Mark Williams-Cook
@markwilliamscook.com
💌 Core Updates SEO newsletter: https://coreupdates.com
💻 Director at Candour https://withcandour.co.uk
💬 Founder at AlsoAsked https://alsoasked.com
Once called “by far the least annoying voice in a very annoying field”
💻 Director at Candour https://withcandour.co.uk
💬 Founder at AlsoAsked https://alsoasked.com
Once called “by far the least annoying voice in a very annoying field”
Pinned
🎉 It's 2026, which means it is time to announce @withcandour.co.uk's charity of the year! This year, I'm delighted we will be supporting Leeway Domestic Violence and Abuse Services, with an initial £10,000 donation and on-going support and fundraising activities throughout the year.
He didn't live to see it, but Snoop finally made it into a board game I backed a couple of years ago 😍
He truly was the fun police.
He truly was the fun police.
January 15, 2026 at 12:19 PM
He didn't live to see it, but Snoop finally made it into a board game I backed a couple of years ago 😍
He truly was the fun police.
He truly was the fun police.
First proper head injury boxing. Briefly knocked out Sunday, still have headache on Wednesday.
I’m worried I will start selling GEO soon.
I’m worried I will start selling GEO soon.
January 14, 2026 at 5:06 PM
First proper head injury boxing. Briefly knocked out Sunday, still have headache on Wednesday.
I’m worried I will start selling GEO soon.
I’m worried I will start selling GEO soon.
Interview from the very kind Laura Abreu covering everything from charity work, boxing, scuba diving and excommunication by The Pope 🤩
globalandsearch.com/interview/20...
with my twin @zyppy.com
globalandsearch.com/interview/20...
with my twin @zyppy.com
20+ Years of SEO with Mark Williams-Cook
Mark Williams-Cook is the Director at Candour and the Founder of AlsoAsked, with over 20 years of experience in SEO, search intent and experimentation. He’s widely known for his Core Updates newslette...
globalandsearch.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Interview from the very kind Laura Abreu covering everything from charity work, boxing, scuba diving and excommunication by The Pope 🤩
globalandsearch.com/interview/20...
with my twin @zyppy.com
globalandsearch.com/interview/20...
with my twin @zyppy.com
At the "which one of the instant messaging, mobile-on-web, chat platform, social media platforms made that plinky IM sound" age.
January 14, 2026 at 9:49 AM
At the "which one of the instant messaging, mobile-on-web, chat platform, social media platforms made that plinky IM sound" age.
Client: "We work in a regulated industry, so we need to be really careful about the content we put on our website."
Big Bro LLMs: "IT SAYS WHATEVER IT LIKES TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WE JUST SAY IN SMALL TEXT IT MIGHT BE WRONG LOL" 🤡
Big Bro LLMs: "IT SAYS WHATEVER IT LIKES TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WE JUST SAY IN SMALL TEXT IT MIGHT BE WRONG LOL" 🤡
January 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Client: "We work in a regulated industry, so we need to be really careful about the content we put on our website."
Big Bro LLMs: "IT SAYS WHATEVER IT LIKES TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WE JUST SAY IN SMALL TEXT IT MIGHT BE WRONG LOL" 🤡
Big Bro LLMs: "IT SAYS WHATEVER IT LIKES TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WE JUST SAY IN SMALL TEXT IT MIGHT BE WRONG LOL" 🤡
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
Google Shopping is updating its promotions policy to now allow for promotions on subscription fees and abbreviations www.seroundtable.com/google-shopp...
#googleshopping #google
#googleshopping #google
January 13, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Google Shopping is updating its promotions policy to now allow for promotions on subscription fees and abbreviations www.seroundtable.com/google-shopp...
#googleshopping #google
#googleshopping #google
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
Google announced that Apple Intelligence / Siri will use Gemini.
Is this game over? Cuz it feels like game over.
Is this game over? Cuz it feels like game over.
January 12, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Google announced that Apple Intelligence / Siri will use Gemini.
Is this game over? Cuz it feels like game over.
Is this game over? Cuz it feels like game over.
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
We're pleased to announce our 2026 charity partner:
Leeway!
Leeway is a specialist domestic abuse charity that has been supporting people across Norfolk and Suffolk for over 40 years.
Keep an eye out to see what we’re up to (there are rumours of skydiving 🪂) and how you can help us support them.
Leeway!
Leeway is a specialist domestic abuse charity that has been supporting people across Norfolk and Suffolk for over 40 years.
Keep an eye out to see what we’re up to (there are rumours of skydiving 🪂) and how you can help us support them.
January 7, 2026 at 2:46 PM
We're pleased to announce our 2026 charity partner:
Leeway!
Leeway is a specialist domestic abuse charity that has been supporting people across Norfolk and Suffolk for over 40 years.
Keep an eye out to see what we’re up to (there are rumours of skydiving 🪂) and how you can help us support them.
Leeway!
Leeway is a specialist domestic abuse charity that has been supporting people across Norfolk and Suffolk for over 40 years.
Keep an eye out to see what we’re up to (there are rumours of skydiving 🪂) and how you can help us support them.
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
If you like my photos, please vote for me in the EIZO contest: www.eizophotoawards.ch/galerie/eter...
#photography #landscape #switzerland
#photography #landscape #switzerland
Eternal Love
Emotions don't have to be loud and bold. Emotions can be intimate, quiet, consistent, too. This elderly couple embodies this. They share this quiet moment, away from daily routine, away from the crowd...
www.eizophotoawards.ch
January 8, 2026 at 1:13 PM
If you like my photos, please vote for me in the EIZO contest: www.eizophotoawards.ch/galerie/eter...
#photography #landscape #switzerland
#photography #landscape #switzerland
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
The num=100 change Google made recently was pretty disruptive
It was also annoying, quite complicated to communicate if you weren’t already that “in to” the complexities of rank tracking.
This change impacted:
- Accuracy of data
- Costs of rank tracking
- Top line reporting metrics
🧵 1/2
It was also annoying, quite complicated to communicate if you weren’t already that “in to” the complexities of rank tracking.
This change impacted:
- Accuracy of data
- Costs of rank tracking
- Top line reporting metrics
🧵 1/2
Why Does Google Parameter &num= Matter?
The &num=100 search parameter was recently deprecated. This seemingly small change in a Google search URL parameter is having a massive impact on the SEO industry. In this Whiteboard Friday, Tom…
moz.com
January 7, 2026 at 8:15 PM
The num=100 change Google made recently was pretty disruptive
It was also annoying, quite complicated to communicate if you weren’t already that “in to” the complexities of rank tracking.
This change impacted:
- Accuracy of data
- Costs of rank tracking
- Top line reporting metrics
🧵 1/2
It was also annoying, quite complicated to communicate if you weren’t already that “in to” the complexities of rank tracking.
This change impacted:
- Accuracy of data
- Costs of rank tracking
- Top line reporting metrics
🧵 1/2
If you're emailing my e-commerce business to pitch your services and putting "Issue with my order" as your subject so I open your email, you're going straight to spam. 🗑️
January 7, 2026 at 11:37 AM
If you're emailing my e-commerce business to pitch your services and putting "Issue with my order" as your subject so I open your email, you're going straight to spam. 🗑️
Internet of Shit
My mouse doesn't work properly because Logitech let one of their server certificates expire, so now their config software fails. What a time to be alive.
January 7, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Internet of Shit
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
There’s a huge spam war going on⛔️
It’s far larger than it ever has been. If you think you’re worried about AI slop in your social feeds, Google’s Discover team has seen it far worse.
Besides the spam-fighting they're doing, they also illustrated a critical point at Search Central Live 2025
🧵 1/3
It’s far larger than it ever has been. If you think you’re worried about AI slop in your social feeds, Google’s Discover team has seen it far worse.
Besides the spam-fighting they're doing, they also illustrated a critical point at Search Central Live 2025
🧵 1/3
January 6, 2026 at 8:30 PM
There’s a huge spam war going on⛔️
It’s far larger than it ever has been. If you think you’re worried about AI slop in your social feeds, Google’s Discover team has seen it far worse.
Besides the spam-fighting they're doing, they also illustrated a critical point at Search Central Live 2025
🧵 1/3
It’s far larger than it ever has been. If you think you’re worried about AI slop in your social feeds, Google’s Discover team has seen it far worse.
Besides the spam-fighting they're doing, they also illustrated a critical point at Search Central Live 2025
🧵 1/3
🎉 It's 2026, which means it is time to announce @withcandour.co.uk's charity of the year! This year, I'm delighted we will be supporting Leeway Domestic Violence and Abuse Services, with an initial £10,000 donation and on-going support and fundraising activities throughout the year.
January 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM
🎉 It's 2026, which means it is time to announce @withcandour.co.uk's charity of the year! This year, I'm delighted we will be supporting Leeway Domestic Violence and Abuse Services, with an initial £10,000 donation and on-going support and fundraising activities throughout the year.
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
Our first 2026 webinar
#dudawebinar
Defining, Measuring & Winning With Quality Content in 2026
@markwilliamscook.com @bngsrc.bsky.social @yagmursimsek.bsky.social
@withcandour.co.uk
Live on Jan 15!
Register now
www.duda.co/webinars/win...
#dudawebinar
Defining, Measuring & Winning With Quality Content in 2026
@markwilliamscook.com @bngsrc.bsky.social @yagmursimsek.bsky.social
@withcandour.co.uk
Live on Jan 15!
Register now
www.duda.co/webinars/win...
January 6, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Our first 2026 webinar
#dudawebinar
Defining, Measuring & Winning With Quality Content in 2026
@markwilliamscook.com @bngsrc.bsky.social @yagmursimsek.bsky.social
@withcandour.co.uk
Live on Jan 15!
Register now
www.duda.co/webinars/win...
#dudawebinar
Defining, Measuring & Winning With Quality Content in 2026
@markwilliamscook.com @bngsrc.bsky.social @yagmursimsek.bsky.social
@withcandour.co.uk
Live on Jan 15!
Register now
www.duda.co/webinars/win...
The ending to Stranger Things was disappointing.
January 5, 2026 at 9:18 AM
The ending to Stranger Things was disappointing.
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
@markwilliamscook.com is forever the optimist.
https://bsky.app/profile/markwilliamscook.com/post/3lq5ldbnagc2t #SEO
https://bsky.app/profile/markwilliamscook.com/post/3lq5ldbnagc2t #SEO
January 1, 2026 at 9:39 PM
@markwilliamscook.com is forever the optimist.
https://bsky.app/profile/markwilliamscook.com/post/3lq5ldbnagc2t #SEO
https://bsky.app/profile/markwilliamscook.com/post/3lq5ldbnagc2t #SEO
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
"Cursor CEO warns vibe coding builds ‘shaky foundations’ and eventually ‘things start to crumble’"
fortune.com/2025/12/25/c...
fortune.com/2025/12/25/c...
a bald man wearing a suit and tie is sitting in front of a starz logo
ALT: a bald man wearing a suit and tie is sitting in front of a starz logo
media.tenor.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
"Cursor CEO warns vibe coding builds ‘shaky foundations’ and eventually ‘things start to crumble’"
fortune.com/2025/12/25/c...
fortune.com/2025/12/25/c...
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
I have made many many notes this year as I work through my ideas about the state of independent content creation. Here's my summary.
www.hiblue.com/five-pillars...
www.hiblue.com/five-pillars...
Five Pillars of Independent Content Creation and Monetisation in 2026 – HiBlue
www.hiblue.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I have made many many notes this year as I work through my ideas about the state of independent content creation. Here's my summary.
www.hiblue.com/five-pillars...
www.hiblue.com/five-pillars...
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
12YO girl signed up to do “stand up comedy” at the talent show. 13YO boy decided to heckle her. Teacher started to tell the boy to leave her alone, but the 12YO comedian said “no, no, let him go, this is the closest he’s ever going to get to having a conversation with a girl.”
What's an insult you'll never forget?
December 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
12YO girl signed up to do “stand up comedy” at the talent show. 13YO boy decided to heckle her. Teacher started to tell the boy to leave her alone, but the 12YO comedian said “no, no, let him go, this is the closest he’s ever going to get to having a conversation with a girl.”
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
One more speaker spot left and a few sponsors spots still available.
December 27, 2025 at 12:25 PM
One more speaker spot left and a few sponsors spots still available.
Reposted by Mark Williams-Cook
Image SEO in 2026 is about machine readability.
FDA font sizes (0.9mm) fail AI OCR.
Glossy packaging causes data hallucinations.
Weird facial expressions = unreliable sentiment scores.
I have some thoughts and advice here:
FDA font sizes (0.9mm) fail AI OCR.
Glossy packaging causes data hallucinations.
Weird facial expressions = unreliable sentiment scores.
I have some thoughts and advice here:
Image SEO for multimodal AI
Images are now parsed like language. OCR, visual context and pixel-level quality shape how AI systems interpret and surface content.
searchengineland.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Image SEO in 2026 is about machine readability.
FDA font sizes (0.9mm) fail AI OCR.
Glossy packaging causes data hallucinations.
Weird facial expressions = unreliable sentiment scores.
I have some thoughts and advice here:
FDA font sizes (0.9mm) fail AI OCR.
Glossy packaging causes data hallucinations.
Weird facial expressions = unreliable sentiment scores.
I have some thoughts and advice here:
Bad week for the MAGA 'alpha' males. Woke is back 😅
December 21, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Bad week for the MAGA 'alpha' males. Woke is back 😅
Jaw broken in two places ✅
December 20, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Jaw broken in two places ✅