So glad you’re here…

We’ve got quite a bit to catch you up on!

• 🗞️ This just in from Google: Google’s AI features (AI Mode, AI Overviews) use the same crawling system as regular Google search, so your existing SEO work applies to them. BUT… (Why is there always a “but”?) Gemini operates as a separate system with its own bots, requiring a different optimization approach — similar to optimizing for ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Copilot. This means you need two strategies: traditional SEO for Google’s main AI features, and specialized SAIO for Gemini and other GenAI chatbots.

• The June 2025 Google Core Update completed on July 17th, and it was pretty big for a lot of folks. The main feature: some sites unfairly hit by the September 2023 helpful content update saw partial recoveries. It seems Google’ content quality detection is getting better.

• AI tools to make your marketing life easier? Yes, please! From content creation to editors to competitive intelligence, MarketerMilk has assembled a killer list!

• The top five areas CMOs are targeting for upskilling in the next 12 months are (in order): AI marketing, marketing technology, social media management, content development and management, and marketing analytics and insight. Guess how many of these skills DBE uses to drive SEO/SAIO success? Yup, all five. 😉

• How Do Strategy Champions Win? McKinsey says there are 12 building blocks of strategy that fall into three buckets — Design, Mobilize, and Execute. Of these three, McKinsey’s research indicates Mobilization “is where Strategy Champions build their most noteworthy advantage” as they do the detailed execution planning and align resources accordingly.

Foster Love improves the lives of kids in foster care by providing new bicycles, college supplies, and “sweet cases” to thousands of foster youth across the U.S. This is such a creative charity. Teams of people (including companies) can host events where they build and create kits and boxes. It’s a unique team-builder that also gives back! Check them out: Foster Love.

Between the constant bombardment of social media, screen-focused careers, and all else vying for our persistent attention… focus has been a feat of strength.

There’s actually a cheat code for focus. You wanna hear it?

A walk in nature.

That’s it.

Studies have proven “[a] walk in nature enhances certain executive control processes in the brain above and beyond the benefits associated with exercise.”

Is that so crazy though? So, get outside! 🙂

May the search be with you 💫

Natalie

Ask these questions at your next team builder. Watch how things get heated… real fast:

• Does pineapple belong on pizza? 
• Should toilet paper hang over or under?
• Is a taco a sandwich?
• Hoagie, sub, grinder, or hero?
• Jersey edition: Taylor ham or pork roll?