Barry Adams 📰
@polemicdigital.com
Specialised SEO & audience growth consultant for publishers. Co-founder of the News & Editorial SEO Summit.
Consulting: https://www.PolemicDigital.com
Newsletter: https://www.SEOforGooglenews.com
Podcast: https://youtube.com/@beersandseowithbarryandsteve
Consulting: https://www.PolemicDigital.com
Newsletter: https://www.SEOforGooglenews.com
Podcast: https://youtube.com/@beersandseowithbarryandsteve
Pinned
Barry Adams 📰
@polemicdigital.com
· Nov 22
No, we don’t need a new acronym. Or a new name. Or a new ‘paradigm’.
Whether search is done on a system built on classic information retrieval or on a large language model, it’s a search engine.
Search engine optimisation. SEO.
Don’t be all Hubspotty and try to create a new industry name.
Whether search is done on a system built on classic information retrieval or on a large language model, it’s a search engine.
Search engine optimisation. SEO.
Don’t be all Hubspotty and try to create a new industry name.
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
Google Search top stories with sign in to customize button for preferred sources www.seroundtable.com/google-sign-...
#google #googlenews #googletopstories #googlepreferredsources
#google #googlenews #googletopstories #googlepreferredsources
February 11, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Google Search top stories with sign in to customize button for preferred sources www.seroundtable.com/google-sign-...
#google #googlenews #googletopstories #googlepreferredsources
#google #googlenews #googletopstories #googlepreferredsources
Today’s propaga-… I mean, informative event.
February 11, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Today’s propaga-… I mean, informative event.
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
Talk of “Google zero” has been overplayed, according to audience growth experts at leading UK publishers who say the right content can still do well on search
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/s...
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/s...
'Search isn't dead, it's fragmenting': How to manage Google traffic decline
Audience leaders at several major UK publishers have told Press Gazette they are viewing Google search traffic as being in “managed decline”.
pressgazette.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Talk of “Google zero” has been overplayed, according to audience growth experts at leading UK publishers who say the right content can still do well on search
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/s...
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/s...
Marta Szmidt interviewed me about the biggest mistakes publishers make when it comes to SEO.
You may be surprised by what my answer was.
Hint: It has nothing to do with SEO tactics, and all about how you approach SEO strategically.
seobymarta.com/blog/news-se...
You may be surprised by what my answer was.
Hint: It has nothing to do with SEO tactics, and all about how you approach SEO strategically.
seobymarta.com/blog/news-se...
The Biggest Mistakes News Publishers Make in SEO
Barry Adams reveals the most common SEO mistakes news publishers make in 2026 and how to fix them
seobymarta.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Marta Szmidt interviewed me about the biggest mistakes publishers make when it comes to SEO.
You may be surprised by what my answer was.
Hint: It has nothing to do with SEO tactics, and all about how you approach SEO strategically.
seobymarta.com/blog/news-se...
You may be surprised by what my answer was.
Hint: It has nothing to do with SEO tactics, and all about how you approach SEO strategically.
seobymarta.com/blog/news-se...
Slightly amused by my blood donation queue number today.
February 9, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Slightly amused by my blood donation queue number today.
Watching France utterly demolish Ireland.
a man with a mustache says actually i 'm not even mad that 's amazing ..
ALT: a man with a mustache says actually i 'm not even mad that 's amazing ..
media.tenor.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Watching France utterly demolish Ireland.
Always great craic in Stade de France, even when the final score was less than ideal.
February 5, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Always great craic in Stade de France, even when the final score was less than ideal.
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
One of the most effective things you can do right now to fight Trump and ICE is to cancel your ChatGPT subscription.
February 4, 2026 at 1:14 PM
One of the most effective things you can do right now to fight Trump and ICE is to cancel your ChatGPT subscription.
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
The US-based Interactive Advertising Bureau has drafted legislation which would stop AI companies taking publisher content without payment. The body is now seeking a political sponsor for the bill. www.axios.com/2026/02/02/i...
Ad lobby calls for federal legislation to protect publishers from AI scraping
"Free riding isn't just unfair. It's stealing," IAB CEO David Cohen said.
www.axios.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:31 AM
The US-based Interactive Advertising Bureau has drafted legislation which would stop AI companies taking publisher content without payment. The body is now seeking a political sponsor for the bill. www.axios.com/2026/02/02/i...
AIOs aren’t totally shit.
January 29, 2026 at 12:52 PM
AIOs aren’t totally shit.
Google AI Overviews cite YouTube more than any medical site for health queries
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Google AI Overviews cite YouTube more than any medical site for health queries, study suggests
Exclusive: German research into responses to health queries raises fresh questions about summaries seen by 2bn people a month
www.theguardian.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Google AI Overviews cite YouTube more than any medical site for health queries
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
As AI disrupts search, publishers face a choice in 2026: chase Google, feed AI, or figure out how to balance both.
digiday.com/media/media-...
digiday.com/media/media-...
Media Briefing: The anatomy of the publishers' SEO dilemma
As AI upends search, publishers face a choice in 2026: chase Google, feed AI, or figure out how to balance both.
digiday.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:26 PM
As AI disrupts search, publishers face a choice in 2026: chase Google, feed AI, or figure out how to balance both.
digiday.com/media/media-...
digiday.com/media/media-...
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
A survey of 4,544 chief executives by PwC shows most CEOs haven’t yet seen financial returns from investments in AI.
While 30% report increased revenue from AI in the last 12 months and 26% are seeing lower costs, more than half (56%) say they’ve seen neither revenue nor cost benefits.
While 30% report increased revenue from AI in the last 12 months and 26% are seeing lower costs, more than half (56%) say they’ve seen neither revenue nor cost benefits.
Majority of CEOs report zero payoff from AI splurge
: PwC survey finds more than half of 4,500+ biz leaders see no revenue growth nor cost savings
www.theregister.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:47 AM
A survey of 4,544 chief executives by PwC shows most CEOs haven’t yet seen financial returns from investments in AI.
While 30% report increased revenue from AI in the last 12 months and 26% are seeing lower costs, more than half (56%) say they’ve seen neither revenue nor cost benefits.
While 30% report increased revenue from AI in the last 12 months and 26% are seeing lower costs, more than half (56%) say they’ve seen neither revenue nor cost benefits.
In this one, I quote my friend and overall marketing genius Andi Jarvis, who you should definitely follow here: www.linkedin.com/in/andijarvis/
January 20, 2026 at 4:32 PM
In this one, I quote my friend and overall marketing genius Andi Jarvis, who you should definitely follow here: www.linkedin.com/in/andijarvis/
Search is dead!
That is, if a channel that is down a mere 2.5% YoY and still by far the largest traffic driver to the web can be called 'dead'.
Solid study from Graphite, with data from Similarweb, showing the apocalyptic proclamations of the death of search are more than a little premature.
That is, if a channel that is down a mere 2.5% YoY and still by far the largest traffic driver to the web can be called 'dead'.
Solid study from Graphite, with data from Similarweb, showing the apocalyptic proclamations of the death of search are more than a little premature.
January 20, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Search is dead!
That is, if a channel that is down a mere 2.5% YoY and still by far the largest traffic driver to the web can be called 'dead'.
Solid study from Graphite, with data from Similarweb, showing the apocalyptic proclamations of the death of search are more than a little premature.
That is, if a channel that is down a mere 2.5% YoY and still by far the largest traffic driver to the web can be called 'dead'.
Solid study from Graphite, with data from Similarweb, showing the apocalyptic proclamations of the death of search are more than a little premature.
Out in Belfast city centre yesterday with some English friends. I thought Belfast was one of the friendliest cities, but was proven quite wrong last night.
Had a handful of moments where various young locals were quite rude to my friends, without any provocation.
What happened to Belfast?
Had a handful of moments where various young locals were quite rude to my friends, without any provocation.
What happened to Belfast?
January 18, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Out in Belfast city centre yesterday with some English friends. I thought Belfast was one of the friendliest cities, but was proven quite wrong last night.
Had a handful of moments where various young locals were quite rude to my friends, without any provocation.
What happened to Belfast?
Had a handful of moments where various young locals were quite rude to my friends, without any provocation.
What happened to Belfast?
North Coast sunset.
January 16, 2026 at 7:27 PM
North Coast sunset.
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
Were you affected by Google's December core update? @polemicdigital.com gives his perspective on what happened...
Catch up with more conversation on the pod (link in comments).
#publishing #seo #journalism #google
Catch up with more conversation on the pod (link in comments).
#publishing #seo #journalism #google
January 15, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Were you affected by Google's December core update? @polemicdigital.com gives his perspective on what happened...
Catch up with more conversation on the pod (link in comments).
#publishing #seo #journalism #google
Catch up with more conversation on the pod (link in comments).
#publishing #seo #journalism #google
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
The second instalment of 'Beers and SEO with Barry and Steve' is back! @polemicdigital.com and I discuss 'AI Survival Strategies for Publishers' - why publishers should double-down on SEO while also building audience on other platforms.
youtu.be/hX8TQDQHOqs?...
#publishing #seo #journalism #podcast
youtu.be/hX8TQDQHOqs?...
#publishing #seo #journalism #podcast
AI Survival Strategies for Publishers
YouTube video by Beers and SEO with Barry and Steve
youtu.be
January 13, 2026 at 2:35 PM
The second instalment of 'Beers and SEO with Barry and Steve' is back! @polemicdigital.com and I discuss 'AI Survival Strategies for Publishers' - why publishers should double-down on SEO while also building audience on other platforms.
youtu.be/hX8TQDQHOqs?...
#publishing #seo #journalism #podcast
youtu.be/hX8TQDQHOqs?...
#publishing #seo #journalism #podcast
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
Another pod in the bag with @polemicdigital.com - coming out soon!
January 12, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Another pod in the bag with @polemicdigital.com - coming out soon!
Reposted by Barry Adams 📰
It does seem odd considering the traffic volumes from Google here! It's interesting to also think now how much effort YouTube will receive in 2026...
January 12, 2026 at 11:35 AM
It does seem odd considering the traffic volumes from Google here! It's interesting to also think now how much effort YouTube will receive in 2026...
“Most publishers who responded to the report now expect to put less effort into traditional Google search in 2026”
Yeah, because of course when something gets harder to do, you’re gonna put less effort in, that’s definitely going to make it better.
You’ll surely win a marathon by slowing down.
Yeah, because of course when something gets harder to do, you’re gonna put less effort in, that’s definitely going to make it better.
You’ll surely win a marathon by slowing down.
Global publisher Google traffic dropped by a third in 2025 according to new Chartbeat data
Since May 2023, Google search referrals were down 21% globally, with Google Discover down 18%
pressgazette.co.uk/media-audien...
Since May 2023, Google search referrals were down 21% globally, with Google Discover down 18%
pressgazette.co.uk/media-audien...
Global publisher Google traffic dropped by a third in 2025
Google search traffic was down globally by a third in the year to November, according to new Chartbeat data.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 10:07 AM
“Most publishers who responded to the report now expect to put less effort into traditional Google search in 2026”
Yeah, because of course when something gets harder to do, you’re gonna put less effort in, that’s definitely going to make it better.
You’ll surely win a marathon by slowing down.
Yeah, because of course when something gets harder to do, you’re gonna put less effort in, that’s definitely going to make it better.
You’ll surely win a marathon by slowing down.