Beers and SEO with Barry and Steve

On this month's pod we cover the impact of AI on news and publishers and focus on SEO strategies, AI crawling, and protecting content.We'll also share insights on optimising for AI, handling AI bots, and industry collaboration. With the various algorithmic updates and AI policy changes there's a lot to catch up on, so let's dive in!Key topics:- AI impact on news and publishers- SEO strategies for AI search- AI crawling and bot behavior- Content protection and regulation- Industry collaboration and regulationChapters00:00 Introduction to AI in News and Publishing03:04 The Impact of Google's Core Updates06:01 Back Button Hijacking and User Experience10:05 AI Overview Accuracy and User Trust17:12 AI Crawlers and Bots: Challenges for Publishers30:09 Navigating AI Optimisation Strategies31:53 The Value of AI Training Data33:13 Challenges in AI Visibility for Brands34:31 The Limitations of Prompt Tracking35:47 The Importance of Collective Action in Publishing37:41 Understanding the Low Value Exchange for Publishers39:49 Optimising for AI Visibility in Direct Sales41:32 The Dilemma of AI-Generated Content for Publishers43:14 Technical SEO Strategies for AI Visibility44:35 The Role of Semantic HTML and Structured Data46:41 Chunking and Writing for AI vs. Humans50:30 Crawlability and Internal Linking Strategies53:20 Meta Tags and Open Graph Optimisation54:12 The Future of LLMs and Markdown57:11 Final Thoughts and Future DirectionsResourcesAIO accuracieshttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/technology/google-ai-overviews-accuracy.htmlhttps://algorythmic.co/opinions/my-response-to-googles-response-to-the-nyt-ai-overview-story/Denmark's strategy to front run Europe on Big Tech deals: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/denmarks-strategy-to-front-run-europe-on-big-tech-deals/id1800563534?i=10007454262413rd party scrapers selling to AI companies: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7447249264881205249/ --------------------Connect with Barry & SteveSEO Summit 2026 - https://newsseo.ioBarry's Consultancy service: https://www.polemicdigital.com/Steve's Consultancy service: https://www.stevenwilsonbeales.com/

In this episode, we explore the SEO strategies behind The Times of London's success, the impact of AI on news publishing, and how to build a resilient, value-driven newsroom. Guest Luke Halls, Head of SEO at The Times, shares insights on audience engagement, content innovation, and future trends.Key Topics on the Pod!- The Times' SEO strategy and audience growth- Impact of AI on news content and search- Building trust and loyalty through quality journalismChapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:18 The Success of The Times in a Complex Market01:05 Barry's Favorite Beers and Personal Stories02:16 The Heritage and Reach of The Times03:43 The Role of Search and App Engagement05:49 Luke's Journey into Journalism and SEO09:52 Luke's Role and Objectives at The Times10:30 Using Data to Drive Loyalty and Subscriptions12:07 Content Strategy and Audience Targeting13:20 AI's Disruption and Opportunities in News14:46 Topic Focus and Data-Driven Content Planning15:34 Adapting to the AI and Search Landscape16:37 Google Discover and Content Optimization18:41 Creating AI-Resilient and Original Journalism20:19 Live Coverage and Content Tree Approach21:26 Balancing Breaking News and Quality Content22:23 The Times' Approach to Paywalls and Subscription Models28:29 Experimenting with Gift Links and Sharing29:54 Content Experiments Without Targets31:19 Monitoring Discover and AI Impact33:12 Headlines, Headlines Optimization, and AI Tools34:20 Headline Strategies for Discover and Search36:12 Using Multiple Headlines and AI in CMS38:00 AI for Menial Tasks and Content Automation40:08 Google's Headline Rewrites and Search Impact43:43 Future Trends in Search, Discover, and YouTube45:30 Upcoming SEO Events and Educational Opportunities47:35 Closing Remarks and Future Outlook--------------------Connect with Barry & SteveSEO Summit 2026 - https://newsseo.ioBarry's Consultancy service: https://www.polemicdigital.com/Steve's Consultancy service: https://www.stevenwilsonbeales.com/

In our latest discussion we've invited Nicola Agius (Director of SEO and Discover, Reach) to chat about three SEO-related news stories before we deep dive into Google Discover and its implications for publishers. We explore the recent core updates, the impact of AI on traffic, and the importance of maintaining a balanced SEO strategy. Apologies for a couple of connectivity issues - but we resolved them in the end!Some takeaways...The CMA's regulations may lead to more control for publishers over their content in AI-generated responses in Google.AI tracking tools can provide misleading data; focus on quality content instead.The volatility of Google Discover requires constant monitoring and adaptation.Smaller and regional publishers are gaining visibility in Discover, challenging national publishers.Quality and authority in content creation should not be compromised for short-term traffic gains.Publishers need a diversified traffic strategy to mitigate risks associated with reliance on Discover.--------------------Connect with Barry & SteveBarry's Consultancy service: https://www.polemicdigital.com/Steve's Consultancy service: https://www.stevenwilsonbeales.com/

Wow, we made it to our second podcast!This week we discussed AI Survival Strategies based on an article Barry wrote recently. We also talked about the evolving landscape of digital publishing, the importance of SEO, the role of Google Discover AND the necessity of diversifying traffic sources via video and social media. We also spoke about the critical need for publishers to build trust and authority with their audiences by investing MORE in original journalism. PHEW!Further Reading for the hard core dedicated:Barry's AI Survival Strategies for Publishers: https://www.seoforgooglenews.com/p/ai-survival-strategies-for-publishersSteve's take on the Reuters Journalism and Technology Trends and Predictions 2026 report: https://publishingstrategies.substack.com/p/reuters-journalism-technology-trends-predictionsThanks to everyone who''s supported this pod so far!Some Key Takeaways:AI survival strategies are essential for publishers today.Traffic from search engines remains significant despite changes.Publishers must not neglect SEO in favour of quick wins.Technical SEO is crucial for long-term success.AI should be viewed as an accelerant, not a solution.Diversifying traffic sources beyond Google is vital.Google Discover presents both opportunities and risks for publishers.Experimentation is key to success in Google Discover.Publishers need to focus on quality journalism over clickbait tactics.Understanding audience needs is essential for effective content strategy. Google Discover can lead to spikes in traffic but can be addictive for publishers.Experimentation is crucial for success in Google Discover.Newsletters can effectively drive subscriptions and engage audiences.Video content is becoming increasingly important in journalism.Publishers should embrace video to retain talent and engage audiences.Building trust with audiences is essential for brand authority.Understanding audience perception is key to brand success.Original journalism is necessary to stand out in a crowded market.AI can summarise content, but original stories provide unique value.Courage to innovate and experiment is vital for future success.---------------------Connect with Barry & SteveBarry's SEO for News Newsletter: https://www.seoforgooglenews.com/Barry's Consultancy service: https://www.polemicdigital.com/Steve's Consultancy service: https://www.stevenwilsonbeales.com/

Welcome people to our new video podcast from Barry Adams and Steven Wilson-Beales discussing some of the biggest digital publishing trends - but with a difference because we'll be drinking beer throughout so what could possibly go wrong? This week we discussed - Will AI Kill SEO? Are AI prompt tracking tools the solution to all Zero-Click woes? What publishers should be aware of as we enter 2026. SEO myths we are most tired of AND publishers we're most proud of. There's also a story about walking drunkenly through Redruth, Cornwall - but you'll have to watch to find out what happened.Some key takeaways:SEO is evolving with the introduction of AI and LLMs.AI's impact on SEO is significant but not the end of it.Publishers need to adapt to the changing landscape of search traffic.Case studies are essential for proving credibility in SEO.Traffic from Google Discover can be addictive for newsrooms.Understanding LLMs is crucial for future SEO strategies. Google Discover traffic can lead to unreliable spikes.Publishers often chase clicks at the expense of quality.Discover should be viewed as bonus traffic, not a strategy.YouTube offers significant opportunities for news consumption.Compelling titles and thumbnails are crucial for video engagement.Reddit can be a tricky platform for publishers to navigate.Keyword research remains vital for effective SEO.Successful publishers focus on audience needs and engagement.AI overviews pose a significant threat to traditional search traffic.Long-term strategies are essential for sustainable growth.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Barry & Steve!Barry's SEO for News Newsletter: https://www.seoforgooglenews.com/Barry's Consultancy service: https://www.polemicdigital.com/Steve's Consultancy service: https://www.stevenwilsonbeales.com/Zylinderkopf: https://www.instagram.com/_zylinderkopf/