possibly the Android mobile operating system. This suggestion is part of a larger effort to address the company’s alleged monopoly in online search. In a 23-page brief submitted to the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C., the DOJ outlined […]
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Google Rolls Out First-Party Data Solution For Analytics Users
Google Analytics launches Customer Match beta, enabling advertisers to enhance remarketing using first-party data instead of third-party cookies. Google Analytics now lets advertisers use first-party customer data to improve ad targeting. The feature automatically works with Smart Bidding campaigns on YouTube, with Search and in-feed ads coming soon. Advertisers can implement this by setting up […]
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Google Search CTR Data Reveals Shifting Industry Trends
Google’s click-through rates (CTRs) experienced notable changes across industries and search categories in Q3, according to a report from Advanced Web Ranking. This report compares Q3 data to the previous quarter. It shows how CTRs can vary and what that means for website traffic. Key Findings: Branded searches on mobile saw a 1.07 percentage point […]
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Enterprise SEO in 2025: Key Trends and Strategies to Stay Ahead
Enterprise SEO in 2025: Key Trends and Strategies to Stay Ahead – Search Engine Journal Skip to content
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Coca-Cola’s AI Holiday Campaign Fails To Engage Viewers Emotionally
Decision-makers at brands and agencies know that the new AI-generated holiday ads from Coca-Cola have attracted a lot of criticism. Others have described the three new AI versions of the classic “Holidays Are Coming” campaign as “a soulless and creepy, dystopian nightmare” and “the biggest branding blunder of the year,” with others saying the AI […]
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25 Of The Best Examples Of Homepages
For most websites, the homepage represents your brand’s first interaction with your audience on your website. As the catch-all landing page where people will be sent by default, your homepage needs to cater to a breadth of user needs and intent. Consider your homepage as your shop window. It showcases your most valuable content, positions […]
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How To Avoid Search Budget Cannibalization For A Better Share Of Spend
In nearly 20 years in search marketing, something I continue to see and debate about is shared budgets. When I ask the advertiser why, I always get a similar answer: “We have a set limited budget, and this is the best way for us to fund everything.” Or, the one that truly pains me: “The […]
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Getting C-Level Buy-In For SEO Initiatives
One of the biggest challenges in enterprise SEO is getting buy-in from the wider C-suite. Typically, the CMO will sign off on your vendor engagement, having been involved in the selection process (more often than not) and helping smooth onboarding with other inbound and demand generation stakeholders. Despite its potential to drive revenue, generate new-to-brand […]
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YouTube Takes On TikTok With New ‘Jewels’ Tipping System
YouTube is introducing “Gifts, Powered by Jewels,” which lets people support creators during vertical livestreams. This signals YouTube’s push into the virtual gifting space that TikTok has capitalized on for years. Key Features “Gifts, Powered by Jewels,” is available for members of the YouTube Partner Program in the United States and offers new ways to […]
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Cross-Channel Remarketing Campaigns: A Complete Guide
In a perfect world, consumers would purchase after just one interaction with a brand. The reality is, we don’t live in a perfect world. Unfortunately, many brands believe that building the perfect campaign structure, having the neatest set of keywords, and writing the most brilliant ad copy is all it takes to bring in sales. […]
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Gain Greater Search Visibility With AI Overviews [Webinar]
The world of search is undergoing a seismic shift, with AI-powered tools like ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot changing how users interact with search results. But even in this time of rapid innovation, one thing remains certain: Google continues to dominate the search landscape, holding an impressive 90% market share. So, what does this […]
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7 Things To Look For In An SEO-Friendly WordPress Host
This post was sponsored by Bluehost. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own. When trying to improve your WordPress site’s search rankings, hosting might not be the first thing on your mind. But your choice of hosting provider can significantly impact your SEO efforts. A poor hosting setup can slow down your […]
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Google Retires Search Console’s Page Experience Report
Google simplifies Search Console by removing Page Experience report while retaining Core Web Vitals and HTTPS monitoring tools. Google removed the Page Experience report from Search Console. Core Web Vitals and HTTPS reports will continue to function separately. The change aims to reduce clutter while maintaining all essential metrics.
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PPC Budget Strategies For All Campaign Stages
We tend to craft budgets based on major objectives and real-world business timing. This makes sense, as our real-world priorities should influence where we put our marketing dollars and at what velocity. However, many don’t take the ad platform mechanics into consideration when setting initial, growth, and lower priority budgets. This can mean successful campaigns […]
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When To Use Nofollow On Links & When Not To
Nofollow was introduced back in 2005 and came about as a reaction to blog spam comments. Believe it or not, SEO professionals used to try and manipulate Google’s PageRank on their sites just as they try to manipulate, well, everything. Nofollow basically tells Google (or any other search engine that supports this attribute) not to […]
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What Is a Google Broad Core Algorithm Update?
Since the first broad core algorithm update, there has been much confusion, debate, speculation, and questions about what exactly it is. How does a core update differ from a named update that many SEO pros are used to? Google’s acknowledgment of core updates is usually vague, offering little detail beyond the fact that the update […]
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Google’s AI Search Experiment: “Learn About”
Google has quietly introduced a new AI Search experiment called Learn About, which summarizes content and offers navigational menus to explore related subtopics. This new way of exploring content uses drill-down navigational menus called Interactive Lists and if the user scrolls down far enough they will eventually find links to human created content. This new […]
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WP Engine Escalates Legal Battle With Automattic and Mullenweg
WP Engine escalated its Federal complaint by citing Automattic’s publication of the WP Engine Tracker website as evidence of intent to harm WP Engine and exposing customers to potential cybercrimes. The updated complaint incorporates recent actions by Mullenweg to further strengthen their case. A spokesperson for WP Engine issued a statement to Search Engine Journal […]
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Bad & Toxic Backlinks You Should Avoid
Link building is a complicated art form with many different tactics and approaches. Despite being one of the most mature processes in SEO, there’s still much disagreement about what makes a “bad” or “good” link building strategy, including effectiveness vs. risk, and what tactics Google can detect or punish a website for. This post will […]
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6 Web Hosts Ranked By Core Web Vitals: One Outperforms All
HTTPArchive is offering a new technology comparison dashboard, currently in beta testing. Users can now view real-world web hosting performance scores for Core Web Vitals. We compare six web hosts and find one that consistently performs better across nearly all metrics. About HTTPArchive HTTPArchive tracks websites through crawling and with data collected in the Chrome […]
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New Guidance For AI Search Optimization
Microsoft has provided guidance on how to optimize content for AI-powered search engines. This advice is timely now that OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Search, which uses Bing’s search index. Understanding user intent is everything in this new era of search, Microsoft says: “In the past, digital marketing strategies often relied heavily on demographic data and […]
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The Top 10 Content Marketing Skills You Need
Want to reach more of your target audience, connect with them, and have meaningful interactions? Quality content marketing may be the ideal solution for you. But gone are the days of simply writing and releasing content. Effective content marketing requires various skills and strategies if you want to get it right. If you’re looking to […]
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61% Of Cookies Enable Third-Party Tracking
HTTP Archive published 12 chapters of its annual Web Almanac, revealing disparities between mobile and desktop web performance. The Almanac analyzes data from millions of sites to track trends in web technologies, performance metrics, and user experience. This year’s Almanac details changes in technology adoption patterns that will impact businesses and users. Key Highlights Mobile […]
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4 Easy Steps To See How Google’s AIO Is Affecting Your SEO
SE Ranking sponsored this post. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own. Wondering how AI is affecting your traffic? Want to learn how to get into the AI Overview at the top of SERPs? Miss the days when you could appear as the top result on a SERP? It’s possible to relive […]
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WordPress Elementor Addons Vulnerability Affects 400k Sites
Wordfence issued an advisory on a vulnerability patched in the popular Happy Addons for Elementor plugin, installed on over 400,000 websites. The security flaw could allow attackers to upload malicious scripts that execute when browsers visit affected pages. Happy Addons for Elementor The Happy Addons for Elementor plugin extends the Elementor page builder with dozens […]
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New Internet Rules Will Block AI Training Bots
New standards are being developed to extend the Robots Exclusion Protocol and Meta Robots tags, allowing them to block all AI crawlers from using publicly available web content for training purposes. The proposal, drafted by Krishna Madhavan, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft AI, and Fabrice Canel, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft Bing, will make it […]
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Automattic Faces Irony Of New WPEngineTracker Protest Site
In an ironic twist to the ongoing dispute between Automattic and WP Engine, a newly published website on WPEngineTracker.com is displaying a protest message against CEO Matt Mullenweg. Copycat Domain Name Registered Someone registered the domain name WPEngineTracker.com using the words that Automattic’s WordPressEngineTracker.com domain uses to describe itself (WP Engine Tracker) . If people […]
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Cloudflare Blocks Automattic’s WP Engine Tracker For Phishing
Automattic’s WP Engine Tracker website was temporarily blocked by Cloudflare over the weekend as a suspected phishing site, sparking cheers from members of the WordPress subreddit. Meanwhile, someone registered the typosquatting domain WPEngineTracker.com to protest against Matt Mullenweg. Automattic, presumably under the direction of Matt Mullenweg, recently created a website called WP Engine Tracker on […]
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YouTube Expands Creator Control Over Ad Partnerships
YouTube has updated its video linking system, giving creators in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) more control over advertising partnerships. This addresses several long-standing issues in collaborations between creators and brands. Previously, creators lacked a direct way to start advertising relationships. They had to wait for advertisers to reach out. The new system allows creators […]
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Latest Google AIO Updates May Impact SEO
Google continues updating AIO rankings, increasing the presence of larger shopping-related panels and ads that push organic search results lower on the page. The good news for search marketers is that AIO volatility in shopping queries is stabilizing, with AIO rankings increasingly matching sites typically ranked in organic search. Arguably the most important change is […]
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When To Use Nofollow On Links & When Not To
Nofollow was introduced back in 2005 and came about as a reaction to blog spam comments. Believe it or not, SEO professionals used to try and manipulate Google’s PageRank on their sites just as they try to manipulate, well, everything. Nofollow basically tells Google (or any other search engine that supports this attribute) not to […]
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LinkedIn Video Posts Generate 3X More Reach, Study Finds
LinkedIn’s push into video content is showing results, according to new research by marketing expert Caroline Giegerich. Her analysis, published in Adweek, tests LinkedIn’s claim that video gets five times the engagement of text posts. She writes: “Curious to test LinkedIn’s claim that videos receive five times more engagement, I wanted to see if the […]
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Fastest Growing & Most In-Demand Positions
LinkedIn reveals the top ten most in-demand and fastest growing job positions in Q3. Job growth in the financial sector was significant in Q3. Traditional roles are in demand – including salespeople, nurses, and retail positions. Tech roles remain stable, with software engineers and full-stack developers in the top 10 most-demanded jobs.
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ChatGPT Vs. Gemini Vs. Claude: What Are The Differences?
Chatbots have changed many professionals’ workflows and processes. SEO pros, writers, agencies, developers, and even teachers are still discussing the changes that this technology will cause in society and how we work in our day-to-day lives. ChatGPT’s release on Nov. 30, 2022 led to a cascade of competition, including Gemini (formerly Bard) and Claude. If […]
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5 Ahrefs AI Features To Automate Your Content & SEO Workflows
This post was sponsored by Ahrefs. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own. Having the right SEO AI tools in your martech stack can help you: Streamline your content production. Automate complex SEO processes. Do less “busy” work and more stuff that moves the needle. Take the guesswork out of your strategies. […]
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The Lord of The Links: Links of Power
Everyone wants to build great links that drive the desired traffic…but it can be really difficult. Let us show you the path to success. Join Michael Johnson and his “Fellowship” of link building experts as they break down the make-up of a successful link building campaign, step-by-step. Along the journey, we showed everything you need […]
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Google Search Snippets Show Contradictory Information, Study Finds
A recent investigation finds that Google’s Featured Snippets may display conflicting information from the same source material, depending on how users phrase their search queries. This raises concerns about the search engine’s ability to interpret content accurately. Sarah Presch, director at Dragon Metrics, discovered that Google’s Featured Snippets pull opposing statements from the same articles […]
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ChatGPT Search Indexing: Essential Steps For Websites
As the availability of ChatGPT Search expands, understanding its indexing mechanics will be vital for digital visibility. While Bing’s index plays a key role, OpenAI’s system surfaces content using its own crawlers and attribution methods. Here is a breakdown of the technical requirements for ensuring your website is indexed correctly. Technical Framework ChatGPT Search combines […]
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ChatGPT Search Vs. Google Vs. Bing Search Results
The role of AI in SEO has kept rapidly evolving over the past few months. Google formally launched AI Overviews in May, and Bing launched its generative search pilot in July, with a full launch at the start of October. On July 25, OpenAI announced a SearchGPT prototype. Then, on October 31, it launched ChatGPT […]
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11 Tips For How To Find Great Writers
Great content is the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. Content provides information to users, facilitates ranking in the organic search results, and can be a significant driver in attracting backlinks to your website. But how and where one sources such amazing content depends on a few factors. For one, you can write your own […]
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SearchGPT Launches As ChatGPT’s Real-Time Search Feature
OpenAI is bringing real-time web search capabilities to ChatGPT, enhancing the functionality of the AI chatbot. This new feature, announced today, allows ChatGPT to provide up-to-date information with proper source attribution while keeping its conversational interface. Key Updates ChatGPT can now deliver real-time data, including news, sports scores, stock prices, and weather updates. Search results […]
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Automattic’s Response To WP Engine Lawsuit Reframes Narrative
Lawyers for Matt Mullenweg and Automattic filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit from WP Engine, offering a different perspective on the dispute’s underlying causes. The motion to dismiss claims that the one causing harm isn’t Mullenweg and Automattic but WP Engine, asserting that WP Engine is compelling the defendant to provide resources and support […]
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Google Updates Crawl Budget Best Practices
Google has updated its crawl budget guidelines, stressing the need to maintain consistent link structures between mobile and desktop websites. Large websites must ensure mobile versions contain all desktop links or risk slower page discovery. The update mainly impacts sites with over 10,000 pages or those experiencing indexing issues. Link structure consistency across […]
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A Guide To 301 Vs. 302 Redirects For SEO
When managing a website, choosing the right type of redirect is crucial for ensuring a smooth user experience and maintaining SEO performance. While there are multiple ways to redirect a webpage, the two most common redirects are 301 (permanent) and 302 (temporary). They both have distinct purposes, and selecting the wrong one can affect your […]
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How To Be Efficient With SEO Budget During Downtimes
Listen, this isn’t a fun topic or article to write. I’ve been through a lot in my career as an employee. Now, as an agency owner, I understand how economic factors, downtimes, and other ripples can have a big impact not only on budgets, but also on careers and lives. Downtimes, downturns, and anything negative […]
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Google Chrome DevTools Adds Advanced CLS Debugging Tool
Chrome introduces new debugging tool in Canary build, helping developers identify and fix website layout stability issues. Chrome Canary has added a new “Layout Shift Culprits” feature that visually identifies page layout problems. Developers can now see and replay layout shifts in real-time to pinpoint specific issues. The tool will move from Chrome Canary to […]
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How To Strategize For Multinational Businesses
A lot of multinational SEO campaigns fall down when the strategy is just to target a set of keywords, set up hreflang, and create content. Understanding local customs, language, and consumer behavior is crucial for market penetration and creating brand resonance. Creating a multinational SEO strategy doesn’t mean just doing international SEO. Multinational SEO means […]
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YouTube Expands AI-Generated Video Summaries, Adds New Tools
YouTube announced an expansion of its AI-generated video summaries feature alongside several platform updates. AI Summary Expansion AI-generated summaries, previously tested on select English-language videos, will now reach a broader global audience. According to YouTube’s official announcement: “These video summaries use generative AI to create a short basic summary of a YouTube video which provides […]
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198 Top SEO Experts You Should Be Following
When the SEO industry began, the only way to learn was by sharing information in the community through forums, conferences and later through social media. If you were experimenting and doing SEO, you were an SEO expert! To this day, the best way to learn SEO is to follow experts and experiment. SEO changes so […]
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Google Loses €2.4B Battle Against Small Business Founders
A British couple’s legal battle against Google’s search practices has concluded. Europe’s highest court upheld a €2.4 billion fine against Google, marking a victory for small businesses in the digital marketplace. Background Shivaun and Adam Raff launched Foundem, a price comparison website, in June 2006. On launch day, Google’s automated spam filters hit the site, […]
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LinkedIn Launches Free AI Certification Courses
LinkedIn offers free AI certification courses through December, helping professionals adapt to workplace automation with expert-led training programs. LinkedIn launched three free AI certification courses The courses focus on recruiting, HR, and learning development. LinkedIn claims companies must invest in AI skills or risk falling behind.
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Google Proposes New Shipping Structured Data
Google published a proposal in the Schema.org Project GitHub instance that proposes proposing an update at Schema.org to expand the shopping structured data so that merchants can provide more shipping information that will likely show up in Google Search and other systems. Shipping Schema.org Structured Data The proposed new structured data Type can be used […]
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25 Best Examples Of Effective FAQ Pages
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) pages (or informational hubs) enable your business to respond, react, and anticipate the needs of your audience more quickly and appropriately than other types of destination page experiences. An effective FAQ resource can educate, inform, and naturally guide the user through your website’s content and toward the goals and results you […]
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