When Google launched the March 2025 core update last week, Google said there will be a series of improvements aimed to help “better surface relevant, satisfying content” from content creators “thoughtout this year.” But you should not expect all sites to fully recover by the end of the 2025 year, that simply won’t happen.
What Google said. Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liaison, in a conversation on X with Travel blogger, Nate Hank, explained that there is a caveat to the statement about surfacing those sites better in Google Search again. Sullivan wrote, “With the important caveat that this doesn’t mean all sites will go back up to wherever they were if they are down from a previous peak.”
Some sites don’t deserve to rank. That means that not all sites will rank as well as they did because, as Sullivan wrote, “some sites with great content and hearts in the right place still don’t provide a satisfying page experience.”
Sullivan added, “But our systems themselves need to get better; it’s not all on creators sites that really do have good, solid content.”
Different systems impact different sites. In addition, different core ranking systems may impact one site but not the other, in the same way. “From the group you were with that came out and generously shared your time, not everyone is impacted by exactly the same ranking systems,” Sullivan said. That means, you need to wait for the system or systems that impacted your site in earlier updates, will have a positive impact in future updates – and honestly that might never happen.
Search evolves. Plus, search evolves. What Google ranked in 2023 is not what Google wants to rank in 2025. Sullivan wrote, “Our results have continued to change since 2023, including showing more social content, for example. The results are going to continue to evolve.”
Why we care. Google is committed to continue to make improvements to its search algorithms and systems. Google is aware of the issues many of those who went to the web creator summit won’t recover, Google said that already.
But do expect more Google updates to its core ranking systems throughout 2025, as we have seen with previous core updates and we will see in future core updates this year and in 2026 and beyond.
https://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/google-ranking-chart-1920-800x457-xBObBc.jpeg457800Hervé @ C-SERPhttps://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Logo-C-SERP-Blog-Storytelling-SEO.pngHervé @ C-SERP2025-03-21 22:48:042025-03-21 22:48:04Google: Not all sites will fully recover with future core algorithm updates
Google is rolling out a significant update to its Performance Max campaigns, giving advertisers more transparency and control over their ad placements.
The big picture:
Performance Max search terms are now visible in the standard Search Terms report
Advertisers can add negative keywords directly from the report
The update integrates with Google’s recent addition of negative keyword capabilities for Performance Max
Why we care. This change addresses one of the biggest criticisms of Performance Max campaigns: lack of visibility into which search queries trigger ads. Advertisers now have the same level of insight and control they’re accustomed to with standard Search campaigns.
Behind the scenes. The update was first spotted by digital marketer Hana Kobzová, suggesting a gradual rollout that hasn’t reached all Google Ads accounts yet.
What’s next? This update represents Google’s ongoing effort to make automated campaign types more transparent while maintaining their AI-driven optimization benefits.
The bottom line. For advertisers who have been hesitant to fully embrace Performance Max due to its “black box” nature, this added transparency could make the campaign type significantly more attractive.
Juggling campaigns across Google, Microsoft Bing, and social platforms while maximizing every click is a challenge – and those clicks aren’t cheap.
That’s why Chrome extensions are PPC game-changers. They sit in your browser, ready to help without the hassle of switching tools.
Imagine this: you’re analyzing competitors, tweaking ad copy, and tracking keywords – all without juggling tabs or draining your focus.
The best part? Most top extensions are free.
No budget approvals, no learning curve – just click, install, and start optimizing faster.
Whether you’re a PPC pro or just starting out, the right Chrome extensions can give you the edge you need to stay ahead.
1. Wappalyzer: The technology detective every PPC marketer needs
If you’ve ever been in a client pitch or needed to dig up intel on a competitor’s website, you know how valuable it is to understand what technology stack they’re using.
Enter Wappalyzer – the technology profiler that gives you x-ray vision into any website’s tech foundation.
Unlike surface-level tools that just scratch the tech surface, Wappalyzer dives deep to reveal the full technology stack powering any website. With a single click, you’ll uncover:
Which CMS the site runs on (WordPress, Shopify, Wix, etc.).
Ecommerce platforms and payment processors.
Marketing automation tools and analytics.
JavaScript frameworks and libraries.
Server technologies and hosting solutions.
Thousands of other technologies.
Example results from a Wappalyzer analysis
For PPC specialists, this information is pure gold.
When pitching new clients, you can casually drop insights about their current tech setup and how your PPC strategies would complement their existing tools.
Imagine saying, “I see you’re using Shopify with Klaviyo for email marketing. Here’s how we could optimize your Google Shopping campaigns to work seamlessly with that setup.”
During competitive research, Wappalyzer lets you identify which ad platforms and tracking tools your competitors use.
This intelligence helps you make smarter decisions about your own PPC strategy and tech stack.
And for those PPC audits?
Wappalyzer makes you look like a technical genius.
You can quickly:
Spot potential conversion tracking issues.
Identify if the proper analytics tools are installed.
Recommend technology upgrades that would improve campaign performance.
Wappalyzer gives you the competitive edge that makes the difference between being just another PPC manager and being the insightful digital marketing expert clients can’t wait to work with.
The Google Ads interface isn’t exactly winning any design awards.
It’s functional but often frustrating, especially when you’re trying to make bulk changes or quickly scan critical information.
That’s why the Google Ads Usability Booster extension deserves a permanent spot in your PPC toolkit.
This add-on transforms the clunky Google Ads experience into something that actually feels designed for professionals who value their time and sanity.
Usability Booster settings
The Usability Booster tackles the most common Google Ads interface headaches:
No more squinting: Say goodbye to cut-off content with automatically widened fields that show complete text without constant scrolling or hovering.
Color-coded tables: Each color has a specific meaning, dramatically improving readability and making pattern recognition instant rather than requiring careful analysis.
Reduced eye strain: Mouse tooltips deliver the information you need without constant eye movement across the screen.
Click anywhere to select: A small but mighty feature: click anywhere in a row to select/deselect its checkbox, rather than precisely targeting the tiny box itself.
The beauty of this extension is its seamless integration. Once installed, it automatically activates whenever you open the Google Ads interface.
It injects helpful CSS modifications to improve field sizes and adds powerful keyboard shortcuts and click behaviors that should have been part of Google Ads from the beginning.
For PPC managers handling multiple accounts and campaigns, these small improvements add up to hours saved weekly and significantly reduce frustration.
When your entire workday revolves around the Google Ads platform, this extension isn’t just nice to have – it’s practically essential.
Colored metrics by Usability Booster
3. Pixel Helper: Your tracking guarding angel
Worried your conversion pixels aren’t firing?
These platform-specific helpers act as real-time trackers, ensuring your ad spend isn’t wasted on glitches.
They’re essential for setup, audits, and troubleshooting when campaign data doesn’t add up.
Stop guessing if your Facebook and Instagram conversion events are working.
Meta’s Pixel Helper instantly shows you which events are firing, highlights implementation errors, and confirms if your CAPI (Conversions API) setup works alongside your pixel.
When clients ask why their campaign isn’t converting, you’ll know in seconds if tracking is the culprit.
TikTok‘s booming ad platform requires its own pixel verification.
This extension confirms event tracking on your landing pages and ecommerce funnels.
It shows exactly which events TikTok is receiving and if your pixel is capturing valuable information like purchase values and customer actions correctly.
Microsoft’s UET (Universal Event Tracking) Tag Helper is indispensable for anyone running Microsoft Ads.
This extension instantly:
Validates that your UET tags are correctly implemented.
Shows which conversion actions are firing.
Helps diagnose tracking issues.
It provides detailed insights into event parameters and timing, allowing you to optimize campaigns confidently, knowing your conversion data is accurate.
For those running multi-platform campaigns, this tool ensures your Microsoft Ads performance is tracked as meticulously as your Google campaigns.
Last but not least, the Google Ads Tag Assistant should be mentioned as a core Chrome extension.
Tag Assistant does the heavy lifting when it comes to verifying your tracking setup:
Instant tag detection: Simply navigate to any page, click the extension, and immediately see which Google tags are in a convenient side panel. No more guessing if tags are firing.
Cross-platform validation: It verifies all your Google tracking implementations in one place: Google Analytics, Google Ads conversion tracking, Google Tag Manager containers, and more.
Advanced debugging mode: The Troubleshoot button activates a powerful debug mode through tagassistant.google.com, giving you forensic-level insights into tag behavior.
Deep diagnostic capabilities: Debug even the most complex setups, including iframes and cross-domain tracking, with session data saved for thorough analysis.
The extension had some major updates over the last years, which resulted in versions that were not working properly or being buggy.
However, Google acknowledged community feedback and promised to improve the extension to its former strength, so I still recommend installing it.
Many use I Search From to monitor ads in other locations – a reliable and effective tool.
For faster results and greater control, try GS Location Changer (stylized as gs location changer).
It lets you switch locations directly from the extension menu and customize coordinates, language, and region settings.
5. Analytics Debugger
Juggling multiple analytics platforms and pixels? Analytics Debugger is your all-in-one solution for tracking validation – a true “single source of truth.”
Here’s what makes it stand out:
Cross-platform support: Covers major systems like Google Tag Manager, GA4, Tealium, Adobe, and more. No more switching tools.
For PPC pros who work with developers or build automation, Google Ads API Web Navi is an invaluable tool. It’s simple yet powerful, solving a key problem easily.
Some of its key benefits include:
Context-aware documentation: Automatically links the Google Ads UI to relevant API documentation as you navigate.
Faster research: Instantly surfaces the right API references, saving you hours of digging.
Google Ads API support: Works with both legacy and current systems.
This tool eliminates confusion for PPC managers collaborating with developers.
Instead of explaining where to find data, you can share precise documentation links with a click.
For tech-savvy PPC specialists, it’s a massive time-saver – allowing you to focus on building solutions instead of searching API libraries.
A note on extensions and Chrome’s Manifest V3
Chrome’s recent Manifest V3 update impacts many extensions, changing data collection and functionality rules.
Some PPC extensions may experience downtime, but most actively maintained tools (like those mentioned here) should resolve issues with updates.
If an extension isn’t working, patience is often the best approach.
Power up your PPC strategy with these essential Chrome extensions
The right Chrome extensions can transform your PPC workflow – saving you time, improving accuracy, and giving you deeper insights.
By adding these powerful tools to your arsenal, you’ll spend less time troubleshooting and more time driving results.
Install, optimize, and watch your campaigns thrive.
Relying solely on Google for search visibility is no longer viable today.
Search behavior is diversifying, particularly among younger demographics.
Gen Z is increasingly turning to platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and Reddit for information discovery.
This shift highlights the need for brands to embrace a total search strategy – an approach that integrates multiple search and discovery channels to create a more holistic and resilient search presence.
The risks of Google dependency
Google’s algorithm changes frequently, and core updates can significantly impact website rankings overnight.
Over-reliance on a single search engine makes brands vulnerable to fluctuations beyond their control.
At the same time, a diversified approach allows businesses to mitigate risks while expanding their reach across multiple discovery platforms.
How to develop a total search strategy
To successfully implement a total search strategy, SEO practitioners should follow a structured framework, starting with audience research.
1. Audience research
Before investing in alternative search platforms, you must first identify where your audience spends time online and how they search for information.
Similarweb: Gain insights into competitors’ referral traffic and social media engagement.
SparkToro: Identify which websites, social accounts, and podcasts your audience engages with.
First-party data and surveys: Gather direct insights from your audience through on-site surveys or CRM data.
Ad platform data: If you have segmentation data on your current user base, you can scope out potential reach in more detail by setting up (but not activating) campaigns on various platforms.
This will allow you to compare audience sizes across platforms.
To do this, input targeting variables such as company size, job title, and industry to build an audience segment in the platform – after which you’ll be shown the audience size.
2. Strategy development
Once audience research is complete and you have a clear picture of the platforms your audience uses for brand and product discovery, you can begin to map out your strategy.
The decision over how much effort you’re able to put into each platform will depend on available resources and budget, so it’s a good idea to prioritize the channels that:
Currently refer a decent portion of traffic to your website (GA4 data).
Are referring a large portion of traffic to your competitors (Similarweb data).
Have a large addressable audience (a large number of people in your ideal customer profile) – you can find this number by setting up a shell campaign, as shown above.
You can service based on current resources. For example, do you have a large bank of videos available? If so, optimizing this content for video platforms such as YouTube and TikTok would be wise.
Creating platform-specific content strategies
The content required for each platform needs to be tailored to user behavior and platform norms.
Research is critical in identifying content opportunities and topics your audience is actively searching for.
Keyword research for YouTube and Pinterest
You can conduct platform-specific keyword research in many cases.
For example, there are methods of keyword research on YouTube to identify the most common searches directly within YouTube’s search bar.
Other visual search platforms, such as Pinterest, allow you to conduct in-platform content (keyword) research.
The easiest way to uncover high-traffic keywords on Pinterest is to use the Pinterest Ads keyword research tool, a free feature within the platform’s advertising section.
While it’s accessed within the ad creation process, you don’t need to run ads to use it:
Switch to a Business Account: You’ll need this to access the Ads section.
Go to Ads > Create Campaign: Select Traffic as your campaign type and proceed.
Find the keyword section: Enter a broad search term to see keyword suggestions along with search volume.
Save and organize keywords: Click the + button to build a keyword list, but keep a separate record if you want to retain volume data.
This tool will make it easier to optimize your profile, boards, and pins for greater visibility.
You can then create content that matches what users are actively searching for, increasing engagement and discovery.
This process will vary based on your platform choices, but let’s focus on an example from TikTok to highlight how to optimize content for its search algorithm.
Optimizing on TikTok takes a much different approach than optimizing for Google.
On TikTok, you have limited levers to pull, but you can focus on:
Saying your keywords aloud in the audio.
Overlaying keywords as text in your video.
Including keywords in your audio transcript.
Using relevant keywords in your video caption.
Incorporating keywords as hashtags.
Just like with traditional search engines, balancing SEO and brand authenticity is crucial.
Focusing on these foundational strategies will enhance your search visibility and improve content discoverability.
4. Measurement
Success in total search requires a holistic approach to organic search measurement. To do this, focus on the following areas:
In-platform traffic and engagement metrics: Analyze platform analytics (TikTok Insights, LinkedIn Analytics, etc.). These provide deeper insights than GA4.
Total search referrals: Tracking visibility outside of traditional search relies on monitoring the volume of referrals each site delivers over time.
At a basic level, a total search dashboard in GA4 can be achieved by filtering out specific sources into a singular view to assess performance over time.
In-platform data (e.g., Pinterest) is more useful for granular performance insights.
Getting started
It’s clear that influencing customers beyond Google is essential to remain discoverable, adaptable, and competitive in the evolving search landscape.
Now, it’s time to move from theory to practice.
Start by focusing on the following steps to get things off the ground:
Conduct an audit of your referral traffic using GA4.
Identify top alternative platforms based on competitor and customer research.
Develop platform-specific content tailored to trending topics and searches.
Start testing and measuring impact beyond Google Search via a total search dashboard.
https://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/GA4-Acquisition-Traffic-Acquisition-p4MjIM.png9571600Hervé @ C-SERPhttps://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Logo-C-SERP-Blog-Storytelling-SEO.pngHervé @ C-SERP2025-03-21 13:00:002025-03-21 13:00:00Beyond Google: How to put a total search strategy together
If you’re managing multiple campaigns for your brand or your clients, you know how hard it is to scale landing page creation without sacrificing performance.
This guide breaks it down—with real examples, tactical insights, and repeatable strategies from a designer who helped generate 14.8 million conversions using Unbounce.
Inside, you’ll get:
5 high-performing landing page designs from SaaS, education, and entertainment industries
Conversion-driven tactics you can apply to your own campaigns
Smart tips for building faster, designing for mobile, and increasing results without reinventing the wheel
Whether you’re designing in-house or outsourcing to your creative team, this guide delivers repeatable tactics you can put to work right away—whether you’re working in-house or across multiple clients. Get it here.
https://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/Landing-page-examples-505vpY.jpeg10801920Hervé @ C-SERPhttps://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Logo-C-SERP-Blog-Storytelling-SEO.pngHervé @ C-SERP2025-03-20 23:02:422025-03-20 23:02:42Templates, tactics, and tips from 1,000 high-converting pages by Digital Marketing Depot
In December Google added 24-hour data to the Search Performance report in Google Search Console. Now, that data will soon be available in the Search Console API, and you get not just the past 24-hours of that 24-hour data, you can get the hourly data for the past 8 days.
Announcement. This was announced by Daniel Waisberg, from the Google Search team, at the Google Search Central Live event in New York City just a minute ago.
24-hour data. When Google announced this originally, Google said this “view includes data from the last available 24 hours and will appear with a delay of only a few hours.” Google added:
“The ’24 hours’ view includes hourly granularity in an overtime graph, which is available in all 3 performance reports: Search results, Discover, and Google News. To show you data as soon as possible, Search Console will show data points as soon as we have any data on them, even if we haven’t completed collecting all the data for these points. We will indicate this in the UI using a dotted line.”
Export. Google added the ability to export the data in a few file formats back in January. But now you also can access the data via the API, so you can get more real-time data to your internal tools or third-party SEO tools.
Why we care. Being able to access this data outside of the web interface in Google Search Console can be super helpful when trying to debug and discover new insights. Having API access lets you program your own reporting and dashboards to see this data, in almost real time, from Google Search Console. That being said, the more recent data is not always the final data that Google shows, so reviewing the data again may be important, depending on what reports you are trying to generate.
Keep an eye on this data, validate it against the other exports, and see how you can use it to improve your site and content over time.
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Google’s AI Mode became available earlier this month as a Google Search Labs experiment.
After performing hundreds of AI Mode searches across transactional, navigational, commercial, and informational intents on both desktop and mobile platforms, carefully tracking metrics including word count, citation frequency, blue link prevalence, thumbnail usage, local intent signals, and other distinctive patterns, here’s what SEOs and marketers need to know about Google’s AI Mode.
It’s genuinely AI-powered
The query [cheap flights] produced many different outputs, ranging from 370 to 449 words, with anywhere from 13 to 39 right-sidebar citations.
Local intent is everywhere
Even for queries where location makes zero sense, queries like [online courses], [subscribe newsletter], and [youtube login] included location context.
Navigation patterns
Searches for DuckDuckGo, Gmail, CNN, YouTube, Twitter, and Wikipedia all bypass AI Mode completely, reverting to traditional Google SERPs with 8-10 blue links.
Commercial and Informational keywords have the longest AI Mode outputs
These appear more like blog posts. For example, [Laptop brands] produced 576 words with 56 citations, while [Causes of the French Revolution] produced 512 words with 12 citations.
Reminder: these will likely look different when/if you run these queries.
Previously buried page 2 results now appear as citations
Queries that produce no AI Mode output, just the blue links (like [Twittter]) surfaces URLs that were previously hidden beneath featured snippets and on Page 2. There’s also visibility for page 2 URLs with keywords that produce longer citations.
Thumbnail insights
Images get cropped to 82×82 px from the most prominent (or optimized for the keyword) image or on-page headers.
Also, URLs without thumbnails stay thumbnail-less until Google finds a usable image. Check your URLs and add relevant images when appropriate.
Local brand winners emerging
Best Buy (if you have one semi-nearby) is crushing it in commercial searches (especially with local intent), while SmartAssist set the record for most blue links within an AI output result for [mortgage rates].
Note: You’ll likely have different locally referenced winners for your area.
Blue link records
[Lightweight hiking boots reviews] had 21 blue links (with anchor text) within one AI Mode output (and only three right-sidebar citations).
This creates a massive opportunity for visibility if you can create supporting content for Google to cite within AI Outputs that have a propensity to produce higher in-text citations.
Additional AI Mode insights
Advanced citation mechanics: AI Output links frequently take you to pages with referenced text highlighted (just like featured snippets occasionally do). This is a huge clue about what Google values on the page!
Mobile vs desktop divide: Mobile AI Mode consistently shows ~50% fewer citations than desktop. Definitely optimizing differently for smaller screens.
Citation patterns by intent: Informational queries get minimal citation love – [why is the sky blue], [bitcoin explained], and [how to calculate compound interest] all had just three or four citations (the lowest observed).
Mathematical oddities: Inconsistencies were found between the number of citations listed and the actual results shown. The system still has bugs/quirks worth exploring.
Thumbnail insights: ~85% of citations display thumbnails – if you’re in the 15% without, you’re at a significant disadvantage for clicks.
Traditional SEO disrupted: [Book flights] now surfaces competitive blue links that were previously buried beneath Google Flights. OTAs are getting unexpected visibility.
Citation reputation matters: LinkedIn posts dominate citations for [best seo in the world] (Neil Patel’s older content heavily cited for [top seos] and [top seo agencies] queries) – historical authority still weighs heavily.
UX quirk: You lose the full right-side citation list once you interact with any in-text link citations (the little circle links).
Google’s positioning: AI Mode works hard to convey Google’s real-time + location relevance (their competitive edge) with oddly specific contextual statements like “relevant for someone in Mound, MN, interested in enhancing skills or exploring new subjects in March 2025 for [online courses].
Brand queries get hyperlocal: [Disney] and [NASA] triggered results about brand-related events near Minneapolis – suggesting high local intent weighting even for major brands.
Infrastructure insights: Occasional “something went wrong with this response” errors suggest Google’s still figuring out the cost/infrastructure balance for running LLMs at scale.
Working out bugs: Found entirely random citations (like “Used RVs For Sale in Rutland, MA” showing up for “laptop brands”) – suggests some noise in the system that G still has to work out.
What this means
The rules of SEO are being rewritten.
There’s a massive opportunity to learn about how Google is integrating AI technology and optimizing for AI Mode citations like this before it’s mainstream.
Sites that were previously buried on Page 2 of Google now have a fighting chance through evaluating AI output content, topics, and citations – and revamping their content to better compete.
Also, add a relevant photo that helps entice a click. Remember, these will be cropped square at the center.
https://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/google-ai-mode-best-furniture-stores-near-me-1nbDM6.png10311257Hervé @ C-SERPhttps://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Logo-C-SERP-Blog-Storytelling-SEO.pngHervé @ C-SERP2025-03-20 19:11:442025-03-20 19:11:44Google’s AI Mode: Here’s what matters for SEOs and marketers
If users don’t interact with your page in Google’s search results, Google may remove that page from its results – or possibly even its index.
That’s according to a recent short video Google’s Martin Splitt posted on the Google Search Central YouTube channel.
This information confirms what Google said in their recent (since 2019) communication and once again with the Navboost details from the DOJ trails, and the data leak.
What Google said. Here is a partial quote from the video, which I will embed below:
“If they are not showing up so it’s either that the query is a bit weird or that the query hasn’t actually been asked that much or that we have other pages that we think will help the user more than yours. So that’s a performance problem that likely has to do something with around the content that you have on the pages. So you might want to check that out, especially if pages fall off the index again. That means that we thought they might be good but we found that users don’t really use them in search results. So we thought like, yeah, okay, we gave it a chance but, ehh, you know others are doing better here.”
The video. He says this around the 2-minute mark in the video below:
Full quote: Here is the full quote, so you have the full context:
Hello and welcome to the office hours again. We got a question from someone who didn’t leave us their name so it’s a mystery question, but the question was pretty good so I thought I’d pick it anyway. The question goes.
My site has been indexed and the pages have been added to the sitemap but they are still not appearing in search.
Well that can happen.
So for something to show up in search it has to go through a bunch of different stages. I’ll try to link in the comments to the how search works to explain how that works in more detail. But fundamentally we need to know that the URL exists, that we call that Discovery. We need to actually visit the URL to see what’s there. Then we might put it into a database we call the index. And then when someone looks for something that we think the page covers, we might show it in search results that’s what people refer to as ranking, and we refer to it as serving as well.
So a sitemap helps with a first stage of Discovery. A sitemap tells us there is a URL that exists on this website. The fact that we have indexed it means we have discovered it. So your sitemap seems to be working. We crawled it because otherwise we can’t really index it much, so we crawled it, we checked it out. There is caveats to that, we might actually index something without crawling but in this case we likely crawled it, we put it in the index so we think there’s something there, good.
But then when someone asks a question, we look in the index for all the pages that we have that will probably be a good answer or good search result for that question, for the query. And then we’re not picking your pages apparently.
If they are not showing up so it’s either that the query is a bit weird or that the query hasn’t actually been asked that much or that we have other pages that we think will help the user more than yours. So that’s a performance problem that likely has to do something with around the content that you have on the pages. So you might want to check that out, especially if pages fall off the index again. That means that we thought they might be good but we found that users don’t really use them in search results. So we thought like, yeah, okay, we gave it a chance but, ehh, you know others are doing better here.
So you want to have a look at your content because it’s very likely that your content isn’t really serving much in terms of queries coming in and that’s why it’s not showing up in search results.
Why we care. This is just one more reason, like you needed another reason, to make sure the content on your website is created in a way that your users want to interact with. Make your site pages are user-friendly and engaging, and your site is a place users will want to return to.
It will help make your users happy, increase conversions, and could also help your pages remain in Google’s index.
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Microsoft has confirmed it uses schema markup to help its LLMs (large language models) understand your content. There has been a debate around if AI models and LLMs use schema or structured data, and at least Microsoft has confirmed they do.
Source. Fabrice Canel from Microsoft’s Bing confirmed this while on stage at SMX Munich the other day. David wrote, “Fabrice Canel confirms that schema markup helps Microsoft’s LLMs understand your content in his excellent SMX – Search Marketing Expo in Munich presentation.”
David Mihm posted on LinkedIn these details, which later Fabrice Canel confirmed in the comments area.
Fabrice added, “Gen AIs value fresh content in particular, partly as a reference check of their LLM training data. Use the API at indexnow.org to push that information as it’s published or updated.”
Other AI engines. It is not clear if Google’s Gemini or other AI engines, like OpenAI, Perplexity and others use schema or not. It would make sense that Gemini uses it in conjunction with AI Overviews in Search, but we do not have official confirmation from Google on that.
Why we care. Marking up your content with structured data and schema can help search engines understand your content, and also help their LLMs understand your content. Plus, they help you gain rich results within Google Search, which may improve your click-through rate from the search results.
https://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/bing-hexagonal-1920-800x457-qHx2Ps.jpeg457800Hervé @ C-SERPhttps://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Logo-C-SERP-Blog-Storytelling-SEO.pngHervé @ C-SERP2025-03-20 16:20:512025-03-20 16:20:51Microsoft Bing/Copilot use schema for its LLMs
Consumers are redefining what loyalty looks like. Values like sustainability, authenticity, and transparency are driving decisions — and personalization is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s expected.
https://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/03/Discover-what-will-shape-marketing-success-in-2025-ydImAl.png10801920Hervé @ C-SERPhttps://blog.c-serp.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/01/Logo-C-SERP-Blog-Storytelling-SEO.pngHervé @ C-SERP2025-03-19 22:41:142025-03-19 22:41:14What today’s consumers expect — and how marketers should respond by Digital Marketing Depot
Google: Not all sites will fully recover with future core algorithm updates
When Google launched the March 2025 core update last week, Google said there will be a series of improvements aimed to help “better surface relevant, satisfying content” from content creators “thoughtout this year.” But you should not expect all sites to fully recover by the end of the 2025 year, that simply won’t happen.
What Google said. Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liaison, in a conversation on X with Travel blogger, Nate Hank, explained that there is a caveat to the statement about surfacing those sites better in Google Search again. Sullivan wrote, “With the important caveat that this doesn’t mean all sites will go back up to wherever they were if they are down from a previous peak.”
Some sites don’t deserve to rank. That means that not all sites will rank as well as they did because, as Sullivan wrote, “some sites with great content and hearts in the right place still don’t provide a satisfying page experience.”
Sullivan added, “But our systems themselves need to get better; it’s not all on creators sites that really do have good, solid content.”
Different systems impact different sites. In addition, different core ranking systems may impact one site but not the other, in the same way. “From the group you were with that came out and generously shared your time, not everyone is impacted by exactly the same ranking systems,” Sullivan said. That means, you need to wait for the system or systems that impacted your site in earlier updates, will have a positive impact in future updates – and honestly that might never happen.
Search evolves. Plus, search evolves. What Google ranked in 2023 is not what Google wants to rank in 2025. Sullivan wrote, “Our results have continued to change since 2023, including showing more social content, for example. The results are going to continue to evolve.”
Why we care. Google is committed to continue to make improvements to its search algorithms and systems. Google is aware of the issues many of those who went to the web creator summit won’t recover, Google said that already.
But do expect more Google updates to its core ranking systems throughout 2025, as we have seen with previous core updates and we will see in future core updates this year and in 2026 and beyond.
Google adds Search Terms visibility to Performance Max campaigns
Google is rolling out a significant update to its Performance Max campaigns, giving advertisers more transparency and control over their ad placements.
The big picture:
Why we care. This change addresses one of the biggest criticisms of Performance Max campaigns: lack of visibility into which search queries trigger ads. Advertisers now have the same level of insight and control they’re accustomed to with standard Search campaigns.
Behind the scenes. The update was first spotted by digital marketer Hana Kobzová, suggesting a gradual rollout that hasn’t reached all Google Ads accounts yet.
What’s next? This update represents Google’s ongoing effort to make automated campaign types more transparent while maintaining their AI-driven optimization benefits.
The bottom line. For advertisers who have been hesitant to fully embrace Performance Max due to its “black box” nature, this added transparency could make the campaign type significantly more attractive.
6 free Chrome extensions for PPC
PPC marketing isn’t easy.
Juggling campaigns across Google, Microsoft Bing, and social platforms while maximizing every click is a challenge – and those clicks aren’t cheap.
That’s why Chrome extensions are PPC game-changers. They sit in your browser, ready to help without the hassle of switching tools.
Imagine this: you’re analyzing competitors, tweaking ad copy, and tracking keywords – all without juggling tabs or draining your focus.
The best part? Most top extensions are free.
No budget approvals, no learning curve – just click, install, and start optimizing faster.
Whether you’re a PPC pro or just starting out, the right Chrome extensions can give you the edge you need to stay ahead.
1. Wappalyzer: The technology detective every PPC marketer needs
If you’ve ever been in a client pitch or needed to dig up intel on a competitor’s website, you know how valuable it is to understand what technology stack they’re using.
Enter Wappalyzer – the technology profiler that gives you x-ray vision into any website’s tech foundation.
Unlike surface-level tools that just scratch the tech surface, Wappalyzer dives deep to reveal the full technology stack powering any website. With a single click, you’ll uncover:
For PPC specialists, this information is pure gold.
When pitching new clients, you can casually drop insights about their current tech setup and how your PPC strategies would complement their existing tools.
Imagine saying, “I see you’re using Shopify with Klaviyo for email marketing. Here’s how we could optimize your Google Shopping campaigns to work seamlessly with that setup.”
During competitive research, Wappalyzer lets you identify which ad platforms and tracking tools your competitors use.
This intelligence helps you make smarter decisions about your own PPC strategy and tech stack.
And for those PPC audits?
Wappalyzer makes you look like a technical genius.
You can quickly:
Wappalyzer gives you the competitive edge that makes the difference between being just another PPC manager and being the insightful digital marketing expert clients can’t wait to work with.
Dig deeper: 11 free tools for PPC campaign management
2. Google Ads Usability Booster: The time saver
The Google Ads interface isn’t exactly winning any design awards.
It’s functional but often frustrating, especially when you’re trying to make bulk changes or quickly scan critical information.
That’s why the Google Ads Usability Booster extension deserves a permanent spot in your PPC toolkit.
This add-on transforms the clunky Google Ads experience into something that actually feels designed for professionals who value their time and sanity.
The Usability Booster tackles the most common Google Ads interface headaches:
The beauty of this extension is its seamless integration. Once installed, it automatically activates whenever you open the Google Ads interface.
It injects helpful CSS modifications to improve field sizes and adds powerful keyboard shortcuts and click behaviors that should have been part of Google Ads from the beginning.
For PPC managers handling multiple accounts and campaigns, these small improvements add up to hours saved weekly and significantly reduce frustration.
When your entire workday revolves around the Google Ads platform, this extension isn’t just nice to have – it’s practically essential.
3. Pixel Helper: Your tracking guarding angel
Worried your conversion pixels aren’t firing?
These platform-specific helpers act as real-time trackers, ensuring your ad spend isn’t wasted on glitches.
They’re essential for setup, audits, and troubleshooting when campaign data doesn’t add up.
Meta Pixel Helper
Stop guessing if your Facebook and Instagram conversion events are working.
Meta’s Pixel Helper instantly shows you which events are firing, highlights implementation errors, and confirms if your CAPI (Conversions API) setup works alongside your pixel.
When clients ask why their campaign isn’t converting, you’ll know in seconds if tracking is the culprit.
TikTok Pixel Helper
TikTok‘s booming ad platform requires its own pixel verification.
This extension confirms event tracking on your landing pages and ecommerce funnels.
It shows exactly which events TikTok is receiving and if your pixel is capturing valuable information like purchase values and customer actions correctly.
X Tag Helper
X’s conversion tracking can be tricky, but this extension brings transparency to the process.
It validates that your X tags are firing properly and shows you exactly which events are being tracked.
This is particularly valuable for lead gen campaigns where tracking form completions is critical to measuring success.
Reddit Pixel Helper
Reddit‘s growing ad platform requires precise tracking.
Its pixel helper ensures you’re capturing those valuable conversions from Reddit’s highly targeted communities.
The extension verifies your pixel implementation and validates custom event tracking to help optimize your Reddit ad performance.
UET Tag Helper (by Microsoft Advertising)
Don’t let Microsoft Bing traffic go unmeasured.
Microsoft’s UET (Universal Event Tracking) Tag Helper is indispensable for anyone running Microsoft Ads.
This extension instantly:
It provides detailed insights into event parameters and timing, allowing you to optimize campaigns confidently, knowing your conversion data is accurate.
For those running multi-platform campaigns, this tool ensures your Microsoft Ads performance is tracked as meticulously as your Google campaigns.
Google Ads Tag Assistant
Last but not least, the Google Ads Tag Assistant should be mentioned as a core Chrome extension.
Tag Assistant does the heavy lifting when it comes to verifying your tracking setup:
The extension had some major updates over the last years, which resulted in versions that were not working properly or being buggy.
However, Google acknowledged community feedback and promised to improve the extension to its former strength, so I still recommend installing it.
Dig deeper: 5 underrated tools to boost your B2B PPC performance in 2025
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4. GS Location Changer: See through others’ eyes
Many use I Search From to monitor ads in other locations – a reliable and effective tool.
For faster results and greater control, try GS Location Changer (stylized as gs location changer).
It lets you switch locations directly from the extension menu and customize coordinates, language, and region settings.
5. Analytics Debugger
Juggling multiple analytics platforms and pixels? Analytics Debugger is your all-in-one solution for tracking validation – a true “single source of truth.”
Here’s what makes it stand out:
For PPC pros troubleshooting tracking issues, Analytics Debugger saves time by centralizing insights.
Its hit-blocking feature is especially useful for testing without skewing campaign data.
For those managing complex setups, this tool is more than a helper. It’s your command center for clear, accurate tracking.
Dig deeper: Top AI tools and tactics you should be using in PPC
6. Google Ads API Web Navi: For tech marketers
For PPC pros who work with developers or build automation, Google Ads API Web Navi is an invaluable tool. It’s simple yet powerful, solving a key problem easily.
Some of its key benefits include:
This tool eliminates confusion for PPC managers collaborating with developers.
Instead of explaining where to find data, you can share precise documentation links with a click.
For tech-savvy PPC specialists, it’s a massive time-saver – allowing you to focus on building solutions instead of searching API libraries.
A note on extensions and Chrome’s Manifest V3
Chrome’s recent Manifest V3 update impacts many extensions, changing data collection and functionality rules.
Some PPC extensions may experience downtime, but most actively maintained tools (like those mentioned here) should resolve issues with updates.
If an extension isn’t working, patience is often the best approach.
Power up your PPC strategy with these essential Chrome extensions
The right Chrome extensions can transform your PPC workflow – saving you time, improving accuracy, and giving you deeper insights.
By adding these powerful tools to your arsenal, you’ll spend less time troubleshooting and more time driving results.
Install, optimize, and watch your campaigns thrive.
Beyond Google: How to put a total search strategy together
Relying solely on Google for search visibility is no longer viable today.
Search behavior is diversifying, particularly among younger demographics.
Gen Z is increasingly turning to platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and Reddit for information discovery.
This shift highlights the need for brands to embrace a total search strategy – an approach that integrates multiple search and discovery channels to create a more holistic and resilient search presence.
The risks of Google dependency
Google’s algorithm changes frequently, and core updates can significantly impact website rankings overnight.
Over-reliance on a single search engine makes brands vulnerable to fluctuations beyond their control.
At the same time, a diversified approach allows businesses to mitigate risks while expanding their reach across multiple discovery platforms.
How to develop a total search strategy
To successfully implement a total search strategy, SEO practitioners should follow a structured framework, starting with audience research.
1. Audience research
Before investing in alternative search platforms, you must first identify where your audience spends time online and how they search for information.
Tools and data sources for audience research
2. Strategy development
Once audience research is complete and you have a clear picture of the platforms your audience uses for brand and product discovery, you can begin to map out your strategy.
The decision over how much effort you’re able to put into each platform will depend on available resources and budget, so it’s a good idea to prioritize the channels that:
Creating platform-specific content strategies
The content required for each platform needs to be tailored to user behavior and platform norms.
Research is critical in identifying content opportunities and topics your audience is actively searching for.
Keyword research for YouTube and Pinterest
You can conduct platform-specific keyword research in many cases.
For example, there are methods of keyword research on YouTube to identify the most common searches directly within YouTube’s search bar.
Other visual search platforms, such as Pinterest, allow you to conduct in-platform content (keyword) research.
The easiest way to uncover high-traffic keywords on Pinterest is to use the Pinterest Ads keyword research tool, a free feature within the platform’s advertising section.
While it’s accessed within the ad creation process, you don’t need to run ads to use it:
This tool will make it easier to optimize your profile, boards, and pins for greater visibility.
You can then create content that matches what users are actively searching for, increasing engagement and discovery.
Get the newsletter search marketers rely on.
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3. Optimization
Once you’re ready, it’s time to start optimizing your content for search on each platform.
This process will vary based on your platform choices, but let’s focus on an example from TikTok to highlight how to optimize content for its search algorithm.
Optimizing on TikTok takes a much different approach than optimizing for Google.
On TikTok, you have limited levers to pull, but you can focus on:
Just like with traditional search engines, balancing SEO and brand authenticity is crucial.
Focusing on these foundational strategies will enhance your search visibility and improve content discoverability.
4. Measurement
Success in total search requires a holistic approach to organic search measurement. To do this, focus on the following areas:
Getting started
It’s clear that influencing customers beyond Google is essential to remain discoverable, adaptable, and competitive in the evolving search landscape.
Now, it’s time to move from theory to practice.
Start by focusing on the following steps to get things off the ground:
Templates, tactics, and tips from 1,000 high-converting pages by Digital Marketing Depot
If you’re managing multiple campaigns for your brand or your clients, you know how hard it is to scale landing page creation without sacrificing performance.
This guide breaks it down—with real examples, tactical insights, and repeatable strategies from a designer who helped generate 14.8 million conversions using Unbounce.
Inside, you’ll get:
Whether you’re designing in-house or outsourcing to your creative team, this guide delivers repeatable tactics you can put to work right away—whether you’re working in-house or across multiple clients. Get it here.
Google Search Console API gains 24-hour hourly data for past 8 days coming soon
In December Google added 24-hour data to the Search Performance report in Google Search Console. Now, that data will soon be available in the Search Console API, and you get not just the past 24-hours of that 24-hour data, you can get the hourly data for the past 8 days.
Announcement. This was announced by Daniel Waisberg, from the Google Search team, at the Google Search Central Live event in New York City just a minute ago.
24-hour data. When Google announced this originally, Google said this “view includes data from the last available 24 hours and will appear with a delay of only a few hours.” Google added:
Export. Google added the ability to export the data in a few file formats back in January. But now you also can access the data via the API, so you can get more real-time data to your internal tools or third-party SEO tools.
Why we care. Being able to access this data outside of the web interface in Google Search Console can be super helpful when trying to debug and discover new insights. Having API access lets you program your own reporting and dashboards to see this data, in almost real time, from Google Search Console. That being said, the more recent data is not always the final data that Google shows, so reviewing the data again may be important, depending on what reports you are trying to generate.
Keep an eye on this data, validate it against the other exports, and see how you can use it to improve your site and content over time.
Google’s AI Mode: Here’s what matters for SEOs and marketers
Google’s AI Mode became available earlier this month as a Google Search Labs experiment.
After performing hundreds of AI Mode searches across transactional, navigational, commercial, and informational intents on both desktop and mobile platforms, carefully tracking metrics including word count, citation frequency, blue link prevalence, thumbnail usage, local intent signals, and other distinctive patterns, here’s what SEOs and marketers need to know about Google’s AI Mode.
It’s genuinely AI-powered
The query [cheap flights] produced many different outputs, ranging from 370 to 449 words, with anywhere from 13 to 39 right-sidebar citations.
Local intent is everywhere
Even for queries where location makes zero sense, queries like [online courses], [subscribe newsletter], and [youtube login] included location context.
Navigation patterns
Searches for DuckDuckGo, Gmail, CNN, YouTube, Twitter, and Wikipedia all bypass AI Mode completely, reverting to traditional Google SERPs with 8-10 blue links.
Commercial and Informational keywords have the longest AI Mode outputs
These appear more like blog posts. For example, [Laptop brands] produced 576 words with 56 citations, while [Causes of the French Revolution] produced 512 words with 12 citations.
Reminder: these will likely look different when/if you run these queries.
Previously buried page 2 results now appear as citations
Queries that produce no AI Mode output, just the blue links (like [Twittter]) surfaces URLs that were previously hidden beneath featured snippets and on Page 2. There’s also visibility for page 2 URLs with keywords that produce longer citations.
Thumbnail insights
Images get cropped to 82×82 px from the most prominent (or optimized for the keyword) image or on-page headers.
Also, URLs without thumbnails stay thumbnail-less until Google finds a usable image. Check your URLs and add relevant images when appropriate.
Local brand winners emerging
Best Buy (if you have one semi-nearby) is crushing it in commercial searches (especially with local intent), while SmartAssist set the record for most blue links within an AI output result for [mortgage rates].
Note: You’ll likely have different locally referenced winners for your area.
Blue link records
[Lightweight hiking boots reviews] had 21 blue links (with anchor text) within one AI Mode output (and only three right-sidebar citations).
This creates a massive opportunity for visibility if you can create supporting content for Google to cite within AI Outputs that have a propensity to produce higher in-text citations.
Additional AI Mode insights
What this means
The rules of SEO are being rewritten.
There’s a massive opportunity to learn about how Google is integrating AI technology and optimizing for AI Mode citations like this before it’s mainstream.
Sites that were previously buried on Page 2 of Google now have a fighting chance through evaluating AI output content, topics, and citations – and revamping their content to better compete.
Also, add a relevant photo that helps entice a click. Remember, these will be cropped square at the center.
Google may remove your page from search if users don’t interact with it
If users don’t interact with your page in Google’s search results, Google may remove that page from its results – or possibly even its index.
That’s according to a recent short video Google’s Martin Splitt posted on the Google Search Central YouTube channel.
This information confirms what Google said in their recent (since 2019) communication and once again with the Navboost details from the DOJ trails, and the data leak.
What Google said. Here is a partial quote from the video, which I will embed below:
The video. He says this around the 2-minute mark in the video below:
Interactions. What does Google mean by interactions? Well, Google won’t really say. But the data leak may get you thinking.
Full quote: Here is the full quote, so you have the full context:
Why we care. This is just one more reason, like you needed another reason, to make sure the content on your website is created in a way that your users want to interact with. Make your site pages are user-friendly and engaging, and your site is a place users will want to return to.
It will help make your users happy, increase conversions, and could also help your pages remain in Google’s index.
Microsoft Bing/Copilot use schema for its LLMs
Microsoft has confirmed it uses schema markup to help its LLMs (large language models) understand your content. There has been a debate around if AI models and LLMs use schema or structured data, and at least Microsoft has confirmed they do.
Source. Fabrice Canel from Microsoft’s Bing confirmed this while on stage at SMX Munich the other day. David wrote, “Fabrice Canel confirms that schema markup helps Microsoft’s LLMs understand your content in his excellent SMX – Search Marketing Expo in Munich presentation.”
David Mihm posted on LinkedIn these details, which later Fabrice Canel confirmed in the comments area.
Fabrice added, “Gen AIs value fresh content in particular, partly as a reference check of their LLM training data. Use the API at indexnow.org to push that information as it’s published or updated.”
Other AI engines. It is not clear if Google’s Gemini or other AI engines, like OpenAI, Perplexity and others use schema or not. It would make sense that Gemini uses it in conjunction with AI Overviews in Search, but we do not have official confirmation from Google on that.
Why we care. Marking up your content with structured data and schema can help search engines understand your content, and also help their LLMs understand your content. Plus, they help you gain rich results within Google Search, which may improve your click-through rate from the search results.
What today’s consumers expect — and how marketers should respond by Digital Marketing Depot
Consumers are redefining what loyalty looks like. Values like sustainability, authenticity, and transparency are driving decisions — and personalization is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s expected.
Whether you’re shaping in-house campaigns or developing strategies for clients, this new white paper, Beyond the Purchase: The Future of Consumer Behavior in 2025, breaks down the trends that matter most for marketers right now.
Inside, you’ll discover:
It’s a must-read for marketers focused on delivering strategies that resonate — and drive results. Get your copy here.