SEO is Hard. When I started in digital marketing, SEO seemed like a complicated and daunting practice. Looking back, I feel like an adult who’s looking back at how childhood seemed challenging and difficult at times. But as an adult, I wish I could go back in time because I now know that my life as a child was a breeze. I feel the same way about SEO these days. There are no easy paths. Life is harder now.

Search engine optimization is no longer just about keywords, content, and backlinks—it’s evolving rapidly alongside changes in how customers search and how search engines deliver results. We all need to shift, learn, and evolve to stay visible and competitive. 

To keep up, I think it’s going to be essential to move beyond traditional tactics and embrace strategies designed for today’s search landscape. To get some advice around the new rules of SEO, please check out our latest podcast and consider subscribing for more great tools, tips and advice about how to grow your organization.

Click here to listen in now!

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What you need to know:

Bing Gets a Brain Boost: Copilot Now Officially Live

Microsoft has officially launched Copilot in Bing, integrating AI-powered assistance directly into search results. This feature aims to enhance user experience by providing more contextual and conversational search capabilities. Users can now interact with Bing in a more intuitive way, making search queries feel like a dialogue rather than a traditional keyword input. Read More 

Google Maps Cracks Down on Fake Reviews

Google Maps is enhancing its efforts to combat fake reviews by implementing stricter detection and removal policies. This move aims to improve the authenticity of business reviews, ensuring users receive reliable information. Businesses found violating these policies may face penalties, including the disabling of new reviews and the deletion of existing ones. Read More 

Advertisers Shift Budgets from TikTok to Meta Amid Uncertainty

In Q1 2025, advertisers are reallocating budgets from TikTok to Meta platforms due to concerns over potential bans and platform stability. TikTok experienced a significant drop in U.S. ad spending, while Meta’s platforms saw increased investment, particularly in short-form video content. This trend reflects advertisers’ desire for more stable and predictable platforms for their marketing efforts. Read More 

Shopify CEO Mandates AI Integration Across Teams

Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke has issued a company-wide directive emphasizing the importance of AI integration in daily operations. Employees are now expected to utilize AI tools to enhance productivity and must justify any additional resource requests by explaining why AI cannot fulfill the task. This initiative positions AI as a fundamental component of Shopify’s workplace culture. Read More 

Instagram’s Monthly Performance Recap Highlights Growth

Instagram’s latest performance metrics reveal continued growth in user engagement and content creation. The platform has seen an uptick in Reels usage and overall time spent, indicating strong user interest in short-form video content. These trends underscore Instagram’s competitive stance in the social media landscape. Read More 

Reddit Users Value Authenticity in Marketing

A deep dive into Reddit’s user base reveals a strong preference for authentic and transparent marketing practices. Redditors are skeptical of overt advertising and respond better to genuine engagement and value-driven content. Marketers aiming to connect with this audience should prioritize community involvement and honest communication. Read More 

Google Search Analytics API Now Offers Hourly Data

Google has updated its Search Analytics API to provide hourly data breakdowns for the past 10 days. This enhancement allows for more granular analysis of website performance, enabling marketers and SEO professionals to make more informed decisions based on recent trends. Read More

Google Discover Coming to Desktop Search

Google has confirmed that its Discover feature, previously exclusive to mobile devices, will soon be available on desktop search. This expansion aims to provide users with personalized content recommendations directly on their desktop search homepage, enhancing the overall search experience. Read More 

Staying Human in the Age of AI Marketing

As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in marketing, maintaining a human touch is essential. Marketers are encouraged to focus on emotional intelligence, authentic storytelling, and personalized experiences to build trust and connect with audiences. Balancing AI efficiency with human creativity will be key to successful marketing strategies in 2025. Read More

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SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION

How to dive deep into the health of your website

An SEO audit is a great way to do a deep dive into the health of your website. It helps identify what’s holding your site back in search rankings by checking everything from technical issues and on-page SEO to site structure and content quality. Learn more about SEO audits and their importance in this blog.

Read More

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FREE DOWNLOAD

Learn About the Benefits of Inbound

Inbound marketing is a customer-centric approach aimed at attracting, engaging, and delighting audiences through valuable content and interactions. In short, inbound marketing is the art of putting your customers first. Download Now.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Panel Recap: How to Optimize Your LinkedIn Presence

Chris Auman recently had the opportunity to speak on a panel hosted by the Canton Chamber of Commerce, where we dove into one of today’s most powerful professional platforms—LinkedIn. The panel brought together a group of local digital marketing veterans to share insights, strategies, and real-world experiences on how to make the most of LinkedIn for networking, personal branding, and business growth.

Read More

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