It feels like a moment of relief as Google recently announced a resolution to a longstanding data logging issue within Google Search Console. This glitch affected data between May 13, 2025, and April 27, 2026, spanning approximately 50 weeks. However, it’s important to note that while the root cause has been addressed, historical data from this period remains unfixed.
Google shared this update in a rather understated post, bringing light to a problem that many of us have been grappling with for quite some time. According to their post, “A logging error prevented Search Console from accurately reporting impressions from May 13, 2025, until April 27, 2026. This issue has been resolved.” It was a relief to hear, but also a bit frustrating knowing that impressions, CTR, and average position data were affected for such a significant period. Thankfully, clicks weren’t influenced by this error, which was some consolation.
As I sift through my Search Console data, I must remind myself of this anomaly, particularly when analyzing metrics from that problematic timeframe. The good news is that any data collected from this point forward should be accurate.
Further confirmation came from John Mueller on Bluesky, who reiterated that past data would not be retroactively corrected, but the issue has indeed been resolved going forward.
This development is crucial for all of us who rely heavily on precise data for SEO strategies. If your impressions appear lower and, consequently, your CTR and average position figures seem skewed during this period, this is likely why.
As someone who has been on the internet exploration journey for years, today’s news hits home. Ask.com, which many of us fondly remember as Ask Jeeves, officially closed down on May 1, 2026, after a remarkable 29 years of service. It launched on June 3, 1996, even before Google made its debut.
Upon visiting the now-closed Ask.com, we are greeted with a heartfelt farewell message that feels like a trip down memory lane:
Every great search must come to an end. As IAC continues to sharpen its focus, we have made the decision to discontinue our search business, which includes Ask.com. After 25 years of answering the world’s questions, Ask.com officially closed on May 1, 2026.
I can’t help but feel gratitude as they graciously acknowledge, “To the millions who asked…”. They expressed appreciation for the brilliant engineers and loyal users who have been a crucial part of their journey. And yes, Jeeves’ spirit indeed lives on.
For those of us who relied on this answer engine in its early days, Ask.com and the iconic Jeeves butler will always hold a special place. In a world now dominated by AI and competitive answer engines, it’s understandable why IAC, the parent company, decided to step back in such a challenging market.
Ask.com has left a significant impact on the search marketing industry, and saying goodbye is indeed bittersweet. Until we meet again in some digital form, dear Jeeves.
I’m thrilled to share some exciting news from Microsoft Advertising. They’ve made a significant leap in Performance Max reporting by adding conversion and spend data to PMax placement reports. This means I now have a much clearer understanding of how my ad placements are performing, which is fantastic for optimizing my campaigns.
What’s happening. According to Microsoft Ads Product liaison Navah Hopkins, the PMax Website Publisher URL report now includes conversion and spend metrics. This update takes us beyond just seeing where our ads appear; it lets us see actual performance data in action.
This new visibility allows me to pinpoint exactly which placements are driving meaningful results, not just impressions or clicks. It’s a game-changer for understanding what really works.
Why we care. Having this level of detail means I can make smarter decisions about where to allocate my budget. It helps me scale successful inventory and eliminate waste, providing a stronger foundation to trust Performance Max’s capabilities with tangible data rather than estimates.
How advertisers can use it. This update opens several practical doors. I can leverage high-performing placements to shape my Audience Ads strategies, like building remarketing campaigns or targeting audiences based on successful inventory.
At the same time, I can spot placements that aren’t a good fit and exclude them using account-level URL exclusion lists. This not only protects brand safety but also boosts efficiency.
Between the lines. This development further enhances the transparency of automated campaigns. It’s evident that while automation handles much of the heavy lifting, platforms are keen on giving us advertisers clearer insights into what’s effective and where we need to intervene.
What to watch:
Will this transparency extend even further in PMax reporting?
How will advertisers balance the power of automation with manual tweaks?
Could similar reporting features be rolled out across other platforms?
Google Ads API v20 will officially sunset on June 10, 2026, and I need to make sure I’m ready. If you’re like me, using older API versions, it’s crucial to act now to avoid any service disruptions.
Google has made it clear: after the cutoff date, any requests made to v20 will fail. This means we must move to a newer version if we want to maintain access to vital tools for managing our campaigns.
Why I Care. If I don’t upgrade in time, my automated workflows—ranging from reporting to bidding—could suddenly become dysfunctional. This could lead to data gaps, performance issues, and operational headaches. By transitioning early, I can ensure smooth operations and avoid last-minute scrambles.
What I’m Doing. Google encourages swift upgrades by providing helpful resources like release notes and upgrade guides. I am also using the Google Cloud Console to keep an eye on recent API activities and pinpoint the exact methods and versions my projects engage with.
Between the Lines. While API sunsets are nothing new, the potential impact can be daunting. Relying on custom scripts, tools, or third-party platforms means missing the upgrade deadline could disrupt essential workflows like reporting and campaign automation.
The Bottom Line. This deadline is serious and comes with real consequences. If I don’t upgrade to a newer Google Ads API version by June 10, I risk losing access to my tools entirely, something I can’t afford to let happen. More details here.
When I first heard about Google Analytics introducing their new Task Assistant, I was intrigued. This tool promises to be a game-changer for those of us who want to maximize our use of Google Analytics without needing deep technical know-how.
It’s exciting to see Google simplify such a complex product. Task Assistant is designed to help advertisers and analysts like me gain more value from our data effortlessly.
What’s New. With the rollout of Task Assistant, Google Analytics offers a guided workflow tool that surfaces tailored recommendations. This means improving property setup, data collection, and reporting is easier than ever.
How It Works. Located in the left-hand navigation, Task Assistant organizes recommendations into clear categories like connecting accounts and enhancing reporting. I can mark tasks as complete or skip items not aligning with my goals, making the setup more flexible.
Why We Care. Identifying gaps in tracking quickly helps ensure I’m working with reliable data. Task Assistant minimizes the risk of missed insights or inaccurate reporting, allowing for confident optimization of campaigns and budgets.
Between the Lines. Analytics platforms, as powerful as they are, can be underutilized due to poor configuration. I’m glad Google is turning setup into a step-by-step process rather than leaving it as a daunting manual audit.
The Bottom Line.Task Assistant is all about making Google Analytics more actionable. It guides users toward better data quality and effective measurement, all with less guesswork.
I’ve recently discovered how impactful Reddit can be in shaping brand discovery and perception. This is increasingly significant as AI search engines prioritize Reddit threads and comments, adding weight to these discussions.
During my deep dive into 117 SaaS brands on Reddit, I uncovered how people truly feel about brands—feelings often lost in polished marketing campaigns.
As communities wield more power over brand perception, presence on Reddit is no longer optional; it’s essential.
Let me share my analysis and how you can leverage Reddit for your brand.
How I Analyzed 117 SaaS Brands: The Methodology
My journey began by identifying key industry verticals, including:
Development and software development and IT operations (DevOps) (12 brands)
AI (12 brands)
Customer support and engagement (10 brands)
Analytics and data (10 brands)
Sales and revenue (8 brands)
Collaboration and communication (10 brands)
I organized this data in a Google sheet and tracked each brand’s Reddit presence, subreddit activity, and common discussion topics.
Analyzing over 300 threads across these brands, I assessed brand mentions, sentiment, community engagement, and participation.
Now, let me share the key findings.
1. Reddit Rewards Authentic Brands
What’s clear is that authenticity resonates with people. Brands represented by genuine, helpful, and non-promotional moderators see better engagement than those with a corporate tone.
Redditors seek real opinions and experiences, not marketing pitches. Hence, peer recommendations are more credible than brand messages.
When brands communicate directly and acknowledge both strengths and limitations, they gain positive reception. Some even earn upvotes and gratitude from the community.
2. Brands Not on Reddit Are Missing Out
Conversations about brands happen on Reddit with or without their presence. Astonishingly, 30 of the brands I researched don’t engage on Reddit, and 23 have inactive subreddits.
Users pose direct questions about brands and receive insights from fellow redditors. Without a brand presence, these discussions and reputations evolve independently.
Sometimes, other entities may misuse popular brand names, creating potential misrepresentations. Ensure you’re part of the conversation to maintain control over your brand’s narrative.
3. Reddit is a Customer Research Goldmine
Reddit offers unfiltered user insights that traditional feedback methods might miss. Customers openly discuss onboarding issues, integration challenges, and more.
Reddit Captures Feedback That Traditional Methods Miss
On Reddit, users frequently talk about issues like:
Onboarding struggles
Integration challenges
Mobile usability issues
AI feature frustrations
Updates confusion
Alternatives being built
This invaluable honesty helps refine SaaS products beyond what traditional surveys can capture.
Reddit Supports Brand Advocates
Happy customers often become brand advocates on Reddit, promoting brand ambassador programs and sharing their positive experiences, enhancing brand image.
Some Brands Have Self-Sustaining Reddit Communities
Some Reddit communities thrive with little brand intervention, offering peer-to-peer support, problem-solving, and resource sharing, ensuring community sustainability.
Redditors Highlight Preferred Competitor Features and Pricing Frustrations
Pricing is a hot topic, with users often expressing discontent and citing alternative options, highlighting gaps and opportunities for improvement.
Redditors Share Their Actual Use Cases
Reddit is a platform where users detail their real-world tool applications, which provides valuable insight for product optimization.
Reddit is Essential for Brand Visibility and Perception
With real-time brand discussions, Reddit plays a crucial role in shaping visibility and perception, impacting AI-driven search results and influencing consumer decisions.
It’s crucial for brands to monitor these discussions, engage meaningfully, and utilize Reddit as a platform for reputation management and product insights.
Recently, I discovered Google’s latest addition to their Google Ads arsenal: the Association metric in Brand Lift Studies. This innovative feature reveals how consumers connect brands with essential attributes, bridging the gap between awareness and consideration.
Google is addressing a critical gap by providing advertisers with a clearer view of how their brand is truly perceived—not just recalled.
What’s new. With this update, Google Ads introduces a fresh “Association” metric within Brand Lift Studies. As advertisers, we can specify a concept, category, or attribute, and Google will survey users to determine which brands they associate with these ideas.
How it works. This revolutionary metric evaluates whether audiences link our brand to a desired positioning—such as “premium” or “sustainable”—offering a sophisticated perspective on brand perception.
Why we care. This new metric allows us to measure brand positioning, not just surface-level awareness or recall. It’s crucial to understand if our campaigns genuinely influence how consumers perceive our brand—vital for those targeting specific attributes or categories.
Between the lines. Previously, Brand Lift focused on awareness, recall, and consideration. Now, Association dives deeper, illuminating whether our messaging shapes how people perceive our brand, beyond mere recognition.
The catch. However, there’s a catch: we can only choose three Brand Lift metrics per study. Adding Association requires us to balance the existing KPIs.
The bottom line. Association provides a strategic perspective on brand building, enabling us to measure whether our intended messages resonate with consumers.
First seen. This update was first spotted by Google Ads expert, Thomas Eccel, who shared the news on LinkedIn.
When I learned that Google’s Preferred Sources feature now supports all languages, not just English, I was thrilled. This exciting update means more people can tailor their news experience, regardless of the language they speak.
According to a recent post on Google’s blog, ‘Preferred Sources is now rolling out globally in all supported languages.’ This gives me, and everyone else, more control over the news we see on Search, allowing us to choose our preferred outlets to appear more frequently in Top Stories.
It’s fascinating to reflect on how this feature initially rolled out in December, but was limited to English. Now, it’s a comprehensive tool available globally, no matter the language.
Interesting Stats: Google shared some compelling data with this launch. For instance, readers are reportedly twice as likely to click on a site after marking it as a Preferred Source. Also, over 200,000 unique sites have already been selected by users—from local niche blogs to major global news platforms.
Preferred Sources: This feature lets me star my favorite publications in the Top Stories section of Google Search. By doing so, Google uses that interest to show more stories from those sources. I learned it started in beta back in June and was initially available in the U.S. and India by August, but now it’s part of a worldwide expansion.
How it Works: It’s simple! I just click the star icon next to the Top Stories header in my search results. This allows me to pick preferred sources, provided these sites are constantly updating their content.
Once selected, Google promises to showcase more updates from my favorite sites in Top Stories, provided they have fresh content relevant to my search.
For more detailed information, I can visit this page.
Why it Matters: In the competitive area of Google Search traffic, marking my site as a preferred source can make a significant impact. Google indicated these users are twice as likely to engage, which could help in driving more traffic to my site.
So, I’m adding the preferred source icon to encourage my audience to sign up. If you’re interested, you can make Search Engine Land a preferred source by clicking here.
I’ve recently explored fascinating updates in the world of Google AI Max, and I’m thrilled to share how these changes are reshaping online advertising
Google is significantly expanding AI Max across more campaigns, offering advertisers like us enhanced control over AI-driven targeting and messaging. This comes just as user search behaviors are leaning more towards conversational queries.
What’s new?
AI Max Expansion: It’s exciting to see AI Max moving beyond just Search, now rolling out to Shopping campaigns and travel-specific formats. This broadens the reach across various advertiser types.
Introducing AI Brief (Powered by Gemini): A remarkable new interface is here, allowing advertisers like us to guide AI using natural language inputs, providing an unprecedented level of control.
Compliance Features: Text disclaimers paired with URL automation help us stay compliant while leveraging automated landing page selection.
Why it Matters: AI Max is not just adding automation; it’s becoming a foundational aspect across Search, Shopping, and Travel. This means automation is increasingly key in matching ads to user intent, capturing demand earlier in the customer’s journey.
The AI Brief and other compliance features empower us with more control, ensuring our campaigns don’t feel like a “black box.”
Smarter Shopping: By using Merchant Center data, AI Max for Shopping creates adaptive ads that respond to long-tail and exploratory queries, helping brands appear earlier in the discovery phase.
Travel Consolidation: For travel advertisers, the consolidated Search Campaigns for Travel simplify operations by bringing fragmented formats together, reducing complexity with AI Max capabilities.
More Control: AI Brief addresses a major concern: compliance control in automated systems. I can define messaging rules and prioritize queries, ensuring feedback before campaigns launch.
Automation Meets Compliance: The final URL expansion uses AI for optimal landing page relevancy, while new text disclaimer features keep legal messaging intact, making AI viable in regulated sectors.
For over two decades, I’ve witnessed backlinks as foundational to SEO. Google’s PageRank revolutionized search by using backlinks as proxies for trust.
Backlinks were more than just pathways; they were votes of confidence. The more votes you gathered from authoritative sources, the better your rankings soared.
But times have changed. As Google advanced, AI systems evolved, and the necessity for hyperlinks diminished as entity-based understanding gained ground.
Today, visibility isn’t solely dependent on links. It’s amplified by the broad range of signals signifying your brand’s mentions, citations, and trust across well-regarded platforms.
This shift sees search engines and AI prioritize these overarching signals.
AI’s Role in Evolving SEO
Modern AI models assess trust and expertise in unprecedented ways. They’ve reshaped authority, focusing less on backlinks and more on diverse digital signals.
AI can now:
Identify and relate entities online.
Interpret sentiment and context.
Spot artificial link patterns.
Gauge brand prominence sans hyperlinks.
Evaluate reputation from reviews and citations.
Integrate information across varying sources.
Mentions in respected publications, even link-free, enhance entity authority. Consistent expert citations affirm expertise. These are the signals forging a new era where authority becomes a rich network.
The Shift to Entity-First SEO
With Google’s move away from pure link signals, the notion of entities—people, brands, concepts—gains importance. Google elevates brands based on identity and conversation rather than just their backlink profile.
In essence, entity-first SEO involves mapping and understanding brand interactions and references across trusted sources.
An example: An outdoor brand with a modest backlink profile gained visibility in AI Overviews for “best hiking backpacks” due to mentions in Reddit discussions and YouTube reviews, illustrating real-world relevance sans hyperlinks.
If your brand consistently figures positively in related talks, it’s seen as relevant and trusted—characteristics essential for success.
Volume-focused link building loses ground as AI discerns unnatural patterns. Quality-driven, relevant links, coupled with PR signals, grow increasingly essential.
Editorial PR links from credible sources signal genuine credibility, like a trusted expert affirming a brand’s significance.
AI not only checks link presence but evaluates surrounding context, striving to reward the most authoritative entities.
Building Multi-Signal Authority
The potency of multi-signal authority lies in blending various signals. As the digital landscape evolves, quality shines over quantity.
AI prompts this evolution by advancing traditional, relevance-based links alongside diversified brand signals.
Strategic placements can yield:
Brand mentions affirming presence.
Citations validating expertise.
Positive sentiment enhancing trust.
Topical relevance and growth-enabling links.
Boosted Knowledge Graph associations.
Secondary coverage spreading influence.
Multi-signal authority offers AI the understanding that your brand is recognized, trusted, and worth conversation.
PR signals, albeit crucial, are but a fragment of the comprehensive authority ecosystem AI evaluates.
Decoding the New Authority Framework
Today, authority hinges on varied and consistent validation signals, akin to human assessment—through reputation and recognition.
It’s no longer just links. Authority encompasses:
Brand strength: Upward branded search and direct traffic echo real-world recognition.
Reputation signals: Trust reflected in reviews, citations, sentiments.
PR signals: News, interviews, industry mentions bolster relevance.
These interwoven signals forge a comprehensive authority profile, which AI recognizes. The dominating brands have the most impactful multi-signal authority footprint.
Brand Strength’s Quiet Influence
Brand strength silently prevails over other signals. Data reveals brands ranking in the top 25% for web mentions average far higher AI Overview citations than their counterparts.
This aligns with Ahrefs’ analysis of ~75,000 brands, underscoring branded web mentions and search volume as indicators of genuine brand presence.
Consider two fitness apps: one with extensive generic backlinks, another actively part of social and media conversations. The latter’s real-world engagement ensures consistent AI Overview visibility.
Leading brands in AI Overviews have robust brand presence supported by consistent links, mentions, and relevance.
Future Predictions for 2027 and Beyond
By 2027, link building evolves from a numbers focus to a confidence-driven model with new metrics like Share of Authority.
Here are my predictions:
Prediction 1: Visibility via “Share of Model” Metric
Strategies will shift towards “seeding” information in places AI relies on, moving away from mass low-tier blog outreach to user-chosen platforms like Reddit, which AI values.
Brands frequently appearing in AI training data will gain visibility, defining the new authority landscape.
Prediction 2: Brands as Primary News Sources
In AI-led ecosystems, proprietary data will emerge as critical, offering natural, highly trusted authority signals.
Data evolves from mere content to a powerful signal engine, enriching PR coverage, citations, and discussions.
Traditional link building remains vital, but data-driven assets are vital accelerants.
Prediction 3: Rising Value of Unlinked Mentions
While foundational, traditional links will gain strength from semantic context and relate directly to brand mentions enhancing entity strength.
Exploring AI’s Expanding Role in SEO
The off-page SEO future merges traditional link building with AI-driven signals recognizing links as just one part of a broader array AI processes.
Both remain essential: links for foundational relevance, AI for context, sentiment, and entity evaluation.
Links are the foundation. Signals construct the skyscraper.
