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SEO Tools and Resources

Discuss popular SEO tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Google Analytics, and share resources that make SEO easier.

  1. Michael Glavac shared a video of some of the longest and most comprehensive AI Overviews I’ve seen displayed in Google Search to date. These AI Overviews have over 600 works, reference over 60 different sites and are incredibly detailed. What it looks like. Here is a videocast of this that Michael shared on LinkedIn: More details. “Just came across this AIO that’s essentially a full article that referred to 61 sites,” Michael wrote. This AI Overview shows: 628 total words Each line referred to a minimum 4 sites/sources The sites/sources were not all relevant and there were some obscure sites that got pulled in, he added. In this case, the quer…

  2. Want AI search engines and agents to find and use your content? Traditional SEO isn’t enough. AI systems process information differently. This guide breaks down key optimizations to help your content stay visible and rank in the AI era. TL;DR: Quick AI optimization checklist To optimize for AI search and agents: Make content accessible with clean HTML/markdown and good structure. Allow AI crawlers in robots.txt and firewall rules. Return content fast, with key info high up. Use semantic markup, metadata, and schemas. Create an llms.txt file. Check your content’s AI visibility. Traditional SEO vs. AI search: The key difference…

  3. Welcome to our weekly Search Engine Land series, Everything you need to know about Google Ads in less than 3 minutes. Every Wednesday, I’m highlighting a different Google Ads feature, and what you need to know to get the best results from it – all in a quick 3-minute read. Today, we’re discussing exact match keywords – the intuitive and the not-so-intuitive facts you need to know about how keyword match types work today. I’ll cover: What are keywords? Keyword match types in Google Ads: Broad, Phrase, Exact The evolution of exact match keywords When to use exact match keywords The power of negative keywords What are keywords in Google Ads? …

  4. Google officially launched Meridian, its open-source marketing mix model designed to help marketers allocate budgets more effectively in a dynamic digital landscape. After rigorous testing with hundreds of brands worldwide, Meridian is now available to everyone, offering advanced customization and actionable insights, Google said. The move gives marketers and data scientists an open-source tool that could help them better understand how their marketing spending affects business outcomes, especially in today’s complex digital landscape. The big picture. Marketing mix models (MMMs) help companies measure marketing performance across channels, but traditional ve…

  5. SEO forecasting is essential for predicting the future performance of your strategies, measuring progress, and making data-driven decisions. This guide will show you how to use Google Sheets to create accurate forecasts for traffic, rankings, and revenue, even if you’re not a data expert. Forecasting: The secret to navigating SEO’s biggest hurdles In marketing and SEO, it’s often necessary to illustrate our vision for what lies ahead. Common scenarios include: Getting buy-in for a new SEO or content strategy: We need to demonstrate the expected ROI of the proposed strategy. While it may not be perfectly precise, providing an estimate of the potential growt…

  6. Title tags play a key role in attracting clicks from search results. In 2025, standing out means going beyond keywords – it’s about crafting concise, compelling titles that draw attention and match what users are looking for. This article shows you how. Title tags and their key characteristics Title tags are the clickable headlines displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs). They summarize a webpage’s content and play a crucial role in helping users and search engines understand what the page is about. They remain largely consistent year over year, as they still need to adhere to pixel count limits (55 characters or fewer with spaces is recommen…

  7. Google acknowledged that Performance Max (PMax) campaigns can be controlled through API placement exclusions — contradicting months of its own documentation and support guidance, according to new research from ad tech firm Optmyzr. This revelation gives advertisers more programmatic control over their PMax campaigns than previously thought possible, potentially saving significant time and resources in campaign management. The big picture. Performance Max campaigns, Google’s AI-driven ad format, have been a source of frustration for advertisers seeking more granular control over where their ads appear. Lead up. Earlier this year we saw that despite Navah Hopkin…

  8. Google is testing a new search results display for a small group of EU users when they search for products, restaurants, flights, and hotels. The test is part of Google’s efforts to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. What’s happening. According to a report from Dow Jones Newswires: “Under the test started Monday, Google has set up new units for users to choose between results from price comparison sites such as Booking Holdings’ Booking.com and results that take them directly to supplier websites when they are searching for products, restaurants, flights or hotels.” What Google EU search results look like. Here are screenshots showing what it looks lik…

  9. In an era where efficiency is key, many businesses question the time and resources spent on technical SEO audits. However, cutting corners in this critical area can lead to incomplete insights and missed opportunities. Let’s dive into why technical SEO deserves a firm investment in both human effort and time, starting with the often-overlooked challenge of crawl time. Crawl time: The primary hindrance Reducing human resource time in your SEO or digital marketing department by cutting technical SEO may be unwise. Why? The primary factor behind the time taken for audits is crawl time. With today’s complex web architectures, this is inevitable.…

  10. Enterprise SEO comes with unique challenges: massive websites, coordination across departments, and the need for a strategic vision. Without careful planning, common SEO mistakes can lead to wasted resources and underperformance in the search results. This article explores some of the top strategic mistakes enterprises make with SEO and, more importantly, how to avoid them. Failing to secure the “right” buy-in for SEO initiatives. Underinvesting in SEO continuing education or training. Ineffective hiring and onboarding of an SEO agency. Overlooking the value of maintaining high-quality content. Not prioritizing technical SEO. 1. Failing to sec…

  11. Google appears to be rolling out manual actions, search penalties, across German-based sites over the site reputation abuse policy. This comes a week or so after Google expanded the penalties across Europe, for sites in Italy, Spain, and France. What we’re seeing. Christian Kunz, posted on his German-based SEO blog that Google has probably taken first manual actions in Germany against site reputation abuse. A search results set for coupon codes that previously showed many news websites is now no longer showing these sites in the top rankings. Laura Chiocciora, head of SEO at Bravo Savings Network, posted on X adding this morning: 'adidas rabattcode' yesterday vs…

  12. Valentine’s Day is an interesting shopping event for ecommerce stores. Customers are looking for gifts that help express their love for one another, with flowers, jewelry, and other interesting options. It’s a great opportunity to attract and convert online shoppers. Here are some SEO tips to help make the most of your Valentine’s Day sale! Table of contents Start preparing early Optimize your product pages Create gift guides and seasonal content Focus on local SEO for delivery or pick-up Use social media and influencers Use user-generated content Run exclusive Valentine’s Day promotions Add festive details to your website Offer last-minute shopping options Track an…

  13. Microsoft Ads will soon roll out four major updates to Performance Max, significantly expanding your ability to target, measure, and optimize your campaigns. These updates will give advertisers more granular control over their automated campaigns while introducing LinkedIn’s professional targeting data — a unique advantage over competing platforms. What’s new. Here are the four new features: LinkedIn integration. Advertisers in six major markets (U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, France, and Germany) will be able to tap into LinkedIn’s professional targeting data, including company, industry, and job function signals. Reporting gets granular. Advertisers will b…

  14. YouTube is testing a new advertising offering that lets brands own its most prominent ad space — the Masthead — by the hour, marking a significant shift in how marketers can capture attention. This new Cost-Per-Hour (CPH) Masthead gives advertisers 100% share of voice across all YouTube devices during crucial timeframes, potentially transforming how brands approach major launches and cultural moments, according to a slide obtained by Search Engine Land. The big picture. The CPH Masthead complements YouTube’s existing CPM (cost per thousand impressions) Masthead offering, providing advertisers more flexibility in how they dominate YouTube’s prime advertising real e…

  15. HubSpot’s SEO collapse has been the talk of the SEO world for the last several days. As a reminder, here’s a screenshot of HubSpot’s organic traffic drop, based on Semrush data: Among the endless reactions and perspectives, two former HubSpot employees shared five good reminders about SEO strategy. 1. SEO takes time Pruning content and focusing on E-E-A-T were among the many obvious remedies SEOs pointed out following the news of HubSpot’s apparent organic traffic decline. Well, these aren’t simple tweaks for a brand the size of HubSpot. They’re massive undertakings, according to this LinkedIn post by Bianca Anderson, HubSpot’s former SEO strategis…

  16. Yahoo appears to be testing some new AI related features within Yahoo Search. In fact, some are seeing Yahoo show a banner at the top of Yahoo’s home page that says, “We’re building a new yahoo.com to show more of what’s interesting to you.” The new search features include: AI powered chat AI generated answers within search Note, you need to login to Yahoo to see the new Yahoo Search features. AI chat in Yahoo. For the past week or so, we’ve been seeing signs of Yahoo incorporating AI Chat features in Yahoo Search. Now, we are seeing that more prominently in the Yahoo Search interface. Here are some screenshots from Sachin Patel on X: Here is…

  17. In marketing – whether digital or not – we all understand the power of a strong brand. A recognizable brand is vital for earning and keeping attention, driving trust, and building loyalty. On the agency side, this connection is clear: branding influences how we engage clients and deliver value. But how often do we consider the importance of branding within our teams? Establishing and maintaining a strong team brand is just as crucial. A well-defined team identity can foster collaboration, earn the trust of internal stakeholders, and secure advocacy for the team’s work. More importantly, it shifts the focus from individual contributions – often…

  18. SEO agencies are perfectly positioned to expand their services to include website management. The connection between SEO and site maintenance is clear: both prioritize keeping websites fast, functional, and optimized for search engines. Tasks like improving load times, fixing errors, and maintaining security align with what SEO agencies already do. By offering website management alongside SEO, agencies can build new revenue streams, potentially including reselling site hosting. Unlike project-based SEO work, site management creates opportunities for ongoing, predictable income through recurring service plans. This is a strategic way to grow your business and…

  19. Looking to take the next step in your search marketing career? Below, you will find the latest SEO, PPC, and digital marketing jobs at brands and agencies. We also include positions from previous weeks that are still open. Newest jobs in SEO, PPC and digital marketing Sr. SEO/CRO Strategist, Orbit Media Studios (Remote) Salary: $75,000 – $90,000 Lead an overall SEO and CRO strategy for up to six great brands Act as a trusted advisor, partner, and friend in these relationships Sr. SEO Specialist, Tinuiti (Remote) Salary: $70,000 – $80,000 Lead the development, execution, and optimization of sophisticated SEO campaigns, from initial resear…

  20. Meta is rolling out ads on its Threads app, targeting a rapidly expanding social media platform with over 300 million monthly active users. This move transforms Threads from a pure social experience into a potential advertising powerhouse, allowing businesses to easily extend their existing Meta ad campaigns with minimal additional effort. Big picture. Advertisers can now add Threads to their campaign reach by simply checking a box in Ads Manager. Initially, the test will feature image ads appearing intermittently in users’ home feeds. Key details: Small-scale initial test with limited advertisers. Ads will appear between content in the home feed. T…

  21. Performance Max (PMax) and search campaigns often trip over each other and make a mess out of your data and the customer journey. But it doesn’t have to be that way. At SMX Next, Brad Geddes, co-founder of Adalysis, dove deep into the data analysis of why you need to exert control over your search terms. He walked through the steps you can take to ensure these two campaigns aren’t fighting each other but working in tandem to improve your account performance. The core of the conflict: PMax and Search overlap Geddes set the stage by addressing the ongoing competition between PMax, search, and shopping campaigns: “Right now, the shift is PMax, search and shop…

  22. SEO is at a crossroads. As AI reshapes the digital landscape and Google continues to drive less traffic to brands, marketers face a critical challenge: how to balance strategies that deliver results today with innovations that prepare for tomorrow. This article outlines eight key considerations to help you navigate these changes and stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of SEO. Why SEO feels overwhelming right now In 2024, five of the top 15 SEO stories on Search Engine Land were about AI, with several others covering major changes at Google that have led to less traffic being sent to brands. These shifts leave us with a lot to think about. Studies a…

  23. The start of a new year signals more than resolutions – it’s a critical moment for PPC professionals to reset, refocus, and strategically realign. As the digital marketing landscape evolves, success demands a clear-eyed approach to account management, client objectives, and personal growth. Here are five essential areas every PPC specialist must prioritize in 2025. 1. Master the fundamentals: Strengthen your foundation We often rush to tackle advanced strategies without solidifying the fundamentals, whether in client work or our personal development. No matter your experience level, revisiting the basics is essential for long-term success. Now is t…

  24. As a search marketer, you’re already skilled at creating content that captivates audiences and drives results. But when the audience is your own team and the goal is internal training, the task might feel a bit out of your comfort zone. Creating training videos may seem unfamiliar, especially if video production isn’t your forte. However, your existing skills in search marketing can be incredibly valuable when crafting engaging and educational training videos for your colleagues. This article will guide you through the essential tools, strategies, and best practices to create training videos that are not only informative but also engaging and effective. …