Ahrefs just rolled out a public dashboard that tracks referral traffic from Google Search and ChatGPT. It updates monthly and, while the data is still young, it’s already painting an interesting picture. The Early Numbers Looking at July, the sites tracked show: Google: 41.9% of total traffic ChatGPT: 0.19% of total traffic Month-over-month growth tells […]
Why “Good Content” Isn’t Always Enough Anymore
Most business owners have heard the basics of SEO: Do keyword research Close content gaps Make sure your site is crawlable Show authority and expertise Those things still matter. But with AI now sitting between your customers and your website, the rules of the game have shifted. The big change? Retrieval. It doesn’t matter how […]
Before You Build It, Ask: Who’s Really Buying?
Starting a business is exciting—no doubt about it. You get the spark of an idea, your brain runs wild, and suddenly you’re imagining websites, logos, and late nights building something amazing. But here’s the real question: have you found even ten people who’d actually pay for it? That might sound small, but those first ten […]
What “Cannibalization” Means (in business)
Imagine you own an ice cream shop. You sell vanilla cones, and they do great.Then one day, you add cookies-and-cream cones. Suddenly, a lot of your vanilla buyers switch to cookies-and-cream.You didn’t really gain new customers—you just moved people from one of your own products to another. That’s product cannibalization. At first glance, this seems […]
5 Common Beliefs That Can Sabotage Your Marketing (Without You Even Realizing It)
When it comes to marketing, most small business owners focus on things like strategy, budgets, or the latest shiny tool. And yes — those things do matter. But after working with dozens (maybe hundreds) of businesses, I’ve learned that mindset might actually be the biggest factor that separates the businesses who grow from the ones […]
How Website Migrations Can Wreck Your SEO (and How to Prevent It)
A practical guide for small business owners, marketing teams, and IT departments Website migrations aren’t just about giving your site a fresh coat of paint. Whether you’re redesigning your site, changing domains, switching CMS platforms, or moving to a faster host — your SEO is at serious risk if the process isn’t handled strategically. A […]
Google AI Mode & Your Small Business
A practical, plain-English guide to thriving in the post-keyword era 1. Why a New “AI Mode” Even Matters In May 2025 Google quietly flipped a switch: every U.S. searcher can now tap an AI Mode tab that sits beside “All,” “Images,” “Maps,” etc. The moment they do, Search turns into a chat window powered by […]
Want More Traffic? Here’s How to Use Advanced SEO (Even If You’re Not a Techie)
If you’ve already taken care of the SEO basics—like setting up Google Search Console, verifying your site is indexed, and doing some keyword research—great! You’ve got a solid foundation. But if you’re ready to start driving real growth in traffic and sales, it’s time to move beyond the basics. That’s where advanced SEO comes in. […]
From Praise to Profits: 5 Simple Ways Home-Cleaning Businesses Can Turn Yelp Reviews into New Bookings
If you run a home-cleaning service, you know the thrill of reading a glowing review: “They were amazing! My house has never looked cleaner. Super professional, on time, and they even got the spots I always miss. I’ll definitely be booking again—and telling everyone I know.” Comments like this do more than stroke your ego—they […]
The Search Revolution in Plain English
Think of today’s Google as less of a directory and more of a digital concierge. Over the past few years the company has been weaving artificial-intelligence threads into every corner of its search experience, turning simple look-ups into guided, hyper-personal “journeys.” A lot of SEOs focus on the flashy rollout of AI Overviews (those snapshot […]
SEO Isn’t Dead—But It’s Definitely Changing: What Small Businesses Need to Know
Clicks are vanishing. Old SEO playbooks? Being rewritten in real-time. And if you run a small business, it’s time to pay attention. Search engine optimization (SEO) still matters—but it’s evolving fast. And the signals have been there for a while. As digital strategist Michael King recently put it: “SEO isn’t dead. It’s deprecated.” That phrase […]
Better Password Protection for Your WordPress Site (Made Simple)
If you’re a business owner running a WordPress site, this one’s for you. Hackers love weak passwords. In fact, one of the easiest ways your website can get hacked is when someone uses a password that’s already been exposed in a past data breach — maybe on another website. Once hackers have that password, they’ll […]
Startups Are Betting Big on the End of Google Search as We Know It
A new wave of startups is preparing for a world where people don’t search the web the old-fashioned way anymore. Instead of typing into Google and clicking through links, users are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others to get answers directly—no browsing required. To get ahead of this shift, at least a […]
Google Search vs. ChatGPT: What’s Changing and How to Keep Up
With tools like ChatGPT exploding in popularity, a lot of business owners are wondering: Is SEO still the same game we’ve been playing all these years? Do we still need to focus on content? What about backlinks? Is everything we’ve learned over the past couple of decades now irrelevant? Here’s the short answer: yes, content […]
Is SEO Still Worth It in the Age of AI?
Let’s be honest—things are changing fast online, and AI is at the center of it. Everywhere you look, people are talking about smarter search results, chatbots like ChatGPT, and fewer clicks to websites. So as a small business owner, you might be wondering: Is SEO still worth the effort and investment? Or should I be […]
How Small Businesses Can Compete (and Win) in an AI-Powered World
You’re the Coach. AI’s the Star Player. Let’s be real—AI is everywhere right now. You’ve probably seen the headlines: Google, Meta, and others are rolling out AI-powered tools for ads, search, content, and just about everything in between. And sure, the tech is impressive. AI can write copy, build campaigns, automate targeting, and even manage […]
Is AI Polluting Its Own Future? What Small Businesses Should Know About “Model Collapse”
When OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, it wasn’t just a cool tech demo — it marked a turning point. For researchers, it was a moment as big as the first atomic bomb test. And while that sounds dramatic, there’s a reason this comparison keeps coming up. After the first nuclear tests in the 1940s, […]
How Small Businesses Can Use Schema Markup to Stand Out on Google (Without Changing a Single Word of Your Website Copy)
You’ve probably searched for something on Google and seen results with star ratings, FAQs, product pricing, or business hours showing directly on the search results page. That’s not magic — that’s schema markup at work. And here’s the good news: as a small business, you can tap into the same tools big brands use to […]
Is SearchGPT Still Using Bing? Our Investigation Says Otherwise.
In the fast-moving world of generative AI, yesterday’s assumptions can quickly become outdated. One of the most persistent beliefs has been that SearchGPT, the real-time web-connected version of ChatGPT, relies on Bing as its primary search engine. Official support channels and documentation have long stated this clearly: SearchGPT gets its information from Bing. But is […]
Google’s June 2025 Core Update Just Wrapped—Here’s What We’re Seeing
Google’s latest core update for June 2025 is officially done—and while some in the SEO community are calling it a big one, it didn’t feel disruptive. Rankings shifted, sure, but it wasn’t the kind of chaos we’ve seen in past updates. That makes us think the changes were more behind-the-scenes than in-your-face. So what really […]
A Simple 7-Step Copywriting Checklist to Help You Stand Out and Sell More
If you want your website, ads, and emails to do a better job of turning visitors into leads and sales, this checklist is for you. These are the same seven steps I personally follow when writing copy—both for our team here and for our clients. But first, let’s make sure we’re all speaking the same […]
Your Customers Are Asking AI About You—Are You in the Answer?
I’ve been in business for almost 30 years, so I completely understand the hesitation that comes with trying something new—especially when the old ways used to work just fine. For a long time, traditional marketing like trade shows, cold calls, direct mail, and print ads were the bread and butter of customer acquisition. They were […]
Google Search Central Live APAC 2025: Day One Recap – Crawling, Content, and What’s Next for SEO
Search pros from across Asia Pacific gathered in Bangkok this week for three packed days of insights, connections, and practical tips at Search Central Live Deep Dive 2025. Held at the Carlton Hotel Sukhumvit, the event brought together familiar faces and fresh voices from across the SEO world. Each day of the conference is focused […]
What Do We Call SEO in the Age of AI? Why the Name Debate Matters
As AI-driven search continues to evolve, the digital marketing industry is facing a new debate: Should we keep calling it “SEO,” or is it time for a new term—like GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) or AIO (AI Optimization)? The conversation may sound technical, but it has real implications for how businesses approach their online visibility. Let’s […]
Why Traditional SEO Still Matters—Even in the Age of AI
There’s a growing buzz around AI search—and for good reason. Tools like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and others are transforming how people find and consume information. But as a small business owner, it’s important to understand where your customers are actually searching—and where your leads are really coming from. The Rise of AI Search: What’s Changing? […]
Why Brand Still Wins in SEO and AI Search
Brand isn’t just surviving in the age of AI-powered search—it’s thriving. At a recent industry talk, a speaker revisited something they’ve been advocating for years: Google favors brands. Not just because it’s convenient, but because it aligns with what users trust. And as search continues to evolve—possibly faster than at any point in the last […]
How to Make AI Recommend Your Content (Without Gaming the System)
If you want your content to be cited or referenced by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or show up in AI-powered search experiences, basic SEO won’t cut it anymore. Things have changed — fast. You’ve probably seen terms like Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), AI Overviews (AIOs), or even “Search Everywhere Optimization” floating around. Whatever […]
How AI Is Reshaping Digital Marketing—and What You Should Do About It
Artificial intelligence is changing digital marketing at a rapid pace. From the rise of AI-generated search results to the emergence of autonomous search agents, we’re entering a new era—one where traditional tracking methods and SEO metrics are losing relevance, and brand influence is becoming the new priority. If you’re running a business or managing marketing […]
The Ultimate Guide to Google Business Profile Optimization (For 2025 and Beyond)
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most powerful tools you have to attract new customers—especially for local businesses. But with so much conflicting information online, it can be hard to know which advice to trust. This guide walks through exactly what you need to do to fully optimize your Google Business Profile […]
Why Short-Form Video Should Be Part of Your Content Strategy (Even If You’re Not a Video Pro)
Let’s face it—great design matters. It catches the eye and helps communicate your message clearly. But if you’re trying to drive real engagement on social media, there’s something even more powerful than sharp visuals: Motion. Short-form video has become one of the most effective ways to boost visibility and connect with your audience. And the […]