Generative AI has quickly shifted from experimental novelty to everyday utility – and with that shift comes growing scrutiny.  One of the most pressing questions is how these systems decide which content to trust and elevate, and which to ignore. The concern is real: a Columbia University study found that in 200 tests across top […]

For years, I’ve updated my working definition of SEO to capture how the discipline has evolved.  Here’s how those definitions have changed over time: 1998 to 2023 SEO is “the art and science of persuading search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo to recommend your content as the best solution to a user’s problem.” […]

Google will switch to a monthly release cycle for the Google Ads API release schedule. This will result in more frequent releases, with more updates more often. This new release schedule begins in 2026. The new schedule. The new schedule will have three to four major releases and several minor releases. This is the new […]

Winning an industry award can seriously impact how customers, clients, and colleagues regard your brand. Showcase your achievements and celebrate your professional excellence by entering the Search Engine Land Awards – the highest honor in search marketing! For the past 10 years, the Search Engine Land Awards have honored some of the best in the […]

The search marketing community today is remembering Alan Bleiweiss, a veteran SEO consultant known for his detailed forensic site audits, sharp wit, and tireless mentorship. Bleiweiss passed away Aug. 22, but news of his death was only revealed publicly last night. As I’ve written before about Bleiweiss, he was known for being selfless, friendly, insightful, […]

For as long as marketers have been chasing leads online, the debate over gated versus ungated content has raged.  Entire conference sessions, whitepapers, and LinkedIn flame wars have been dedicated to the question: Should you hide your best stuff behind a form fill, or give it away for free to maximize search rankings and reach? […]

As Google Ads leans further into AI-driven automation, savvy advertisers are looking for ways to stay in control – ensuring that automation truly drives efficient results. Yet, the data available often tells only part of the story, with some advertisers reporting that 20%-80% of their ad spend is tied to hidden search terms. So where […]

Apple is preparing its own AI-powered search engine. Known internally as World Knowledge Answers, it will debut next spring as part of a long-awaited Siri overhaul, Bloomberg reported. The goal: Transform Siri into an “answer engine,” pulling information from across the web in a style similar to Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. The upgrade. […]

Traffic from large language models (LLMs) doesn’t convert significantly better than traditional organic search, according to new research from digital marketing agency Amsive. What they found. Across 54 websites analyzed: Organic traffic converted at 4.6% vs. 4.87% for LLM referrals. That slight edge disappeared under statistical testing – the difference was not significant. Even on […]