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Higher Education SEO Trends in 2026: How to Compete
This post was updated by Paula French on 4/20/26 to reflect current best practices. It was originally published on 3/7/25. Key Insights Search Has Expanded Beyond Google. Students now research programs across AI Overviews, Google AI Mode, Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude. If your content isn’t structured for AI retrieval, …
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New Meta Update May Shift Your Reporting – April Client Insider
Meta recently updated how it attributes conversions from ad clicks. While the change is subtle, it may affect how conversions appear in your reports. In short: A “click” now means someone actually clicked your link. Other interactions, like liking or saving an ad, are still tracked, but counted separately. What …
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How Marketing Supports SEO and Helps You Score Big With AI Search
This post was updated by Paula French on 3/10/26 to reflect current best practices. It was originally published on 8/18/25. Key Insights AI search engines reward brands that align SEO with all marketing channels, including social, PR, paid, and email. Social media content marketing reinforces SEO performance by increasing entity …
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[WEBINAR] Make Your Existing Marketing Work Harder for AI Search Visibility
AI search is changing how prospective students discover programs. But building an entirely new marketing strategy from scratch isn’t realistic for most higher education teams. Budgets are tight, staff capacity is limited, and priorities compete for attention. That’s why we partnered with UPCEA for this spring’s live webinar: Make Your …
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The Maps Pack Is Dead — Here’s What Ate It (And How to Get Found Anyway)
Key Insights AI Overviews are actively replacing traditional Maps packs for high-intent local searches, reducing visibility to a smaller set of trusted businesses. Local SEO has shifted from ranking pages to validating entities. Consistency, citations, and structured data now drive inclusion. Intent chips reveal the exact attributes Google prioritizes; they …
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The March Influencer: Your AI Traffic Has Plateaued. Now What?
Stay ahead in digital marketing with The Influencer, Search Influence’s monthly newsletter covering SEO, digital advertising, and content strategy. Get top tips to fuel your online growth, expert insights from the Search Influence team, and our latest company news. Don’t miss out! CEO Will Scott’s Latest AI Search Strategy Insights …
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Search Influence Joins the 2026 UPCEA Annual Conference in New Orleans
The 2026 UPCEA Annual Conference, taking place April 15–17 in New Orleans, will bring together leaders across online and professional education to discuss the future of higher education strategy, technology, and student engagement. Search Influence will participate in this year’s event through speaking sessions, thought leadership, and in-person conversations with …
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UPCEA Guest Article: Explaining AI SEO ROI to University Leadership
Prospective students are doing more homework before they ever reach your website. Many start by asking AI tools to explain programs, compare schools, and surface credible options. Those responses shape which institutions feel trustworthy, which ones make the shortlist, and which never get considered at all. By the time a …
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The Hidden Cost of “Good Enough” SEO in the Age of AI
Key Insights Traditional SEO still matters. Technical health, keyword research, authority signals, and high-quality content remain the foundation of search visibility in the age of AI. AI search changes how visibility is earned. Ranking in traditional search results is no longer enough. Institutions must also earn citations in AI summaries, …
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AI SEO Tracking Tools 2026: Comparative Analysis of Over 15 Platforms
Co-Author: Collin Guedon This post was updated by Will Scott & Collin Guedon on 3/17/2026 to reflect current best practices. It was originally published on 8/20/2025. Key Insights: AI search adoption is surging: With AI search nearing 1 billion users and tools like ChatGPT becoming mainstream, tracking brand visibility in …
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