Edge of the Web - Archive

Kicking off 2026, EDGE of the Web welcomes Dana DiTomaso back to break down actionable strategies for content analysis, marketing measurement, and adapting to seismic shifts in digital traffic. Erin and Dana dive into the evolving value of website content as AI Overviews and LLMs change what users expect from search. In this episode, explore practical frameworks for identifying content gaps, leveraging engagement metrics, and connecting insights from sales and customer service back into your marketing roadmap. Dana DiTomaso shares tools and methodologies for content gap analysis, from analyzing queries in

Start your year with a data-driven mindset as Erin Sparks welcomes analytics expert Dana DiTomaso to the show. This episode dives into the evolving realities of digital marketing measurement in 2026, pushing you to mature your approach with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives. Dana DiTomaso discusses why marketers can't afford to rely on outdated metrics and generic reporting in a world changing rapidly under AI's influence and economic headwinds. We unpack the pitfalls of "one-size-fits-all" analytics, tips for tracking what actually matters, and the practical process of tagging and categorizing every

This week's EDGE of the Web dives into the seismic shifts rocking the digital marketing landscape, from Adobe's blockbuster SEMrush acquisition to Google's long-awaited rollout of Search Console Annotations (well, not so seismic). The future of AI in SEO and the rising tide of data privacy laws set the tone for a fast-changing industry. Erin Sparks, Crystal Carter, and Jacob Mann break down what Adobe's $1.9 billion move means for marketers and explore how WIX is upping its AI tools, accessibility, and agentic web readiness. The crew also spotlights ChatGPT's rumored

Cut the Crap! Here's a special episode with Wil Reynolds from Seer Interactive when we were at BrightonSEO 2025 in San Diego this year. We HAD to grab Wil after his keynote and unpack his thoughts on where we are with AI and SEO. No more excuses: Wil Reynolds lays out bold strategies, from open-source testing to hands-on experimentation, empowering pros at every level to innovate, even without buy-in from the top. Hustle, determination, and optimizing for humans crushes the status quo and delivers real results. Ready to drop lazy listicles

KPIs, Disrupted Is it time to rethink the key performance indicators driving digital marketing and SEO? This episode brings Wil Reynolds onto EDGE of the Web to challenge the old playbook and reveal how AI and changing online behavior are redefining success for marketers everywhere. Rankings and traffic volumes are fading as top priorities, replaced by strategies that value authenticity, human-centric connections, and theme-driven positioning. Erin Sparks and Wil Reynolds discuss the pitfalls of chasing vanity metrics, the impact of AI-powered search experiences, and how SEOs must rebalance their approach to

Is ChatGPT's new Atlas browser a Google killer? Greg Finn joins the roundtable to unpack shifting search results in Atlas, debate its reliability, and explore where Google, Bing, and browser innovation collide. The team tackles the impact of major AWS outages on Fortnite, Alexa, and the broader web, then pivots to Meta's fresh scam alerts targeting older users. Plus, get up to speed on breaking paid ad news: new Google Ads text guidelines, canceled account data deletion, shopping ad subscriptions, and the latest reporting tools aimed at advertisers. Greg brings a

AI Eats Your Content Is your website feeding the AI overlords? Or hiding all the good stuff under napkins and toggles? On this week's EDGE of the Web, Erin Sparks sits down with Carolyn Shelby, Principal SEO at Yoast, to reveal why your site's juiciest content may be lost to the bots (and your users, too). We dig into Carolyn's strategies for structuring content that's not only valuable to users, but also perfectly plated for LLMs like GPT and Google's AI Overview. From the new LLMs.txt "treasure map" for your website

Erin welcomes Carolyn Shelby, the Principal SEO at Yoast and a renowned authority in technical and enterprise SEO. Carolyn brings decades of hands-on experience from her pioneering days in digital marketing, working with brands like Disney's ESPN, Tribune Publishing, and major nonprofits. The conversation kicks off with a surprising twist—Carolyn's unique title as Queen of the micronation Ladonia—before diving into her role at Yoast and their latest innovation: the LLMs.txt file generator. Carolyn explains how this new file helps websites communicate their most valuable content directly to large language models like

Is Google Search thriving or dying? How is AI eating your PPC lunch, and why won't Google make up its mind? This week, we cover trending topics including Google's expanded AI mode for multi-lingual search, Reddit's sneaky push for publisher power with brand new Pro Tools, and the surprising court ruling that lets Google keep Chrome… while also sharing some of its special sauce (most likely a can of Ragu). You'll hear how shifting digital consumer behavior (think: the Four S's—searching, scrolling, streaming, shopping) is making marketers rethink their omnichannel strategies,

Google's AI is poised to wipe out half of news publishers' traffic, but Barry Adams isn't here to panic—he's here to bring the hard truths (with a side of hope). On this week's EDGE of the Web, we dive deep into how Google's relentless AI advancements, from overviews to the new AI mode, threaten the very foundation of news publishing. Join host Erin Sparks and News SEO specialist Barry Adams as they break down the seismic shifts hitting news publishers: AI overviews stealing clicks, Top Stories boxes protecting (for now), and

Meta's got its eyes (and algorithms) locked on unoriginal content, and that's just the tip of the AI-powered iceberg. This week, EDGE of the Web is knee-deep in septic tank puns and even deeper into breaking news shaking up AI, SEO, and the future of web browsing. Hosts Erin Sparks and guest Crystal Carter wade through Meta's latest moves to curb content farms and content theft, Google's new AI-generated shopping and search experiments, and the shocking rise of AI-powered browser contenders. Plus, the crew gets real about how AI Overviews are

AI Mode goes global, Google's giving users the easy button, and Reddit and Wikipedia are snagging prime AI real estate. This week, the EDGE dives into the explosion of AI Mode, the changing landscape of web traffic, and the wild world of social media innovation—with plenty of insights from Duncan Alney of Firebelly and the EDGE team. Get the latest on Google's brand-new AI Mode launching in 180 countries (but only in English for now), and why letting AI do the reasoning for you might make us all a little lazier.

Bruce Clay is back on the EDGE and he's bringing a fresh arsenal of SEO wisdom—plus his latest tool, Prewriter.AI! Bruce unpacks the ever-evolving landscape of search, where being a subject matter expert isn't just nice to have, it's non-negotiable in the age of large language models. Get ready for a hands-on journey through the world of structured data, website architecture, and the key realm of silos and clusters (yes, we're geeking out on knowledge graphs). Bruce dishes out why schema isn't just a box-ticking exercise—and why too much schema can

A whopping 43% of consumers allegedly use AI tools daily – or do they? This week, Local SEO expert Greg Gifford and the EDGE team dissect the latest digital marketing headlines, exposing the flaws behind flashy AI stats, CTR doom-and-gloom, and Google's evolving local business verifications, all while dodging shady review extortionists (and some Coldplay memes). The crew calls out shaky survey methodologies and sample sets that would make any statistician cringe. Discover why that 32% drop in Google's top CTR may be missing more context than your cousin's Facebook rants,

Bruce Clay (yes, *the* Bruce Clay) returns to EDGE of the Web, and Erin tries to pretend the SEO world hasn't changed a bit in five years. Spoiler: It most definitely has, and Bruce is here to walk us through his journey from the days of Excite and AltaVista to the AI-fueled search ecosystem of today. It's a continued conversation on the EDGE regarding how AI is shaking up traditional SEO practices, from content and conversion to that all-important site-wide intent matching. Bruce and Erin break down the evolving art of

It's a packed episode of Paid Ad News from the EDGE, and Greg Finn of Cypress North is back to break down the latest developments across Google Ads, Performance Max, and AI-driven campaign shifts. Erin Sparks and Greg discuss everything from keywordless "AI Max" targeting to new reporting transparency in Performance Max, the future of video ads in search results, and the subtle changes coming to Local Service Ads. Plus, what does it mean when Google lets your manager's policy violations pause your ad account? You'll want to hear this. It's

Human vs. Machine Mayhem Marketing maven Mark Schaefer returns to EDGE of the Web, diving headfirst into the audacious art of brand disruption in a world brimming with AI-generated noise. We unpack Schaefer's latest book, "Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World" offering wild tales of brands that drop the cookie-cutter for shock, spectacle, and seriously weird TikToks (lookin' at you, Nutter Butter). From QR codes in the sky luring diners out of restaurants, to the marketing taboo-breakers of Liquid Death and ELF Cosmetics, we explore how marketers can

WordPress hits play after a messy pause, but is it too little, too late for the CMS giant? Meanwhile, Google's AI experiments are changing the rules for email marketing, local search, and desktop Discover, leaving marketers everywhere scrambling for a playbook that doesn't exist. Erin and SEO pro Cindy Krum break down WordPress's mudslinging match with WP Engine and the quiet return to development, all while raising eyebrows over community trust. We check on Google's ever-evolving SERPs—AI Overviews, the deployment of Discover on desktop, and the not-so-sneaky ways impressions and clicks

Mark Schaefer returns to EDGE of the Web to share his vision of marketing's future in an AI-saturated landscape. With a blend of insight and candor, Mark tackles the evolution of social media, the risks and rewards of AI, and how brands can stand out by tapping into authentic human emotion. Hear why traditional marketing is falling flat and discover what "everyday awe" means for building deep brand loyalty. Plus, Mark unveils the tech twist behind the cover of his new book, Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World.

CTR Secrets and Social Shakeups It's another jam-packed ride on EDGE of the Web as Erin is joined by Duncan Alney of Firebelly to discuss News in Social this week. With Google hyping up AI Overviews but dodging every meaningful CTR question, it seems the only thing spinning faster than SERP layouts are the PR answers. Get the inside scoop on how ChatGPT gobbles up over 80% of AI search traffic (Google, take notes), why Meta's launching a CapCut rival to remix your socials, and how Reddit is scrambling to keep

Curious where your website visitors are really clicking—or rage-clicking? On this week's EDGE of the Web, SEO expert Celeste Gonzalez returns to break down how heatmaps and session recordings are transforming the way we analyze user behavior, optimize pages, and (hopefully) keep our clients engaged. We dig into practical tips for choosing the right pages to monitor, interpreting the sometimes confusing world of "dead clicks" versus "rage clicks," and why your mobile hero image might be killing conversions. A/B testing? Internal linking tests for those blog post traffic hogs? On a

This week, Erin Sparks and Jacob Mann are joined by Danny Goodwin, editorial director at Search Engine Land, for a special "News from the News" edition. They dive into the sharp rise of Google Ad costs and the troubling effects of CPC inflation, Instagram's experimental new collaborative Storylines feature, and an in-depth study comparing AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing, and Google. The conversation shifts to major legal blows hitting Google's ad tech monopoly, new research revealing how AI overviews are significantly cutting into click-through rates, and the future of

Celeste Gonzalez, Director of Rue Labs at Rickety Roo, joins EDGE to explore how heat maps and user behavior tracking are transforming SEO strategy. She walks through Microsoft Clarity's suite of tools—including tap, scroll, attention, and area heat maps—and explains how they reveal real user interactions beyond what traditional metrics can offer. From understanding time-on-page to visualizing content engagement, Celeste shows how these tools help SEOs optimize design, layout, and messaging. She highlights the growing need to "earn the scroll," not just the click, especially as attention spans shrink and SERPs

Advertisers are bailing on TikTok as another U.S. ban looms, shifting dollars to Meta while creators scatter to backup platforms. Meanwhile, Google credits Gemini for nuking 240 million spammy reviews and business edits, but don't expect them to help you get your real reviews back. Big legal moves are underway: The NYT lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft will proceed, and Chegg is suing Google for killing traffic via AI Overviews. Sara Taher joins the show to unpack the long-term consequences of AI scraping and shrinking search real estate. We also dive

SEO veterans Mike Blumenthal, Greg Sterling, and David Mim continue exploring the pressing questions surrounding Google's role as a utility and its evolving platforms. Focusing on the European search experience, the discussion also revolves around AI's role in modifying search results, and local service ads' impact on user behavior. The talk also touches on how changes in Google's algorithm and business model are propelling a significant decline in traditional website traffic. The guests from Near Media provide expert insights on how businesses can adapt by enhancing the visibility of their services

In Local News! Darren Shaw is back with us on the Local beat, giving us some key insights into the ongoing local marketing challenges. Great to have him back! In general digital marketing news, Google's been dishing out settlements, and Amazon's itching for TikTok. There's a Google's $100M settlement over AdWords billing practices. Might want to pay attention to that. Seems a bit precedent setting. Darren shares insights on how local SEO is evolving with trends like review recency and the significant role of video content. Meanwhile, Google's mysterious local service

This is going to be big. SEO Week 2025 is happening at the end of this month!. Held from April 28th to May 1st in New York City, this conference brings together a powerhouse of 40+ speakers to discuss the seismic shifts in SEO, including generative AI and its profound implications on search dynamics. Join Erin Sparks, Garrett Sussman, and Mike King as they share tales from the frontlines of SEO innovation. The conference is set to be groundbreaking. Thematic days are focused on the Science, Psychology, Ecosystem, and Future of

The EDGE untangles the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) with SEO veterans Mike Blumenthal, Greg Sterling, and David Mihm. This episode reveals how Google's strategic maneuvers in Europe are reshaping the SERP landscape and challenging the status quo in local search. With a strong research effort of the last two years, our guests dissect Google's attempts to comply with the DMA, such as the introduction of the Places Sites Tab, Carousel and the decoupling of the Local Pack from Google Maps. Despite these efforts, user behavior tells a different story—one where

Creepy AI Advancements! Brace yourselves! Cindy Krum is back to dive into the latest twists in technology and SEO this week, highlighting Google's bold AI ventures and search ranking revelations. Google's recent news about Gemini's real-time video AI and its concerning pervasive presence has sparked widespread conversation, at least with us. Couple this with the perplexing offer to acquire TikTok by Perplexity, and you've got a whirlwind of AI-driven developments. Plus, there is a great research doc this month from SERanking on the comparison of AI platforms: Who tackles Your Money

Step into the future of SEO with the EDGE, where Cyrus Shepard reveals how to harness the power of personal content and brand authority in a world increasingly influenced by AI. Learn why authenticity and unique perspectives are your new best friends in the digital arena. We unpack a treasure trove of insights with Cyrus, covering the key concepts of modern SEO: the importance of brand searches, building authority through expert imagery, and the critical need to integrate personal experience. Discover how Google's shifting algorithms and Quality Raters Guidelines are reshaping

Join us as Cyrus Shepard shares the evolving relationship between brand and SEO, setting the stage for businesses to thrive in today's digital landscape. Explore the profound shifts that are shaking up the old-school SEO world. From understanding Google's reliance on brand as a filter to discovering which digital strategies can enhance your site's authority without solely focusing on keywords, we've got the latest insights. Care to rethink your link strategy? Discover how anchor texts can shape your brand's perception and influence your rankings in this domain-driven age. Erin and Cyrus

Greg Finn jumps into the Paid Ad news focus this week. Friend of the show; it's always a good time when he is around! What do you think about Google's ambitious prediction that AI will craft mesmerizing customer journeys while the search giant navigates through over 5 trillion searches a year? And what is going on with Google Ads and their announcement that they will use well-performing Headlines in Sitelinks? That's confusing for us, but it will also be confusing for consumers. What gives, Google? Greg, Erin, and Jacob dive deep

Everyone's lit up with AI advancements, but what about our privacy? Erin Sparks and Michael Lewittes dive into the ethics and privacy concerns surrounding AI, shedding light on the rapid information exchange and the potential risks looming over our data. Explore how hedge funds are making daring AI moves, with new platforms demanding personal information in return for supposedly superior features. The question lingers: Are we too quick to exchange privacy for convenience? Michael shares insights on discerning fact from fiction in AI-generated content and offers advice for content creators striving

Duncan Alney of Firebelly joins the EDGE to give his take on Social Media news and trends. A long-time friend of the show, we got him on board to dig into what we should be paying attention to in Social Media right now. Google Business profiles took a hit but are on the mend, while LinkedIn's newest analytics features help professionals find their path to visibility. On this jaunt down the digital lane, Erin Sparks and Duncan Alney unravel the enigma of social media updates and the shenanigans behind Google's latest

Michael Lewittes swings back around to the EDGE to discuss a current and concerning topic, AI content and its effect on journalism. Michael brings his quarter-century of media experience to the table, sharing his journey from a seasoned journalist to spearheading cutting-edge SEO tools like Rankify. Discover how transparency, fact-checking, and expertise are more critical than ever in the era of AI-generated content and rampant misinformation. Explore the vital role of journalistic integrity in an age of deepfakes and echo chambers. With tales of newsroom dynamics and content homogenization, the conversation

Sara Taher joins the EDGE team this week to have a focused discussion of AI and SEO in the news. From China's deep-sea AI shake-ups to Meta monetizing threads and Google's evolving search Quality Raters Guidelines, this week promises a feast of intriguing insights and digital dilemmas. We unpack the repercussions of Deepseek—a Chinese AI marvel shaking Silicon Valley with its low-cost, high-performance delivery, and what that means for the global tech landscape. OpenAI's new operator agent takes automation to a new level, independently performing tasks on the web as Google's

Busy doesn't always mean productive. How do you balance the need for continued content with the need for quality? Paula Mejia, VP of Enterprise Marketing from WIX Studio, shares her insights on maintaining engagement without compromising on content value. Erin Sparks and Paula dive into the core philosophy of enterprise marketing strategies, focusing on effective goal-setting, the fine balance between creativity and productivity, and the pivotal role of AI in modern marketing. They tackle the often tricky conversations about budget allocations and staying the course amidst tempting trends. Paula shares her

Is your brand braced for the seismic shifts that Large Language Models (LLMs) are creating in the search landscape? Cindy Krum from Mobile Moxie joins us for her new regular spot in SEO News from the EDGE! We dissect the latest in SEO news from key stories and insight over the last few weeks, punctuated by a sharp decline in HubSpot's SEO traffic. We explore how LLMs like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are rewriting the rules of search and reshaping zero-click results. Also, Cindy spills her insights on the massive 73%

We dive into enterprise marketing management with Paula Mejia, Vice President of Enterprise Marketing at WIX Studio in this episode. Paula brings a wealth of knowledge from her nine-year journey with WIX, where she has spearheaded growth, brand, and product marketing initiatives, significantly contributing to the platform's expansion. Paula shares her insights on balancing strategic planning with daily management, highlighting the importance of aligning every team effort with the broader long-term goals. Paula shares how she manages to strike a balance between short-term performance metrics and long-term growth strategies. She emphasizes

This week, we've got a jam-packed session covering the latest and most pressing news in digital marketing and SEO. Top Stories: we discussed the recent merger of Getty and Shutterstock and its implications for image licensing, alongside the backlash Automattic is facing from the WordPress community. Adding to this, we explored how Google's search market share has hit its lowest since 2015! We have a special segment "In Local News" with friend of the show and Local SEO specialist, Darren Shaw, founder and president of WhiteSpark. He'll be sharing his insights

Our EDGE Tool Series continues with the second episode with Ryan Jones, Marketing at SEOTesting.com. Dig into this thing, it's a blast! We dive deep into the world of SEO testing with Ryan as we explore essential metrics beyond rank tracking, such as impressions, click-through rates, and how these relate to business outcomes like revenue and user behavior. Learn the importance of creating a testing culture within an organization and securing stakeholder buy-in for meaningful results. Ryan shares valuable insights on interpreting conflicting data points, managing anomalies during tests, and the

We continue our EDGE Tool Series with Ryan Jones, Marketing at SEOTesting.com. This is a fantastic tool for A/B testing for your SEO efforts. We discuss Ryan's nearly decade-long tenure in digital marketing and his journey from apprenticeship to SEO expert. From embedding YouTube videos to boost blog traffic to meticulously controlled SEO experiments, Ryan shares strategies that have seen dramatic successes—and some surprising setbacks. Ryan underscores the value of using Google Search Console data to annotate changes and validate SEO modifications. Discover the significance of establishing a traffic baseline to

Mark Williams-Cook continues on the EDGE with the last show of 2024 - discussing his recent findings of a Google bug exploit that shows us a HUGE insight into ranking factors. Learning from the endpoints that send data to micro-services that influence features on Google, Mark was able to discover a way to modify the requests that output JSON data. From that - they saw a slew of "properties that Google was collecting from their ranking systems and query classifiers as to certain scores they were giving websites." Yup - that's

Our LAST News show of the year! Thanks to all of our listeners for making this year another successful year for EDGE of the Web! Let us know your thoughts of the show at https://ratethispodcast.com/EDGE Stories! "As the WordPress Turns" (you gotta check out the YouTube on this one). The Mullenweg Meltdown continues. Musk wants to bring a challenge to GMail, DM style. A huge exploit documented by friend of the show, Mark Williams-Cook. Please check out our second episode of our interview with Mark, as we dive into this insight

Mark Williams-Cook is back on the EDGE, diving into the shifting landscape of search engines and SEO, where generative AI tools like Search GPT and ChatGPT are trying to steal the spotlight. But let's be real—people still turn to Google for a reality check, like that friend who promises to help you move but never shows up. Mark reveals how Google's financial motivations drive AI advancements, introducing ads that are more integrated than your Aunt's fruitcake recipe. He also highlights the constant algorithm updates that keep SEO pros on their toes—like

We reached out across the pond, and we got him, Andrew Optimisey joins us on the EDGE this week! We tackle a lot in a short time frame: marketing shortcuts and data ownership are at the top of the heap. Companies like HubSpot and Google are creating "walled gardens" of data, stirring legal and ethical concerns about who truly owns consumer information. We also cover an article from Search Engine Journal by Shelly Walsh, getting takes from 7 top SEO experts and their take on AI Overviews and where search is

In this episode of EDGE of the Web, we sit down with Jon Gillham, the seasoned entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Originality AI, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and content strategy. Jon stresses the importance of companies establishing explicit policies regarding the use of AI in their content strategies. Without clear guidelines, companies risk uncontrolled AI usage, which can compromise the authenticity and trustworthiness of their content. He also discusses the role of AI in boosting efficiency in content creation while maintaining a balance with human input to ensure quality

We're joined by Jon Gillham, a seasoned entrepreneur and the CEO of Originality AI, a cutting-edge tool designed to detect human vs. AI-generated content. We'll explore Originality AI's impressive accuracy rate in detecting AI-generated content, including from tools like ChatGPT, and discuss the industry's shift towards AI integration in content creation. Jon will shed light on the rising skepticism among consumers regarding online content, the struggle to manage false positives, and the evolving role of AI in business practices. Additionally, we'll discuss the challenges and advancements in AI content detection, the

It's Going To Be OK! Kevin Indig jumped into the host seat for Erin while he was away! Kevin and Jacob discuss the DOJ's continued push for Google's break-up of products, specifically Google Chrome. They dissect Google's new Search Console features and their broader implications for data control and AI dominance. They also critique Google's latest moves, from real-time site notifications that miss the mark to the continued saga of Mullenweg's crusade against WPEngine with an update to his WPEngine Tracker site. Don't miss out on Jacob's witty commentary and Kevin's

Ori Zilbershtein joins the EDGE as a guest to go over the news this week. We crack open a number of Google News pieces from around the marketing space. Some quick takeaways: Make sure you use WhatsApp as a conversion in Google Ads—you better be there. We discuss the report on shifting trends in CTR per industry and how the data could be interpreted another way, i.e. AI Overviews viciously rearranging the landscape. Is OpenAI actually thinking about developing a browser now? They hired an ex-Google Chrome engineer, so maybe. All

We have started a new series on EDGE of the Web. We're focusing on marketing tools that we love! Hopefully, you'll love them just as much as we do. First up: SEOGets.com Mathew Mellinger, Co-Founder of SEO Gets, joins the show to talk about his journey into software development from local SEO, and the needs he saw in the industry. SEOGets is a Google Seach Console alternative for SEO professionals and agencies managing multiple sites. Imagine linking several GSC accounts effortlessly, exporting unlimited data, and getting heat maps of content performance—all

What is Google's latest shake-up? The Page Experience Report's exit from Search Console. This week, we are joined by the insightful Lidia Infante from SurveyMonkey, as we explore the headlines in the SEO and Marketing world. The DOJ has some audacious demands for Google to sell Chrome, and ads have finally hit the AI Overview pages: We even unpack the drama-filled lawsuit between WP Engine and Automattic, questioning the ethical boundaries of open-source communities. This is the stuff that only Andy Cohen can unravel at this point. Ever wondered about the

We're in the second segment of our interview with the AI engineering powerhouse Britney Muller. We discuss the fascinating interplay of creativity and technical prowess in AI prompt engineering Brittany sheds light on the SEO industry's common missteps, emphasizing that AI language models aren't search engines and thrive on randomness. She's even crafting a user-friendly guide to demystify these tech marvels, urging us to experiment and learn from mistakes. Brittany warns against using AI for data-driven research due to its inconsistent results, directing us to the right models for the right

Literally, if you have to check your legalese, check the site you have on the package, Mattel! Top news of the week in digital marketing and AI. Matt Mullenweg gets trolled by a mock website based on his own website, trying to show departures from WPEngine. There's a core algorithm update happening right now - watch your stats! What is the potential scenario of a Google break up, as it applies to the Google Ad section of their business? AI news and a really cool AI tool on this episode (can

This is the first for EDGE of the Web, which has the top brass from Search Engine Land! Erin welcomes the impressive panel featuring: Marc Sirkin, CEO of Third Door Media, Danny Goodwin, Editorial Director, Search Engine Land & SMX Barry Schwartz, contributor to SEL and owner of Search Engine Roundtable. They discuss the huge news of Semrush's recent acquisition of Search Engine Land (a Third Door Media property). The discussion highlights the ongoing mission to maintain editorial integrity amidst the transition, and the group shares insights on brand visibility strategies

Mordy's back with the EDGE after his holiday and throws out hot takes and Captain Obvious moments on the show. We cover the news of the week: AI Overviews that are rolling out in 100+ countries (except for those in the EU, oddly), Google's perspective on Core Web Vitals and ranking, and the communication from Google about content that starkly differs from the rest of the domain - it ain't gonna fair well, folks! Check out our jump into AI News and Tools with this episode—seriously concerning and seriously funny information—the

Britney Muller rejoins the EDGE to weigh in on the progress of AI and LLMs for use in marketing, the over-hyped announcements to Google's transformative papers, and the ethical dilemmas in AI development. Discover how emergent properties of AI models are often misunderstood and why ethical integrity is paramount in technology communication. Plus, get an inside scoop on Google's AI controversies and the practical uses of AI technology in everyday tasks. Britney underscores the need for human oversight in AI projects to guarantee content quality. She mentions significant academic contributions and

We're back from Tech SEO Connect! And we brought Mark Williams-Cook to pinch-hit for Mordy while he was on holiday….and last minute, so there's that. We dialed into some things that we missed while we were away. For starters, the Semrush buyout of Search Engine Land is huge news, and we have even bigger news! Marc Sirkin, Danny Goodwin, and Barry Schwartz will be on the show soon to discuss the event. Matt Mullenweg seems to be melting down about First Amendment claims against WP Engine. The WordPress community seems to

In this episode of EDGE of the Web, Erin welcomes the talented Akvile DeFazio to discuss the exciting world of AI in marketing. Akvile shares advice for small businesses looking to harness the power of AI, emphasizing the importance of beginner AI courses and webinars. Akvile shares her thoughts about the dynamic nature of marketing, the intricate balance between AI tools and human creativity, and the necessity of human oversight in AI-generated content. Akvile also announces her upcoming free webinar on Black Friday and Cyber Monday ad strategies, co-hosted with Mikhail

Erin Sparks interviews Akvile DeFazio, founder and president of Akvertize Inc., an award-winning agency specializing in paid social media advertising. Akvile shares her rich experience managing social media adverts across various sectors, including e-commerce, events, and apps, leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and TikTok. Key discussion points include: Ad Strategies and Targeting Changes in Consumer Behavior Importance of Conversion Tracking AI and Advertising User Experience Meta Ads for E-commerce Advertising Landscape Changes Akvile also shares the importance of mentorship, ongoing learning, and adaptation in the ever-changing landscape of digital

Yes, sometimes it happens. We don't get through all of the news prepped. Mordy, Erin and Jacob take on the WordPress vs WP Engine scenario with a bit of fervor that really tanked the rest of the news, honestly. Which side do you fall on, the WordPress argument is that WP Engine hasn't been "contributing" their fair share, so they banned all customers of WP Engine from updating or adding plugins from the WordPress library. WP Engine, however, seems to have to pay to play as a WordPress hosting environment. Customers,

What is the future of Large Language Models and Search? Kristine Schachinger, SEO consultant at Sites Without Walls, joins us for another episode to discuss the intricacies of Navboost and its ramifications for SEO. Drawing insights from the recent Google versus DOJ court documents, she unpacks this misunderstood "ranking signal." Continuing the conversation, Kristine shares the concept of "summarization engines" in replacement of AI Search - as she weighs into what the future of search may be and most likely won't be. Large language models aren't all what they are cracked

Is Generative AI causing seismic shifts in the search engine landscape? Surveys by The Information and Barry Schwartz reveal users are "turning away" from traditional search engines like Google, but how far are they actually turning? A slew of news from the digital marketing space, including AI-powered video ads on Amazon, Google's Merchant Center Next is pushing for optimized structured data, and a great Kevin Indig article studying over ½ million AI Overviews. Plus, hear about our media partnership with Brighton SEO USA and your chance to snag a ticket to

Anastasia Kotsiubynska, Head of SEO at SE Ranking, joins the EDGE to discuss the latest SE Ranking AI Overview studies. This episode focuses on the impact of AI overviews in Google's search results and what this means for SEO strategies. Anastasia sheds light on how these AI overviews have changed over the last five months since their release in April 2024. While this technology offers impressive efficiency, it also poses significant challenges, such as a potential 25% drop in organic traffic by 2026 due to the "zero-click" trend. With over 100,00

Dissecting Google's latest moves in the advertising world, from expanding its ad opportunities to embracing dynamic pricing on YouTube. Also, Google's all-new updates on its indexing API, which now comes with a big dose of spam-detection rigor. Who knew indexing could be this thrilling? Have you ever wondered if AI could help rake in millions with fake music? Well, a certain North Carolinian named Michael Smith did just that and found himself $10 million richer—but now he's about to face the music. Plus: a debate on whether AI can truly capture

In episode 714 of EDGE of the Web, Kristine Schachinger shares her thoughts about the recent leak of Google's internal documents and its implications for SEO professionals. With 2500 pages of documentation now public, the SEO community is abuzz with speculation, curiosity, and anger. We cover the ground around the role of user engagement and click signals, addressing misconceptions and the importance of long-term data and context in Google's ranking algorithms. Key Segments: [00:03:38] Introducing Kristine Schachinger [00:07:59] Massive Google Search Algorithm Leak Shocks Community [00:11:46] Read Foundational Texts First, Not

In a recent announcement, Google stated that they will be phasing out bid strategy enhanced cost-per-click (eCPC) from Google Ads. The company says they will be replacing eCPC with manual CPC starting in October. Meta is updating business tools, announcing they will be increasing data restrictions as ongoing attempts to prioritize privacy continue. Meta explains the restrictions are set to automatically restrict certain data, including URLs and custom parameters. If one wasn't enough, here's another. The DOJ has filed yet ANOTHER lawsuit against Google. The Justice Department says Google has used

This week Erin is joined by the Chief Marketing Officer of SE Ranking, Bogdan Babiak, to discuss the SEO platform's new brand evolution. Since its founding in 2013, SE Ranking has been a trusted tool for SEO professionals throughout the industry, and now, they are bridging the gap between SEO and innovation with a whole new look. Bogdan shares the vision behind SE Rankings brand evolution, discussing integral pieces such as AI and ML solutions behind their growing mission. Bogdan and Erin discuss how this evolution will reshape SE Rankings relationship

Google is trying out a new product categories tab in search results, intended to offer more tailored suggestions in product searches. The new tab is driven by performance insights, demand trends, and actionable recommendations Yelp is hitting Google with a lawsuit, claiming that the search leader is illegally dominating local search markets. Following the recent and impactful DOJ antitrust lawsuit, Google may have a target on their back as the lawsuits pile up. You can now create specific remarketing audiences based on individual YouTube channel videos. Google and YouTube have released

The newest tech SEO conference is coming to Raleigh, North Carolina, this fall! Guests JR Oakes, Patrick Stox, and Matthew Kay have come together to create an all-new SEO experience, Tech SEO Connect, coming to Raleigh on October 17th & 18th. Don't miss the heavy list of speakers covering core web vitals, Ahrefs Lang, data warehousing, BigQuery, machine learning, and more. In this show, we discuss the origin of Tech SEO Connect with the founders themselves. Learn what makes Tech SEO Connect different from the rest with a diverse content lineup

A recent survey launched by Aleyda Solis highlights key SEO threats, with Google's updates, self-preferencing, and AI Overviews at the top of the list. The study reveals that AI advancements are reshaping search engine dynamics, and SEO is more difficult than ever. Google declares that low-quality traffic will not impact search rankings. The company affirms that links and site traffic do not negatively influence a site's trustworthiness but that ranking factors prioritize valuable, relevant content over traffic metrics. Google's Senior Search Analyst, John Mueller, confirmed that core algorithm updates do impact

We have the CEO of Team Odeon, Ori Zilbershtein, back for his second interview this week. In this episode, we explore the growing threat of negative SEO and fraudulent DMCA case claims, which are growing at a staggering rate. Learn what's causing the spike in SEO scams as we dive into the scammers' minds in an attempt to understand their motives. Finally, we look at the steps Google has taken to mitigate negative SEO. Join us on episode 708 as we address the increasing number of SEO scams you must look

Welcome back to another episode of news from the EDGE! The August 2024 core update has been rolled out! Primary intentions of the update are to reward high quality content and diminish low-value ranking based SEO content. In light of the August 2024 core update, a ranking bug affecting search results has emerged. Google claims the bug is unrelated to the update and confirms the issue is resolved and search performance should be stabilizing back to normal. Will the Google empire crumble? The DOJ and U.S government are considering a dismantling

This week's guest is the CEO of Team Odeon, Ori Zilbershtein. With a diverse background in business spending development, marketing technology, and SEO, Ori specializes in finding ways to elevate those around him. In this episode, we dive into Google's Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Learn how the DMCA can be exploited by competitors to destroy your business rankings. We discuss the problem as a whole and evaluate potential solutions Google could put in place to stop this scam from hurting so many websites this week on the EDGE of the

Google is upgrading its Local Service Ads, introducing an auto-select photos feature to display in businesses ads, with aims to enhance effectiveness and rankings. To fully take advantage, advertisers should start updating their LSA profile photos. Google says URL parameters can create crawl and indexing inefficiencies. The issue is most common among e-commerce websites that use URL parameters to filter, sort, and specify items. Last Monday, a federal judge ruled that Google is an illegal monopoly, but rivals say a slap on the wrist won't cut it. Google competitors Yelp and

Welcome back Founder of Flying Cat, Maeva Cifuentes. Maeva and Flying Cat recently published a report analyzing the extent to which different levels of AI-generated content impact content performance. The study takes metrics from 150 global content leaders, and today we dive into the aggregated results. AI content, SME processes, and confirmation bias… we take a look at the most significant factors when it comes to creating the best content. Tune in this week because, thanks to Maeva, we have tangible data to finally answer the question; Should you use AI

Google announces they will be hitting advertisers with a 2.5% service fee for ads run in Canada starting in October. Advertisers, be sure to keep an eye on your geographic targets to avoid these fees in certain jurisdictions. Advertisers beware! Google Ads hit with major outage on August 1st, leaving advertiser information exposed to competitors! The data breach left merchant center information openly visible, raising major privacy concerns. Lastly, Google confirms that the Robots.txt file does not meet necessary security standards. The file, intended to guide search engine crawlers, fails to

Patrick Hathaway is the Co-Founder of the revolutionary website crawler Sietbulb. The two-time winner of the best search software tool, Sitebulb makes technical SEO audits effortless and affordable. On August 5th, Sitebulb released a comprehensive JavaScript SEO report and we dive straight in to discuss everything covered. Discover what JavaScript SEO is and what it means to the modern website as Patrick shares key findings and hurdles discussed in the report, providing insights into optimizing JavaScript for SEO. We cover common issues websites face with indexing and rendering, revealing what the

This week's guest is Maeva Cifuentes, founder of the Barcelona-based agency, Flying Cat. Maeva's expertise also goes beyond the agency, working as an SEO marketing strategist for many major brands. With a strong multilingual background, Maeva specializes in marketing at a multi-language level, and she will help you decide if taking a multilingual approach to marketing and optimization is right for your business. Finally, get a first-hand look into the secrets of AI-powered marketing as we dissect Maeva's report that reveals how Flying Cat clients are using AI to benefit their

Join us for episode 700 of EDGE of the Web! We're grateful for each and every listener who keeps us motivated to push out new content each and every week, so raise a glass as episode 700 gets underway! Reddit has limited all but one search engine from accessing its content. Surprise, surprise… It's Google. This move is sparked by an ongoing trend of publishers and websites aiming to protect their data from AI training models, although Google is an exception, likely due to their recent $60 million deal. Cookie abolishment

Coming back for his second segment of this interview series is Marketing Lead and Demand Generation Manager at iPullRank, Garrett Sussman. We explore the psychology behind consumer intent and assess how SEOs can implement a content strategy that addresses the various cognitive biases. Learn why the strength of a brand will contribute to user bias across the SERP and how even Google shows bias in brands. Communication is king in marketing, learn how to best connect to your audience past a wall of bias this week on the EDGE of the

Welcome back to another episode of news from the EDGE! Erin is out traveling the world, so Mordy and Jacob guide the ship this week! Google AI Overviews take a big hit! Reports show that Overviews have taken a downward spiral in result frequency, as the AI feature now only shows up in 7% of all queries. Noticeable drops come from education, entertainment, and e-commerce queries, while Reddit and Quora citing rates near zero. Google confirms there is no way to prevent specific content from appearing in your Discover feed, unlike

Welcome back to the EDGE! This week's guest is the Marketing Lead and Demand Generation Manager at iPullRank, Garrett Sussman. Garrett recently showcased his expertise in various SGE optimization frameworks, and today he joins us to explore the nuances behind optimizing for AI Overviews. Volatility is peaking on the SERP. We navigate the risks and opportunities associated with optimizing for AI Overviews while investigating what type of content this learning engine tends to pull from. Tune in for the latest in the AI search wave as we teach you what AI

Welcome back to News from the EDGE! The crew is back together this week as we cover the breaking news in SEO as always. To better combat misinformation, Google will now require that advertisers disclose election ads that contain digitally manipulated content. This policy will automatically apply in-ad disclosure to all ads that use digitally altered images, audio, or video of real people or events. Advertisers beware! Apple has expanded their 30% fee on Facebook and Instagram ad purchases through the IOS systems to advertisers worldwide. Meta claims this gives Apple

Erin has traveled west this week for some much needed summer relaxation. Thankfully Andrew Cock-Starkey stepped in to help Mordy and Jacob deliver the news for this episode. Universal Analytics takes its final ride into the sunset this month. Google announced that on July 1st, 2024 they will fully discontinue and shut down this web traffic metrics tool. We sure hope you have, but if you haven't, don't forget to migrate to GA4 ASAP! A recent study has unveiled a rise in authority for E-Commerce and User-Generated Content indicating that these

Mark Williams-Cook & Jack Chambers-Ward are back for their second segment this week as we dive head first into SGE and AI in search. Changes are on the horizon with Search Generative Experience. We weigh out the looming pros and cons as we explore the potential repercussions of Google's integration of Search Generative Experience. Discover how you can optimize for Search Generative Experience and what helpful content really means in today's search landscape as we take a trip down the SGE rabbit hole this week on the EDGE of the Web!

Welcome back to the EDGE! Google is accused of sending a $2.3 million check to successfully avoid a jury trial in their antitrust lawsuit. This payment has secured Google a Judges approval on a bench trial, causing a major setback to the Justice Department's antitrust push against Big Tech. Reddit is revamping its comment stream ad placement with hopes to increase reachability to users. The updated ads will be larger and appear inside of conversation threads to reach users at the highest engagement level. Google Ads is phasing out credit and

This week, we welcome Mark Williams-Cook and Jack Chambers-Ward of the UK-based digital agency Candour for a double interview showcase. Jack serves as the Marketing Partnerships Manager at Candour and hosts and produces the Search with Candour podcast. Marks is the Co-Owner of Candour and has over 20 years of industry expertise in SEO and PPC under his belt. He is also a regular member of Search with Candour. Discover what it means to be a podcaster in 2024 as we follow the evolution of the Search with Candour podcast from

We welcome Will Critchlow back for his second segment this week to discuss SEO testing at scale for large enterprises and the potential for AI to make its way into the space. We assess the extreme search volatility in recent years and how it has dramatically increased the importance of conducting SEO tests for an organization. Discover the certain types of businesses for which large-scale testing is designed and why certain companies should take an alternate approach. Find out if AI can become the ultimate SEO tester and if large-scale SEO

Welcome back to the EDGE! Mordy makes his return this week as the team digs even deeper into the Google Search API leaks, and evaluates the state of AI in search. Aleyda Solis has composed a collection of resources surrounding the API Doc leaks, readily accessible for you to gather the full picture of what these leaks mean for SEO. Be sure to keep this list in your back pocket for any current and future updates! Google AI Overviews are now showing up in only 15% of search queries, a major

Be sure to enter the code "EdgeoftheWeb" at Riverside.fm for 15% off of your subscription! https://creators.riverside.fm/edgeoftheweb. Welcome back to the EDGE! This week's guest is Will Critchlow, founder and CEO of SearchPilot, the revolutionary SEO testing technology that enables users to run large-scale SEO testing programs rapidly. With a prominent background in digital marketing, Will has cemented himself as a legacy SEO within the industry over the past two decades. In this episode, discover the capabilities of SearchPilot and why so many organizations have chosen the platform as their primary SEO

Be sure to enter the code "EdgeoftheWeb" at Riverside.fm for 15% off of your subscription! https://creators.riverside.fm/edgeoftheweb. Erin Sparks and Jacob Mann are returning to bring you the hottest SEO news of the week. Mordy was absent this week, but worry not, as the great Michael King fills in! Google AI overviews are under fire for giving dangerous and wrong answers. Announced at Google I/O and recently rolled out, the AI summary tool has quickly gathered attention for its comically incorrect responses to user queries. The question of why Google has not

Be sure to enter the code "EdgeoftheWeb" at Riverside.fm for 15% off of your subscription! https://creators.riverside.fm/edgeoftheweb. We welcome back Michael Lewittes for his third interview segment this week. We dive into Ranktify, the content optimization tool Michael founded back in 2022. Learn how Ranktify offers you the capability to connect the dots between product and user through a holistic process of amplifying each piece of E-E-A-T in your content. Micheal gives insight into the future impact generative AI will have on search ranking, identifying how Ranktify's authoritative content creation differs from

Google Under Scrutiny: Examination of the Lies ALERT ALERT ALERT! We have some major news to uncover today on EDGE News Flash concerning the anonymous source leaking major API documentation from the Google Search division. Joining the flash is the one and only, Michael King, Founder of iPullRank Agency. Michael took it into his own hands to dive deep into these documents to reveal the truth that SEO individuals worldwide have been looking for! You won't want to miss this episode, these API documents expose several significant lies from Google and

Are you curious about Google's latest moves in SEO and AI? This week on EDGE of the Web, host Erin Sparks and show producer Jacob Mann explore articles that reveal Google's strategies and advancements in these ever-evolving fields. Google's helpful content system might be changing a bit. The recent update folds helpfulness signals into their core ranking algorithm, making them page-level considerations. This means content on individual pages will be judged for its value to users, with some influence still coming from overall site authority. The takeaway? Focus on showcasing your

Welcome to another episode from EDGE of the Web, where we dive deep into the world of E-E-A-T and how that amplifies content into being viewed as valuable in the eyes of Google. We have an exceptional guest joining us for round 2, Michael Lewittes, the founder and CEO of Ranktify. We explore Michael's unique insights into the evolving landscape of search engine optimization referencing his experiences in the media industry. Don't miss this week's interview to uncover the benefits of transparency and highlighting subject matter expertise in your content to

Welcome back for another week of news from the EDGE! Host Erin Sparks speaks with Mordy Oberstein and Jacob Mann about several key articles regarding Google's strategies and developments in SEO and AI. The "Content Decay Exposed" delved into a conversation between Google's John Mueller and Lizzi Sassman as they tackled the challenge of content decay in the online sphere. This sheds light on Google's ongoing efforts to address and navigate the evolving landscape of search engine optimization. Another noteworthy topic covered was Alphabet's interest in acquiring HubSpot, a leading marketing

On top of being the founder and CEO of Ranktify, Michael Lewittes has had his hand in every jar of the SEO industry. As a media industry expert and journalism extraordinaire of over 25 years, Michael has achieved leadership positions for companies such as NBC, The New York Post, and New York Daily News. In this episode Michael walks you through his early career and how he came to realize the importance of SEO to succeed in digital journalism. Discover how he blossomed into an SEO specialist in order to optimize

Welcome back to news from the EDGE! Mordy couldn't make it this week so VP of Growth Marketing at Musora Media AND featured guest of this week's interview series, Michel Fortin steps in to give newscasting a crack! Google's March 2024 Core Update has come to an end! The update consisted of sizable algorithm changes to reduce low quality and irrelevant content, resulting in 40% of websites being de-indexed or removed from search results. The Department of Justice is gearing up for their closing statements on their antitrust lawsuit against Google:

Welcome back, VP of Growth Marketing at Musora Media, Michel Fortin. This week, we discuss the capabilities of AI in digital marketing and assess the new high-touch contributory role that SEOs will be taking in the creation and curation of content. Michel lays out how brands can stand out in an AI-dense playing field through personalization and user experience optimization. We evaluate the complete history of Google's ranking factors, pointing out which framework in E-E-A-T (or should we call it E-E-A-A-T-T) you should be centralizing your focus towards. Learn how to