It turns out Google’s recent algorithm change has helped many publishers. Outbrain, the content recommendation service with nearly 100 publishers like USA Today and Boston.com, said its data shows national publishers received a 53 percent increase in traffic and local sites got an additional 41 percent. The information is another piece to the puzzle of what Google’s “Farmer” algorithm change means to publishers. At the time it undertook the shift, Google said it was singling out “content farms.” Many publishers quickly applauded the move.
More in Media
‘JG believed that even in a demanding industry, it was possible to lead with both rigor and humanity’
The industry pays respects to OpenX CEO John Gentry, who sadly passed away last week.
The Rundown: Google has drawn its AI payment lines — and publishers’ leverage is narrow
For publishers trying to navigate AI licensing, the message was blunt: Google is willing to pay for access, but not for training – and it remains unwilling to define AI Overviews as a compensable use of journalism.
Media Briefing: Google’s latest core update a reminder that pageviews can’t remain the primary metric
Google’s latest core update signals pageviews can no longer be the primary metric, favoring intent-solving publishers over scale.