SEO News & Algorithm Updates
In-depth analysis of every Google algorithm update, Search announcement, and structured-data change — with impact data, winners vs losers, and recovery playbooks.
Google Search Profiles: What They Are, Who Qualifies, and How to Claim Yours (2026)
Google launched Search profiles — a claimable, shareable page that surfaces your articles, videos, and social posts and lets audiences follow you into Discover. Here's what they are, the follower thresholds to qualify, how to claim yours, and our take on why Google is really shipping this: it's rebuilding publisher traffic around following instead of clicks.
Google Search Console AI Performance Reports: What They Track (and the Clicks Problem)
Google launched a dedicated Generative AI features performance report in Search Console — showing impressions in AI Overviews and AI Mode — plus a new toggle to block your content from AI responses. Here's what the report tracks, what it leaves out (clicks, position, queries), how to read it, and whether you should ever opt out.
DuckDuckGo Installs +30% After Google I/O 2026: What the AI Search Backlash Actually Means for SEO
TechCrunch reports DuckDuckGo US installs averaged +18.1% week-over-week and peaked at +30.5% on May 25, 2026 — but DDG's own Google Trends interest peaked in 2024 and is now ~60% off that high. We compare the install surge to the search-interest curve, work through Lily Ray's 'why didn't this happen earlier' question, and lay out what it means for SEO teams.
Google May 2026 Core Update: Live Tracking, Volatility Data & Recovery Guide
Google's May 2026 Core Update started rolling out May 21 and is expected to complete by ~June 4. Live volatility data, verified primary-source quotes, the same-week-as-I/O recovery measurement problem, and a diagnostic flowchart for site owners.
Google I/O 2026: Every Major Search Update (The AI Search Era Has Begun)
A deep-dive breakdown of every Search announcement from Google I/O 2026 (May 19–20): the Intelligent Search Box, Gemini 3.5 Flash, Information Agents, Generative UI, Personal Intelligence, and what they all mean for SEO and publishers in 2026.
Google Killed FAQ Rich Results (May 2026): The Hot Take That Replaces Them Is Wrong Too
On May 7, 2026, Google stopped showing FAQ rich results in Search. Full timeline, why nobody should be surprised, and why the popular "FAQ schema is now an AI citation magnet" narrative is half-wrong — backed by real studies, expert quotes, and what to actually do.
Google March 2026 Spam Update: Fastest Rollout Ever (19.5 Hours) — What Was Targeted & How to Recover
Google’s March 2026 spam update completed in a record 19.5 hours — 34× faster than the previous spam update. SpamBrain targeted AI spam farms, cloaking, PBN link schemes, and parasite SEO. Full timeline, historical comparison, and recovery guide.
Google’s First-Ever Discover Core Update (Feb 2026): What Changed & What Publishers Should Do
Google launched its first-ever Discover-only core update on February 5, 2026. It rolled out over 22 days, targeting clickbait, boosting local content, and rewarding topical expertise. Full timeline, NewzDash data, winners vs losers, and publisher optimization guide.
Google March 2026 Core Update: Impact Analysis & Recovery Guide
The Google March 2026 core update started March 27 and completed April 8. Over 55% of tracked sites saw ranking changes. Full timeline, impact data, winners vs losers, and an 8-step recovery playbook.
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CrawlRaven runs 200+ checks across the exact signals Google has been tightening — Core Web Vitals, E-E-A-T, structured data, and content quality — with prioritized fixes ordered by ranking impact.