In this month’s Round-Up episode, we look into the latest SEO, AI, and digital marketing trends shaping the industry. Hosted by Sean with co-hosts Amanda Walls and Laura Iancu, we unpack key updates from Google, ChatGPT developments, AI’s impact on search behaviour, and new paid media strategies.

Key Themes Included:

SEO & Search Engine Updates:

- March 2026 Core Update shook rankings; we discuss its impact on the top 3 positions and more.

- Google confirms continuous smaller core updates and back-button hijacking as a spam violation.

AI’s Role in SEO:

- 48% of searches now feature AI Overviews — but with a major drop in organic CTR.

- Businesses adapt their strategies, with 85% planning to boost AI-focused SEO budgets.

Generative AI & Search Optimisation:

- How focused, shorter content is winning AI citations over long-form guides.

- The role of third-party platforms like Reddit and YouTube in AI citation sources.

Paid Media & Advertising:

- Google Ads updates, including AI Max’s product feed optimisation across multiple platforms.

- OpenAI's $100M annual ad revenue growth and future projections.

Local Search Insights:

- GBP activity ranks among the top 5 local ranking factors.

- Google Ask Maps introduces AI-generated local recommendations.

Sources Used -

- March 2026 Core Update completes (12-day rollout) — Search Engine Land / Search Engine Journal

- Smaller core updates now rolling continuously — Search Engine Journal

- Back-button hijacking now a spam violation — Search Engine Journal

- First Discover-only Core Update rolls out — Search Engine Land

- AI Overviews in 48% of queries, CTR at 0.61% — Search Engine Land / Seer Interactive / ALM Corp

- US organic traffic down 2.5% YoY — Search Engine Land

- Google Cloud AI director: rethink SEO for AI agents — Search Engine Land

- AI-optimised sites report 320% more visits — TechRadar

- 85%+ of businesses adapting for AI search — Search Engine Land

- Narrow focused content wins AI citations, not long guides — Search Engine Journal / Search Engine Land

- Reddit, LinkedIn & YouTube top AI citation sources — Search Engine Land / Verkeer

- Domain authority & backlinks still lead GEO signals — Seer Interactive

- AI only cites HTML, ignores Markdown files — OtterlyAI

- Gemini citation rate drops from 99% to 76% in one month — Position Digital

- Agentic Search Optimisation (ASO) emerging as next framework — TechRadar

- ChatGPT ads hit $100M annualised revenue in 6 weeks — Search Engine Land / OpenAI

- OpenAI projects $2.5B ad revenue in 2026, $100B by 2030 — MarketingProfs

- ChatGPT triggers live search on only 34.5% of queries — Semrush / Ahrefs

- ChatGPT adds location sharing & workspace analytics — OpenAI

- LLM bots now crawl sites 3.6x more than Googlebot — Search Engine Journal

- Dynamic GBP activity now a top-5 local pack ranking factor — Verkeer

- Google Ask Maps reshaping local discovery — Search Engine Land

- Product feed optimisation now spans AI search & YouTube — Search Engine Journal

- Google Ads offline conversion upload bug confirmed — Search Engine Roundtable

- Threads overtakes X in mobile daily active users — B2The7

- Adobe launches CX Enterprise Coworker AI agent — WSJ

- 21% of YouTube Shorts now AI-generated — Search Engine Journal

- Search Console adds weekly/monthly views & AI report builder — Search Engine Land / Search Engine Roundtable

- Search Console jobs report showing zero data since 16 April — Search Engine Roundtable

- HTTPS at 91%, title tags at 99% per Web Almanac — Search Engine Land / Web Almanac

- John Mueller: you can make SEO mistakes and still do OK — Search Engine Roundtable

- News publisher search referrals facing structural decline — Search Engine Land

- Users increasingly starting queries in AI tools, not search engines — Search Engine Land

Thank you to our partner, SEO Gets, the easy-to-use analytics and reporting tool for your GSC & GA4 data. Be sure to check out the tool and use code search10 for 10% off: https://seogets.com/

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News – your go-to roundup of the latest trends in SEO, AI, digital marketing, and content strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Vince Niro – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinnero/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we cover the latest developments in digital marketing, from Google's name change to their data tools, to the evolving AI landscape.

First, we delve into Google's transition from Looker Studio to Data Studio, breaking down the confusion surrounding this shift and exploring its potential impact on the future.

We also look into Kevin Indig's SEM Rush clickstream analysis, examining how ChatGPT prompts often don’t align with traditional keywords and what this means for tracking SEO performance. We discuss the growing divide between keyword tracking and prompt tracking, and the need to adapt strategies in the age of AI-driven search.

Additionally, we explore the latest stories on AI and misinformation, including the first known case of AI agent harassment. This episode highlights the risks posed by autonomous AI tools and the challenges they present to individuals and industries, particularly around data misuse and the spread of misinformation.

We also touch on Snapchat’s job cuts, the challenges of SEO migrations, and share key insights from top digital marketing videos and social media posts.

Tune in for all this and much more in this packed episode!

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News – your go-to roundup of the latest in SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we look into the latest updates shaking up digital marketing. First, we explore Google’s new AI agent and what it means for SEO, as machine-to-machine interactions become key. Meta also steps up with their updated AI model, offering real-time recommendations across platforms, even via Meta Glasses.

We also look at Burger King’s use of AI. On the SEO front, we discuss Sitemaps and John Mueller’s tips for large sites, plus the evolving role of Schema in the AI age and why structured data matters more than ever.

We touch on Baidu’s AI-powered Wiki and its international SEO play. Plus, we share insights into how Claude Code is making SEO workflows more efficient.

But that’s not all – there’s plenty more to learn about in this packed episode! Tune in for the full breakdown.

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News – your go-to roundup of the latest in SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we cover Reddit’s lawsuit against SERP API and what it means for data access, the growing importance of log file analysis in technical SEO, and Meta’s decision to end end-to-end encryption on Instagram. We also explore the rise of “human-made” content labels in response to AI, Facebook’s push to pay creators to post on its platform, and how AI is being used across healthcare - from NHS diagnostics to concerns around misinformation and accuracy.

Alongside this, we break down the latest thinking on AI-driven SEO, zero-click search, and what it all means for trust, visibility, and the future of digital marketing.

We also touch on AI’s growing role in productivity and workflows, the challenges of detecting AI-generated content, evolving data dependencies between platforms like Google and ChatGPT, and how brands and creators are adapting to an increasingly AI-driven search landscape.

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News - your go-to roundup of the latest in SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Laura Iancu – https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/

In this week’s episode, we cover Meta’s acquisition of Moltbook, the evolving role of Claude Code in SEO reporting, and Spotify’s AI-powered playlists, while also discussing Google’s AI-enhanced Maps and its impact on local SEO. We also look into the ethical concerns surrounding AI's responsibility in mental health following a tragic incident involving Google Gemini, exploring how AI can affect sensitive conversations and the need for safeguards & much more!View all stories + more here – https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vRgApI9fMAMVswEIcS8iz2HXYpWXPlA2hjHZs8B9stlS6s8mvX-cAkHydCWW2yvca6Jv2sn0xu6w4Eg/pubhtml

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News, your go-to roundup of the biggest stories shaping SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

Christian Goodrich – https://www.linkedin.com/in/cargoodrich/

In this week’s episode, we explore a mix of updates and discussions, including AI-driven traffic trends, chat GPT ad rollouts, brand loyalty in a digital-first world, and emerging tools for marketers.

Top Stories 📰

We discuss the Visibility Labs study showing that chat GPT–sourced e-commerce traffic converted 31% higher than standard non-branded organic search, though attribution via GA4 may underreport AI’s real influence on user journeys.

The rollout of chat GPT ads raises questions: early experiments show costs up to three times higher than Meta, with limited reporting metrics, highlighting challenges for SMEs and marketers navigating new AI-driven paid media channels.

MoneySupermarket launches a UK-first AI-driven app, integrating comparison services like insurance and broadband directly into chat GPT, with a shift toward loyalty and membership-led growth.

The Guardian and other publishers are forming coalitions to protect original content and combat AI-driven content aggregation, emphasizing the growing impact of AI on publishing.

Top Videos 🎥

PPC Live 19: Amanda highlights practical PPC strategies, including performance max scripts, lead generation approaches, and collaboration opportunities between SEO and paid media teams.

Whisper Flow: Stan covers this AI-powered dictation app, now launching on Android, demonstrating the growing role of voice-enabled tools in productivity and content creation.

Claude Code for SEO: Christian shares how small businesses can rapidly build SEO-optimized websites using AI tools, opening opportunities for non-developers to scale marketing initiatives efficiently.

Top Social Posts 📲

Customer loyalty spotlight: Steven Adams shares a story illustrating the business impact of proactive and frictionless customer support, highlighting that retention can outweigh acquisition costs.

Profound Series C raise: Stan notes Profound’s $97M Series C at a $1B valuation, showcasing rapid growth in AI visibility platforms and the evolving ecosystem for AI-powered marketing tools.

Lily Ray calls out Google: Christian highlights issues with AI overviews showing answers without citations, underscoring the importance of transparency and publisher recognition in AI-driven search results.

Welcome to Search With Sean: Weekly Digital Marketing News, your go-to roundup of the biggest stories shaping SEO, AI, search, digital PR, paid media, and digital strategy.

Co-Hosts:

Amanda Walls – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandajwalls/

Stanislav Farkas – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanislav-farkas-fastraveller/

In this week’s episode, we explore a mix of updates and discussions, including the rise of AI tools, Google's updates, and emerging trends.

Top Stories 📰

This week, we discuss Google's latest rollout of AI-powered features in Search Console, making reporting and data analysis more efficient with natural language queries. We also look into the debate on ads in AI tools, with Perplexity pulling sponsored placements, and the ongoing challenges of monetising AI search effectively. The episode also touches on how AI agents, like Claude Bots, are changing user experiences, raising concerns about their increasing autonomy.

Top Videos 🎥

We highlight a key video tutorial on keyword research for Google and AI SEO, focusing on how to target user intent and avoid AI traps that could lower CTR. Additionally, a spotlight on SEM Rush’s social media videos showcases their creative approach, while we also explore a fascinating video where AI agents like Claude Bots interact with Meta glasses to see, hear, and order products, demonstrating the future of personal assistants.

Top Social Posts 📲

We break down Francesco Cifardi's post about Google Ads keyword reactivation glitches, the increasing importance of fail-safe systems for PPC, and the potential risks in automated ad systems. Plus, we delve into Airbnb’s latest earnings call, where they revealed that traffic from AI search tools like chatbots is converting better than traditional Google traffic, sparking a discussion on the future of AI-driven platforms in the travel industry.

February 2026 highlights how AI is rapidly reshaping search, discovery, jobs, monetisation, and digital trust.

In this episode of The Round-Up, we look at the biggest developments across SEO, AI search, robotics, and the evolving digital ecosystem.

From Google’s transition toward conversational AI search and agent-driven web interactions, to new monetisation models emerging across OpenAI, Meta, and Google, this month confirms one thing: AI is no longer an add-on to the internet — it’s becoming its operating layer.

Key Themes Covered

- The Transformation of Search & Discovery

YouTube emerging as the #1 cited source in Google Gemini

AI visibility shifting from rankings to relevance and expertise

Zero-click behaviour and changing traffic expectations

Dynamic AI Overviews and measurement challenges

Google’s new Web MCP protocol enabling AI agents to act on websites

- The Rapid Growth of the AI Workforce

AI roles dominating job growth across London

The evolving SEO job market in an AI-integrated world

Why SEO professionals are moving closer to strategic decision-making

- AI Monetisation & Platform Economics

OpenAI introducing advertising modelsPremium AI subscriptions across Meta platforms

AI-powered shopping and checkout directly inside search

Google reducing crawl limits and reshaping technical optimisation

- Trust, Safety & RegulationDeepfake fraud and AI likeness protection

Government responses to AI and social media risks

AI hallucinations, misinformation, and accountability challenges

Expanded tools to monitor and remove personal data online

- The Future of AI IntegrationPersonal AI tutors and guided learning systems

Robotics and physical AI advancements

AI companions and changing human–technology relationships