Yahoo Search is pushing its AI-powered Scout directly into search results
Yahoo launched a new feature called Yahoo Scout back in January, similar in concept to Google’s AI Mode. I spotted this and shared it on X. Just like Google’s AI Overviews, Scout appears above your regular search results, and here’s what it looks like: Yahoo is now testing a section within its search results called […]
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The best SEO conferences worth attending in 2026 and 2027
Looking for an SEO conference without opening 28 tabs, finding three different prices and discovering that the “upcoming” event happened six months ago? This is the calendar we wanted too. The remaining 2026 schedule is unusually good. There are focused events for technical SEO, local search, publishers, international teams and the rapidly multiplying world of […]
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Positive SurferSEO review: 7,000 words later, here’s what it does best
Here we are on the verge of my 3rd review! I’ve already reviewed SerpStat and SE Ranking, and have decided to review SurferSEO (or is it Positive Surfer?) next. After being acquired by the French company Positive Group they are now referring to themselves as ” AI visibility platform for maximum organic growth”. And yes, […]
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Google Search falsely declared Sam Altman dead, but Google says nobody did it manually
Google Search briefly told users that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had died on August 12, 2026, displaying the false date prominently inside his Knowledge Panel: Google has now responded to the backlash and removed the misinformation. In a public response on X, the company said the result was not manually changed by anyone at Google […]
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Google tests replacing ‘Sponsored Store’ with ‘Featured Store’ in SERP
Google is testing a new heading for its sponsored store section, swapping “Sponsored” for “Featured Store,” with a new subheading that reads “Shop these top products.” This section itself isn’t new Google was testing it in the SERP last year, but it now appears Google is changing the heading used for it. Here is a […]
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Google confirms new homepage buttons pointing to AI Mode
This week, Google updated its homepage design with new buttons. We covered this change earlier, and now Google has confirmed the test directly. The new layout pushes users toward AI Mode and other AI features right from the homepage, with buttons for “Create images,” “Ask about files,” and “Brainstorm.” Here is the screenshot of this […]
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Is Google struggling to show favicons for sites in search results?
Google appears to be having trouble displaying favicons for websites in search results. We also noticed this issue last week for some sites. Brodie Clark raised this on the SERP Alerts page on X, flagging the favicon issue. Brodie wrote: “Heads-up: Google seems to be struggling to show favicons for a large number of sites […]
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15 best Linkedin alternatives in 2026
Linkedin is an amazing professional networks if you’re looking to expand your reach, find a new job or just learn stuff. I’ve been using it more and more in the last few months, trying to expand my networking reach. But I do understand the shortcomings that it might have, and why many people might be […]
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SE Ranking review (2026): Powerful, polished and no longer cheap
It’s time for my second review here at SEW, and I couldn’t be more excited. Today, I’m diving into SERanking and analyzing its features, just as I did in my SerpStat review, which I hope you enjoyed. First off, it’s important to mention that this isn’t a paid review nor have we been compensated to […]
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Google’s Generative AI report in Search Console now launched globally
Google’s Generative AI report in Search Console appears to be rolling out globally. This report launched in june, giving property owners visibility into which pages on their site are generating impressions specifically within Google’s generative AI features. As of today, opening Search Console brings up a pop-up pointing directly to this report. It reads: “Get […]
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Google explains why hreflang alternate URLs show as “not indexed”
Gary Illyes clarified how Google handles hreflang and alternate URLs during canonicalization, explaining that these alternate versions aren’t indexed in the traditional sense. This came up in a LinkedIn thread started by Faiez Javaid, who asked: “If Google is choosing by itself one /lang/ as canonical and ignoring others showing in GSC as not indexed, […]
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Bing tests See more and Visit site buttons for sponsored results
Bing is testing new “See more” and “Visit site” buttons appearing for sponsored results. We spotted this yesterday, with these buttons showing up for the Forbes website specifically. This looks like a recent test from Bing, though we couldn’t find it appearing for other websites at this time. Clicking the button takes users to the […]
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Google tests sponsored results with new subheading.
Google is now testing a change that displays the websites name directly under sponsored results. Normally, sponsored results just carry the “Sponsored Results” heading, but this test adds a subheading “from website icon and website name.” For example, when searching for ‘SEO,’ three sponsored results appeared, and under the main ‘Sponsored Results’ heading, we saw […]
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AI Mode ads now show non-clickable sitelinks
Google is testing sitelinks appearing in ads in AI Mode. This is the first time we’ve seen this style of ad the links aren’t clickable, but they appear alongside the ad in a format similar to traditional sitelinks, which is why we’re referring to them as such. Here is a screenshot of how they look. […]
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Bing tests clickable underlined text in organic result descriptions
Bing is testing clickable, underlined text within the descriptions of its organic search results. When clicked, this text doesn’t take you to the website’s landing page like you might expect instead, it redirects you to a new search query within Bing’s own results. Here is a screenshot of how it looks. This suggests Bing may […]
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Google tests blue hyperlinks in sponsored results ads
Google keeps rolling out changes to its Shopping and sponsored results ads. Last week, we saw AI-generated descriptions being tested in shopping ads, along with underlined links appearing in sponsored results. Now we’ve spotted another test: a blue hyperlink within sponsored ads that, when clicked, takes you to the same landing page as clicking the […]
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Google’s classic Search button is gone in a new AI-first homepage
Google appears to be testing a more AI-focused version of its homepage for people who are not signed into a Google Account. The homepage adds Create images, Ask about files, and Brainstorm below the search box instead of the usual Google Search button, while an AI Mode button appears inside the search field. We spotted […]
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What is AI slop? How to spot it, why it spreads and how to avoid making it
AI slop is low-value content made wholly or substantially with generative AI and released with too little human judgment, verification, craft, or accountability. It is commonly produced because speed, scale, traffic, engagement, or cost reduction matters more to the publisher than usefulness to the person receiving it. That definition includes the disposable articles clogging search […]
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Serpstat review: what we learned after using it for a year
In my career spanning over 20 years in SEO, publishing, and content, I’ve used, as you might guess, quite a lot of SEO tools. Even when I had stepped away from the day-to-day activity and handed my duties over to an SEO manager, I was still interested in the advances in SEO tools Now, after […]
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11 best alternative search engines to Google in 2026
In recent years, Google has made significant changes that have particularly impacted publishers and other content creators. At the same time, we’ve witnessed the rise of alternative search engines. Although Google continues to dominate the market, there are many reasons you might consider exploring other options. We’ve compiled and tested a list of alternatives in […]
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