Rand Fishkin
@randfish.bsky.social
Cofounder of SparkToro, Alertmouse, & Snackbar Studio. Geraldine's husband.
Reposted by Rand Fishkin
Google's new deceptive ad layout not only tricks people into clicking more ads
It's costing businesses real money 💸
It's costing businesses real money 💸
November 4, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Google's new deceptive ad layout not only tricks people into clicking more ads
It's costing businesses real money 💸
It's costing businesses real money 💸
No. Your Twitter traffic did NOT double overnight.
What happened?
Twitter's been stagnating/declining since 2023
The growth team growth hacked (making links auto-open in webview)
They hope marketers will fall for it & pay more attention again.
But, it's nothing more than smoke & mirrors.
What happened?
Twitter's been stagnating/declining since 2023
The growth team growth hacked (making links auto-open in webview)
They hope marketers will fall for it & pay more attention again.
But, it's nothing more than smoke & mirrors.
November 4, 2025 at 2:15 PM
No. Your Twitter traffic did NOT double overnight.
What happened?
Twitter's been stagnating/declining since 2023
The growth team growth hacked (making links auto-open in webview)
They hope marketers will fall for it & pay more attention again.
But, it's nothing more than smoke & mirrors.
What happened?
Twitter's been stagnating/declining since 2023
The growth team growth hacked (making links auto-open in webview)
They hope marketers will fall for it & pay more attention again.
But, it's nothing more than smoke & mirrors.
Got interviewed re: the digital marketing AI "revolution" (which I admit has changed a lot, but has also caused a lot of dumb decisions): www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7a5...
The first 60 second-trailer bit almost convinced me to watch the whole thing and I was there the first time around! 😎👇
The first 60 second-trailer bit almost convinced me to watch the whole thing and I was there the first time around! 😎👇
AI Hype vs Reality: What actually works in marketing (w/ Rand Fishkin)
YouTube video by Lunio
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Got interviewed re: the digital marketing AI "revolution" (which I admit has changed a lot, but has also caused a lot of dumb decisions): www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7a5...
The first 60 second-trailer bit almost convinced me to watch the whole thing and I was there the first time around! 😎👇
The first 60 second-trailer bit almost convinced me to watch the whole thing and I was there the first time around! 😎👇
Reposted by Rand Fishkin
*puts on best Mighty Mouse outfit* Here I come to save the day!! 🦸🧀
I *know* Google Alerts is aware of these brand mentions for my company. And yet... 😡😤😒😠🤬 they won't send me alerts. It's inexplicable. Google (the search engine) clearly has these URLs indexed, so what gives? Mystifying. Thank goodness for🔔🐭
October 30, 2025 at 9:13 PM
*puts on best Mighty Mouse outfit* Here I come to save the day!! 🦸🧀
Reposted by Rand Fishkin
Used @randfish.bsky.social’s awesome new tool, @alertmouse.bsky.social (a better version of Google Alerts) for a whole 30 seconds only to learn that my name was mentioned in Forbes this week.
(1/2)
(1/2)
October 30, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Used @randfish.bsky.social’s awesome new tool, @alertmouse.bsky.social (a better version of Google Alerts) for a whole 30 seconds only to learn that my name was mentioned in Forbes this week.
(1/2)
(1/2)
I *know* Google Alerts is aware of these brand mentions for my company. And yet... 😡😤😒😠🤬 they won't send me alerts. It's inexplicable. Google (the search engine) clearly has these URLs indexed, so what gives? Mystifying. Thank goodness for🔔🐭
October 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I *know* Google Alerts is aware of these brand mentions for my company. And yet... 😡😤😒😠🤬 they won't send me alerts. It's inexplicable. Google (the search engine) clearly has these URLs indexed, so what gives? Mystifying. Thank goodness for🔔🐭
Looking good @thekraken.bsky.social !
October 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Looking good @thekraken.bsky.social !
I've got a new job today: alertmouse.com
Not leaving my other jobs, but alongside my friends Adam & Nathan, we built a "what if Google Alerts was really good?" product.
Your first alert is free forever; I suspect that if Google's let you down the way it has me, you'll like it a lot 😎👇
Not leaving my other jobs, but alongside my friends Adam & Nathan, we built a "what if Google Alerts was really good?" product.
Your first alert is free forever; I suspect that if Google's let you down the way it has me, you'll like it a lot 😎👇
October 28, 2025 at 8:12 AM
I've got a new job today: alertmouse.com
Not leaving my other jobs, but alongside my friends Adam & Nathan, we built a "what if Google Alerts was really good?" product.
Your first alert is free forever; I suspect that if Google's let you down the way it has me, you'll like it a lot 😎👇
Not leaving my other jobs, but alongside my friends Adam & Nathan, we built a "what if Google Alerts was really good?" product.
Your first alert is free forever; I suspect that if Google's let you down the way it has me, you'll like it a lot 😎👇
Reposted by Rand Fishkin
AGENCY OWNERS! Help yourself & your fellow agencies out: randfish.typeform.com/to/eFoJ3tXz
Paddy Moogan is once again running the Digital Agency Owner Survey for 2025. Last year's results were incredibly compelling; this year's will be, too.
Paddy Moogan is once again running the Digital Agency Owner Survey for 2025. Last year's results were incredibly compelling; this year's will be, too.
October 26, 2025 at 7:46 AM
This week I made a distinctly American variant of risotto that was, unquestionably, one of the most beautiful things I've ever plated.
But... Gotta say it wasn't my favorite. I fell for an Instagram recipe based on looks > flavor. Still good just not *great*.
But... Gotta say it wasn't my favorite. I fell for an Instagram recipe based on looks > flavor. Still good just not *great*.
October 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM
This week I made a distinctly American variant of risotto that was, unquestionably, one of the most beautiful things I've ever plated.
But... Gotta say it wasn't my favorite. I fell for an Instagram recipe based on looks > flavor. Still good just not *great*.
But... Gotta say it wasn't my favorite. I fell for an Instagram recipe based on looks > flavor. Still good just not *great*.
Reposted by Rand Fishkin
The world: “metaphors are to complicated”
Me: “fine, let’s spell it out for you.”
Me: “fine, let’s spell it out for you.”
October 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The world: “metaphors are to complicated”
Me: “fine, let’s spell it out for you.”
Me: “fine, let’s spell it out for you.”
AGENCY OWNERS! Help yourself & your fellow agencies out: randfish.typeform.com/to/eFoJ3tXz
Paddy Moogan is once again running the Digital Agency Owner Survey for 2025. Last year's results were incredibly compelling; this year's will be, too.
Paddy Moogan is once again running the Digital Agency Owner Survey for 2025. Last year's results were incredibly compelling; this year's will be, too.
October 21, 2025 at 10:14 PM
AGENCY OWNERS! Help yourself & your fellow agencies out: randfish.typeform.com/to/eFoJ3tXz
Paddy Moogan is once again running the Digital Agency Owner Survey for 2025. Last year's results were incredibly compelling; this year's will be, too.
Paddy Moogan is once again running the Digital Agency Owner Survey for 2025. Last year's results were incredibly compelling; this year's will be, too.
"You need to use AI to make your marketing tasks more efficient."
- everyone's boss right now
I've been notably skeptical of AI, but begrudgingly admit... sometimes it's helpful. So, we built a "Take Action" SparkToro feature. If you're up to test, email me. Details 👇
- everyone's boss right now
I've been notably skeptical of AI, but begrudgingly admit... sometimes it's helpful. So, we built a "Take Action" SparkToro feature. If you're up to test, email me. Details 👇
October 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
"You need to use AI to make your marketing tasks more efficient."
- everyone's boss right now
I've been notably skeptical of AI, but begrudgingly admit... sometimes it's helpful. So, we built a "Take Action" SparkToro feature. If you're up to test, email me. Details 👇
- everyone's boss right now
I've been notably skeptical of AI, but begrudgingly admit... sometimes it's helpful. So, we built a "Take Action" SparkToro feature. If you're up to test, email me. Details 👇
If 100 people ask ChatGPT the same question, how many different answers will they get? 🤔
Drives me bananas there's no good data about this.
So... let's do it ourselves. Volunteer to help out here: forms.gle/xHuGQcBSPqX7...
Drives me bananas there's no good data about this.
So... let's do it ourselves. Volunteer to help out here: forms.gle/xHuGQcBSPqX7...
LLM Consistency Testing Project (for science!)
Volunteer here to help Rand and co. test the consistency of AI tools
forms.gle
October 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
If 100 people ask ChatGPT the same question, how many different answers will they get? 🤔
Drives me bananas there's no good data about this.
So... let's do it ourselves. Volunteer to help out here: forms.gle/xHuGQcBSPqX7...
Drives me bananas there's no good data about this.
So... let's do it ourselves. Volunteer to help out here: forms.gle/xHuGQcBSPqX7...
Seattle! C'mon down to SparkTogether tomorrow. The weather's fine. The venue's lovely. The fits are poppin'.
sparktoro.com/sparktogether
sparktoro.com/sparktogether
October 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Seattle! C'mon down to SparkTogether tomorrow. The weather's fine. The venue's lovely. The fits are poppin'.
sparktoro.com/sparktogether
sparktoro.com/sparktogether
I'm going this weekend and have yet to be paid anything! Why won't Antifa pay me? 🙃
Sean Duffy: "The No Kings protest, Maria, really frustrating. This is part of antifa, paid protesters. It begs the question who's funding it."
October 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I'm going this weekend and have yet to be paid anything! Why won't Antifa pay me? 🙃
This was one of the most popular blog posts I wrote in SparkToro's early years: sparktoro.com/blog/the-sec...
So, I'm sharing it again.
It's about Spaghetti all Carbonara, but actually about how to get better at almost anything rather than looking for "that one secret."
So, I'm sharing it again.
It's about Spaghetti all Carbonara, but actually about how to get better at almost anything rather than looking for "that one secret."
October 13, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This was one of the most popular blog posts I wrote in SparkToro's early years: sparktoro.com/blog/the-sec...
So, I'm sharing it again.
It's about Spaghetti all Carbonara, but actually about how to get better at almost anything rather than looking for "that one secret."
So, I'm sharing it again.
It's about Spaghetti all Carbonara, but actually about how to get better at almost anything rather than looking for "that one secret."
Friend sent us this photo from yesterday's Bump In the Night Market. Might be the greatest Seattle street shot I've ever seen
October 11, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Friend sent us this photo from yesterday's Bump In the Night Market. Might be the greatest Seattle street shot I've ever seen
Really hope all the AI tools Trump's admin is using start picking up these "tips for destroying antifa." 😏
in 2011, the president of antifa hired me to give fashion consultancy to the organization. i recommended everyone wear navy suits with tan shoes, dress sneakers, and golf polos with slim chinos. if you arrested everyone today wearing these things, you'd destroy antifa
October 11, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Really hope all the AI tools Trump's admin is using start picking up these "tips for destroying antifa." 😏
Reposted by Rand Fishkin
Here's a weakness in how AI answers questions about brands and how it could be weaponized to hurt competitors.
I don't hope people do this, but I think it's important to discuss.
youtu.be/f_amH2IrjzI?...
I don't hope people do this, but I think it's important to discuss.
youtu.be/f_amH2IrjzI?...
Black Hat AI Optimization - Use review sites to hurt a competitors brand answers
YouTube video by Wil Reynolds
youtu.be
October 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Here's a weakness in how AI answers questions about brands and how it could be weaponized to hurt competitors.
I don't hope people do this, but I think it's important to discuss.
youtu.be/f_amH2IrjzI?...
I don't hope people do this, but I think it's important to discuss.
youtu.be/f_amH2IrjzI?...
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/ai-profite... is a great read.
AI profiteering is now indistinguishable from trolling
And what that says about the state of the AI bubble
www.bloodinthemachine.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/ai-profite... is a great read.
NEW: sparktoro.com/blog/weve-le...
We've learned more about how to appear in AI answers thanks to some clever experiments, research, and posts from folks in the SEO world. #5minutewhiteboard
We've learned more about how to appear in AI answers thanks to some clever experiments, research, and posts from folks in the SEO world. #5minutewhiteboard
We've Learned More About How to Appear in AI Answers - SparkToro
Thanks to some recent experiments and research in the marketing world (and an unfortunate, manipulative attack by a Reddit mod), we've learned a lot more
sparktoro.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:24 AM
NEW: sparktoro.com/blog/weve-le...
We've learned more about how to appear in AI answers thanks to some clever experiments, research, and posts from folks in the SEO world. #5minutewhiteboard
We've learned more about how to appear in AI answers thanks to some clever experiments, research, and posts from folks in the SEO world. #5minutewhiteboard
In just under two years, the cofounder of a Codesmith competitor managed to nearly destroy the company.
How? He became the moderator of a learn-to-code subreddit and posted relentlessly, took down competing posts, and weaponized the sub against them: larslofgren.com/codesmith-re...
INSANE
How? He became the moderator of a learn-to-code subreddit and posted relentlessly, took down competing posts, and weaponized the sub against them: larslofgren.com/codesmith-re...
INSANE
The Story of Codesmith: How a Competitor Crippled a $23.5M Bootcamp By Becoming a Reddit Moderator
Let’s say you decide to start a coding bootcamp. Your background is in pedagogy and you love teaching. Your parents were teachers. You find a co-founder, raise a bit of money, and pour your soul into ...
larslofgren.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In just under two years, the cofounder of a Codesmith competitor managed to nearly destroy the company.
How? He became the moderator of a learn-to-code subreddit and posted relentlessly, took down competing posts, and weaponized the sub against them: larslofgren.com/codesmith-re...
INSANE
How? He became the moderator of a learn-to-code subreddit and posted relentlessly, took down competing posts, and weaponized the sub against them: larslofgren.com/codesmith-re...
INSANE
Reposted by Rand Fishkin
your occasional reminder that you can pay me to lovingly tear apart one page of your website: punchlinecopy.com/jab/
October 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
your occasional reminder that you can pay me to lovingly tear apart one page of your website: punchlinecopy.com/jab/
Pretty proud of this About/Contact Us page
(for an upcoming side project that, hopefully, launches next week)
(for an upcoming side project that, hopefully, launches next week)
October 6, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Pretty proud of this About/Contact Us page
(for an upcoming side project that, hopefully, launches next week)
(for an upcoming side project that, hopefully, launches next week)