Edition 22: You Can't Buy Your Way Into AI Search
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 →]
Edition 21: Last Week's Hype, This Week's Reality
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 →]
Edition 20: Two Keynotes, One Week, Don't Panic
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 →]
Edition 19: The good news about AI answers, and the part nobody mentioned
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 →]
Edition 18: Google's AI Is Reading Your Reviews Now
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 →]
How to Get More Google Reviews (The Right Way)
Your online reputation can make or break local visibility. Here's how to get more Google reviews without gimmicks, guilt trips, or gray areas.
Edition 17: Google's AI Mode now opens your site beside its answer.
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 →]
Epic Insights #16: Surviving Google's "80% Shuffle"
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 →]
Edition 15: Why Google AI is hiding local shops (and how to stay visible)
Local SEO is shifting as Google prioritizes hyper-relevance and proximity. From the rise of "micro-moments" to optimizing for ultra-local search intent, we break down how small businesses can stay big on the digital map. Plus, a look at the latest algorithm tweaks affecting local service providers. [Read the full edition →]
Edition 14: Your Website Just Got a New Job Description
Stop asking if AI will replace your website. The real question is: Is your site ready for its new job? We break down the shift from a digital billboard to an AI-ready employee, and the fundamental changes you need to make now.
