Weekly Digital Performance News – Issue #15

Follow my weekly updates on the latest developments in search. Let me know if you’d prefer bite-sized summaries, deep-dive analysis, or actionable SEO tips.

Google June 2025 Core Update Volatility Just Began – Do You See It?

https://www.seroundtable.com/google-june-2025-core-update-volatility-39694.html

Google launched its June 2025 core update on 30 June, with a rollout expected to last about three weeks. SEO tools picked up signs of ranking movement by early July, even if some site owners hadn’t seen major changes yet. Volatility also occurred on 28 June, but this is thought to be separate from the official update.

This is a global update that affects all kinds of content. It is not meant to punish websites, but to improve how helpful and relevant results appear in search. Traffic changes of 20 to 40 percent are common during rollouts. If your site is impacted, review your site content and improve its usefulness, rather than making quick fixes during the update window.

Similarweb: No Clicks From Google Grew From 56% to 69% Since AI Overviews

https://www.seroundtable.com/similarweb-google-zero-click-search-growth-39706.html

A new report from Similarweb shows that zero click searches on Google have increased from 56 per cent in May 2024 to 69 per cent in May 2025. This jump happened after the launch of AI Overviews, which gives users quick answers directly on the results page. As a result, traffic to news websites has dropped sharply. Even though Google says the web is still healthy, the data shows a growing gap between how often pages are shown and how often they are clicked.

This does not mean website traffic is gone, but it does show that marketers need to change their approach. They should focus on making content easy for AI to pick up and display in search results. They should also build up other sources of traffic, like chatbots, social media and newsletters. Finally, they need to keep track of these new traffic sources, not just rely on traditional tools like Search Console.

How to stay grounded (and inspired) as AI changes search and SEO

https://searchengineland.com/stay-grounded-inspired-ai-changes-search-seo-457918

AI is shaking up SEO, but the basics still matter most. Search engines reward clear, helpful content that meets people’s needs, as well as trustworthy websites with good links and fast performance. AI can help make SEO tasks easier—like researching, comparing competitor pages, and writing content plans—but it cannot replace human oversight.

Clients are often nervous about AI cutting off their traffic, but they should be reassured. SEO is not dead—it is changing. It is more important than ever to offer steady, no‑hype advice, help clients build and diversify their online presence, and guide them towards using AI tools in a smart, human‑led way.

Does Being Mentioned on High Traffic Pages Influence AI Mentions?

https://ahrefs.com/blog/does-being-mentioned-on-high-traffic-pages-influence-ai-mentions

A recent Ahrefs study shows that websites mentioned often on high-traffic pages are more likely to be included in AI-generated answers by Google, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. The link between visibility in organic search and mentions in AI results is strongest for Google, moderate for Perplexity, and weakest for ChatGPT. Another Ahrefs analysis found that text mentions matter more than backlinks for AI visibility, with brands in the top mention group seeing up to ten times more coverage in AI Overviews.

This means digital marketers should shift focus toward increasing brand mentions across the web—not just building links. Getting featured in trusted sites, listicles, forums, podcasts, guest articles, and user forums helps AI systems learn and recognise your brand. Even smaller companies can gain from consistent exposure on niche platforms that AI tools respect.

Google On Links & Core Updates

https://www.seroundtable.com/google-on-links-core-updates-39689.html

Google’s John Mueller said that links, especially new ones, probably do not affect core update results. He emphasised that core updates use signals built up over time, and quick bursts in links are unlikely to have a meaningful impact. He also clarified these remarks were about a specific situation, so there may still be other cases that work differently.

That does not mean backlinks are unimportant for SEO. They still help your site’s authority and rankings overall. However, when it comes to core updates, focus on building a healthy and consistent SEO profile. If your rankings drop after one, prioritise improving content, user experience, site performance, and your overall brand reputation rather than chasing fleeting link gains.

Google releases new Search Console Insights report

https://searchengineland.com/google-releases-new-search-console-insights-report-457724

Google has upgraded Search Console Insights by making it a permanent tab within the main Search Console platform. This update brings together key data, such as total clicks, impressions, top pages, and trending search queries, into a single, easy-to-use view. The “Achievements” feature remains in place to highlight milestones, and the tool is designed to be clear and useful for people without deep analytics knowledge. To keep things simple and privacy-focused, Google has removed Google Analytics data from the report. Now it centres purely on search results, reducing confusion and privacy concerns. This makes it easier for content creators and small business owners to see what is working on their site, with trends and alerts guiding when to update or promote key content.

What am I also reading…

Google AI Mode Can Respond In Non-English Languages

https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-mode-non-english-languages-39709.html

Report: Over 12% Of People Also Ask Results Are Google AI Overviews

https://www.seroundtable.com/people-also-ask-results-are-google-ai-overviews-39702.html

Google Ads investigating reports of issues

https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-investigating-reports-of-issues-458000

11 of the best free tools every SEO should know about

https://searchengineland.com/seo-free-tools-know-443896

Banned terms on Amazon: What keywords can trigger listing flags

https://searchengineland.com/banned-terms-on-amazon-what-keywords-can-trigger-listing-flags-457728

Excel for SEO: 10 formulas to work smarter