SODP Dispatch - 30 May 2024

AI Overviews impact on publishers, YouTube summaries AI tool, Google confirms the leaked Search documents are real + more

Hello, SODP readers!

In today’s issue:

  • From SODP: How to navigate SGE and the future of SEO for publishers

  • Tip of the week: Evergreen content for publishers

  • News: Google confirms the leaked Search documents are real, The Atlantic, Vox Media ink licensing, product deals with OpenAI, Google’s AI Overviews go viral and draw media scrutiny + more

FROM STATE OF DIGITAL PUBLISHING

How to Navigate SGE and the Future of SEO for Publishers

Lightning lesson

🗓️ June 6, 2024 (Thursday) at 2 PM ET | 11 AM PT | 8 PM CET
➡️ Free 45-minute session

💡 What you will learn:

  • AI Overviews: What it is and why publishers should care

    Learn why AI Overviews – formerly SGE – has the potential to disrupt publisher's audience growth models.

  • Optimizing for AI Overviews

    Understand how to adjust your SEO, content, and editorial strategies to the new reality of search.

  • Upskilling the team

    Inaction will leave many publishers behind. Learn which technical and content skills will be a must in the new era.

BITE-SIZED ADVICE

By Vahe Arabian

🌲 Evergreen content for publishers

Creating evergreen content is a strategic imperative for every digital publisher. It's the type of content that continues to drive website traffic for years with minimal upkeep, offering ongoing value and relevance to your audience. However, the process of creating and leveraging evergreen content can be challenging.

Here are seven practical tips to help you master the art of evergreen content creation and maximize its potential:

  1. Focus on Evergreen Formats: Start with proven evergreen content formats such as listicles, product reviews, ultimate guides, and how-to guides. These formats have a track record of delivering long-term value and remaining relevant over time.

  2. Go In-depth: Dive deep into your chosen topic to provide comprehensive and valuable information to your audience. Invest time and effort in research, and aim to create content that addresses all aspects of the subject matter.

  3. Use SEO Best Practices: Enhance the discoverability of your evergreen content by leveraging proven Google News SEO strategies. Conduct thorough keyword research, implement strategic internal linking, and cultivate a reputable backlink profile. Adhering to these tailored SEO practices will elevate your content's visibility and ranking, aligning it with the rigorous standards of news SEO.

  4. Hack Trends, Avoid Fads: While tracking trends can be beneficial, focus on creating content that transcends temporary fads. Instead, tackle broader topics that have long-term relevance and appeal to your target audience.

  5. Use Multimedia: Incorporate various forms of media, such as images, videos, and infographics, to create engaging and visually appealing content. Multimedia not only enhances user experience but also increases the likelihood of social sharing and engagement.

  6. Remember to Update: Regularly monitor and update your evergreen content to ensure its accuracy and relevance. Refreshing your content helps maintain its visibility in search results and keeps readers returning for more. As list-based articles are updated, they must continue to build authority and gain traction in the SERP.

  7. Think of The Audience: Consider your audience throughout the content creation process. Avoid overly technical language, format your content for readability, and strive to provide value to your readers. By catering to your audience's needs and preferences, you can increase engagement and build brand recognition.

Incorporating these tips into your content strategy can help you create high-value, evergreen content that drives sustainable traffic and revenue.

Remember to promote your evergreen content across various channels, repurpose it into different formats, and consistently follow best practices to maximize its impact.

TOOLS & RESOURCES

🛠️ Site Architecture Plugin

Joost de Valk, the creator of Yoast SEO plugin, has created a new (and free) plugin for solving a site architecture problem that can silently diminish a website’s ability to rank – Fewer Tags WordPress plugin.
See more ▸

🤖 ChatGPT & Claude Chrome Extension

Glasp is an AI-powered tool that enables users to quickly and effectively summarize YouTube videos. It utilizes the latest advancements in natural language processing and machine learning to provide users with a concise and accurate summary of the video in question.
See more ▸

WHAT WE ARE READING

Google confirms the leaked Search documents are real | The Verge

A collection of 2,500 leaked internal documents from Google filled with details about data the company collects is authentic, the company confirmed today. Until now, Google had refused to comment on the materials.
Read more ▸

What does the public in six countries think of generative AI in news? Reuters Institute

A survey in six countries shows 32% of respondents think human editors check AI outputs before publishing them; many haven't made up their minds yet about AI”.
Read more ▸

How BBC’s breaking news alerts are giving voters – and political parties – an electoral buzz | The Guardian

The most powerful person in British media during this election, in terms of having the most direct access to voters, is no longer the editor of BBC’s News at Six or the person who chooses the headlines on Radio 2. They’re the anonymous on-shift editor of the BBC News app, making snap judgments on whether to make the phones of millions of Britons buzz with a breaking news push alert.
Read more ▸

Google’s AI Overviews Go Viral, Draw Mainstream Media Scrutiny Search Engine Journal

Google’s rollout of AI-generated overviews in US search results is taking a disastrous turn, with mainstream media outlets like The New York Times, BBC, and CNBC reporting on numerous inaccuracies and bizarre responses. On social media, users are sharing endless examples of the feature’s nonsensical and sometimes dangerous output.
Read more ▸

The Atlantic, Vox Media ink licensing, product deals with OpenAI | Axios

The deals give OpenAI added momentum in its quest for credible content to train its algorithms and inform its chatbots — and could also protect the Microsoft-backed company further from future copyright liability.
Read more ▸