Happy Sunday! I know you're busy. Thanks for spending some time with me today. I appreciate you. The Lead Going up! New Semrush data says what we all know already: AI Overviews continue to grow more common in Google's search results. Semrush says an AIO now shows for just over 13% of all searches. Just between us, I suspect the real number is much higher. It's a brand thing now. Meanwhile, Kevin Indig released the results of a UX study showing how regular folks engage with search results when...
14 days ago • 10 min read
Happy Mother's Day! My mom never understood SEO and digital marketing, but you would've never known from the questions she asked about my career and the attention she gave when I answered. Moms are the best. I hope you, your spouse, and/or your mom have a wonderful day today. 🧡 The Lead I wish I wrote this. Claudia Tomina shares everything you need to know about Google Business Profile video verification, and a bunch of stuff you didn't know you need to know. Bookmark it. Share it. It's...
21 days ago • 12 min read
May the 4th be with you! No Andor spoilers, please. I haven't even started on Season 2. And if you have no idea what I'm talking about, that's okay. Lots of stuff you will know about below. Thanks for reading. 🥰 The Lead AI everywhere #1: Google is slowly opening up its "AI Mode" search option, and is adding what looks like the traditional "local pack" and Business Profiles to AI Mode searches. You can see it in action in the short screen recording in Google's announcement. Visually, it's not...
28 days ago • 9 min read
Hello, hello! A special welcome and thanks to the agents and marketers whom I met at 1000WATT's event a couple weeks ago and have started reading Marketing Unlocked. This issue should be right up your alley. Enjoy! The Lead Delayed GBP punishment. On LinkedIn, Darren Shaw shares a great reminder that it's not always the most recent change in your Google Business Profile that leads to getting suspended. Often, it's something you got away with before that finally comes back to haunt you. No one...
about 1 month ago • 10 min read
Happy Easter! What's the plan -- are you doing opens today? Showing buyers around? Or is this a "leave me alone, it's family time" for you and your clients? 🤔 The Lead Who can it be now? On LinkedIn, David Hills shares a good reminder to keep an eye on who has access to your Google Business Profile -- he also shows exactly where to find that info. This is especially important if you've hired SEOs or VAs in the past and given them access. Remember, you can be penalized based on the Google...
about 1 month ago • 11 min read
Hey you! Last week was a great reminder that there's no substitute for spending time with good people. I met some online friends for the first time, and made some new friends in Dallas at 1000WATT's event. And just like last year, we're doing a Deep Dive on the whole thing. Let's goooooo! The Lead It's now safe to move about your GBP. I warned you last month not to touch your Google Business Profile, because a bug was causing a backlog of suspensions. Well, the bug has been fixed, and Google...
about 2 months ago • 12 min read
Happy Sunday! You have a voice that's uniquely yours when you communicate. Today, a Deep Dive into an AI tool that claims to learn how to sound like you. Real? Or just marketing hype? Let's find out. The Lead Read, bookmark, share, etc. Nikki Pilkington nails it with this small business guide to not getting ripped off when hiring an SEO. As I lamented not long ago on Facebook, the worst thing about this industry is seeing how many charlatans make a mint by selling snake oil to unsuspecting...
about 2 months ago • 11 min read
Hello, hello! I keep telling myself to write shorter newsletters, and I keep not doing it. 😕 Maybe next week! Until then, lots to talk about -- let's get to it. The Lead It's over. Google's March 2025 Core Update wrapped up last week, exactly two weeks after it began. If you're on the VIP email, go back and read MU #40, where I listed what to do after a big Google update. Google's smarter AI Overviews. Some guy named Matt M. discovered Google is starting to personalize AI Overviews based on...
2 months ago • 9 min read
Did you notice? Last week's newsletter barely mentioned AI at all. I think I was subconsciously holding back for this week's issue...which is very heavy on AI. As always, thanks for reading. I appreciate you. The Lead Be a brand, reminder #4,732: Veteran SEO Kevin Indig shared a ton of research around brand mentions and content that succeeds in LLMs/AI search. Two things to know: Deep (i.e., more comprehensive) content wins. And, "the popularity of a brand broadly decides how visible it is in...
2 months ago • 12 min read