Chicago SEO Network

01/04/2026

With AI Overviews now in ~25% of SERPs, and Google's massive push to make it's ads even more profitable, the current SEO tools calculations for clicks & traffic is starting to get completely out of whack...

All of these tools model on a world before zero clicks.

AI Overviews, PAA expansions, shopping blocks, video carousels, and four ad units above the fold mean your #1 ranking today can drive less traffic than a #3 did just two years ago.

Real GSC data is showing: impressions inflating, CTR collapsing, and revenue decoupling from rankings entirely.

This is why traffic estimates are becoming vanity metrics and why keyword volumes mean less every quarter.

The game has shifted from "how much traffic can I get?" to "where do I intercept demand before Google eats it?" with its monopoly...

SEO isn’t dead, but traffic modelling as we know it absolutely is, and most of these tools are becoming less valuable, whilst simultaneously jacking up prices and adding new (crazy expensive) addons and plans - That would have used to ALL be covered by your monthly sub.

12/14/2025

Should You Still Invest in SEO?
Yes, 100%.

People still buy through Google, and any SEO work you do today will support your future GEO performance when Google fully flips the AI switch.

Right now is the perfect time to assess how AI search could impact you. We recently did this for a client by:

- Mapping their category entry points (the reasons buyers enter the market).
- Breaking down their organic traffic by conversational search using a custom regex.
- Generating ~600 synthetic AI prompts around those entry points to see how often they appeared in LLM results — and why they didn’t show up when they should.
- Identifying the mutual information they need to increase AI visibility.

The result? Even a strong brand had clear gaps — especially in the U.S. — and we pinpointed exactly what information they need to show up more consistently in AI-generated answers.

That’s GEO: increasing the information LLMs rely on so your brand becomes the obvious recommendation.

SEO + GEO work best together.

But until Google goes full AI mode (and nobody knows when), keep investing in SEO. It future-proofs your visibility on both fronts.

05/30/2025

Google: We want "expert consensus"

Also Google: We're ranking Reddit #1 for everything...

03/14/2025

SEO is pattern recognition.

- Find what’s ranking
- Find what’s missing
- Find what’s working consistently

Then replicate, optimize, and steal market share.

03/01/2025

SEO is just high risk commercial digital real estate.

- Some people flip domains.
- Some people build authority sites.
- Some people create ranking empires.

If you still treat SEO like a “marketing tactic,” you’re thinking too small.

02/27/2025

Your backlink profile is either an asset or a liability.

Aged, quality niche relevant links? 🚀📈

Spammy, random links over the years? 💣📉

Google doesn’t care how many links you build. They care which links you build!

And as of the last several years, link neutrality has become more and more of a thing...

Google is less reliant on expensively analyzing links to see if they are toxic, if they trigger a few flags now they'll just neutralize them and they won't pass any effect - Positive or negative..

02/25/2025

Understanding Managed SEO Costs: What Businesses Can Expect
Professional SEO campaign pricing typically ranges from $400 - $10,000+ monthly, with most businesses investing between $1,500 − $5,000 for comprehensive strategies. While this may appear broad at first glance, your actual SEO costs depend on four key variables:

1. Service Provider Expertise (agency vs freelancer vs boutique firm)
2. Market Competition (local niches vs national/global industries)
3. Campaign Scope (technical SEO audits vs full-spectrum optimization)
4. Growth Goals (maintenance vs aggressive ranking strategies)

02/23/2025

The top 7 Google Business Profile tips for local SEO by Semrush

02/23/2025

Did you know that 90% of clicks go to the first page of Google? If your competitors are investing in SEO (and they probably are), you can’t afford to fall behind. Here’s how to level up and dominate search results:

🔍 Analyze Your Competitors:
Start by researching their strengths, weaknesses, and online reputation. Knowledge is power!

⚡ Speed + Mobile Matter:
A fast-loading, mobile-friendly site isn’t just a ranking factor—it’s what users expect.

🎯 Create Killer Content:
Be better than the competition. Solve problems, answer questions, and deliver value.

❤️ Prioritize User Experience:
Easy navigation, clear CTAs, and a seamless journey keep visitors coming back.

💡 Why Act Now?
The longer you wait, the more ground your competitors gain. SEO isn’t just about traffic—it’s about owning your market share.

02/19/2025

Most of SEO is rejection.

Most keywords won’t rank.
Most pages won’t get traffic.
Most backlinks won’t move the needle.
Most CTR tweaks won’t matter.
Most Google updates will mess with you.
Most experiments will fail.
Most sites won’t survive 3+ years.

Enjoy! 😅

02/15/2025