Ziff Davis Google search traffic falls 37% in a year as AI answers cite its sites 2.7bn times
TLDR
Ziff Davis lost 37% of its Google search traffic in a year as Google's AI answers cited its sites 2.7 billion times while sending back far fewer clicks.
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Ziff Davis lost 37% of its Google search traffic over a year, as PPC Land reports. Google's AI answers cited CNET, IGN and sister sites 2.7 billion times, nearly ten times the clicks sent back to them, while ad revenue fell 7.7% and headcount is set to drop 10% by the end of 2026.
How we got here: earlier coverage
- Nov 5OpenAI Says ChatGPT Handles a Fifth of Google's Search-Like Volume as Taboola Reports AI-Driven Revenue Drop
OpenAI says ChatGPT handles a fifth of Google's search-like volume, Taboola cited AI summaries in a 6.9% revenue decline, and Anthropic signed its first news licence.
- Oct 29Google's Core Ad Revenue Growth Slows in Q3 Even as AI Search Drives Higher Query Volume
Google's core ad revenue growth slowed in Q3 even though query volume rose, driven by AI features.
- Oct 29Google Search Revenue Growth Slows to 12% in Q2 as YouTube Ads Slow to 9%
Google Search revenue growth slowed to 12% in Q2 from 17%, YouTube ads slowed to 9%, and advertisers still cannot see AI Mode pricing because no paid click or CPC data is available.
- Sep 24Google Search and Discover traffic to publishers dropped 40% year-over-year, while direct and internal traffic grew
Publisher traffic from Google Search and Discover fell 40% year-over-year, according to new reporting.