SEO Tools and Resources

“Why can’t we just use AI to do it?” Whether you’re on the brand or agency side of SEO, I’m guessing you’ve heard some version of this from an exec or a client with little knowledge of AI tools, SEO principles, or both. I’ve been asked that question multiple times because the other party saw or heard about modest success from LLM-generated content that got some clicks and impressions. My answer: because thousands of LLM-produced pieces of content do not a successful SEO program make. This article dives into the human and AI roles in today’s SEO landscape, including: What people are getting wrong about AI and content. What AI can and can’t do for S…

Using the right keywords is essential in SEO. Because using the words your audience searches with will help your posts and pages rank. That’s why we always tell you to try to find the perfect keywords for optimizing your articles. So, after finding the perfect keyword, why shouldn’t you use it repeatedly? Why would you use synonyms and related keywords? It might seem contradictory, but correctly using synonyms and related keywords can improve your rankings. Table of contents What is the difference between synonyms and related keyphrases? Variation is key What about keyword density? Find related keyphrases using our Semrush integration How often should you use synony…

If your website suddenly disappears from Google search results, it can be a stressful experience. A significant drop in traffic with no clear explanation and the absence of a penalty usually means your site, in the eyes of Google, has fallen out of favor and potentially below the quality threshold. This article explains why sites get deindexed, what to check first, and how to recover if it happens to you. What does ‘deindexed’ mean? When a page or a whole website is deindexed, it means Google has removed it from its search index. As a result, your site won’t appear in search results for any keywords, not even when you search your domain name. Somet…

On April 15th, 2025, ​WordPress 6.8 was released. This release, named Cecil, is aimed at bringing more control when it comes to the design of your website. It also comes with features that improve performance and enhance security for users and developers. Let’s dive into a few of the highlights in this latest release. The Style Book for Classic themes The Style Book, previously exclusive to block-based themes, is now accessible for Classic themes that have editor-styles or a theme.json file. It also comes with a new look and a few new settings to play around with. You can find this feature, or see if you have access to this feature, by going to Appearance > Desi…

WordPress offers two primary content types: Pages and Posts. Choosing the right format for your content can improve your website’s organization, user experience, and even SEO. But how do they differ – and when should you use one over the other? Let’s break it down. WordPress Pages Pages are best suited for static, “evergreen” content – information that doesn’t change frequently and forms the foundation of your website. Typical examples include: Home page. About us. Services or products. Contact page. Key features: Not time-sensitive. Not included in RSS feeds. Do not use categories or tags by default (can be implement…

X launched two new features to help advertisers automate ad creation and analyze real-time ad campaign performance. The new features – Prefill with Grok and Analyze Campaign with Grok – are (as the names imply) powered by Grok, X’s AI assistant. Prefill with Grok. Enter your website URL and Grok will generate ad copy, imagery, and a call-to-action headline. You can tweak as needed. Here’s what it looks like: Analyze Campaign with Grok. Grok will analyze campaign data and offer insights and recommendations to optimize targeting and creative strategy. What’s next. The rollout, which began Feb. 21, will continue in phases to advertisers. Why we care. This…

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…

Yelp announced 15 new features and updates to make it faster and easier for users to hire service professionals and for restaurants to manage their front-of-house operations. Many of these upgrades are powered by AI. Details. Yelp Assistant, launched in 2024, now uses AI-powered photo recognition to identify project needs. Users can simply upload a photo (e.g., a leaking pipe, car damage) and Yelp will quickly match them with the right service pro. Alongside smarter matching, Yelp is debuting AI-driven “response quality badges” to spotlight service providers who give clear, helpful replies. Businesses are rated based on whether they quote pricing, …

Take your content strategy to the next level with expanded Semrush insights in the Yoast SEO plugin! Simplify your SEO process and focus on what matters the most: crafting and optimizing content that resonates and ranks. The Yoast Semrush integration means all Yoast SEO users can access keyword intent, and keyword difficulty and track and analyze up to four keywords. All powered by Semrush—seamlessly integrated into Yoast’s focus keyphrase section. Keyword difficulty and intent: Make your keyword choices smarter with data-driven insights: Keyword difficulty shows how challenging it is to rank for a specific keyword, helping you focus on keywords that are withi…

Hundreds of the most advanced, experienced, and passionate search marketers on the planet are heading to Boston this June 11-13 for the ultimate summer camp for search marketers: SMX Advanced is back in-person, and this is your chance to unlock actionable tactics, intimate networking, and the unmatched energy of a live event. Designed by advanced search marketers, for advanced search marketers, SMX Advanced delivers expert-level training you won’t find anywhere else. This is your chance to connect face-to-face with the sharpest minds in the industry, validate your ongoing initiatives and instincts, and geek out with your search community IRL. It’s summer camp for sea…

SEO reporting and tracking are major sticking points for anyone in the industry. Data that you find important may be less valuable to C-suite executives. Or you may not have enough data to show growth, changes, and significant events clearly and concisely. Reports must tell a story. Without the right data, you’ll end up with a confusing plot that won’t be well-received. Before you can begin reporting and tracking data, you need to gather it, which requires using the right tools. SEO reporting and tracking tools Most SEOs use a combination of different tools to properly collect, track and report data. A few of the main ones include: Google…

AI is changing how people find and engage with content – but the core signals that drive visibility haven’t changed. This article shows how search marketers can stay competitive by combining proven SEO and content strategies with AI-powered workflows to build authority, trust, and reach across platforms. Why authority still wins in the age of AI search If you work in marketing, you’ve probably heard the same questions repeated throughout the past year: “What’s AI’s impact on organic search?” “How can my brand appear in AI-driven search results?” “Is it safe to use AI in my content workflow?” While many agencies and experts are rushing to stak…

Are you controlling your paid search campaigns, or are they controlling you? If you can’t confidently articulate your smart bidding strategies, you lose conversions and credibility. True mastery isn’t just about setting up a campaign and picking a bid strategy; it’s about owning and communicating the process effectively. This guide is your roadmap to clarity and control, breaking down 2025’s Smart Bidding into actionable insights. We’ll cover key concepts, common mistakes, and actionable tips for picking the right strategy. Smart Bidding in Google Ads: AI-powered bid optimization Smart Bidding is Google Ads’ advanced form of automated bidding. …

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…

YouTube has long been a go-to advertising platform for B2C marketers, but it’s often still a question mark for B2B brands. I often see B2B professionals on LinkedIn asking, “Has anyone had success with YouTube ads?” or “What’s the best way to approach video advertising for a B2B audience?” YouTube can feel like unfamiliar territory if you’re only used to advertising on Google or social platforms. But that’s starting to change. More B2B brands are waking up to YouTube’s potential, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve seen firsthand how YouTube can elevate brand visibility, drive engagement, and even accelerate the sales cycle for B2Bs. If you’re still…

YouTube citations in Google AI Overviews grew 25.21% since Jan. 1 – and this surge was particularly seen in the healthcare industry, according to new data from enterprise SEO platform BrightEdge. Why we care. Even though Google’s lawyer said less than 1% of YouTube video views come from search, Google continues to give preference to videos from its YouTube platform – especially for visual demonstrations, step-by-step tutorials, and product comparisons. If you want to be visible in AI Overviews, you may want to align your YouTube and SEO strategies so your videos are cited in AI Overviews. By the numbers. Here is where YouTube’s presence in AI Overviews increas…

YouTube is rolling out new features that make it easier for creators and brands to connect their collaborative content with advertising campaigns. This comes after their introduction last year of tools to help brands better leverage creator content and its fast-growing Shorts format to drive measurable business outcomes The details. The platform has introduced two improvements: Creator-initiated linking: Eligible creators can now directly send linking requests to brands for sponsored videos they’ve already published. Video linking API: Brands working with multiple creators can automate the connection process through a new API integration. Why we care.…

YouTube will change how mid-roll ads are placed in videos starting May 12. YouTube aims to improve the viewer experience and increase revenue opportunities for creators. How it works: YouTube allows creators to manually place ad breaks or let the platform auto-insert them. Creators will be able to combine manual and automatic ad placement, with YouTube’s system potentially overriding manual selections if it finds a more natural break. The new system aims to improve automatic detection, ensuring better placement while also offering a combined manual and auto option. A new feature will flag “interruptive” manual ad slots, allowing creators to adjust them. …

YouTube is testing a new AI Overviews carousel. It will appear in search results for select queries. The feature uses AI to highlight the most relevant clips from videos tied to a user’s search. Why we care. Google AI Overviews have reduced visibility and traffic to websites. If this experiment is rolled out, could YouTube’s version of AI Overviews end up reducing visibility and video views for brands and creators? How it works. When a user enters an certain type of query, YouTube will use AI to scan relevant videos and surface highlight clips that it deems most informative or useful. These clips appear in a carousel within the search results, giving users a quic…

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…