Google has released its first major update to the Search Quality Rater Guidelines since March. Human evaluators use the Search Quality Rater Guidelines (PDF link) to assess the quality of search results. Although these guidelines don’t directly affect rankings, they provide useful insights into what Google views as high-quality content. This update reflects Google’s evolving … Read more
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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 … Read more
Google removes breadcrumbs from mobile search results, simplifying URLs to show only domains while keeping breadcrumbs on desktop. Google removed breadcrumbs from mobile search results. Only the domain will show on mobile, but breadcrumbs stay on desktop. No changes are needed for sites using breadcrumb markup. Source link
Google is rolling out updates to the “Circle to Search” tool, making it more helpful for marketers, businesses, and Android users. Circle to Search lets you circle, scribble, or tap on anything visible on your phone screen to instantly search the web without switching apps. With expanded AI Overviews, the tool is better equipped to … Read more
A post on LinkedIn questioned the idea that Schema.org structured data has an impact on what a large language model outputs. Apparently there are some SEOs who are recommending structured data to rank better in AI search engines. Patrick Stox wrote the following post on LinkedIn: “Did I miss something? Why do SEOs think schema … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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, … Read more
Google has reportedly told the EU it won’t add fact-checking to search results or YouTube videos, nor will it use fact-checks to influence rankings or remove content. This decision defies new EU rules aimed at tackling disinformation. Google Says No to EU’s Disinformation Code In a letter to Renate Nikolay of the European Commission, Google’s … Read more
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 … Read more
A new report from the Reuters Institute examines the influence of AI overviews and Google Discover, which have changed how people access information. Additionally, the report finds publishers relying more on video and social platforms like YouTube and TikTok to reach audiences. These trends suggest the need to refine strategies and embrace new technologies to … Read more
Google’s Sundar Pichai outlined the 2025 strategy, emphasizing consumer-focused AI, rapid development of agentic apps, a Chrome AI prototype called Project Mariner, and upgrades to Gemini and Project Astra, signaling a shift toward AI apps as the user interface for search. Although Pichai did not say Google is de-emphasizing the Google Search box, he did … Read more
New report claims that ChatGPT Search can be manipulated with hidden text featuring instructions telling ChatGPT Search how to respond to an answer Tests also showed that ChatGPT could be manipulated without the instructions, with just the hidden text. ChatGPT Search Can Be Manipulated With Hidden Text A report from The Guardian outlines how they … Read more
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 … Read more
A new study by Previsible reveals significant changes in search behavior, with AI language models (LLMs) gaining traction as referral traffic sources. The analysis of over 30 websites shows Perplexity and ChatGPT emerging as alternatives to traditional search engines. David Bell, co-founder of Previsible, believes this indicates Google’s growth is at a standstill: “Google is … Read more
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 … Read more
Search marketing is undergoing dramatic changes, with many debating whether SEO is on its way out as AI Search rises in popularity. What follows is a candid assessment of what is going on with SEO and search engines today. An SEO School Shuts Down An SEO school by a group called Authority Hackers recently announced … Read more
