How to build a context-first AI search optimization strategy
AI-driven discovery depends on semantic depth and retrievable structure. Align language, taxonomy, and schema for modern search visibility.
Topic: Marcus Tober
13 digital marketing trends you should plan for in 2025
Key trends in AI, personalization, search optimization, and tech to deliver consistent, impactful brand experiences.
News SEO and generative AI: Inside a ‘parasitical relationship’
A look at how news publishers and media outlets can retain traffic, revenue and relevancy in the generative AI era.
Google’s June 2021 core update was slow to roll out; here is what the data providers saw
This update took longer to roll out than previous core updates; we are expecting more from the July 2021 core update.
Google product reviews algorithm update was big but not like a core update, say data providers
Here is a roundup of the impact of Google's most recent algorithm update that touched down on April 8, 2021.
Google’s December 2020 core update was big, even bigger than May 2020, say data providers
The update rolled out on Dec 3, but the impact was mostly felt on Dec. 4.
Google’s May 2020 core update was big and broad, search data tools show
This update was an "absolute monster" said Mordy Oberstein from RankRanger.
The latest data on the January 2020 Google core update
We asked several data providers for some more insights into the latest Google update.
The big list of 2019 Google search algorithm updates
From core updates to BERT, here are the big algorithm changes that shook up search rankings in 2019.
What’s up with the unconfirmed Google search ranking updates in July?
Google's Maverick update is still being talked about in the SEO industry but Google has yet to officially comment on it.
Early data around the Google June 2019 core update shows some winners, losers
This Google update that began rolling out on Monday seems like it was pretty big and the scary part, it isn't done rolling out yet.
Early data on Google March 2019 Core Update show an interesting pattern
While Google would not say if the March 2019 core update was a reversal of the August 1 update, the data paint a pretty compelling picture.
BrightEdge and Searchmetrics settle patent infringement lawsuit
After a 4-year patent infringement lawsuit brought by BrightEdge against competitor Searchmetrics, the two have settled their differences.
Searchmetrics wins important victory in patent infringement lawsuit
Federal judge invalidates five patents SEO platform provider Brightedge claimed in lawsuit against competitor Searchmetrics.
Google confirms mid-December search ranking algorithm updates
As the updates continue to roll out, early indications suggest disruptions in mobile SERPs, sites with no schema data & those relying on doorway pages being most impacted
SEO Ranking Factors in 2017: What’s Important and What’s Not
What are the most crucial search engine ranking factors these days? Panelists at SMX East discussed their findings and provided practical advice for putting this data into action.
Searchmetrics Google ranking factors study says content gaining while links losing in importance
Google search ranking factors study is now out, it measured the top 20 search results for 10,000 keywords on Google.com.
Searchmetrics study shows most apps are not utilizing Google App Indexing
While most top websites have apps, only 30% of those Android apps and 19% of those iOS apps have deployed App Indexing.
Was “Phantom 3” A New Google “Quality Update” To Its Algorithm
While Google did not confirm an update on November 19, there sure is plenty of evidence to show there was a core ranking algorithm update.
Report: Last Week’s Google Update Benefited News & Magazine Web Sites
Maybe the Google Trends update from last week is also used in Google's latest algorithmic update from last week? New SearchMetrics report shares some data around that.
Google’s Mobile Friendly Algorithm A Week Later: Was It Really Mobilegeddon?
Thus far it seems that Google's mobile friendly algorithm, commonly known as Mobilegeddon, has not been all that significant.
Did Google Really Start Rolling Out The Mobile Friendly Algorithm Yesterday?
Has Google really rolled out the mobile friendly update? As of now, very few signs say so but it might have just started about an hour ago.
Report: 2014 Was A Bad Year For Lyrics Sites In Google
2014 was a bad year for lyrics web sites in Google, with 2015 looking to be even worse for this niche.
Reports: Google Pirate Update Has Rolled Out This Week
Last week, we reported that Google will be pushing out an update to the Google Pirate Update in the upcoming weeks. It looks like Google pushed that update out a few days ago. Torrentfreak reports the update has impacted many torrent sites. Here is a screen shot of the SEO visibility for the site torrentz.eu […]
Are Games & Lyrics Sites Google Panda 4.1’s Biggest Losers?
Google began rolling out Panda 4.1 last week, a process that continues into this week, but we already have the winners and losers report from SearchMetrics. The biggest winners for Panda 4.1 based on this early report are sites in the news, content and download portal realm. While the biggest losers are sites in the […]
SearchMetrics Released SEO Ranking Factors For 2014: Content Now Really King?
SearchMetrics announced their 2014 SEO ranking factors study is now ready for download. Every year, SearchMetrics releases the study but this is the largest study they’ve done, with almost 100 pages and by adding dozens of new factors like time of site, bounce rate, fresh links and others. The key take away from here is […]
SearchCap: Google HTTPS Study, Consolidated AdWords Billing & Google Quick Answer Failure
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: Google Quick Answer Fail: NSFW Advice On “How To Eat Sushi” Google continues to expand the number of quick answers it offers in its results, as well as the size of […]
Report: HTTPS URLs Have No Discernible Ranking Benefit In Google Currently
In August 2014, Google announced that they would give a small ranking boost to HTTPS with the new HTTPS ranking factor. Now that it is a few weeks later, many are wondering how much of an impact does HTTPS URLs actually have on rankings. The answer according to SearchMetrics is none currently. Marcus Tober of […]
Expert Insights On The Future Of SEO, Part 1
Do you have the skills it will take to thrive in the SEO environment of the future? In the first of this 3-part series, search industry veterans weigh in on how things will be different in 2015.
The Most Popular Presentations Of SMX Advanced 2014
SMX Advanced this June was, as usual, rich in forward-thinking strategy and tactical advice from experienced leaders in SEO, social media, PPC and mobile marketing. Expert marketers and industry insiders including Bing’s Anna Hughes, Bigdoor’s Joanna Lord, Disney’s Jeff Preston and even yours truly took the stage, each to share their unique experience and knowledge […]
SearchCap: eBay Paid Search Ads Ineffective, Content Quality & Google My Business
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: eBay’s “Paid Search Is Ineffective” Study Gains Buzz And Skeptics, Again By claiming that paid search is largely “ineffective,” eBay has attracted a lot of attention and buzz with media outlets […]
Up Close @SMX Advanced: The Periodic Table Of SEO Elements
This SEO ranking factors session has become a much-anticipated tradition at SMX Advanced, as the substantial early morning crowd in attendance this year testified. Each year, a panel of SEO data experts present their up-to-date findings, test results, and best guesses as to what factors are primary in Google’s ranking algorithm. There are always surprises, […]
SearchCap: DuckDuckGo Relaunches, Bing Ads Editor Updated, Google EU Relevancy
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. From Search Engine Land: DuckDuckGo Relaunches & Starts To Look Like A Real Search Engine DuckDuckGo, the spunky little search engine that hangs its hat on user privacy, has relaunched today with a new look […]
BrightEdge Uses SEO Patents As “Sword,” Sues Searchmetrics
Oh no they didn’t: BrightEdge has sued rival Searchmetrics using multiple SEO patents, which were granted last year. The concern being expressed by some today is that this could be the beginning of a wave of litigation as BrightEdge seeks to capitalize on its newly granted IP or goes after competitors that it perceives to […]
Live @ SMX East: What Are The Most Important Search Ranking Factors?
Google tells us they make as many as 600 changes to their ranking algorithms every year. Some are major, typically named after disarmingly cute animals that can nonetheless severely damage or even destroy hard-won search result placement. Other changes are minor, but if your site happens to be subject to the “new rules” you need […]
SMX Advanced 2013 – From Microdata & Schema To Rich Snippets: Markup For The Advanced SEO
From Microdata & Schema To Rich Snippets: Markup For The Advanced SEO Presentations from SMX Advanced, June 2013 Get your geek on as we dig into hardcore code implementations of Schema protocol, RDFa, GoodRelations, Facebook Open Graph markup used by leading Internet retailers and content publishers in a variety of competitive industries. Panelists will demonstrate […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, June 18, 2013
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the Web. From Search Engine Land: DuckDuckGo Passes 3 Million Searches, Just 8 Days After Hitting 2 Million Another week, another traffic record in the alternative search engine space. DuckDuckGo (DDG) tweeted this morning about its latest […]
Penguin 2.0 Losers: Porn Sites, Game Sites, & Big Brands Like Dish.com & The Salvation Army
Google’s fourth Penguin update — what the company is calling Penguin 2.0 — hit last night, and less than 24 hours later we’re already getting a first chance to look at what sites might be considered “losers” in terms of search visibility. In a nutshell, the list includes: porn sites, game sites and big brands […]
SMX West 2013: How To Groove To The Google Dance
How To Groove To The Google Dance (Yes, It’s Back) Presentations from SMX West, March 2013 In the early years, Google updated its index every month or so – something SEOs of the day called the "Google dance." Then updates became more frequent, and the "dance" went the way of disco. But today, Google’s got […]
Google News Sources Grow 15% In 2012 & Continue To Climb With Patch.com In The Lead
After seeing a 15 percent increase in Google News sources last year, a recent study conducted by SearchMetrics discovered that a majority of the News integrations displayed in Google Universal Search results are coming from AOL-owned Patch.com. Analyzing several hundred thousand keywords, the study found that Patch.com made an appearance in the News integration results […]