SEO Daily News Recap for Monday, December 29, 2025
Organic SEO & Search News
Google December 2025 Core Update Done Rolling Out – Google’s latest core update has completed its rollout after 18 days and 2 hours. The update started on December 11, 2025, and ended on December 29, 2025. Google confirmed the completion, signaling potential future updates.
The Google Business Profile 2-Hour Rule is a Myth: Why Your Google Verification is Actually Failing – Sterling Sky Inc delves into debunking the confusion around the “2-hour driving guideline” for Service Area Businesses on Google Maps, providing valuable insights for businesses facing verification issues.
Top 10 SEO expert columns of 2025 on Search Engine Land – From AI optimization to the future of the web, these top-ranking SEO columns on Search Engine Land in 2025 offer a comprehensive review of the industry’s trends and developments.
Paid Search & Platform Innovations
Google Testing Replacing Gemini Button With Browse With AI In Chrome – Google explores a new design by testing a more prominent “Browse with AI” button in place of the Gemini button on the Chrome browser, aiming to enhance user engagement with AI-powered features.
Microsoft Advertising Adds Custom Columns – Microsoft introduces custom column capabilities to its advertising platform, empowering users with more personalized data visualization options, albeit with some metrics still missing.
Google AI Overviews Testing Speaker Play Button In US – Google experiments with a speaker icon for AI Overviews in US search results, potentially offering users the ability to listen to AI-generated summaries, marking a shift in search result interaction.
General Digital Marketing
The Industry Mourns The Loss Of Andy Drinkwater – The digital marketing community mourns the loss of Andy Drinkwater, a respected SEO professional and a valued contributor to the industry, highlighting the impact of his expertise and dedication.
The Psychology of AI SERPs and Shopping – Exploring the influence of AI on search result interactions and shopping behavior, the rise of “zero-click” searches hints at evolving consumer decision-making processes in the AI era.
Google Questions Need For ccTLDs For Websites To Go International – Google’s John Mueller raises doubts about the necessity of using ccTLDs for international websites, emphasizing potential complexities and search engine implications of such domain strategies.
Dive into our detailed sections for more insights and updates.
Organic SEO & Search News
SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates
Google December 2025 Core Update Done Rolling Out
Google’s December 2025 core update is now done rolling out, it took 18 days and 2 hours to complete. The core update started on December 11, 2025 at around 12:25 pm ET and ended on December 29, 2025 at around 2:05 pm ET. Google posted saying, "Google December 2025 core update rollout is now complete."
This was the third core update of the year, but we are expecting more core updates, more often, this year we only had three. I was beginning to think we wouldn’t get a core update again this year and maybe in the future – like Google would not confirm them in the future…
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Google December 2025 core update rollout is now complete
This is the third core update of 2025 and it took over 18 days to complete.
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Search Engine Land
Daily Search Forum Recap: December 29, 2025
Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web.
Google questions the need for ccTLDs for all websites that go international. Google’s John Mueller calls some SEO content…
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Top 10 SEO expert columns of 2025 on Search Engine Land
AI optimization, llms.txt, the end of the web, and more! These 10 SEO columns got the most pageviews on Search Engine Land in 2025.
Source:
Search Engine Land
Google algorithm updates 2025 in review: 3 core updates and 1 spam update
Google is confirming fewer and fewer search algorithm updates, but that doesn’t mean there is less ranking volatility.
Source:
Search Engine Land
Google Testing Replacing Gemini Button With Browse With AI In Chrome
Google is testing swapping out the Gemini button at the top right of the Chrome browser, with a "Browse with AI" button. The button is more colorful and in your face, which probably gets more users to notice it.
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Google AI Overviews Testing Speaker Play Button In US
Google is testing an option to read aloud the AI Overviews by clicking on a speaker icon at the top of the AI Overview within Google Search. And the crazy thing, this is being tested in the US.
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Top 10 SEO news stories of 2025
SEO vs. GEO. AI Mode expands. AI Overviews kill clicks. Goodbye, num=100. These were among the most popular and biggest SEO stories of 2025.
Source:
Search Engine Land
Local SEO
The Google Business Profile 2-Hour Rule is a Myth: Why Your Google Verification is Actually Failing – Sterling Sky Inc
The "2-hour driving guideline" is one of the most persistent sources of confusion for Service Area Businesses (SABs) on Google Maps. If you are struggling to
Source:
Sterling Sky Inc
International SEO
Google Questions Need For ccTLDs For Websites To Go International
Google’s John Mueller questioned the need for all websites to use ccTLDs, different domain names, to take their websites international. He said on Reddit, "you both make things harder on yourself, but you also make it harder for search engines to understand each of these sites."
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
AI and Machine Learning in SEO
How Webflow’s CPO built an AI chief of staff to manage her calendar, prep for meetings, and drive AI adoption | Rachel Wolan
Watch now | 🎙️ The CPO’s custom AI chief-of-staff app helps prep for meetings, audit her calendar, and level up her entire organization
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Lenny’s Newsletter
The Psychology of AI SERPs and Shopping
The rise of "zero-click" searches may signal the coming effect of AI shopping on product discovery and decision-making.
Source:
SEO – Practical Ecommerce
Content Marketing and Strategy
Google Calls Some SEO Content, Digital Mulch
Google’s John Mueller posted one of his one-liners, where he called some forms of SEO content as "digital mulch." He wrote, "And let’s be honest—most of that SEO content is just digital mulch. (…) If your blog exists solely to rank, it’s living on borrowed time."
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Career Development and Industry Trends
The Industry Mourns The Loss Of Andy Drinkwater – Experience SEO & Friend To The Search Industry
I am sad to report the passing of Andy Drinkwater, a super-experienced SEO and a friend to the search marketing industry. Andy was a UK-based SEO who loved educating his industry by contributing content and attending local events.
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
This week on How I AI: How Webflow’s CPO built an AI chief of staff
Your weekly listens from How I AI, part of the Lenny’s Podcast Network
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Lenny’s Newsletter
Paid Search & Platform Innovations
Paid Search and Advertising
Microsoft Advertising Adds Custom Columns
Microsoft has added the ability to add custom columns to the Microsoft Advertising user interface and advertising console. But it doesn’t offer every metric, including missing the segment by conversion action metric.
Source:
Search Engine Roundtable
Job Postings
Job Postings
12/29/2025
SEO Specialist ~ Moving Traffic Media ~ $50k-59k ~ Remote (US)
Moving Traffic Media is looking for a skilled SEO Specialist with at least 3 years of hands-on SEO experience, ideally in an agency environment, to join our growing team. This role is perfect for someone who is not a beginner and already has experience: a strong, independent operator who is comfortable leading client conversations and […]
Source:
SEO Agency Jobs – SEOjobs.com
Job Postings
12/29/2025
SEO Specialist – Helping Philly Area Brands Get Found & Thrive ~ Nexvel ~ $25-$35/hr. ~ In-office (USA) ~ Elkins Park, PA, United States
Job Description Work with a team that’s transforming the way local brands grow. As an SEO Specialist at Nexvel, you’ll play a critical role in driving real results for our clients by crafting and executing innovative SEO strategies. We don’t just optimize websites—we develop cutting-edge digital strategies that help brands get found, generate leads, and […]
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SEO Agency Jobs – SEOjobs.com
Job Postings
12/29/2025
Senior Website Marketing Specialist ~ Alliant Credit Union ~ $69,600-$108,300 ~ Hybrid (Chicago, IL, United States)
Job Summary Maintain and optimize the public website and ensure it supports our brand, drives member engagement, and contributes to conversion goals. Support strategic initiatives and optimize digital performance demonstrating knowledge on digital marketing, user experience (UX), search engine optimization (SEO), web accessibility standards and web analytics. Essential Responsibilities Manage daily updates and content publishing […]
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In-house SEO jobs – SEOjobs.com
















