Local SEO

Websites have been the foundation of SEO strategy for 20-odd years. That’s changing with AI search. When someone asks ChatGPT for a product in your category, it doesn’t always crawl websites in real-time. Its first move is to pull from what it already knows about you and your competitors from its existing knowledge. Clear and recognizable entities in AI training data are just as important as having the most authoritative and optimized website. This shift means your webpage might rank #1 in classic search, but if your brand isn’t well-structured for entities, AI might overlook you entirely in the answer. The rules we’ve relied on for decades don’t fully apply when m…

AI has changed the way people shop. 58% of consumers now use GenAI tools instead of traditional search to find products. Imagine your customer runs a simple query in Google’s AI Mode: “Winter jackets for women.” Instead of a long list of links, they get direct product recommendations — alongside: Descriptions of features and best use cases Ratings and reviews Editorial sites that mention the product Direct comparisons with top competitors All in one response. Which raises an obvious question: Why do some products show up, while others are ignored entirely? Many factors influence AI recommendations. But one of the most important — and most controllable — is your…

Everybody wants smoother workflows and fewer manual tasks. And thanks to AI models, automation is at the center of conversations in marketing departments across all industries. But most rarely get the results they’re looking for. According to Ascend2’s State of Marketing Automation Report, only 28% of marketers say their automation “very successfully” supports their objectives. While 69% felt it was only somewhat successful. While this specific stat is from 2024, I imagine the broad idea is still true. Especially since there are so many more automation options and tools. It can get overwhelming to decide a go-forward plan and implement effectively. So if you feel st…

Founded in 2022, Perplexity offers an AI-powered search engine. AI tools offer a new way to search for factual information, where Perplexity stands out as an AI-native search engine that combines large language models with real-time web search. With a valuation of $20 billion and a growing user base of 30 million monthly active users, Perplexity is one of the fastest-growing tech startups challenging Google’s dominance with its AI-native search engine. From the number of Perplexity active users to company revenue, we’ll cover the latest stats about the popular AI search engine on this page. Key Perplexity Stats Perplexity has 30 million monthly active users. Perplexi…

You’ve likely invested in AI tools for your marketing team, or at least encouraged people to experiment. Some use the tools daily. Others avoid them. A few test them quietly on the side. This inconsistency creates a problem. An MIT study found that 95% of AI pilots fail to show measurable ROI. Scattered marketing AI adoption doesn’t translate to proven time savings, higher output, or revenue growth. AI usage ≠ AI adoption ≠ effective AI adoption. To get real results, your whole team needs to use AI systematically with clear guidelines and documented outcomes. But getting there requires removing common roadblocks. In this guide, I’ll explain seven marketing AI adop…

With AI tools at everyone’s fingertips, what does “great” content writing mean in 2026? Content writing is about using words and psychology to deliver value, earn trust, and move readers toward action. It includes blog posts, social media content, newsletters, and white papers. Or it can be scripts for video, podcasts, and presentations. Content Type Purpose Key Characteristics Blog posts Educate; build brand awareness and authority In-depth, structured, research-backed Social media posts Engage, entertain, build community Conversational, visual, platform-specific Email newsletters Nurture relationships; drive action Personal tone, value-driven, scannable …

At just under 200 employees, Descript is not the biggest name in video editing software. It’s not the most robust or the most popular, either. But it’s punching way above its weight, competing with much bigger companies (like Adobe, and CapCut) in LLM search. Using Semrush’s AI Visibility score, you can see that Descript is competing closely with giant brands like Adobe. Descript found the way in. And so can you. In this SaaS LLM visibility case study, we’ll break down exactly how Descript is getting seen. And more importantly, what you can copy to improve visibility for your own product. Choosing Clear Niche Messaging For years, Descript has been known as a podc…

The men’s fashion world has evolved into a thriving online marketplace, ranging from timeless tailoring and premium streetwear to sustainable basics and cutting-edge accessories. For creators, bloggers, and influencers, joining the right affiliate program can turn style expertise into a consistent income stream. But finding the perfect fit isn’t about volume; it’s about choosing brands that align with your audience’s lifestyle, values, and spending habits. Whether your focus is minimalist menswear, high-end luxury, or casual everyday essentials, there’s a men’s fashion affiliate program tailored to your platform. We’ve curated a list of the top men’s fashion affiliate…

With beauty enthusiasts constantly searching for the next must-have product, niche affiliate programs are the ultimate secret weapon for creators looking to turn passion into profit. But the real challenge isn’t finding programs – it’s finding the right ones that truly align with your audience and deliver real rewards. The beauty industry is vast, ever-changing, and inclusive, spanning everything from luxury skincare and high-end cosmetics to affordable everyday essentials. No matter your niche, whether it be makeup tutorials, skincare reviews, or holistic wellness, there’s a beauty affiliate program perfectly suited to your platform. We’ve rounded up a curated list of…

AI search is still moving. What’s cited today across Google (AI Mode + AI Overviews) and ChatGPT might look different in a month. But there’s no need to scramble. For example, a dip in Reddit citations isn’t a reason to abandon conversational marketing or rebuild your plan from scratch. (Plus, it’s likely things aren’t always what they seem, like this speculation from John-Henry Scherck about Reddit and ChatGPT.) Instead, stick to doing the basics — getting mentioned by the major players in your industry as well as hyper-relevant/niche ones — while keeping tabs on macro changes that should impact your go-forward strategy. LLM Sources Aren’t Set in Stone The “who get…

Managing local search marketing for one location is straightforward. But managing multi-location SEO — whether it’s 10, 50, or 100 branches — gets complicated fast. Each location needs unique content. A single mistake in your business info can mislead customers and hurt trust. And it’s tough to see which branches are actually driving results. Everything changes when you’re managing SEO for multiple locations. Our six-step system below tackles these challenges in order of priority. You’ll learn exactly how to: Create high-performing location pages Optimize Google Business Profiles (GBPs) across every branch Manage reviews, citations, and backlinks efficiently Tra…

There’s been a lot of buzz around llms.txt. But no major AI platform has confirmed that they use it. Not yet, anyway. And there’s no evidence that any major large language model (LLM) actually uses it when crawling. So, why are some SEOs and site owners already adding it to their sites? Because LLM traffic is projected to explode over the next few years. Which means AI models could soon become your biggest traffic source. Remember: robots.txt was once optional, too. Today, it’s essential for managing search crawlers. LLMs.txt could follow a similar path — becoming the standard way to guide AI to your most important content. In this guide, you’ll learn how llms.…

When a potential user asks ChatGPT, Google AI, or Perplexity for recommendations, does your brand appear in the answer? Not just cited — actually mentioned in the response? That’s a crucial distinction. Brands that AI systems mention with context and positive sentiment attract the most intent-driven traffic. Semrush research shows that visitors who find a brand in an AI answer are 4.4 times more valuable than those from traditional search. They’re pre-qualified. They’ve seen AI endorse your solution. And unlike SEO, AI doesn’t care about website authority. Most sources cited in AI responses don’t even rank in Google’s top 20. So if you follow best practices, your…

Ad intelligence software promises to show you everything your competitors are doing: their keywords, budgets, creatives, and landing pages. But many surface insights you could get for free. Meta’s Ad Library shows what advertisers are currently running. Google’s Transparency Center does the same for search and YouTube. TikTok’s Creative Center reveals top performers by industry. So, when does paid software earn its cost? You’re tracking multiple competitors across platforms and losing hours to manual checks You need historical data on which ads they tested and killed You rely on spend benchmarks and real-time alerts to catch shifts before your clients do That’s the …

AI answers are taking over search. More people are turning to Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity for recommendations. And if your brand isn’t showing up in those AI answers? You’re missing out on a huge (and growing) slice of your market. That’s why Semrush built the AI SEO Toolkit. It’s a major unlock for marketers trying to understand how AI is impacting their business. Today, I’m going to show you how to use it — step by step — with a real example. TL;DR: Measure Your AI Search Visibility Here’s what you need to know about Semrush’s AI SEO Toolkit: What it does: Tracks how your brand appears across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Google AI Mode, and Per…

AI has infinitely sped up the hype cycle in marketing. So when the term “vibe marketing” came onto the scene, you may have rolled your eyes for a moment before you said, “I have to try this.” In basic terms, vibe marketing means using AI to run entire marketing workflows. Usually, this involves a combination of: Vibe coding: No-code AI tools where you type what you want (e.g., “Build me a landing page”), and the tool spins it up AI agents: Always-on assistants that handle background tasks, like checking your inbox for leads or updating your CRM And whether or not they consider themselves “vibe marketers,” many teams are already doing this. In a survey of marketing …

ChatGPT recommends products — complete with photos, pricing, and purchase links — to its 700 million weekly users. And now customers can complete purchases without leaving the chat. BIG deal. But will ChatGPT recommend your products? That’s not automatic. And you can’t pay for placement. What you can do is optimize your site so ChatGPT understands what you sell, trusts your brand, and surfaces your products when buyers search. This guide shows you how. You’ll learn the eight-step framework for getting featured in ChatGPT Shopping. I also spoke with Leigh McKenzie, Backlinko’s Head of Growth and founder of the ecommerce brand UnderFit, to get his insights on what’s …

If I had a dollar for every time someone said “know your audience,” I could retire from marketing altogether. And yet, most teams are completely winging it. Too often, marketers equate audience research with half-baked customer relationship management (CRM) data, some social media metrics, and a few buyer interviews. But that’s just organizing information you already have. Real audience research means discovering what you don’t know yet. It’s the exact words people use when they’re frustrated. The solutions they’ve already tried and dismissed. The moment they decide to trust one source over another. When you get this right, you move from guessing what might work to …

Reddit marketing is delicate work. Show up with a sales pitch — or just a little too much enthusiasm for your product — and they’ll shut you down quickly. Without mercy. But that hostility is really standards in disguise. Redditors care about their communities. They care about real conversations and keeping the place worth coming back to. Meet those standards, and the mood turns. They’ll start to trust you. Sometimes, they’ll even ask where they can buy your stuff. That’s when you know you’ve earned the hard-to-win, harder-to-fake Reddit trust. A kind of credibility so strong it travels far beyond Reddit. (More on that later.) This guide shows you how. Just thre…

Your SEO and PPC teams probably don’t share data. That’s problematic. Organic traffic is slipping. CPCs are climbing. And conversions aren’t keeping pace. It’s not just the LLMs — the SERP itself has changed. In 2025, every query is a blended battlefield of ads, AI overviews, videos, shopping units, map packs, and organic links. Yet, most teams operate with SEO and PPC in silos. That doesn’t work anymore. Because to users, there’s no “organic vs. paid search.” They just click what’s useful. And “useful” now shows up in more places than ever. If you don’t align your channels, you end up with duplication, cannibalization, and wasted spend. This guide will show you …

Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is one of the most important topics in search right now. It’s about making sure your brand shows up inside AI-generated answers — not just on traditional SERPs. As large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity reshape discovery, AEO ensures your content gets mentioned and cited where buyers are asking questions. But here’s the bigger truth: AEO is just one piece of a larger shift. We’re entering the era of Search Everywhere. Discovery no longer happens in a single Google results page. It’s happening across AI chat, overviews, forums, video, and social. And new data shows just how fast this shift is accelerating.…

I analyzed over one million keywords across 10 industries. The average cost per click (CPC) for Google Search ads in 2025 is $8.34. And the median CPC is $4.52. Legal had the highest average CPC at $22.75. Ecommerce had the lowest, at just $0.82 per click. But there’s no flat rate for CPC. Even if two advertisers bid on the same keyword, they won’t pay the same. Costs can vary based on several factors — and CPC is just one part of the equation. Google Ads pricing also involves other expenses that can affect your total budget. In this guide, you’ll learn: How much Google Ads really cost What your budget should be How you can lower your ad costs (without hurting …

AI is already reshaping how buyers discover and choose brands. When someone asks ChatGPT or Google AI Mode about your category, two things happen: Brands are mentioned in the answer Sources are cited as proof Most companies get one or the other. Very few win both. And that’s the problem. According to the latest Semrush Enterprise AI Visibility Index, only a small fraction of companies appear in AI answers as both seen (mentions) and trusted (citations). That gap is the opportunity. We’re proposing the Seen & Trusted (S&T) Framework — a systematic approach to help your brand earn mentions in AI answers and citations as a trusted source. Do both, and you …

If you do any kind of marketing, you’ve probably come across at least one of these acronyms recently: GEO: Generative Engine Optimization AEO: Answer Engine Optimization LLMO: Large Language Model Optimization AIO: Artificial Intelligence Optimization Here’s the truth: They all mean essentially the same thing. But they are subtly different from SEO (search engine optimization). This article will tell you where they’re similar, where they’re different, and what you need to know as a marketer. SEO vs. Everything Else Explained There might be shades of nuance between these acronyms, but the goal with all of them is the same. They all aim to optimize your (or your clien…

You can create the most helpful, well-optimized content on the web. But if you mess up the title tag, none of that will matter. The title tag is the blue, clickable headline that shows up in search results. It’s also your one shot at convincing a reader to choose your content over everyone else’s. A subtle tweak to the title tag can make all the difference. Take this example from the Backlinko blog: rain Original title tag: “17 Ways to Get More Views on YouTube in 2025” Position: 4th in search results Improved title tag: “17 Powerful Tactics To Get More YouTube Views in 2025″ Position: 1st in search results and the featured snippet Same topic, same content. Wi…