Daily Search Forum Recap: January 9, 2026

01/09/26
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Daily Search Forum Recap: Google and Microsoft Updates in SEO and AI

Google advises against breaking content into bite-sized chunks for large language models ranking, emphasizing quality and coherence. Microsoft launches AI-powered tools like Copilot Checkout for seamless shopping and Brand Agents for enhanced site chat experiences. Bing experiments with a retro-style local pack design, while Microsoft Advertising reminds users to optimize email settings for better account management. Industry experts discuss the evolving roles of SEO, GEO, and AI-optimization tools in search marketing strategies.

Optimixed’s Overview: Key Takeaways from the Latest Search Engine and AI Innovations

Google’s Stance on Content Structure for LLM Ranking

Google’s Danny Sullivan clarified that creating fragmented, bite-sized content pieces to target large language model (LLM) rankings is discouraged. Instead, maintaining comprehensive and well-structured content is preferred to ensure better search performance.

Microsoft’s New AI-Driven Shopping and Branding Tools

  • Copilot Checkout: Enables users to shop and complete purchases directly within the AI chat interface, streamlining the e-commerce experience.
  • Brand Agents: Allows businesses to integrate AI chatbots trained on their product data, enhancing customer engagement and support.

Bing’s Local Pack Design Experiment

Bing is testing a retro-inspired local pack layout within search results, potentially offering a nostalgic yet functional alternative for local search displays.

Microsoft Advertising Email Configuration Reminder

Advertisers are encouraged to review and configure their email settings to receive important notifications such as monthly invoices, billing alerts, ad performance tips, and keyword rejection notices, improving campaign management.

Insights on Hiring SEO, GEO, AEO Experts and AI Tools

Google experts emphasize that hiring geographic or entity optimization specialists (GEO/AEO) or investing in AI-optimization tools aligns closely with traditional SEO hiring and tool strategies, reinforcing a consistent approach in digital marketing.