Notes on real growth
Practical thinking on SEO, websites, paid media, content and brand. No fluff, no recycled listicles.
Instagram Is Changing How AI Profiles Are Shown. What Users Need to Know
Instagram is changing how it labels AI-generated profiles. Here's what the update means for creators, businesses, and users.
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Google August 2026 Spam Update: What to Check
Google's August 2026 Spam Update is complete. Here's what changed, how to check if your website was affected, and what to do if your rankings dropped.
Meta Is Reportedly Building Its Own AI Search Engine
Meta wants its own search engine to power its AI without relying on Google. Here's what's actually being reported and why it matters to you.
Your Website Has a New Visitor, and It's AI
More than half of all web traffic is now bots, not humans. Here's how to check if AI crawlers like GPTBot and Perplexity are reading your site.
LinkedIn Now Lets Anyone Report Your Post as AI-Generated
LinkedIn added a "seems like AI slop" button that anyone can use to flag your posts. Here's how it works and what it means for your content.
Most People Say Marketing Feels Irrelevant, a Recent Study Found
A new study found 75% of consumers say the marketing they receive feels irrelevant. Here's what's driving it and how to fix it in your own marketing.
Yelp Partnered With OpenAI. Here's Why It Matters.
Yelp is now feeding reviews, ratings, and bookings directly into ChatGPT. Here's what the partnership does, and how to show up in ChatGPT results.
Is Your Website Ready for Google's Core Web Vitals?
Core Web Vitals affect your rankings, your customers, and even whether AI tools cite your site. Here's what they measure and how to check yours.
Google Ads Changed Its Terms of Service, and Nobody Told You Directly
Google rewrote its Google Ads Terms of Service on July 1, 2026. Every account was bound automatically. Here's what changed and what to check.
What Should You Do When a Negative Review Goes Viral?
A single bad review can now spiral into a public pile-on overnight. Here's how to respond in a way that protects trust instead of destroying it.
Your Competitors Aren't Better. They're Just Easier to Find.
Being the best doesn't guarantee customers if nobody can find you. Here's why visibility matters just as much as quality, and how to fix it.
Why Is Reddit Showing Up in Google Search More Than Ever?
Reddit threads are showing up ahead of business websites in Google search more than ever. Here's why, and what it means for your customers.
What Is the Dark Funnel in Marketing?
Most of your customers' research now happens where you can't track it. Here's what the dark funnel is and what it means for your strategy.
Google Ads Is Changing on August 17, 2026. Here's What You Need to Know
Google is changing how Target CPA and Target ROAS bidding works from August 17, 2026. Here's what it means for your campaigns and costs.
Google Search Console Now Tracks Instagram and YouTube
Google Search Console now shows how your Instagram, YouTube, and X posts perform in search, even without a website. Here's how it works.
Likes Don't Pay the Bills. Here's What Actually Does.
Views and likes feel like progress, but they don't grow a business. Here's why engagement isn't turning into leads, and what actually does.
Does Your Brand Earn Trust in 3 Seconds?
People decide whether to trust your business before reading a single word. Here's what actually happens in those first 3 seconds.
Google AI Max Explained: Should You Enable It for Your Google Ads Campaigns?
Google is quietly upgrading Search campaigns to AI Max. Here's what it actually does, and whether your account is ready for it.
Why Isn't Anyone Clicking Your Website?
Ranking well and getting clicked are two different things. Here's what's actually stopping people from clicking through to your site, and how to fix it.
Why Your Business Isn't Showing Up in ChatGPT (And How to Fix It)
Millions of people now use ChatGPT to research businesses before making a decision. If your business never appears in AI-generated answers, here's why and what you can do about it.
Google's Latest Search Updates: What Every Small Business Should Know
Google Search continues to evolve with AI-powered results, improved spam detection and greater focus on helpful content. Here's what small businesses should know and how to stay ahead.
Google AI Mode Is Changing Search. Is Your Business Ready?
Google AI Mode is changing how people discover businesses online. Here's what it means, why rankings alone are no longer enough, and how to stay visible.
Your Ad Budget Isn't Too Small. Your Strategy Is.
Most businesses think they need more money to make ads work. The real problem is almost always the strategy behind the spend.
You Have a Logo. But Do You Have a Brand?
A logo is not a brand. Most businesses have one but not the other - and the difference is costing you more than you think.
The Website Mistake That's Quietly Killing Your Conversions
Your website might look good but still be losing leads every day. Here is the one mistake most businesses never catch.
Posting Without a Strategy Is Just Making Noise
Most businesses are active on social and getting nothing from it. Posting more is not the answer - here is what actually moves the needle.
Is SEO Dead in 2026? The Honest Answer Nobody Wants to Give
Every year someone declares SEO dead. In 2026, with AI answers everywhere, the honest answer is more nuanced - and more useful.