The truth about Google Ads recommendations (and auto-apply)
Understand how to use Google Ads recommendations so you can spot what helps, ignore what doesn’t, and keep your account safe.
More from Search Engine Land: Page 55
How Pinterest’s ad formats work and when to use each one
Get a clear breakdown of Pinterest’s ad lineup, what each format delivers, and how to align them with specific campaign goals in 2026.
Google Discover now less aligned with search rankings
This seems like a change to what content Google prioritizes for the Google Discover feed.
Google’s Local Pack isn’t random – it’s rewarding ‘signal-fit’ brands
Data from 8.7 million Google Business Profiles reveals how industry signals – not generic SEO tactics – determine who wins visibility.
GEO Rank Tracker: How to monitor your brand’s AI search visibility
AI search goes far beyond Google. Here’s how to see where your brand shows up across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity.
Google confirms it releases smaller, unannounced core updates
Plus, a major Google core update is coming soon, which could bring significant ranking changes as it rolls out.
65% of AI chats have no commercial intent, new analysis finds
AI users behave nothing like traditional searchers – and most AI chat activity has zero commercial intent, according to a new analysis.
Google launches Data Manager API
Google’s new Data Manager API gives advertisers a simpler, centralized way to feed first-party data into its AI systems.
Google AI cites retailers 4% vs. ChatGPT at 36%: Data
Ecommerce results show a clear split: Google leans on what people say, while ChatGPT focuses more on where you can buy it.
Mentions, citations, and clicks: Your 2026 content strategy
Your next wins depend on the signals models see, not the pages users visit. Adapt your content before agents take over the journey.
How to evaluate your SEO tools in 2026 – and avoid budget traps
Rising prices and AI hype make SEO tools harder to justify. Learn to evaluate platforms, test workflows, and connect work to business value.
AI tools for PPC, AI search, and social campaigns: What’s worth using now
The tools driving creative, workflow automation, and search visibility in performance marketing – plus guidance for choosing the right stack.
Think different: The Positionless Marketing manifesto
Assembly-line methods put marketers in a box. Technology removed it - marketers haven't noticed.
Google Search Console performance reports adds weekly and monthly views
This lets you drive deeper giving you more granular data in the Search Console reports.
Judge limits Google’s default search deals to one year
A judge's ruling will force Google to end its long-term pacts with Apple and Samsung, but is unlikely to dent its search dominance.
Google denies ads are coming to Gemini in 2026
Google's Dan Taylor ripped the story, saying 'there are no ads in the Gemini app and there are no current plans to change that.'
Google Shopping Ads now show merchant location labels
Google’s new merchant location labels in Shopping ads give retailers a visibility boost by highlighting their city or town, helping drive more local foot traffic.
What is AI, actually, and how is it affecting SEO?
Feeling overwhelmed by AI buzz? Learn what matters, what’s noise, and how to stay ahead when it comes to AI, LLMs, and generative tools.
Why LLM perception drift will be 2026’s key SEO metric
New data shows how AI models are reshaping B2B brand hierarchies through rapid month-to-month shifts in unaided recall.
OpenAI says ChatGPT ‘ads’ weren’t ads
ChatGPT execs said the ads were 'either not real or not ads' before admitting the company 'fell short' with an app suggestion feature.
Google Search Console Insights integrating social channels
This is currently an experiment and rolling out to a limited number of sites.
How to use proxy metrics to speed up optimization in complex B2B journeys
Use high-fidelity micro-conversions to tighten feedback loops, sharpen bidding, and keep long-cycle campaigns from drifting off course.
Nils Rooijmans speaks on when ignoring Google emails can cost you
PPC automation expert Nils Rooijmans shares how dismissing Google's consent mode warnings as routine noise led to zero conversions and plummeting traffic.
Reddit Traffic Finder: Subreddit finder and traffic analysis tool
Find Reddit posts ranking on Google and the communities your audience trusts. Get traffic insights, timing data, and ready to use post suggestions for free.
Google tests regional member pricing in Shopping Ads
Google is testing a new Shopping ads beta that lets merchants show region-specific loyalty prices, helping retailers localize promotions.
Cloudflare: 416 billion AI bot requests blocked since July
Google sees 3.2x more webpages than OpenAI. Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince wants Google to separate search crawling from AI crawling.
Ecommerce PPC: 4 takeaways that shape how campaigns perform
Dive into PMax essentials, Amazon’s conversion insights, social audience building, and the dashboards that improve decisions.
What is off-page optimization?
Off-page SEO has evolved beyond link building. Learn modern strategies for building authority, reputation and visibility across platforms.
Google’s proposed ad tech fixes face EU scrutiny
Stakeholders are reviewing Google’s proposed changes as the EU weighs whether they’re enough to restore fair competition.
Social media beats SEO as SMBs’ top traffic source, survey says
Social now leads search, SMBs are frustrated by AI summaries, and most visibility still depends on the homepage.
Google Search Console tests “AI-powered configuration” to create dynamic reports
You can type what data you want to see on a report and Google will instantly create it for you.
How paid, earned, shared, and owned media shape generative search visibility
Learn how an integrated media approach strengthens trust signals AI systems use to decide which brands appear in generated responses.
Google Discover pushing users into AI Mode
When you read an article from Discover, Google wants you to switch to AI Mode. This also applies to any page you open in Google's Android app.
New AI models are worse at SEO: Benchmark shows sharp accuracy drop in Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT-5.1
New AI models are underperforming on SEO tasks. Discover why accuracy is down and how to adapt before these regressions impact your results.
Google’s Year in Search 2025: These trending topics spiked big
Google’s list reveals 2025’s breakout topics and fast-moving trends that signal where search – and SEO opportunity – is shifting.
Google AI Mode sends traffic on 69% of transactional queries: New data
New UX testing shows AI Mode doesn’t kill high-value clicks. Users still visit websites when choosing doctors, dentists, and other services.
Meta: Native Reels ads can lift purchase intent 5.3x
Meta’s latest research shows that Reels ads designed natively for the platform can significantly boost purchase intent, and brand interest.
AI Max undermines match-type control
AI Max quietly turns all keywords into broad match and blurs reporting, making it harder for advertisers to see what’s really driving their results.
Google home page search bar upload feature goes directly to AI Mode results
It does feel like AI Mode will be Google's default search experience sometime in the future.
Google Daily Hub: Anatomy of an overambitious system shaping the future of search
Daily Hub tried to merge embeddings, entities, and real-time context – and buckled under the system’s complexity.