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What Is SEO? A Practical Beginner’s Guide for 2026
SEO explained in plain English: how search engines rank pages, the three pillars that matter, and the first steps to getting your site found on Google.
95.3% of all ChatGPT users still depend on Google for their answers: Report
Despite the meteoric rise of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, new data reveals that Google’s position as the internet’s primary gateway remains virtually unchallenged. A recent analysis shows that while AI search is growing, it currently acts more as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, tra
U.S. news sites see sharp traffic declines in July due to shifting habits
Nearly all major U.S. news websites saw declines in traffic in July, with most recording single- or double-digit year-over-year drops, according to PressGazette’s monthly ranking based on Similarweb data. Only six of the top 50 outlets reported growth. The New York Times remained the most visited si
Google fined A$55 million in Australia over anti-competitive search deals
Google has agreed to pay a fine of A$55 million (US$35.8 million) in Australia after the country’s competition regulator found it had stifled rival search engines by striking exclusive agreements with major telecommunications companies. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) annou
Google rolls out ’preferred sources’ feature in U.S. and India to personalise ’top stories’
Google is giving users more control over the news they see in Search with the rollout of a new “preferred sources” feature, allowing people to prioritize articles from their favorite outlets in the platform’s “top stories” section. The “top stories” hub appears when users search for topics related t
DuckDuckGo lets users hide AI images inside search results
Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo is rolling out a new setting that allows users to filter out AI-generated images from search results. The move comes in response to growing user frustration over the increasing presence of AI-created content, which many say is getting in the way of finding au
AI Overviews in Google Search ruining publishers’ website traffic: Bloomberg
A growing number of small and independent website owners are reporting devastating traffic losses amid Google’s rollout of AI-generated answers in its search results, known as AI Overviews. Once celebrated by Google for their helpful content, many publishers now say their businesses are crumbling as
Google acknowledges user engagement impacts search ranking: Report
In a recent video posted to Google’s Search Central YouTube channel, Google’s Martin Splitt revealed that user engagement plays a significant role in whether pages continue to appear in search results. According to Splitt, if pages are not attracting clicks or interaction from users, Google may choo
Google starts internal testing of its new ’AI mode’ inside Search
Google is working on a new “AI Mode” that will give users a more interactive, intuitive search experience. Already being tested with staff, the feature will provide a “persistent place” where users can pose open-ended, exploratory questions and be given generated AI answers in an overview or researc
Google’s december updates were positive for many, negative for some
Google’s December updates rolled out in quick succession, bringing a wave of change to search engine results pages (SERPs). For many website owners and SEOs, the updates have been a pleasant surprise, while for others, the changes have reinforced long-standing frustrations with the search giant’s al
ChatGPT’s AI Search Engine now available to all users: Report
Starting today, OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI search engine is rolling out to all users, making it accessible to both free and paid accounts. The announcement was made during OpenAI’s “12 Days of Ship-mas” livestream event, where the company also introduced several exciting updates aimed at improving the user
ChatGPT rolls out SearchGPT on iOS in the US with real-time search function
In an exciting development for users of the ChatGPT app, OpenAI has begun rolling out the new SearchGPT feature on iOS, enhancing the user experience with real-time search capabilities. This update introduces a search icon in the text input area, signaling a significant shift from the previous Bing-
Google tests new verification checkmarks to combat scam websites
In a recent development, Google has begun experimenting with blue verification checkmarks in its search results, aimed at helping users identify trustworthy businesses and combat online scams. While the feature is still in its testing phase, early reports indicate that users are spotting these check
Google’s August 2024 Core Update completes with even more gains for Reddit
Google’s August 2024 core update, which commenced on August 15 and concluded on September 3, has significantly impacted search rankings and website visibility, according to a Google spokesperson. This latest update follows feedback from the September 2023 helpful content update, which had adversely
Google announces August 2024 Core Update with focus on ’independent’ publishers
Google has announced the launch of its August 2024 core update, marking a significant step in its ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of search results. This update, which will roll out over the next month, is designed to refine the search experience by prioritizing genuinely useful content and r
Federal Judge Rules Google violated US Antitrust Laws in Online Search
In a landmark ruling on Monday, a federal judge determined that Google has violated US antitrust laws through its search business, marking a significant legal setback for the tech giant. US District Judge Amit Mehta of the District Court for the District of Columbia concluded that Google’s practices
Google Search head says AI will continue to have challenges but have to take risks
In a recent all-hands meeting at Google, Liz Reid, the newly appointed head of search, addressed the company’s approach to integrating artificial intelligence into internet search amid growing challenges and criticism. Acknowledging the inevitability of mistakes as AI becomes more central to their o
Google announces the rollout of its AI-powered ’Overviews’ inside Search at I/O 2024
After a year-long incubation period in “Labs,” Google has officially unveiled its highly-anticipated AI-powered but widely criticized “Overviews” feature in Search for all users, also known as SGE to many in the blogging community. Last year, Google’s announcement of the Search Generative Experience
OpenAI is developing a Search Engine inside ChatGPT to rival Google, Perplexity: Report
OpenAI, the renowned AI research organization, is reportedly working on a groundbreaking feature for ChatGPT that could revolutionize the way users interact with the chatbot. According to sources familiar with the matter, the feature aims to incorporate web search capabilities into ChatGPT’s respons
Google Unveils AI-Powered Travel Itinerary Feature in Search and Maps
Google is making significant strides in the travel planning arena with a slate of updates aimed at enhancing user experience and gaining insights into purchasing intent within the travel sector. On Wednesday, the tech giant announced a major update to its Search Generative Experience (SGE), introduc
Google’s John Mueller does not recommend ’doubling-down’ on AI content after March update
In a recent exchange on Reddit, Google’s John Mueller offered a cautionary perspective to website owners grappling with traffic declines due to Google’s latest updates. Amidst discussions on how to adapt to the March 2024 core and spam updates, one Redditor’s strategy to massively increase their sit
Google releases March 2024 Core Update which promises to be an explosive one
It is extremely surprising to see that when Google releases updates, everyone in the SEO world fears the worst and are actually scared to see what the effects of the rollout will be but we have seen that possibly for the first time ever, SEOs were actually happy that Google rolled out the March 2024
Google puts an end to cached links in Search Results
Google has officially announced the retirement of the cache link feature from its search results which can also be called the end of an era for those people who used to build complete websites from those cached links. This feature, which has been a staple of Google Search for years, allowed users to