Friday fun: I’m trying to test sycophancy across LLMs.
What do you see when you type “which SEO professionals have strong opinions about AI search”?
I see my name listed on top across 5 LLMs but I’m wondering if this is influenced by sycophancy or it’s what others see too.
What do you see when you type “which SEO professionals have strong opinions about AI search”?
I see my name listed on top across 5 LLMs but I’m wondering if this is influenced by sycophancy or it’s what others see too.
November 21, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Friday fun: I’m trying to test sycophancy across LLMs.
What do you see when you type “which SEO professionals have strong opinions about AI search”?
I see my name listed on top across 5 LLMs but I’m wondering if this is influenced by sycophancy or it’s what others see too.
What do you see when you type “which SEO professionals have strong opinions about AI search”?
I see my name listed on top across 5 LLMs but I’m wondering if this is influenced by sycophancy or it’s what others see too.
This is cool - I built a page on my personal website for some (certainly not all) of my podcast and video appearances, and that page alone was enough for Google’s Web Guide to create a separate section for searches for my name.
November 20, 2025 at 7:22 PM
This is cool - I built a page on my personal website for some (certainly not all) of my podcast and video appearances, and that page alone was enough for Google’s Web Guide to create a separate section for searches for my name.
Another perfect example of how dumb it is that AI Overviews appear when you do a search in quotes.
I have to imagine that the vast majority of searchers using quotes understand their purpose as a search operator.
(1/2)
I have to imagine that the vast majority of searchers using quotes understand their purpose as a search operator.
(1/2)
November 20, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Another perfect example of how dumb it is that AI Overviews appear when you do a search in quotes.
I have to imagine that the vast majority of searchers using quotes understand their purpose as a search operator.
(1/2)
I have to imagine that the vast majority of searchers using quotes understand their purpose as a search operator.
(1/2)
Just asked Gemini 3 about some things for kids to do in NYC and it quickly plotted all the answers onto an interactive Google Maps interface.
Instant connection to Google Maps = huge advantage, in my opinion
Instant connection to Google Maps = huge advantage, in my opinion
November 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Just asked Gemini 3 about some things for kids to do in NYC and it quickly plotted all the answers onto an interactive Google Maps interface.
Instant connection to Google Maps = huge advantage, in my opinion
Instant connection to Google Maps = huge advantage, in my opinion
Dug this one up from the archives.. my SEO team (we were formerly called Path Interactive) built this one about 7 years ago.
For SEO nerds, it's still so funny... IYKYK 😅
Also look, some "brand new GEO" tactics seem to be listed on there
For SEO nerds, it's still so funny... IYKYK 😅
Also look, some "brand new GEO" tactics seem to be listed on there
November 19, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Dug this one up from the archives.. my SEO team (we were formerly called Path Interactive) built this one about 7 years ago.
For SEO nerds, it's still so funny... IYKYK 😅
Also look, some "brand new GEO" tactics seem to be listed on there
For SEO nerds, it's still so funny... IYKYK 😅
Also look, some "brand new GEO" tactics seem to be listed on there
This was the metric I have been looking for, but didn't realize it's here, sitting in Profound all along:
The number of "open-ended" LLM searches that rely on Web Search
For this banking company, it's 96%... sheesh.
The number of "open-ended" LLM searches that rely on Web Search
For this banking company, it's 96%... sheesh.
November 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
This was the metric I have been looking for, but didn't realize it's here, sitting in Profound all along:
The number of "open-ended" LLM searches that rely on Web Search
For this banking company, it's 96%... sheesh.
The number of "open-ended" LLM searches that rely on Web Search
For this banking company, it's 96%... sheesh.
Oh fantastic. Just what our industry needed.
November 18, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Oh fantastic. Just what our industry needed.
I think this is a key point about Google's "Web Guide" that isn't widely understood just yet -
Not only is Web Guide segmenting answers into different buckets based on specific intents…
Not only is Web Guide segmenting answers into different buckets based on specific intents…
November 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I think this is a key point about Google's "Web Guide" that isn't widely understood just yet -
Not only is Web Guide segmenting answers into different buckets based on specific intents…
Not only is Web Guide segmenting answers into different buckets based on specific intents…
I read this 5 times and still don’t understand. But hey apparently it’s fine for Google Discover.
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I read this 5 times and still don’t understand. But hey apparently it’s fine for Google Discover.
It finally happened 💀💀💀
I got hit up for “GEO expert advisory” for.. the “other kind” of GEO
(AKA, the *actual* meaning of GEO)
I got hit up for “GEO expert advisory” for.. the “other kind” of GEO
(AKA, the *actual* meaning of GEO)
November 6, 2025 at 9:13 PM
It finally happened 💀💀💀
I got hit up for “GEO expert advisory” for.. the “other kind” of GEO
(AKA, the *actual* meaning of GEO)
I got hit up for “GEO expert advisory” for.. the “other kind” of GEO
(AKA, the *actual* meaning of GEO)
@wilreynolds.bsky.social just went off on the SEO agencies putting themselves (and their people) at the top of “best SEO” lists 😂😂👏🏽👏🏽
It might work for visibility (for now) but it does NOT work for trust.
#mozcon
It might work for visibility (for now) but it does NOT work for trust.
#mozcon
November 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
@wilreynolds.bsky.social just went off on the SEO agencies putting themselves (and their people) at the top of “best SEO” lists 😂😂👏🏽👏🏽
It might work for visibility (for now) but it does NOT work for trust.
#mozcon
It might work for visibility (for now) but it does NOT work for trust.
#mozcon
“I don’t care about how much content you produce or how quickly you can produce it, I care if people actually trust your brand.”
Being visible in AI / search doesn’t matter if “nobody believes you.”
@wilreynolds.bsky.social #mozcon
(Sorry for the rainbows)
Being visible in AI / search doesn’t matter if “nobody believes you.”
@wilreynolds.bsky.social #mozcon
(Sorry for the rainbows)
November 6, 2025 at 5:27 PM
“I don’t care about how much content you produce or how quickly you can produce it, I care if people actually trust your brand.”
Being visible in AI / search doesn’t matter if “nobody believes you.”
@wilreynolds.bsky.social #mozcon
(Sorry for the rainbows)
Being visible in AI / search doesn’t matter if “nobody believes you.”
@wilreynolds.bsky.social #mozcon
(Sorry for the rainbows)
Used @randfish.bsky.social’s awesome new tool, @alertmouse.bsky.social (a better version of Google Alerts) for a whole 30 seconds only to learn that my name was mentioned in Forbes this week.
(1/2)
(1/2)
October 30, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Used @randfish.bsky.social’s awesome new tool, @alertmouse.bsky.social (a better version of Google Alerts) for a whole 30 seconds only to learn that my name was mentioned in Forbes this week.
(1/2)
(1/2)
Drop traffic as a KPI. Measure audience size, reach, interest and sales instead.
Traffic can often be down, when revenue is up.
If you’re still relying on traffic, you’re (unfortunately) stuck relying on Google.
@randfish.bsky.social
Traffic can often be down, when revenue is up.
If you’re still relying on traffic, you’re (unfortunately) stuck relying on Google.
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Drop traffic as a KPI. Measure audience size, reach, interest and sales instead.
Traffic can often be down, when revenue is up.
If you’re still relying on traffic, you’re (unfortunately) stuck relying on Google.
@randfish.bsky.social
Traffic can often be down, when revenue is up.
If you’re still relying on traffic, you’re (unfortunately) stuck relying on Google.
@randfish.bsky.social
Distribute your message on rented land - spread your message on the properties you don’t control.
You can now get way more engagement on the major platforms than on your own site.
(This is how it worked in the 20th century anyway, with newspapers and billboards)
@randfish.bsky.social
You can now get way more engagement on the major platforms than on your own site.
(This is how it worked in the 20th century anyway, with newspapers and billboards)
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Distribute your message on rented land - spread your message on the properties you don’t control.
You can now get way more engagement on the major platforms than on your own site.
(This is how it worked in the 20th century anyway, with newspapers and billboards)
@randfish.bsky.social
You can now get way more engagement on the major platforms than on your own site.
(This is how it worked in the 20th century anyway, with newspapers and billboards)
@randfish.bsky.social
People spend way more time on the internet doing other things (social, productivity, news) than search, but search sends the most traffic.
Traffic is dying, but attention is growing.
Focus on optimizing for influence above traffic.
@randfish.bsky.social
Traffic is dying, but attention is growing.
Focus on optimizing for influence above traffic.
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:50 AM
People spend way more time on the internet doing other things (social, productivity, news) than search, but search sends the most traffic.
Traffic is dying, but attention is growing.
Focus on optimizing for influence above traffic.
@randfish.bsky.social
Traffic is dying, but attention is growing.
Focus on optimizing for influence above traffic.
@randfish.bsky.social
Yes, Google grew in total searches last year - because they increased the number of “no click” searches. Those additional searches stayed on Google.
For every 1k searches in the EU, 374 click to the open web. For US, it’s 360 clicks.
@randfish.bsky.social
For every 1k searches in the EU, 374 click to the open web. For US, it’s 360 clicks.
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Yes, Google grew in total searches last year - because they increased the number of “no click” searches. Those additional searches stayed on Google.
For every 1k searches in the EU, 374 click to the open web. For US, it’s 360 clicks.
@randfish.bsky.social
For every 1k searches in the EU, 374 click to the open web. For US, it’s 360 clicks.
@randfish.bsky.social
All the social platforms have an algorithm that shows you content they think will keep you there
When you scroll, you don’t see who you follow, you see who we want you to see.
Platforms disincentivize linking out.
@randfish.bsky.social
When you scroll, you don’t see who you follow, you see who we want you to see.
Platforms disincentivize linking out.
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:47 AM
All the social platforms have an algorithm that shows you content they think will keep you there
When you scroll, you don’t see who you follow, you see who we want you to see.
Platforms disincentivize linking out.
@randfish.bsky.social
When you scroll, you don’t see who you follow, you see who we want you to see.
Platforms disincentivize linking out.
@randfish.bsky.social
ChatGPT and Gemini are the only LLMs seeing sustained growth
The growth was fast early, but now it’s slowing
Platforms are now shifting focus to increasing revenue per user
@randfish.bsky.social
The growth was fast early, but now it’s slowing
Platforms are now shifting focus to increasing revenue per user
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
ChatGPT and Gemini are the only LLMs seeing sustained growth
The growth was fast early, but now it’s slowing
Platforms are now shifting focus to increasing revenue per user
@randfish.bsky.social
The growth was fast early, but now it’s slowing
Platforms are now shifting focus to increasing revenue per user
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:21 AM
For heavy AI users - they still use search the same amount as a few years ago.
Traditional search is not being cannibalized by AI.
@randfish.bsky.social
Traditional search is not being cannibalized by AI.
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:16 AM
For heavy AI users - they still use search the same amount as a few years ago.
Traditional search is not being cannibalized by AI.
@randfish.bsky.social
Traditional search is not being cannibalized by AI.
@randfish.bsky.social
AI Search is growing faster than the other platforms (including search), but it’s still a tiny sliver of the pie
(Looks like AI Search is recently stagnating too)
Also, AI is not stealing traffic from Search - it’s an expansionary tool.
@randfish.bsky.social
(Looks like AI Search is recently stagnating too)
Also, AI is not stealing traffic from Search - it’s an expansionary tool.
@randfish.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:16 AM
AI Search is growing faster than the other platforms (including search), but it’s still a tiny sliver of the pie
(Looks like AI Search is recently stagnating too)
Also, AI is not stealing traffic from Search - it’s an expansionary tool.
@randfish.bsky.social
(Looks like AI Search is recently stagnating too)
Also, AI is not stealing traffic from Search - it’s an expansionary tool.
@randfish.bsky.social
Not saying it’s the right approach necessarily but it’s definitely an interesting approach.
October 29, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Not saying it’s the right approach necessarily but it’s definitely an interesting approach.