SEO Tools and Resources

Google has rolled out a new feature for Google Business Profile verifications. When you verify using video verification, you can now preview that video before you submit the video for review. Google is calling this “Video Previews.” Video Previews. Video Previews give you the option to review the video you are about to submit to the Google Business Profile team. This will allow you to ensure that video includes all the necessary elements before you submit it to Google. Here is what it looks like: What Google said. Google’s Lisa Landsman wrote on LinkedIn, “Now, you can review your recordings before submitting, ensuring clarity and accuracy – saving yo…

Educational videos are among the top 10 most-consumed video content formats globally, according to Statista. And it makes sense. Video is one of the fastest, most engaging ways to teach, demonstrate, and connect. But for creators and businesses alike, making a video that actually works (as in: educates, retains, or converts) requires more than hitting “record.” I’ve been creating online content for years, so I know what works and what doesn’t. Our online SEO training has helped thousands of marketers level up their skills through self-paced modules, monthly live Q&A webinars, and on-demand videos. Our “Ask Us Anything” video series and SEO a…

With YouTube Shorts now reaching 2 billion monthly users and generating approximately 70 billion daily views, this rapidly growing format represents an untapped opportunity for many brands. When used effectively, Shorts unlock multiple benefits that other platforms can’t match: Faster channel growth. Higher engagement rates. New monetization streams. A massive established user base of over 122 million daily viewers. Powerful cross-promotion between short and long-form content. Plus, YouTube’s established reputation provides a level of stability that newer platforms like TikTok can’t guarantee. But despite all this potential, many marketers…

Google will now allow relevant Search ads from advertisers who showed amongst top ads to also participate in the bottom ads auction. As a reminder, the definition of top ads changed about a year ago, as Google began mixing ads in various organic positions throughout the search results. With this change, Google also reminded us that it updated its unfair ads policy (i.e. double serving) to say this is not double serving. Google added the words, “in a single ad location,” as an exception to the policy last March after Google was caught double serving ads under its old definition. What Google said. Google wrote: Today, we’re sharing more about a recent change we…

The U.S. Department of Justice and a coalition of states unveiled their proposed remedies today aimed at dismantling Google’s illegal monopoly in search and search advertising. These include breaking off Chrome and banning default search payments. The remedies. They break down into five categories meant to enable and increase competition: Distribution remedies. This would mean ending payments that “freeze the ecosystem in place,” including Google’s multi-billion-dollar payments to Apple and Android device makers. Chrome divestiture. This would separate Chrome from Google – organizationally and financially. Chrome accounts for 35% of all Google search queries …

Two new studies agree: Google’s AI Overviews steal clicks from organic search results. While Google told us that AI Overviews citations result in higher-quality clicks, the introduction of AI Overviews correlates with a measurable decline in organic visibility and clicks, particularly for top-ranking, non-branded keywords. That’s according to two new data studies from SEO tool provider Ahrefs and performance agency Amsive. By the numbers. Here’s how AI Overviews have decreased click-through rate (CTR) for traditional organic listings, according to the two studies: Ahrefs: A 34.5% drop in position 1 CTR when AI Overviews were present, based on an analysis of…

Remember when meta keywords were all the rage? Fast forward to 2025, and while search engines have evolved dramatically, meta tags remain crucial building blocks of your SEO foundation, just not the ones you might remember. You’re juggling countless priorities, so it’s tempting to view meta tags as “set it and forget it” HTML snippets. But here’s the truth: properly optimized meta tags are still conversion-driving assets that both search engines and potential customers use to understand your content. This guide cuts through the noise to spotlight the meta tags that actually move the needle – on rankings, click-through rates, and visibility. Before we …

Let’s face it, lead generation can be a real pain. One month you’re drowning in prospects. The next you’re wondering if your website’s broken because nobody’s filling out your contact form. I’ve been there, and let me tell you – there’s a better way. Relying on unpredictable methods can stifle growth and leave your sales team twiddling their thumbs. The good news? Digital advertising, when strategically implemented, can be your key to unlocking a predictable and scalable lead generation system. This article will guide you through the essential steps to move beyond hoping for leads and start building a reliable process to drive a steady flow…

Advertising on Amazon is getting more complex, with an ever-growing list of targeting options. At the core of it all? Match types. Understanding how they work is essential to making your ad spend count. Unlike other ecommerce platforms, Amazon ads directly impact your organic ranking – so campaigns aren’t just about sales; they’re about momentum. Whether you’re driving incremental sales or defending your brand in search, knowing how to structure campaigns around match types can make or break performance. For brand defense, branded keywords are critical – but they should live in their own campaigns to keep management clean and projections accurate. …

Fueled by “impressive YoY growth,” paid search advertising revenues hit a new high in 2024, according to a new report. In total, search accounted for $102.9 billion of a record $258.6 billion in U.S. digital advertising revenues, according to the IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report: Full Year 2024, conducted by PwC. That is a $14.1 billion increase compared to 2023. Why we care. Paid search becomes more expensive and challenging every year, with less transparency. But advertisers continue to pour money into paid search because it drives results for brands and businesses. Paid search is still king. Search continues to own the largest market share of adverti…

Affiliate networks aren’t one-size-fits-all. Between evolving tracking laws, new tech capabilities, and shifting fee structures, the best choice depends on your business model and goals. This guide breaks down top affiliate networks by use case, so you can make a smarter, more strategic decision. The data-driven approach to choosing an affiliate network If you’re ready to launch an affiliate program – a marketing channel where others promote you on a revenue-sharing or performance basis – but aren’t sure which affiliate network to choose, I’ve got you covered. Over the last 20+ years, I’ve worked as an affiliate, an in-house affiliate manager, managed…

Return on ad spend (ROAS) has been the default metric for evaluating Google Ads performance for years. It’s easy to calculate, works well with automated bidding, and provides a quick snapshot of efficiency. However, as ad costs rise and tracking becomes less reliable, relying solely on ROAS is no longer enough, especially for businesses focused on long-term growth and profitability. This article: Unpacks why ROAS can be misleading. Introduces better metrics to consider. Explains how to start moving toward a performance strategy that aligns with real business outcomes. Why ROAS can be misleading ROAS seems like the perfect metric. Spend $1, …

Google announced the release of version 19.1 of its Google Ads API, focusing on expanding capabilities for Demand Generation, video campaigns, and Local Services Ads. The details. Google announced the v19.1 release of the Google Ads API, maintaining backward compatibility for users already on v19. Updated client libraries and code examples will be published next week. Demand Gen. New ad group-level Channel Controls for Demand Gen campaigns, plus enhanced Planning services support. Local Services Ads. Advertisers can now submit feedback for leads through a new LocalServicesLeadService.ProvideLeadFeedback() method. Video campaigns. Added metrics and segments …

AI Overviews, Google’s AI-generated summaries that sit above organic search results, are already eroding traffic for many publishers and creators. However, publishers are getting “higher-quality clicks,” according to Elizabeth Reid, Head of Google Search, in a new interview. Why we care. Google Search is continuing to evolve in the direction of AI Overviews, where less clicks to websites is the new normal. Clicks. Here are some quotes from Reid’s interview with the Financial Times about the AI Overviews and the impact on clicks and traffic (a.k.a., that necessary evil) to publishers: “We see the clicks are of higher quality, because they’re not clicking on a…

The U.S. Department of Justice successfully prosecuted its antitrust case against Google, with Judge Leonie Brinkema ruling that the company operated an illegal monopoly in the advertising technology industry. The court determined that Google engaged in anticompetitive practices that allowed it to dominate critical components of the digital ad market for more than a decade. The details. From the ruling: U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled that Google “willfully engaged in anticompetitive acts” to control the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets. The court found Google illegally tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange together through both…

Google Analytics is rolling out major updates aimed at sharpening marketing insights – boosting data completeness, adding richer context, and flagging issues before they become problems. Key updates. Google announced these updates to Google Analytics 4: Enhanced data completeness. New aggregate IDs and smart fallback tools keep reports accurate even without traditional tracking, helping you see campaign performance clearly while honoring user consent. Updated data presentation. Labels like “(data not available)” and “(not set)” add clarity, helping you spot gaps and know where to take action. Proactive issue detection. A new data quality indicator and auto-…

When we talk about search, we usually focus on what people are looking for – keywords, queries, and intent. But in 2025, there’s a more powerful question to ask: “Where are they searching – and why that platform, in that moment?” The search landscape is evolving fast. AI tools like ChatGPT are gaining traction. Social platforms like TikTok and Instagram are doubling as discovery engines. Yet, Google remains the top choice – the default, the go-to for most people right now. But platform preference isn’t just about functionality. It’s rooted in human behavior. How we think, feel, and choose depends on the journey we’re on. Behavior takes t…

In the era of Google’s smart bidding, we’ve come to appreciate the power of feeding solid data to AI. But that data can do more than just improve bids. When connected to a large language model (LLM), it opens up entirely new ways to manage and optimize your PPC accounts. As generative AI becomes more embedded in our daily workflows, it’s worth exploring the latest methods for connecting it with your performance data. This way, it can deliver insights that are not just creative but also grounded and actionable. Sure, you could manually upload a CSV or paste metrics into each prompt, but that defeats the very promise of AI: faster, smarter, and more ef…

Apple is officially dropping the “Search” from Search Ads to better represent its expanding ad placements across the App Store. The rebrand reflects Apple’s growing ad footprint beyond App Store search results — a signal that the iPhone maker is eyeing a more aggressive play in the broader digital ad market. What’s changed: The original Search Ads product, launched in 2016, showed promoted apps at the top of App Store search results. Ads now appear in the Today tab and in app listings under “You Might Also Like.” The rebrand aligns with Apple’s naming convention (think Apple Music, Apple TV+) and sets the stage for future ad expansion. Between the …

TikTok launched two new ad placement controls – Video Exclusion List and Profile Feed Exclusion List – giving brands more power to block specific videos and user profiles from appearing alongside their ads. The update is part of TikTok’s broader Safety Suite, and comes alongside the debut of a new Brand Safety & Suitability Playbook to help advertisers navigate their options. What’s new. Two new tools are now available globally via the Brand Safety Hub in TikTok Ads Manager. Advertisers can manage their lists directly or partner with third-party verification firms: Video Exclusion List. Advertisers can block individual video IDs from appearing next to the…

Google is facing a new class action lawsuit in the UK that accuses the search giant of abusing its market power and driving up search ad prices. By the numbers: £5 billion ($6.6 billion U.S.): The potential damages Google faces. 90%: Google’s share of UK search advertising revenue, according to a 2020 CMA study. 13+ years: The period covered by the lawsuit (January 2011 to present). The details. Competition law academic Or Brook filed the lawsuit today in the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleging Google has: Restricted competing search engines. Created a monopolistic position in search advertising. Forced businesses to use its ad services …

Google’s 2024 Ads Safety Report, released today, shows a massive uptick in how AI – particularly large language models (LLMs) – is helping the company block policy-violating ads before serving a single ad, thanks to earlier fraud detection at the account setup stage. By the numbers. Google Ads last year: Removed 5.1 billion bad ads Restricted 9.1 billion ads Suspended 39.2 million advertiser accounts. Enforced against 1.3 billion publisher pages. Blocked or removed 415 million scam-related ads. Introduced 30+ policy updates across Ads and Publisher guidelines. Search Engine Land’s Barry Schwartz has been following these stats for se…

If you’ve been poking around Audience Manager in Google Ads lately, you may have noticed a new Your data segment that looks like this: “Google-engaged audiences – for Account #######” What is that? And what should you do with it? Welcome to the wonderful new world of Google-engaged audiences, a new type of remarketing that you should absolutely be paying attention to. This article will cover: What is a Google-engaged audience? What’s so great about your Google-engaged audience? What are the limitations of Google-engaged audiences? Google-engaged audiences are perfect for small business owners What is a Google-engaged audience? A Google-en…

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…

Most advertisers will confidently tell you that the cost per click (CPC) on Google Ads rises year after year. But is that actually true? And if it is, how quickly are CPCs inflating? Surprisingly, there’s no simple answer. To get closer to the truth, we’ll explore three reliable data sources – and explain why this question matters more than most advertisers realize. The problem of CPC inflation If you advertise on Google, CPC inflation should be high on your list of concerns. Why? Because rising CPCs directly erode advertising performance. For example, if CPCs increase by 5% this year, your budget will deliver 5% fewer clicks – assuming all othe…