30-year SEO pro shows how to adapt to Google’s zero-click search

PLUS: Top 6 AI-powered content creation tools for SMEs

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Highlights from today's newsletter:
🔍 ChatGPT impact on Google search traffic
📈 The evolution of Google Ads and the future of PPC
🤖 Google expands AI mode for conversational search and enhanced user experience

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TOP OF THE SERPS 🏆

Search isn’t just a keyword box—and Google isn’t the only game in town.

At POSSIBLE 2025, AdMedia’s Jeff Alderman and Macy’s Mitch Cross laid out a clear case for moving beyond Google’s grip on performance marketing. While CPCs climb and returns flatten, growth is increasingly found in retail media networks, contextual placements, and app-based search.

The takeaway: smart marketers aren’t abandoning Google, they’re challenging its monopoly on spend—and winning more qualified, lower-cost conversions by doing it. If your performance playbook still starts and ends with Google, it’s time to turn the page.

AI & SEO 🖱️

SEARCH TECHNOLOGY SHIFT
ChatGPT Is Shifting Top-Of-Funnel Search Behavior Away from Google
ChatGPT’s rapid adoption is reducing Google’s dominance in top-of-funnel informational queries, as users increasingly turn to AI-generated answers rather than traditional search results. This erodes website traffic for content marketers and SEO professionals, making adaptability to Generative Engine Optimization essential for maintaining brand visibility in AI-driven environments.

SEARCH TECHNOLOGY
Google Expands AI Mode for Conversational Search and Enhanced User Experience
Google has launched AI mode in its U.S. search engine, using Gemini 2.5 to enable conversational responses and complex query handling, directly impacting web traffic patterns.

BrightEdge reports a 30% decline in search clickthrough rates as users increasingly rely on AI overviews. New features and a $250 Ultra subscription suggest Google is doubling down on AI integration amid rising competition from ChatGPT and Perplexity.

INNOVATIVE MARKETING TECHNOLOGIES
Edelman Introduces GEOsight to Help Brands Manage AI-Generated Search Results
Edelman has introduced GEOsight, a generative engine optimization service enabling brands to manage their visibility in AI-generated search results using earned media and trust analytics.

This move responds to the increasing influence of large language models in shaping consumer perceptions.

EXTRA CLICKS FOR THOUGHT 💡

SEARCH MARKETING TRENDS
30-Year SEO Pro Shows How to Adapt to Google’s Zero-Click Search
Michael Bonfils explains that AI-powered search is reducing clicks, raising cost-per-click, and erasing valuable mid-funnel user data, which undermines traditional SEO strategies.

He asserts that measuring visibility impressions and optimizing for FAQ-style, conversational content are now essential to maintaining relevance as keyword-centric models lose effectiveness.

DIGITAL ADVERTISING TRENDS
The Evolution of Google Ads and The Future of PPC
Paid search is shifting from manual controls and granular keyword management to automated bidding and data-driven inputs, reducing advertiser control but increasing reliance on AI and machine learning.

Google’s shrinking search dominance, zero-click searches, and the influence of platforms like TikTok require PPC professionals to master creative, integrated, and adaptive approaches. Staying competitive demands merging SEO and PPC, prioritizing data quality and personalization, and constantly updating skills.

CONTENT CREATION
Top 6 AI-Powered Content Creation Tools for SMEs
Six leading AI-powered content creation tools—Jasper, Copy.ai, Writesonic, Grammarly, Canva Magic Studio, and Surfer SEO—streamline content development for SMEs by automating writing, editing, and design tasks. These platforms help businesses reduce costs, maintain quality, and accelerate output, crucial for resource-limited teams.

SOUNDS OF SEARCH 🎧

Many local business websites suffer from lack of Google indexing, resulting in zero visibility, traffic, or leads. Regular use of Google Search Console, the URL Inspection Tool, and direct index checks is critical for diagnosing and correcting these issues. Accurate indexing remains fundamental for online growth.

MORE THAN A NEWSLETTER

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