Google is overhauling its ad blocking controls in AdSense and Ad Manager, replacing the “Ad networks” option with a new “Authorized Buyers” control starting Nov. 6. This move seems designed to give publishers more transparency and control over who can bid on their inventory. The change modernizes Google’s brand safety tools to reflect the current […]

Just 11% of U.S. consumers trust the first tool they use when searching online. That means nearly 9 in 10 Americans double-check or expand their search elsewhere “because they don’t trust the first answer,” according to new survey results from digital presence platform Yext. By the numbers. Discovery is fragmented: Traditional search still leads – […]

Join search expert Will Scott online today – October 7 – from 11:00am – 4:45pm ET for his 5-star Generative Engine Optimization Master Class, part of a series of tactic-rich workshops we’re running this October! Together, you will cover: The fundamentals of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Content optimization strategies for AI platforms Keyword evolution and […]

Search behavior keeps tilting toward AI answers.  People still click classic results, but more are starting with AI summaries and only clicking when they want depth, proof, or tools.  Your job as an SEO is now twofold:  Rank in traditional search. Get your pages cited or summarized inside AI experiences.  How do you do both […]

The Justice Department and Google wrapped a two-week hearing over how to address Google’s illegal monopoly in online advertising technology, setting up a pivotal antitrust showdown that could reshape the digital ad industry. Driving the news. The hearing, held in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, concluded after testimony from more […]

YouTube launched the YouTube Activation Partners program, a new initiative connecting advertisers and agencies with vetted third-party experts who specialize in YouTube media buying and campaign management. Why we care. As the biggest streaming platform for over two years, according to Nielsen, YouTube continues to dominate attention spans. But as ad strategies become more complex, […]

In competitive industries where keywords are costly, every edge matters.  Beyond keyword targeting, consider layering audience targeting onto your Search campaigns to gather richer performance data.  This added layer can improve results within Search and provide valuable insights you can apply to other Google Ads campaigns – or even to PPC platforms like Microsoft Ads, […]

Google is testing using AI to generate full search result descriptions and/or AI-summaries of your search result snippet, within the Google Search results. There are two variations of this; (1) fully replacing your description with an AI-generated version and (2) an AI-generated summary of the search result snippet. AI-generated description. Recently, both Paul Shaprio on X and […]

For years, SEO and PPC defined two sides of search – one focused on organic authority, the other on paid performance.  Both aimed to capture traffic but often worked in silos, optimizing toward different goals.  Now, that separation is ending.  The rise of generative AI has redrawn the map, merging once-distinct disciplines into a single, […]

The search landscape is changing. With the rapid evolution of AI, the Google SERP is no longer a predictable grid of 10 blue links.  This shift presents new opportunities for businesses, but it also creates new risks for your brand. Competitors, affiliates, and bad actors can now use sophisticated tactics to hijack your presence, mislead […]