Cloudflare has found a way to block AI crawlers in the latest weekly dose of digital news…
This Is Why AI Won’t Take Your Job (Yet)
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/this-is-why-ai-wont-take-your-job-yet/548765
While AI is changing how SEO professionals work, it is not replacing their jobs. Instead, it is shifting the focus towards broader skills such as cross-channel strategy, clear communication, and adaptability. SEO experts now have the chance to add value by helping clients understand changes like falling click-throughs despite stable impressions. However, the challenges remain, including growing anxiety over performance metrics, confusion among stakeholders, and the risk of being left behind for those who do not adapt. Overall, AI is reshaping roles, not eliminating them, and those who adapt to it can remain relevant and valuable.
Cloudflare: We Will Get Google To Provide A Way To Block AI Overviews
https://www.seroundtable.com/cloudflare-block-google-ai-overviews-39718.html
Cloudflare now blocks AI bots that scrape content by default on most of the web. It has also introduced a Pay‑Per‑Crawl system that lets site owners charge AI firms for access. The move is meant to protect publishers from losing traffic and income when AI engines use their content without permission or payment.
However, blocking AI crawlers may unintentionally block Google’s own AI features like AI Overviews. Cloudflare is urging Google to separate its AI crawler from its standard search bot. Many major publishers and content platforms are backing Cloudflare because it gives them control and a way to earn from their content in the age of AI.
Optimizing the New Search: How Relevance Engineering Is Reshaping SEO | Mike King
Search engine optimisation is changing due to AI. Instead of just chasing keywords, content creators must treat every page like a raffle ticket. The more useful chunks of information they offer—such as FAQs, step-by-step guides, videos or images—the higher the chance AI systems will pick them. Duplicate themes across different sections are no longer a drawback but a strength, as AI looks for varied passages to answer questions.
Publishers are feeling the strain because AI Overviews often answer queries directly, so fewer people visit websites. As a result, having a diverse content approach—using newsletters, branded content and direct traffic—matters more than ever. Relevance engineering helps by ensuring that when AI systems summarise or answer questions, your content stands a strong chance of being seen and used.
Is web traffic a vanity metric? Not if you’re a publisher
https://searchengineland.com/web-traffic-vanity-metric-publisher-458404
Greg Jarboe explains that web traffic can still be valuable for publishers who earn money from ads. However, because more searches end without clicks, relying only on page views can miss the bigger picture. Publishers should look at how long readers stay, how they interact with content, and how much each visit actually earns.
To stay resilient, publishers need to broaden their income sources. This could include online subscriptions, events, sponsorship deals, and selling products. By using richer metrics and diversifying revenue, publishers can thrive even as search habits evolve.
What generative search means for brand visibility (and what CMOs are doing about it)
Generative AI search is changing how brands appear online, and CMOs can no longer assume control over their own identity. New tools and frameworks like the Brand Control Quadrant help leaders check how AI describes their brand, spot and fix mistakes, and influence how large language models “remember” it by feeding correct data. The goal is to keep brand image accurate and consistent in a world where generative search increasingly shapes public perception.
What else have I been reading…
How To Get The Perfect Budget Mix For SEO And PPC
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/how-to-get-the-perfect-budget-mix-for-seo-and-ppc/548300
Instagram content becomes searchable on Google starting July 10
https://ppc.land/instagram-content-becomes-searchable-on-google-starting-july-10