Epic Web Studios Blog

Google finally lets you see if AI search shows your business. Find out what the new Search Console report tracks, and what it still can't tell you. [Full edition --->]

A vendor pitch is making the rounds: pay us, and we'll get your brand "mentioned" so AI tools recommend you. Then Google compared that exact move to buying links. Discover why the "AI mention" packages are the oldest trick in a fresh outfit, which critical WordPress plugin is under active attack right now, and the 3-question test that sorts real help from fear-based sales emails. [Read the full edition →]

Two keynotes and a Core Update landed in 72 hours, and almost none of it needs anything from you this week. Discover why the flashy I/O announcements won't reach your Erie customers this quarter, why traditional search rank is still the #1 predictor of whether AI tools cite you, and why the smartest move during a Core Update rollout is to sit on your hands. [Read the full edition →]

Google I/O is today and Marketing Live is tomorrow, and by Thursday you'll see a dozen "Google just changed everything" headlines. Most of them will be wrong, or at least premature. Discover why last year's I/O is this year's actual product, which Google Business Profile change is already costing local businesses map impressions, and the 15-minute freshness check that protects your listing before the next ranking shift hits. [Read the full edition →]

Google added links back to AI answers last Tuesday, and everyone called it good news. The traffic data from last quarter says otherwise. Discover why getting cited inside the AI answer now beats ranking #2 underneath it, which WordPress plugin needs patching today, and the 15-minute search test that tells you whether your site is the one Google's AI is quoting. [Read the full edition →]

Google's latest review policy update is here, and it's already triggering a massive "sweep" of existing feedback. With new rules against coaching customers and a crackdown on "review gating," businesses are seeing their counts drop overnight. Discover why your staff-name mentions might be a liability, which major SEO plugin just patched a critical security flaw, and why a few negative reviews might actually be your best sales tool. [Read the full edition →]

Your online reputation can make or break local visibility. Here's how to get more Google reviews without gimmicks, guilt trips, or gray areas.

Google's new side-by-side AI Mode is reclaiming the click, but at the cost of your screen real estate. With top-ranked pages seeing a 58% drop in CTR, your site now has to work twice as hard in half the space. Discover how to pass the "Half-Viewport" audit, why your Search Console data has been inflated for a year, and which AI bot is quietly out-converting ChatGPT. [Read the full edition →]

Google's latest Core Update has overhauled 80% of top search rankings, prioritizing "destination expertise" over generic content. Discover how to protect your rankings, explore new AI features in Search Console, and check your WordPress site for a major plugin security alert. [Read the full edition →]