Blair MacGregor
@blairmacgregor.bsky.social
Independent search analyst. I help people navigate the SEO landscape in a post-AI world. 15+ year marketer. Long-suffering #isles fan. https://www.enduragrowthpartners.com
Scrolled past this and got *really* freaked out for a second.
What happens when you ask your custom A.I. to savagely roast #ElonMusk?
Check out @lifewithmachines.bsky.social for rare conversations & using code in service of humanity.
Our SXSW episode e @rahaf.bsky.social & @mattklinman.bsky.social is on YouTube / your podcast app.
youtu.be/Fkf-7uCuHv4?...
Check out @lifewithmachines.bsky.social for rare conversations & using code in service of humanity.
Our SXSW episode e @rahaf.bsky.social & @mattklinman.bsky.social is on YouTube / your podcast app.
youtu.be/Fkf-7uCuHv4?...
April 9, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Scrolled past this and got *really* freaked out for a second.
😂 Fun flashback. For those who followed me here who might not know, I owned myspacesurveyfun.com, which I started early that year (2006) and took it from 0 to 15,000 monthly visits in roughly 3 months.
21 on this list is probably "myspace surveys." If not, I've gotta think it was top 100 at least!
21 on this list is probably "myspace surveys." If not, I've gotta think it was top 100 at least!
Blast from the past. Here's a slide from a 2006 presentation I gave on local search and the local internet. MySpace was the #1 keyword at the time according to Hitwise (now gone).
February 26, 2025 at 8:40 PM
😂 Fun flashback. For those who followed me here who might not know, I owned myspacesurveyfun.com, which I started early that year (2006) and took it from 0 to 15,000 monthly visits in roughly 3 months.
21 on this list is probably "myspace surveys." If not, I've gotta think it was top 100 at least!
21 on this list is probably "myspace surveys." If not, I've gotta think it was top 100 at least!
Google has declared, in the court of Google, that they are not violating Google's Site Reputation Abuse policies. Furthermore, Google is not trying to leverage Google's ranking signals to abuse its Google search rankings.
The #1 ranking site within Google's AI Overviews for "healthy movie snacks" is google.com
Turns out the content on this Google Store blog was written by a self-proclaimed freelance writer.
AKA the same thing that got many sites penalized for Site Reputation Abuse.
#SEO
Turns out the content on this Google Store blog was written by a self-proclaimed freelance writer.
AKA the same thing that got many sites penalized for Site Reputation Abuse.
#SEO
February 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Google has declared, in the court of Google, that they are not violating Google's Site Reputation Abuse policies. Furthermore, Google is not trying to leverage Google's ranking signals to abuse its Google search rankings.
I just built two different SEO scraper tools with GPT, both in Python, the second using Selenium as a headless browser to scrape the data I need.
I can't code my *own* way out of a paper bag, for the most part.
Crazy times.
I can't code my *own* way out of a paper bag, for the most part.
Crazy times.
February 15, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I just built two different SEO scraper tools with GPT, both in Python, the second using Selenium as a headless browser to scrape the data I need.
I can't code my *own* way out of a paper bag, for the most part.
Crazy times.
I can't code my *own* way out of a paper bag, for the most part.
Crazy times.
Another example of an AI Overview Google's experimenting with functionally taking up the whole SERP for a highly transactional "vs" keyword comparing two kids' bikes models.
February 4, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Another example of an AI Overview Google's experimenting with functionally taking up the whole SERP for a highly transactional "vs" keyword comparing two kids' bikes models.
Google wants (or says they want) to reward writers & publishers with domain expertise who know their subject inside out. E-E-A-T!
At the same time, journalism itself is getting squeezed; the ones that remain are spreading themselves thinner, working multiple beats.
Seems bad!
At the same time, journalism itself is getting squeezed; the ones that remain are spreading themselves thinner, working multiple beats.
Seems bad!
January 30, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Google wants (or says they want) to reward writers & publishers with domain expertise who know their subject inside out. E-E-A-T!
At the same time, journalism itself is getting squeezed; the ones that remain are spreading themselves thinner, working multiple beats.
Seems bad!
At the same time, journalism itself is getting squeezed; the ones that remain are spreading themselves thinner, working multiple beats.
Seems bad!
Plenty of reasons why legacy brands & the agencies that service them lose with SEO but speed is a big one. Take SERP features. Many of them move so fast at this point that if your average time-to-execute is 3-6 months, the SERP feature could be gone by the time you get approval.
January 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Plenty of reasons why legacy brands & the agencies that service them lose with SEO but speed is a big one. Take SERP features. Many of them move so fast at this point that if your average time-to-execute is 3-6 months, the SERP feature could be gone by the time you get approval.
Oh *this* could be fun. 😈
January 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Oh *this* could be fun. 😈
The weekly back and forth I have with myself between "any forecast has to quantify all possible scenarios with unassailable logic and point-by-point explanations of all formulas and factors 😠🫵" and "forecasting is all just guestimating, just do your best it's cool man ☮️"
January 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The weekly back and forth I have with myself between "any forecast has to quantify all possible scenarios with unassailable logic and point-by-point explanations of all formulas and factors 😠🫵" and "forecasting is all just guestimating, just do your best it's cool man ☮️"
I haven't tried DeepSeek yet (hopefully, I'll get a chance to play around with it today) but as of this second, I agree with this take: LLMs still aren't equipped to deal with tasks and workflows that require exact precision. But they're great for everything else. (And "everything else" is *a lot*!)
January 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I haven't tried DeepSeek yet (hopefully, I'll get a chance to play around with it today) but as of this second, I agree with this take: LLMs still aren't equipped to deal with tasks and workflows that require exact precision. But they're great for everything else. (And "everything else" is *a lot*!)
hUbSpOt's dYiNg!!! SeO iS dYiNg!!!!11
Oh wait. Actually, it looks like the main domain's traffic stayed relatively steady at the same time a bunch of ToFU content on the blog subdomain (that probably contributed zilch to pipeline/revenue) tanked. 🤔
Oh wait. Actually, it looks like the main domain's traffic stayed relatively steady at the same time a bunch of ToFU content on the blog subdomain (that probably contributed zilch to pipeline/revenue) tanked. 🤔
January 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
hUbSpOt's dYiNg!!! SeO iS dYiNg!!!!11
Oh wait. Actually, it looks like the main domain's traffic stayed relatively steady at the same time a bunch of ToFU content on the blog subdomain (that probably contributed zilch to pipeline/revenue) tanked. 🤔
Oh wait. Actually, it looks like the main domain's traffic stayed relatively steady at the same time a bunch of ToFU content on the blog subdomain (that probably contributed zilch to pipeline/revenue) tanked. 🤔
This part caught my eye, although I'm sure this is just codifying publicly what they've already been doing. (Thread 🧵)
January 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
This part caught my eye, although I'm sure this is just codifying publicly what they've already been doing. (Thread 🧵)
Everyone's freaking out about Hubspot's blog traffic tanking. But eyeballing the terms driving their biggest losses it's mostly really ToFU stuff like "famous quotes," "cover letter examples," "letter of resignation" etc. that wouldn't drive conversions for them anyway.
I think they'll be OK.
I think they'll be OK.
January 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Everyone's freaking out about Hubspot's blog traffic tanking. But eyeballing the terms driving their biggest losses it's mostly really ToFU stuff like "famous quotes," "cover letter examples," "letter of resignation" etc. that wouldn't drive conversions for them anyway.
I think they'll be OK.
I think they'll be OK.
This is stupid, I'm sorry. I still want to know why *this* part, that Google has now emphasized in the documentation, matters at all. All it will do is have a chilling effect on freelance writers trying to find work as publishers get spooked off from hiring them.
January 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is stupid, I'm sorry. I still want to know why *this* part, that Google has now emphasized in the documentation, matters at all. All it will do is have a chilling effect on freelance writers trying to find work as publishers get spooked off from hiring them.
This is one of the more significant drops I've personally seen after the consecutive Nov/Dec '24 Core Updates, with an estimated 56% loss (a consumer-focused health app and content site).
It's interesting that they've suddenly been hit with this. 🧵
It's interesting that they've suddenly been hit with this. 🧵
January 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This is one of the more significant drops I've personally seen after the consecutive Nov/Dec '24 Core Updates, with an estimated 56% loss (a consumer-focused health app and content site).
It's interesting that they've suddenly been hit with this. 🧵
It's interesting that they've suddenly been hit with this. 🧵
Reposted by Blair MacGregor
Quick Sunday thoughts about who I'm both bearish and bullish on regarding content marketing and SEO in 2025. 🧵
January 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Quick Sunday thoughts about who I'm both bearish and bullish on regarding content marketing and SEO in 2025. 🧵
Quick Sunday thoughts about who I'm both bearish and bullish on regarding content marketing and SEO in 2025. 🧵
January 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Quick Sunday thoughts about who I'm both bearish and bullish on regarding content marketing and SEO in 2025. 🧵
Dotdash Meredith's Jon Roberts on just how closely they're working with OpenAI and how it helps feed D/Cipher, their internal ad-targeting tool
January 17, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Dotdash Meredith's Jon Roberts on just how closely they're working with OpenAI and how it helps feed D/Cipher, their internal ad-targeting tool
Google, which scrapes more publisher data than any company on Earth, now has a newfound appetite for cracking down on SEO tool companies a fraction of their size scraping search data & will make it more costly to do so. Costs, which the tool companies will pass on to the user.
Yesterday Google implemented a change that essentially blocked many rank trackers and SERP scrapers. MANY SEO tools affected - even ones that tell you they aren't. It's affecting @serprecon.com at the moment because we use one of the same major API players the other tools do.
January 17, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Google, which scrapes more publisher data than any company on Earth, now has a newfound appetite for cracking down on SEO tool companies a fraction of their size scraping search data & will make it more costly to do so. Costs, which the tool companies will pass on to the user.
Great pickup by Glenn. The sheer global scale of these networks (Google, FB, etc.) means an astronomical amount of collateral damage whenever these changes are rolled out across the service. Even if they "work" more broadly & only negatively impact single-digit %s of users/sites.
Interested in how collateral damage happens with major Google algorithm updates. My latest post is for you -> Mark Zuckerberg Talks Classifiers, Confidence, and Algorithmic Collateral Damage [Video]
#google #seo
#google #seo
Mark Zuckerberg Talks Classifiers, Confidence, and Algorithmic Collateral Damage (And it relates to Google Algorithm Updates)
Glenn Gabe covers Mark Zuckerberg's recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast where he explained how machine learning classifiers work, including how confidence levels could impact the amount of coll...
www.gsqi.com
January 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Great pickup by Glenn. The sheer global scale of these networks (Google, FB, etc.) means an astronomical amount of collateral damage whenever these changes are rolled out across the service. Even if they "work" more broadly & only negatively impact single-digit %s of users/sites.
Running some query tests and got......whatever this is for a keyword comparing two kids' bike trailer/stroller products from the same manufacturer.
A side-by-side "comparison" followed by an AI overview that didn't populate above the actually good organic results that follow.
Not great!
A side-by-side "comparison" followed by an AI overview that didn't populate above the actually good organic results that follow.
Not great!
January 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Running some query tests and got......whatever this is for a keyword comparing two kids' bike trailer/stroller products from the same manufacturer.
A side-by-side "comparison" followed by an AI overview that didn't populate above the actually good organic results that follow.
Not great!
A side-by-side "comparison" followed by an AI overview that didn't populate above the actually good organic results that follow.
Not great!
Going back to read some stuff I had bookmarked over the holidays. These 3 companies from @viperchill.bsky.social's latest Gaps report are attacking the issue of publisher compensation from LLMs from a few different angles. For my publisher friends, might be worth checking out: gaps.com/nov-2024/
January 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Going back to read some stuff I had bookmarked over the holidays. These 3 companies from @viperchill.bsky.social's latest Gaps report are attacking the issue of publisher compensation from LLMs from a few different angles. For my publisher friends, might be worth checking out: gaps.com/nov-2024/
As LLM-powered search grows, the middleman/aggregator "directory" style business model could be at risk in 2025 and beyond if these trends continue.
ChatGPT Search has burst onto the scene, leaving local SEOs asking "where does it source its information from?" 🤔
We had the same question, so we conducted 800 manual local business web searches in ChatGPT, to find the sources it displays in its local results.🧪
www.brightlocal.com/research/unc...
We had the same question, so we conducted 800 manual local business web searches in ChatGPT, to find the sources it displays in its local results.🧪
www.brightlocal.com/research/unc...
Uncovering ChatGPT Search Sources - BrightLocal
ChatGPT Search is a real-time AI search engine. What sources does it use for results? What can we learn for generative engine optimization?
www.brightlocal.com
January 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
As LLM-powered search grows, the middleman/aggregator "directory" style business model could be at risk in 2025 and beyond if these trends continue.
The LinkedIn Pulse "collaborative article" driving the highest amount of traffic in the /advice/ sub-folder is this one, ranking #1 for the long-tail term "cat5e vs cat6" which is its highest driving organic keyword.
A collaborative article with all of the responses curiously selected from one guy.
A collaborative article with all of the responses curiously selected from one guy.
January 2, 2025 at 10:42 PM
The LinkedIn Pulse "collaborative article" driving the highest amount of traffic in the /advice/ sub-folder is this one, ranking #1 for the long-tail term "cat5e vs cat6" which is its highest driving organic keyword.
A collaborative article with all of the responses curiously selected from one guy.
A collaborative article with all of the responses curiously selected from one guy.
In other words, nothing's stopping Forbes from creating Forbes-Advisor dot com as a separate URL/entity (Other than domain signals, of course.)
Google's @searchliaison.bsky.social on treating a site within a site around first/third party content, site reputation abuse and starkly different content www.seroundtable.com/google-sites...
#google #googlesitereputationabuse #seo #googleseo
#google #googlesitereputationabuse #seo #googleseo
December 17, 2024 at 5:40 PM
In other words, nothing's stopping Forbes from creating Forbes-Advisor dot com as a separate URL/entity (Other than domain signals, of course.)