Recent Comments on Search Engine Roundtable

DataDonkey commented on Study: Google AI Overview Clicks Shifting To Shopping Search Ads

ROI was bad this will make it worse. Google will dig into wallets as hard as they can, but advertisers can only raise prices so much. Glad I'm not one of the advertisers getting screwed by Google.

Comment ID #6838786803 02/16/2026 05:51 pm

DataDonkey commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

So little traffic from Google and that traffic is just horribly bad. It will probably get worse, even when you think it can't. Saw a story earlier today from an ex-Google engineer. I tried to watch the related video, but I just couldn't hang. Ex-Google engineer warns of Big Tech holding 1984-level control - <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/ex-google-engineer-warns-of-big-tech-holding-1984-level-control">https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/ex-google-engineer-warns-of-big-tech-holding-1984-level-control</a> <blockquote>Illia Polosukhin knows the architecture of modern AI better than almost anyone. As one of the co-authors of the "Attention Is All You Need" paper—the research that introduced the Transformer model powering ChatGPT, Gemini, and virtually every major AI system today—he helped build the technology now reshaping the world. But Polosukhin is sounding an alarm. In a recent conversation with Sujal Jethwani, the NEAR Protocol co-founder warned that the current trajectory of AI development leads to a dystopian future where a handful of corporations control how billions of people perceive reality.</blockquote>

Comment ID #6838784924 02/16/2026 05:45 pm

MrSEO commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

this is usually whathappens pre-core update garbage ranks well but even worse garbage starts ranking. like dangerous sites, 301 redirects etc

Comment ID #6838740912 02/16/2026 03:51 pm

John A. User commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

I guess Google is boosting evergreen so that users can give Google a feel of whether or not its worth stealing the content for AI. It won't last.

Comment ID #6838729226 02/16/2026 03:23 pm

JimOutWest commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

I'm pretty much the same since February 10. Mine is an evergreen website with about 35K unique visitors a month. So perhaps that removes some of the volatility?

Comment ID #6838726765 02/16/2026 03:17 pm

John A. User commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uKZ84zwJI0</a> Here's the video that @disqus_vqalxutx1r:disqus posted, done it for ease. And afterwards, don't have nightmares tonight...

Comment ID #6838719092 02/16/2026 02:58 pm

Sam commented on Study: Google AI Overview Clicks Shifting To Shopping Search Ads

That's re-monetisation of other people's content through market dominance. Cost per acquisition just went through the roof. Advertisors are paying more to reach fewer people, they will just step away. if I was still managing that 4 million ad budget for the retailer I use to work for = I would pivot my budget to socials right now and not pay to be seen.

Comment ID #6838702993 02/16/2026 02:21 pm

actualart commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

It's like google had a stroke. But actually they have been in decline for many months. This is just when they collapse completely and ChatGPT takes over.

Comment ID #6838699108 02/16/2026 02:13 pm

Daniel commented on Google Stops Parked Domains (AFD) On Search Partner Network

Parked domains never delivered high quality traffic or strong commercial intent. For performance focused campaigns, they mostly added noise and inefficient spend. Removing them should improve overall traffic quality within the Search Partner Network. This fits Google’s broader shift toward better quality control and more meaningful ad placements. A small but welcome step toward cleaner traffic.

Comment ID #6838677390 02/16/2026 01:27 pm

John A. User commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

Mine's the opposite, I have AI Overviews on all my pages nearly but no adverts. However, if you were to visit any page on the organics and lo and behold, Google Adverts and they're missing out on I don't know how much.

Comment ID #6838662669 02/16/2026 12:52 pm

John A. User commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

I know how you feel, look up "Stephenson 2-18" and you're presented with loads and loads of Social Media posts.

Comment ID #6838659853 02/16/2026 12:46 pm

Taryn White commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

Well said and I must have missed that earlier video from Jantje. Yes, I don't trust any of them. Much less them telling us anything for our benefit...especially for free.

Comment ID #6838659429 02/16/2026 12:45 pm

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

everyone has to compete with AI. And like the helpful content updates etc everyone is going to have to deal with the consequences when Google finally bring the hammer down on everyones rubbish content, and a lot of good sites (or in this case YouTube channels) are going to get unfairly taken out in the process.

Comment ID #6838654579 02/16/2026 12:33 pm

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

Yeah, we've got two options. Either keep working for Google in the way we're doing, or don't. Crying about it won't help

Comment ID #6838653893 02/16/2026 12:32 pm

UncleKrusty commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

Remember when Google said the web was thriving then shortly after said the web is in rapid decline in court? There's a lot of disinformation out there about AI/search, and I have no doubt these AI companies are behind much of it. These AI companies are sitting on billions of dollars, with investors growing anxious about revenue, and these AI companies are relying on subscriptions for revenue. Even Google, known for excessive ads, is reluctant to taint their AI with ads. @disqus_VQAlxUTX1r:disqus posted a video a few days ago with a guy (Louis Rossmann) who used Gemini to re-write his pages and went from ranking nowhere in the top 100 to #1. Rossmann even said in the video the smart thing to do would to be quiet, but why didn't he? Could it be with 2.5 million subscribers he took a Google payday? I'm not saying he isn't genuine, but what I'm saying is I'm skeptical of anything anyone says.

Comment ID #6838648362 02/16/2026 12:19 pm

Bender G commented on Study: Google AI Overview Clicks Shifting To Shopping Search Ads

pay up or disappear

Comment ID #6838641498 02/16/2026 12:03 pm

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

seems like you are probing me on this "thats both engaging to users, and not at risk of getting wiped out with all the rest of the rubbish when it comes?" I know what I want and I know channels thriving like that, end of story, AI cannot touch it simply, people will watch people, there is no AI element or anything. and sure there will be more competition as everywhere, where isn't? tell me one niche or anything, it's not the way someone should decide - it's saturated... I have angle and I'm good!

Comment ID #6838640036 02/16/2026 12:00 pm

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

sure i do, tested 2 channels, get it to the certain level and dropped it because it's not good. if I didn't test it I would never know. AI automation videos seems tempting but not work, though for some long form videos it can but I would have to pay the for outsourcing way more i think.. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@EditLabGuides">https://www.youtube.com/@Ed...</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@guide_vault">https://www.youtube.com/@guide_vault </a> now I move on, and will stick with synths, it's not worth pursuing putting my life into it if after all I decide to stop with it and eventually choose the synth path. why not start now?

Comment ID #6838638949 02/16/2026 11:58 am

googleisjoke commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

wtf, I don't need to compete with AI, because AI won't touch that niche. that's my simple answer

Comment ID #6838637729 02/16/2026 11:55 am

n1lss commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

I have been doing SEO since 2008 and this is the "weirdest" I've ever seen the SERPs. And I am NOT talking about AI, ads, and all the other junk Google has littered the SERPs with, that's a whole different story. I am strictly talking about the 10 organic links. The quality of sites that are ranking since about January just doesn't make sense; it genuinely feels like something is broken and no one at Google realizes it. In our segment (automotive), the sites that are ranking 1-10 right now are half out of business, and half low quality broken English. The top players in our industry (by quality/authority) are all on page 2.

Comment ID #6838636886 02/16/2026 11:53 am

Taryn White commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

<blockquote>These AI companies are spending billions on marketing, including big payments to influencers. I'm not saying the story you posted fits this mold exactly, but I've some that do. They tend to instill fear and provide a solution - to embrace AI and pay for premium subscriptions. </blockquote>Great point. This marketing ploy you described is definitely something people need to be mindful of when reading these types of articles. Much like I don't trust the gov't or big pharma to have our best interest, I don't trust any of these tech gurus not to have an ulteria motive to profit from creating both the problem and the solution. Although I didn't get a vibe that this person was pitching anything in this instance. I just took it more as a final economic warning to normies outside this industry for what is coming their way much sooner than they think.

Comment ID #6838633134 02/16/2026 11:45 am

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

He's 67 but good idea, Ill suggest it to him.

Comment ID #6838630148 02/16/2026 11:38 am

Mark commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

What country are you from? Is there nothing within that market worth targeting? You seem to think the western internet owes you a living, how many ideas is that you've bounced around over the last months? A month ago it was a product site etc lol. I think Youtube is going to be particularly difficult for you, right off the bat you're going to have make a huge decision to start with that I wouldn't have to. How are you possibly going to get around the active push back on AI content on YouTube? Users absolutely hate it, Google are going to have to do something about it at some point. How are you going to make a YouTube channel thats both engaging to users, and not at risk of getting wiped out with all the rest of the rubbish when it comes? I think Youtube is worse for you than a website idea, you're going to be relying on Google either way but at least with a website it's easier to hide the fact its 3rd world run.

Comment ID #6838627156 02/16/2026 11:31 am

UncleKrusty commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

I saw something similar to this, in an X post, and it might even be from the same guy. I'm not saying the guy in this story is wrong, but we must be skeptical. These AI companies are spending billions on marketing, including big payments to influencers. I'm not saying the story you posted fits this mold exactly, but I've some that do. They tend to instill fear and provide a solution - to embrace AI and pay for premium subscriptions. From the story you posted: <blockquote>Start using AI seriously, not just as a search engine. Sign up for the paid version of Claude or ChatGPT. It’s $20 a month. But two things matter right away. First: make sure you’re using the best model available, not just the default.</blockquote>Google and Microsoft Pay Creators $500K+ to Promote AI Tools <blockquote>Google and Microsoft are throwing massive cash at social media influencers to make AI look cool—up to $600,000 for multi-month partnerships, according to sources familiar with the deals. The aggressive spending reveals how desperate Big Tech has become to win users in the AI wars, even as some creators walk away from six-figure paydays over ethical concerns.</blockquote>Full story: <a href="https://www.techbuzz.ai/articles/google-and-microsoft-pay-creators-500k-to-promote-ai-tools">https://www.techbuzz.ai/articles/google-and-microsoft-pay-creators-500k-to-promote-ai-tools</a>

Comment ID #6838620116 02/16/2026 11:14 am

No Couch Potato commented on Study: Google AI Overview Clicks Shifting To Shopping Search Ads

Of course they want to push the ads. As I have said before this is the real reason behind AIO.

Comment ID #6838610153 02/16/2026 10:51 am

Taryn White commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

This was a decent under 10 minute read on the reality of what AI is doing to the economy. Much of it isn't a surprise to us, but to those not tuned into this industry or still in denial about how AI will impact their job soon - they're so F'd. <a href="https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/articles/something-big-happening-ai-most-142200510.html">https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/articles/something-big-happening-ai-most-142200510.html</a>

Comment ID #6838603333 02/16/2026 10:36 am

Todd commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

There is no AI overview in my niche, well, very very little. It's the spam, hacked sites, and repurposed doamins that kill it, and those blatently stealing content.

Comment ID #6838596220 02/16/2026 10:20 am

Barry Schwartz commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

thanks, fixed.

Comment ID #6838562825 02/16/2026 09:06 am

John A. User commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

What do you recommend @mattrissa:disqus do?

Comment ID #6838561469 02/16/2026 09:03 am

Sam commented on Google Search Ranking Volatility Remains Heated Through Weekend

do something about it then

Comment ID #6838561163 02/16/2026 09:03 am

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