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Tag: AI

Discover Microsoft’s Revolutionary Copilot Checkout & Brand Agents

At the NRF 2026 Conference, I had the opportunity to see Microsoft’s latest innovations firsthand: the Copilot Checkout and Brand Agents features.

Seeing Microsoft roll out its first agentic experiences within Copilot feels like stepping into the future. With Copilot Checkout, I can now shop seamlessly without leaving the conversation, making it easier to switch from browsing to buying.

What’s more intriguing is the introduction of Brand Agents for Shopify sites. Imagine having an AI chat that’s trained on your product catalog, offering personalized shopping experiences that echo your brand’s unique voice. It’s a smart solution for fast and scalable implementation.

Copilot Checkout. I’m excited to share that Copilot Checkout is starting its U.S. rollout on Copilot.com. This feature allows conversational purchases directly within your current chat and integrates with partners such as PayPal, Shopify, Stripe, and Etsy.

For Shopify merchants, enrollment in Copilot Checkout is automatic, though opting out is possible. Non-Shopify merchants interested in joining can apply through a dedicated form.

Check out a glimpse of how it works:

Brand Agents. Now available for Shopify merchants, Brand Agents bring your brand’s voice into every interaction online. I was impressed to see how it leverages a brand’s product catalog to provide crystal-clear answers to product-specific inquiries.

The AI speaks in your brand’s voice, seamlessly guiding customers from browsing to purchasing, and can be set up in just a few hours. Microsoft shared with me that sessions assisted by Brand Agents show higher engagement and conversion rates.

Here’s a video showcasing Brand Agents in action:

Brand Agents insights. Microsoft is innovatively using Microsoft Clarity to provide insights into Brand Agents conversations, helping merchants understand and optimize performance.

Once I activated Brand Agents, I found myself equipped with additional insights to compare and optimize agent-assisted sessions against organic traffic, reinforcing my growth strategies.

Here is where you can view these insights:

Google and OpenAI. It’s fascinating to see how Google and OpenAI are also embracing agentic experiences. Google has introduced agentic checkout, whereas OpenAI announced its Instant Checkout in ChatGPT. Together, these developments mark a significant industry shift towards direct purchasing through AI experiences.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 8, 2026
Mastering AI-Driven SEO in Restrictive Industries: 3 Key Strategies
As someone navigating the complexities of SEO in regulated industries, I’ve always faced heightened scrutiny. It all began with “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL), where precision and trust are paramount.

With AI Overviews and large language models like ChatGPT escalating this scrutiny, the stakes have grown. The audience is now more expansive, and the repercussions of missteps more significant.

Accuracy and credibility have forever been the cornerstone for success in regulated sectors. Today’s AI-powered search amplifies this need into an essential requirement.

I’ve learned that experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are non-negotiable, especially for industries like finance, healthcare, government, and education that fall under Google’s YMYL banner.

In this AI-driven search landscape, it’s no longer feasible to work in a silo. Regulated brands require integrated SEO strategies.

Interestingly, up to 72% of B2B buyers encounter Google’s AI Overviews, often listing brands even without resulting clicks. AI models gather data from the web, unconfined by traditional content boundaries.

Social profiles, digital PR, owned content, and discussions on platforms like Reddit and Quora all piece together the public perception and citation of my brand.

Tackling these challenges requires a fortified approach rooted in three core pillars of AI-era SEO for regulated industries.

1. Trust-by-Design Content

Trust serves as a crucial foundation, not just as a ranking factor but as a necessity. It extends beyond my website, incorporating the broader digital footprint of my brand.

Every piece of content must align with industry-specific regulations and uphold a consistent strategy. AI and SEO guidelines that are pivotal include:
- Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) should consistently produce authoritative content, backed by a history of external publication and credible citations.
- Regular updates and transparent revision histories convey accountability.
- Educational content, favoring well-researched white papers over promotional materials, builds authority.
- Adherence to E-E-A-T guidelines, especially on YMYL pages.
- Employ AI wisely with essential human oversight, stringent compliance reviews, and clear privacy policies.
2. Technical and Structural Clarity

Technical clarity goes beyond aiding search engine crawlers to ensuring AI-driven search systems comprehend and accurately cite my content.

Structured data serves as a robust trust signal. Effective use of schema helps search engines verify the credibility of authorship and organizational connections.
- Use schema types such as Organization, Article, FAQ, and Person to fortify trust signals.
- Maintain an intuitive, crawlable site architecture and minimize technical errors.
- Emphasize accessibility through alt text, ARIA labels, and semantic HTML.
3. Building Authority Across Channels

In regulated sectors, authority extends beyond backlinks. It involves strategic PR, content production, and optimization efforts to generate consistent credibility cues.
- Encourage expert-driven engagement: Webinars and Q&A sessions provide valuable interactive content that reinforces credibility.
- Expand visibility: Gain citations in credible publications and contribute to esteemed third-party sites.
- Transparent compliance: Maintain visible adherence to standards, linking content to relevant governance organizations.
SEO, content, and PR teams must work collaboratively to enhance these authority signals AI systems leverage to assess expertise.

Tailored AI and SEO Strategies by Industry

While fundamental strategies are universally applicable, each sector tackles unique challenges in AI-driven search.

Aligning SEO with industry-specific regulations and trustworthy signals is crucial for success. AI-driven search further highlights these nuances.

Financial Services

Precision in content is vital to avoid affecting regulatory standing and consumer trust. SEO strategies need to balance visibility with compliance.
- Integrate schema like Organization, FinancialProduct, and Person for clarity.
- Content must state adherence to regulations like SEC, FINRA, and GDPR.
Authority: Your Key to Success in AI-Driven Search

In a world driven by AI and SEO, authority acts as a vital differentiator. It signifies how AI systems perceive a brand’s competence and compliance.

Brands showcasing expertise and regulatory adherence stand a greater chance of being cited positively by AI systems. In this AI-first environment, authority is invaluable, and consistent investment in it is the way to succeeding in the digital arena.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
January 7, 2026
Consumers Shifting to AI for Faster Searches Over Google

I recently came across a fascinating study revealing that 37% of consumers are now starting their searches with AI tools instead of Google. The frustration with traditional search methods seems to be steering many of us towards AI, compelling brands to maintain their visibility and credibility across both platforms.

Personally, I find it intriguing how AI is reshaping the initial stages of search, impacting how we identify and evaluate brands. This hybrid approach begins with an AI-generated answer, followed by traditional search for confirmation. To keep their credibility intact, brands must ensure consistency across both platforms as the emphasis on visibility, trust, and clarity increases.

According to the study, over a third of consumers—37% to be exact—are kicking off their searches with AI tools over traditional engines. The appeal lies in the promise of a quicker, clearer answer without the need to sift through ads and multiple links. Users described AI as faster, clearer, and less cluttered.

Many of us are experiencing what could be termed as ‘traditional search fatigue’. The chief grievances include excessive clicking through links (40%), overwhelming ads and sponsored results (37%), and difficulty in getting straightforward answers (33%). The redundancy of information also ranks high in complaints at 28%.

AI’s trustworthiness is gaining traction, with six out of ten respondents confident about the superiority of AI-generated answers compared to traditional search. However, a significant portion—85%—still cross-checks AI responses.

Traditional search engines remain favored for product reviews, current news, multimedia, and health information. Interestingly, nearly half of the consumers trust AI to make brand recommendations, reshaping brand discovery by offering concise lists with brand assessments.

AI’s influence extends to purchasing decisions as noted by the survey, with consumers using AI to decide on purchases (47%), find best prices (57%), compare products (54%), and even get review summaries (48%). While younger audiences lead this adoption, it actually cuts across all categories from daily items to travel and finance.

Looking ahead to 2026, it’s expected that AI will continue to grow, with 63% of participants anticipating increased AI usage and nearly half expecting AI to handle comprehensive tasks. Yet, there’s still room for AI to improve in terms of fact-checking, transparency, and context personalization.

The Eight Oh Two survey canvassed 500 active AI users last November, delving into AI’s role in search behaviors, trust levels, and purchasing influences, giving us a window into the evolving dynamics of search landscapes this year and moving forward.

For more detailed insights, you can explore the 2026 AI and Search Behavior Study.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 7, 2026
Revitalize Your Audience: Tapping Into Email’s Full Potential

AI is changing search visibility, but I’m ready to adapt and thrive by unlocking the potential of my most underappreciated channel: email.

With AI reshaping the landscape of search, I’m learning how to reclaim my reach by tapping into owned audiences and transforming email into a growth engine that scales.

The rules of search have changed, and I can feel the impact on my marketing funnel. Despite pouring countless hours into creating compelling content and refining workflows, it’s frustrating to see my efforts wasted when my audience misses my work.

SEO is seeing diminishing returns, while AI-generated summaries are sidelining my branded content. Metrics reveal a reality I didn’t want to face: it looks as if my marketing team doesn’t exist at all.

Even with constant iterations and innovative ideas, the chances of my audience viewing my efforts seem to dwindle.

The new reality is that organic website traffic isn’t the steady stream it once was. With projections expecting a drop of 25% in search engine traffic due to AI, I must find alternative routes to reach my audience.

B2B SaaS companies, marketing platforms, and content-rich businesses are facing a structural shift, and so am I. My owned audience, like my email list, remains untouched by algorithmic changes and provides a reliable base for reaching customers.

Leveraging my undervalued channel means I have the power to control distribution, timing, and messaging, making email an essential component of my marketing strategy.

Email isn’t just a broadcast channel; it’s a precision tool. I need a disciplined approach to realize its full potential: targeted segmentation, optimized send frequencies, and clear performance benchmarks will guide my success.

To harness the power of email, solutions like Campaign Monitor offer AI-driven capabilities that treat email as the strategic asset it really is. I’m ready to utilize tools like Marketing Monitor to make smarter decisions, track real-time results, and consistently improve my campaigns.

The bottom line? Losing traffic to AI doesn’t just impact me momentarily—it threatens long-term competitiveness. I have two options: absorb the loss or pivot to a diversified strategy. Strengthening my owned audience and modernizing my email approach ensures I’m set to not only stabilize but grow.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 7, 2026
Unlocking AI Search: Mastering AEO for 2026 and Beyond

I find it fascinating how AI search is continuously evolving, especially as we move towards 2026. Recognizing the strategies brands need to stay prominent across platforms like ChatGPT, Google, Perplexity, Meta AI, and others is crucial for future success.

As someone involved in this dynamic industry, I see firsthand how important it is to adapt and leverage AI search capabilities. AI advancements are shaping how we optimize for search engines and answer engines, ensuring our visibility doesn’t wane in an ever-changing digital landscape.

It’s not just about understanding how AI works today but foreseeing its trajectory and preparing accordingly. The brands that can anticipate and mold themselves to upcoming shifts will undoubtedly lead in 2026 and beyond.

Inspired by this post on HiGoodie Blog.

January 5, 2026
Mastering 2026 PPC Trends: AI, Strategy & Human Insights

In 2025, the PPC landscape evolved at breakneck speed, marking an unprecedented shift in the industry. During SMX Next, I had the opportunity to hear from experts discussing the evolution, what’s working, what’s not, and what to prepare for as we move into 2026.

The insights shared were eye-opening, especially how Google interacted with advertisers in new, responsive ways. Ameet Khabra from Hop Skip Media particularly noted Google’s surprising openness to feedback, especially regarding Performance Max.

Chris Ridley from Evoluted emphasized 2025 as the year AI truly took center stage, with platforms like Perplexity and ChatGPT dominating conversations. It’s evident that AI integration in paid media is reshaping the landscape.

Meanwhile, Reva Minkoff of Digital4Startups dubbed it “the year of the max,” due to the sheer volume of features such as Performance Max emerging in the space. This whirlwind of innovation has left us both excited and challenged.

Reflecting on what’s effective, going back to basics with campaign structure and maintaining quality signals rings true. Minkoff emphasized the importance of controlling your search campaigns and making sure they reach your intended audience.

Khabra shared insights on the role of automation with a human touch, using scripts to ensure issues are addressed before they escalate. Meanwhile, Ridley highlighted the value of authentic user-generated content in crafting more relatable campaigns, resisting overly polished AI creations.

Communication with clients and understanding their objectives beyond the figures remains critical, as Ridley suggested. Knowing their business goals can lead to more comprehensive success.

On the flip side, the problematic nature of Automatic Created Assets (ACAs) was a focal point, bringing up concerns about brand safety and losing control over content narratives. Both Khabra and Minkoff voiced this sentiment, emphasizing the need for alignment in brand messaging.

There are ongoing frustrations with user interfaces and prolonged learning periods, which complicate efficiency and adaptability for advertisers managing time-sensitive campaigns like Black Friday.

Looking at surprises from 2025, the announcements from Google Marketing Live were intriguing, particularly A/B testing developments and the adaption of Performance Max features like Waze pins. AI advancements, especially their rapid rollout, caught many by surprise, showing no sign of slowing down.

Looking ahead to 2026, there are so many possibilities. Whether it’s the unknown technological advances or the impacts of legal scenarios like the Google antitrust trial, the landscape is brimming with potential shifts.

I’m excited about the ongoing evolution of PPC and the combined potential of AI and strategic human oversight. The only certainty in PPC is indeed uncertainty, but that dynamic is what keeps it exciting and full of opportunities for those who adapt and remain proactive.

For a deeper dive, check out the full panel discussion from SMX Next 2025 below.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 5, 2026
Master Brand Mentions for Ultimate AI & SEO Boost

I remember when link building was the cornerstone of SEO. While it’s still relevant, its role has evolved as Google set clearer standards, focusing more on quality, relevance, and intent.

Today, in our AI-driven search world, the focus has shifted towards brand mentions, which have become a critical SEO initiative. Brand mentions provide references similar to citations, but in AI search, they explain how brands appear in LLMs (Large Language Models).

Brand mentions are now influential factors for AI search strategies and are gaining more weight in traditional SEO algorithms. Focusing on them should be a priority in 2026 to ensure lasting organic visibility.

Let me guide you on how we can prioritize and benefit from brand mentions.

How and Why to Prioritize Brand Mentions

Brand mentions have become essential in our AI search environments, moving beyond just backlinks. LLMs focus on analyzing mentions, context, and the recurring links between your brand and your target topics.

These mentions form a competitive advantage, especially as they accumulate over time, creating a protective ‘ranking moat’ when competitors don’t invest similarly.

To properly prioritize, ensure your brand’s technical and content fundamentals are solid. This includes crawlability, structured data, and clear on-page content. Afterward, focus on brand mentions before engaging in large-scale content production without an existing citation footprint.

Dig deeper: In GEO, brand mentions do what links alone can’t

Finding High-Priority Brand Mention Opportunities

When seeking impactful brand mentions, it’s crucial to examine their sources. My agency goes beyond standard tools, looking for opportunities through systems like Profound that highlight relevant brand mentions aligned with key topics.

We also review AI Overview links for SEO queries and dive into top-ranking Reddit threads to identify frequently mentioned entities related to important keywords.

You can uncover links to source articles in AI Overviews by selecting the chain-link icon, enhancing your brand’s topical visibility.

Driving Passive Brand Mentions

Passive brand mentions come when your content naturally fills an informational gap. The aim is to become the go-to reference for certain topics, achieving this by creating assets that are easily referenced.

These can include original data, insightful reports, or highly scannable explanatory pages. By establishing your brand as the primary source, you’re better positioned for more mentions.

Actively Soliciting Brand Mentions

For proactive outreach to earn brand mentions, focus on building genuine relationships and providing valuable information. Start by sharing assets that offer clear benefits, without immediately asking for something in return.

When contacting journalists or content creators, make your pitches relevant and timely, with a clear angle that increases your inclusion chances. Combining outreach with thought leadership, through podcasts or panels, enhances discovery possibilities.

Our goal is to establish a robust outreach engine, nurturing relationships so that those individuals may naturally reference your brand in the future, potentially leading to collaborative content opportunities.

Deciding When to Engage a PR Resource

PR support is particularly beneficial when you have compelling stories or data but face distribution challenges. It’s also crucial for quick scaling of brand mentions, especially during fundraising, launches, or when competing in aggressive markets, like health or AI.

However, if foundational SEO or assets are lacking, focus on establishing those first. Once ready, PR will accelerate visibility across search engines and LLMs.

Dig deeper: How to build search visibility before demand exists

Building Brand Mentions That Compound

The core tenets of link building still apply: aim for quality over quantity and avoid low-impact sources. By keeping a clear focus on key sources and strategy, your brand can achieve significant improvements in search visibility.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 5, 2026
Google’s Blue Send Button: Revolutionizing Search Experience

As I type my search query in Google, I’ve noticed an interesting change. The usual AI Mode button is sometimes replaced by a striking blue ‘Send’ button right in the search box.

Google is currently testing this new feature. Traditionally, the AI Mode button appears on the right side of the search box, but it seems this might be changing. As soon as I start typing, the ‘Send’ button takes its place.

What it looks like. Recently, I came across a post by Shameem Adhikarath, who shared a video of this new feature on X.

From the video, it’s clear that when I start typing my query, the AI Mode, Lens, and Microphone buttons vanish, leaving behind this new blue ‘Send’ button.

Interestingly, the familiar plus sign remains unaffected, sticking around as always.

Why this matters. While this is currently just a test, it could have significant implications. If implemented, it might mean fewer users are directed to Google’s AI Mode, prompting more straightforward searches.

For those of us who rely on AI Mode, this change could make accessing it a bit more challenging, urging us to adjust how we initiate searches.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

January 2, 2026
Unveiling 2025’s Top PPC Updates: Exciting Shifts in Advertising

2025 was a whirlwind year for those of us in the pay-per-click (PPC) marketing world, with changes coming fast and growing increasingly complex.

I noticed how significant many of Google’s updates were throughout the year, from the introduction of deeper automation with AI Max to ads being integrated directly into AI Overviews and more transparency and control being offered with Performance Max campaigns.

There were also key updates to Google Tag Manager and conversion tracking that really changed how I trust and collect data, not to mention the effects of policy shifts, automatic content extraction, and major advertisers like Amazon and Temu pulling back from Google Shopping, shaking up auction dynamics.

Now that 2025 is coming to a close, let me walk you through the headlines that caught my attention, ranked by pageviews.

10. Google changed how Tag Manager works with Google Ads

On March 10th, Google updated Google Tag Manager, ensuring that the Google tag would load before any events, thereby improving tracking accuracy and data collection from April 10th onwards. For me, this meant GTM automatically loaded the Google tag for containers with Google Ads and Floodlight tags, allowing simplified access to Enhanced Conversions and cross-domain tracking directly within tag settings.

9. Google Performance Max campaign API placement exclusions

On January 28th, Google revealed we can actually control Performance Max campaigns using API-based placement exclusions, overturning prior documentation and support guidance that stated otherwise. I found research from ad tech firm Optmyzr confirming that these API exclusions effectively blocked spending on excluded placements, providing stronger programmatic control over PMax campaigns.

8. Search Terms visibility in Google Performance Max campaigns

On March 21st, Google gave us the ability to see which search terms were triggering ads in Performance Max campaigns and introduced the option to add negative keywords directly from the Search Terms report, enhancing transparency and giving us more control.

7. Google Ads AI Max for Search campaigns beta

On May 6th, Google introduced AI Max, a one-click enhancement for Search campaigns, offering us the power of advanced AI to expand reach and dynamically generate ads, while adapting creative elements in real time.

6. Google AI Overviews ads

Starting May 22nd, Google began placing ads directly within AI Overviews, marking a significant shift in monetizing its generative search experience. This new feature was confirmed during Google Marketing Live 2025.

5. Google Ads allowed multiple ads for the same business on one results page

On March 31st, Google allowed the display of multiple ads for the same business on a single results page, provided they appeared in different locations, thereby opening up opportunities for larger brands to increase their visibility.

4. Google launched automatic marketing content extraction

On April 3rd, Google introduced a feature that automatically pulls existing marketing content from merchants to boost visibility across Search, Shopping, and Maps. Merchants were auto-enrolled, but could opt-out anytime?

3. Temu pulled its U.S. Google Shopping ads

On April 14th, Temu’s abrupt withdrawal of its U.S. Google Shopping ads revealed the heavy reliance on paid acquisition. This move, coinciding with increased tariffs and strict enforcement of import regulations, significantly impacted its market presence.

2. Amazon pulled out of Google Shopping ads

On July 25th, Amazon’s unexpected cessation of Google Shopping ads shook the market, given its historical role in driving auction competition and ad revenue. A month later, it resumed internationally but remained absent in the U.S.

1. Google Ads simplified conversion tracking with new tag manager feature

Google Ads, on February 5th, simplified conversion tracking within Google Tag Manager by introducing a wizard-style setup for creating conversion events without manual coding, revolutionizing my approach to tracking and optimization.

PPC in 2025 was undoubtedly dominated by major headline-worthy updates, largely centered around Google’s changes. Moving forward, I expect 2026 to bring even deeper AI integration. The real game-changer will be how expertly we can apply AI strategically.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

December 30, 2025
Boost Your Website’s AI Visibility: Overcome Crawling Hurdles

Have you ever wondered why your site isn’t getting the attention it deserves from AI crawlers? I know how frustrating it can be to feel overlooked in the digital world. Often, Cloudflare might be the culprit blocking access.
Let me guide you through diagnosing these issues, providing solutions, and optimizing your site for better LLM (Large Language Model) visibility. Together, we’ll ensure your site is primed for the AI-age and ready to capture its rightful place in search rankings.

Inspired by this post on HiGoodie Blog.

December 29, 2025

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