SEO

Our huge library of search engine optimization articles addresses strategies and tactics for ecommerce businesses. Our 12-part “How-to” series explains the basics. Advanced topics include faceted navigation, crawling and indexing, cross-border optimization, and much more.

Keyword Research | Link Building | On-page SEO | SEO Tools | Technical SEO

SEO
Studies Reveal AI Citation Clues

March 9, 2026 • Ann Smarty

Generative AI platforms offer no guidelines on how to appear in their answers. We're left with independent research.
SEO
AI Bots Don’t Need Markdown Pages

March 2, 2026 • Ann Smarty

Serving separate versions of a page to people and bots is not new. It's called "cloaking."
SEO Tools
AI Prompts Come to Search Console

February 23, 2026 • Ann Smarty

The new feature enables organic search analysis by entering generative AI-like prompts.
SEO
Bing Adds AI Visibility Reporting

February 16, 2026 • Ann Smarty

The new "AI Performance Report" in Webmaster Tools is an industry first.
SEO
Traffic Impact of Google Discover

February 9, 2026 • Ann Smarty

Last week's core update focused entirely on Discover, a first for Google.
SEO
Google Discover for Ecommerce

February 8, 2026 • Armando Roggio

If it's becoming a meaningful traffic channel, Discover deserves attention.
SEO
Better Metrics for AI Search Visibility

February 2, 2026 • Ann Smarty

AI-generated search is pushing merchants to measure product visibility, but traditional metrics fall short.
SEO
New Microsoft Retail AI Guide Echoes SEO

January 26, 2026 • Ann Smarty

"A guide to AEO and GEO" includes actionable tips that align with longstanding SEO tactics.
SEO
Marketing to Humans and Machines

January 22, 2026 • Armando Roggio

Marketers seeking organic traffic have long sought shoppers and appeased machines, e.g., search engines.
Technical SEO
Google’s Core Updates, Explained

January 19, 2026 • Ann Smarty

Unlike Spam Updates, Core Updates generally do not penalize but, instead, alter how the algorithm treats certain queries.
SEO Tools
Tools for Fast Search-Query Analysis

January 13, 2026 • Ann Smarty

Queries are becoming longer, more diverse, and less predictable, fueling the need for extended research and analysis.
Technical SEO
Yes, 404 Status Codes Hurt SEO

January 5, 2026 • Ann Smarty

"404" pages are not direct ranking signals, but they disrupt the user experience and block link equity.
SEO
3 SEO Predictions for 2026

December 30, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Generative AI increasingly dominates search results through AI Overviews and AI Mode, rendering traditional optimization ineffective.
SEO
The Psychology of AI SERPs and Shopping

December 29, 2025 • Armando Roggio

The rise of "zero-click" searches may signal the coming effect of AI shopping on product discovery and decision-making.
SEO Tools
GSC Groups Keywords as AI Queries Expand

December 23, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Google Search Console's "Insights" section no longer shows click trends for single keywords, only by group.
SEO
Primer on ChatGPT’s 3 Bots

December 15, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Knowing which bot is responsible for which task is essential before attempting to disallow it.
SEO
Long-Tail SEO in an AI World

December 9, 2025 • Ann Smarty

The top benefit of targeting long-tail searches could now be AI visibility.
SEO
Tools to Track GenAI Citations, Sources

December 2, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Understanding how AI platforms conduct searches is key to optimizing visibility in the answers.
SEO
Will Google’s AI Mode Dominate ChatGPT?

November 28, 2025 • Eric Bandholz

Jeff Oxford of 180 Marketing addresses ChatGPT optimization, with a caveat: Google's AI Mode could eventually dominate.
SEO
How Google’s Web Guide Helps SEO

November 24, 2025 • Ann Smarty

The new Google Labs experiment uses AI to organize a user's search results. It's also handy for SEO.
SEO Tools
New GSC ‘Insights’ Show Trends, Status

November 17, 2025 • Ann Smarty

The relaunched "Insights" section in Search Console doesn't provide data unavailable in other reports, but it's helpful for quick trends and items needing attention.
Technical SEO
URL Case Sensitivity and SEO

November 10, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Inconsistent capitalization can harm organic rankings in three ways.
SEO
Regex in GSC Reveals ChatGPT Searches

November 3, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Search Console reports AI-bot queries as if they're human. Here's how to isolate the bots from real people.
SEO
Does Schema Markup Help AI Visibility?

October 27, 2025 • Ann Smarty

What matters for AI visibility is relevant content and long-term brand building, not structured data.
Technical SEO
How to Remove a Web Page from Google

October 20, 2025 • Ann Smarty

The reasons for deindexing a page haven't much changed over the years, although the tools and tactics have evolved.
SEO
Google’s AI Reshapes Organic Listings

October 13, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Google is changing organic search results as it integrates AI, necessitating new traffic tactics and priorities.
SEO
GEO for ChatGPT Instant Checkout

October 7, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Generative engine optimization relies on context, not just product data.
SEO
ChannelAdvisor Founder Launches GEO for Merchants

September 30, 2025 • Kerry Murdock

Scot Wingo observed consumer shopping journeys while running ChannelAdvisor. His new firm, ReFiBuy, applies that experience to generative engine optimization.
On-page SEO
Google’s Spam Updates, Explained

September 29, 2025 • Ann Smarty

Traffic declines from spam updates are typically drastic and result from violations of Google's published policies.
SEO
Ask an Expert: How to Start with GEO?

September 23, 2025 • PEC Staff

There's no universal guide for product integration on genAI platforms, but merchants can take proactive steps to prepare.