This week’s news roundup includes a surge in Google AI Overviews YouTube citations; Google confirms no persistent shortcuts to faster crawling exist; Martin Split talks about the benefits of adding audio versions to blog posts, and WordPress releases its 100-year domain deal.
From around the web, Google faces fresh charges in the EU for search engine monopolization, and a report shows that AI Overviews are more volatile than organic rankings.
Google AI Overviews YouTube citations surge by 25.21%
A study by SEO marketing company BrightEdge found that AI Overview citations of YouTube videos have risen by 25% since January 2025, with specific industries and content types leading the surge.
Key takeaways:
- The study shows that AI Overviews’ citations of YouTube videos are growing monthly.
- AI Overviews citations have increased significantly in specific industries, with healthcare and e-commerce quires leading the way.
- Queries for physical technique and style guide visual presentations increased by 32.5%.
- Instructional content citations like “how-to” queries rose by 35.6%.
- The study offers insights into which industries, topics, and video types content creators could focus on to improve their chances of appearing in AI Overview citations.
Google says no persistent shortcut to faster crawling exists
Google’s John Muller clarifies that no persistent shortcut exists to decrease website loading times. However, John confirms that, in certain situations, expedited crawling is possible.
Key takeaways:
- A news publishing employee asked John Mueller on Bluesky for solutions to speed up Google’s crawling of their website, which is experiencing “outdated info in search results.”
- Mueller confirmed that no “magic trick to fast crawling” exists, but it is possible to expedite crawling at specific times and situations.
- John provides helpful insights on how search engines crawl a site, saying a technical foundation that encourages fast crawling is essential.
Google explains benefits of adding audio versions to blog posts
Google’s Developer Advocate Martin Splitt discusses the SEO benefits of audio version blog posts and other reasons for considering them in your content strategy plan.
Key takeaways:
- During an SEO Office Hours Shorts video, Martin answered a question regarding whether adding audio versions of your blog articles would improve the content/page rankings.
- Martin said adding audio wouldn’t help SEO, but it might help your website in other ways.
- Splitt’s advice was similar to John Mueller’s from 2021. Both said audio doesn’t help improve rankings, but there are indirect benefits site owners should consider.
WordPress announces new 100-year domain plan
WordPress launched its 100-year domain name plan, including full-time support and other helpful features.
Key takeaways:
- WordPress has launched its new 100-year domain name plan for a one-time payment of $1,900.
- The available top-level domains include .com, .org, .net, or .blog.
- Upon launching the new plan, WordPress said it would help you “Build your legacy and enshrine your family or institutional name for future generations.”
- WordPress will manage the domains in its long-term trust account, giving domain owners complete control.
From around the web:
Google faces EU charges over alleged DMA breaches
Matt G. Southern from Search Engine Journal reports that the EU is preparing new charges against Google for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA) because it believes the company receives preferential treatment over its rivals.
Key takeaways:
- Reports say the European Commission will charge Google for not fully complying with its Digital Markets Act (DMA).
- The EU instructed Google to change its search algorithms, and it did, but the EU says the changes do not meet its requirements.
- The new charge continues the EU’s investigations into Google favoring its search services and running a monopoly.
Google AI Overviews more volatile than organic rankings: Report
Search Engine Land writer Danny Goodwin reviews an analysis that shows AI Overviews page rankings differ from those in the top 10 organic listings.
Key takeaways:
- Goodwin writes, “Google AI Overview rankings—the webpages cited in the AI-generated answers –—are more volatile than Google’s classic organic search rankings.”
- The e-commerce SEO platform Authoritas analysis shows that AI Overviews rankings changed by 70% within a few months.
- Authoritas says its findings show that ranking in the top 10 organic search results does not guarantee ranking in AI Overviews.
- The analysis also found that organic and AI Overviews ranking systems work independently, leading to more confusion for content creators hoping to rank high in both search results.
