Google Is Firing Shots: Self-Promotional...

E946: Google search volatility is hitting hard, and this time the pattern is clear.

We break down why Google appears to be cracking down on self-promotional "best of" listicles, especially across SaaS blogs and resource centers. Based on research and analysis shared by Lily Ray and Glenn Gabe, many sites are seeing major visibility losses tied specifically to blog content that prioritizes SEO tactics over usefulness.

This episode explains what's happening, why it's happening, and what site owners and marketers should learn from it.

Topics covered:
- What self-promotional listicles are and why they spread so quickly
- Why blog and resource content is driving most visibility losses
- How Google's review system may be detecting biased or low-evidence content
- Examples of SaaS companies losing 40–50% or more organic visibility
- How rapid AI content scaling increases algorithmic risk
- Overuse of programmatic templates across hundreds or thousands of pages
- Excessive "best X in 2026" style titles without meaningful updates
- Misuse of schema and artificial freshness signals
- Sales-driven content disguised as informational articles
- Why overusing any SEO tactic eventually becomes spam
- How Google updates affect AI Overviews and AI Mode
- Why drops in search also impact ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity
- What long-term, durable SEO actually looks like

Key takeaway:
SEO shortcuts can work temporarily, but when patterns become obvious, they stop working. Google updates tend to punish overuse, not single mistakes. Sites that focus on genuinely helpful content and balanced strategies tend to hold rankings over time.

This episode is especially relevant for:
- SaaS founders and marketers
- SEO professionals
- Content and growth teams using AI
- Anyone dependent on Google or AI-driven search visibility

If you want to learn my SEO approach that has survived multiple Google updates, you can find it with Compact Keywords (link below). The focus is on building pages that searchers actually want, not tactics that collapse during volatility.

Thanks for watching. New episodes every day.

⭐️ Is Google Finally Cracking Down on Self-Promotional Listicles? - https://lilyraynyc.substack.com/p/is-google-finally-cracking-down-on
⭐️ Glenn Gabe's post - https://x.com/glenngabe/status/2018720184148631634

💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/

00:00 Introduction: Google's Crackdown on Self-Promotional Listicles
00:23 Understanding Self-Promotional Listicles
01:08 Google's Algorithm Update: Impact and Analysis
01:47 Lily Ray's Insights and Examples
06:02 Common Trends Among Affected Sites
10:12 Avoiding Google's Penalties: Best Practices
15:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

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