Skip to content

Today’s SEO & Digital Marketing News

Where SEO Pros Start Their Day

Menu
  • SEO News
  • AI & LLM
  • Technical SEO
  • JOBS & INDUSTRY
Menu
2025 SEO Headlines

SEO Daily News Recaps for Wednesday, February 18, 2026

02/19/26

SEO Daily News Recap for Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Organic SEO & Search News

How 2Modern Curates Beautiful Designs Through Connections – The 2Modern team’s creative passion helps them draw connections between customers and artisans — and Exploding Topics helps them connect trend lines. Learn how.

YouTube Expands Live Stream Donations, Updates Shorts Editing Tools – YouTube’s also bringing its AI chatbot to Connected TV devices.

Meta Announces Long-Term Partnership with NVIDIA – The deal will ensure that Meta can access the latest hardware for its expanding AI projects.

Reddit Shares Insight into Rising World Cup Discussion – Reddit is already seeing an influx of interest in the event.

10-Step Local SEO Audit Checklist to Boost Small Business Rankings – Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right, but your business still isn’t showing up in Google’s local results? You are not alone.

Paid Search & Platform Innovations

Paid search click share doubles as organic clicks fall: Study – Text ad clicks surged year over year as classic organic fell across key verticals, with paid listings now taking up to one-third of clicks.

Google Ads shows PMax placements in “Where ads showed” report – Google Ads now shows where Performance Max campaigns run, giving advertisers clear insights to optimize performance.

Microsoft rolls out applied Performance Max learning path – Microsoft Advertising’s new Performance Max learning path helps advertisers run better campaigns and showcase verified expertise.

Google Ads adds Results tab to show impact of applied recommendations – Google Ads now shows the real performance impact of applied recommendations in a new Results tab, comparing outcomes against estimated baseline results.

44% of ChatGPT citations come from the first third of content: Study – ChatGPT pulls most from early sections, favoring direct definitions, balanced tone, and dense entities, new research finds.

General Digital Marketing

Meta’s Shutting Down its Messenger Website – Meta also shut down the separate Messenger app for Windows and Mac last year.

LinkedIn Launches New Campaign for LinkedIn Premium – LinkedIn Premium has seen a 50% rise in subscriptions over the past two years.

Google Ads may be reenabling paused keywords – Google Ads may be automatically enabling paused keywords in your advertising accounts.

AI search KPIs: Focus on inclusion, not position – AI users consider 3.7 businesses per response, and 60% decide without clicking.

Dive into our detailed sections for more insights and updates.

Organic SEO & Search News


SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates


Article Image

SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates


2/18/2026


YouTube Expands Live Stream Donations, Updates Shorts Editing Tools

YouTube’s also bringing its AI chatbot to Connected TV devices.

Source:
Social Media Today – Latest News


Article Image

SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates


2/18/2026


Reddit Shares Insight into Rising World Cup DIscussion

Reddit is already seeing an influx of interest in the event.

Source:
Social Media Today – Latest News


Article Image

SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates


2/18/2026


Meta’s Shutting Down its Messenger Website

Meta also shut down the separate Messenger app for Windows and Mac last year.

Source:
Social Media Today – Latest News


Article Image

SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates


2/18/2026


Daily Search Forum Recap: February 18, 2026

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 Search Console launched the AI-powered configuration tool. Google has new link styles for AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google Ads may be reenabling paused keywords. Google Ads PMax placement reports have details. Google is losing a knowledge graph source. Google AdSense has a bug with anchor and vignette ads…

Source:
Search Engine Roundtable


Article Image

SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates


2/18/2026


Google Losing A Knowledge Graph Source – CIA World Factbook

Google is losing one of its main sources of information for its Knowledge Graph, the CIA World Factbook. This was a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency between 1962 and 2026 with almanac-style information about the countries of the world.

Source:
Search Engine Roundtable


Article Image

SEO Daily News and Algorithm Updates


2/18/2026


Google Rolls Out Hover Pop Up Links In AI Overviews & AI Mode

Earlier this month, we covered Google testing what we called contextual overlay link cards in AI Overviews and AI Mode. Well, Google officially began rolling them out yesterday, and they are more like hover-over pop-up link cards.

Source:
Search Engine Roundtable


Technical SEO


Article Image

Technical SEO


2/18/2026


Google Search Console AI-Powered Configuration Now Live

Google has finally fully rolled out the Google Search Console AI-powered configuration tool. Google wrote on LinkedIn, "The Search Console’s new AI-powered configuration is now available to everyone! Have you already tried it?"

Source:
Search Engine Roundtable


SEO Tools and Data Analysis


Article Image

SEO Tools and Data Analysis


2/18/2026


How 2Modern Curates Beautiful Designs Through Connections

The 2Modern team’s creative passion helps them draw connections between customers and artisans — and Exploding Topics helps them connect trend lines. Learn how.

Source:
Unknown Source


Local SEO


Article Image

Local SEO


2/18/2026


10-Step Local SEO Audit Checklist to Boost Small Business Rankings

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything right, but your business still isn’t showing up in Google’s local results? You are not alone.

Source:
Sterling Sky Inc


AI and Machine Learning in SEO


Article Image

AI and Machine Learning in SEO


2/18/2026


Meta Announces Long-Term Partnership with NVIDIA

The deal will ensure that Meta can access the latest hardware for its expanding AI projects.

Source:
Social Media Today – Latest News


Article Image

AI and Machine Learning in SEO


2/18/2026


44% of ChatGPT citations come from the first third of content: Study

ChatGPT pulls most from early sections, favoring direct definitions, balanced tone, and dense entities, new research finds.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Article Image

AI and Machine Learning in SEO


2/18/2026


How to build AI confidence inside your SEO team

From shared tool selection to celebrating wins, here are four practical ways to reduce fear and turn AI into a strategic partner.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Article Image

AI and Machine Learning in SEO


2/18/2026


Only 12% of AI Mode Citations Match URLs in the Organic SERP

Why do only 12% of AI Mode citations match organic SERP URLs? Discover how AI Mode selects sources and how to win visibility beyond rankings.

Source:
moz (en-US)


Content Marketing and Strategy


Article Image

Content Marketing and Strategy


2/18/2026


How to apply ‘They Ask, You Answer’ to SEO and AI visibility

AI rewards clarity over spin. Map real buyer questions on pricing, problems, and reviews to win trust, citations, and sales.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Career Development and Industry Trends


Article Image

Career Development and Industry Trends


2/18/2026


Microsoft rolls out applied Performance Max learning path

Microsoft Advertising’s new Performance Max learning path helps advertisers run better campaigns and showcase verified expertise.

Source:
Search Engine Land


E-commerce and Affiliate SEO


Article Image

E-commerce and Affiliate SEO


2/18/2026


Snapchat+ Reaches 25 Million Subscribers

The platform’s add-on subscription has become a valuable revenue driver for the business.

Source:
Social Media Today – Latest News


User Experience and SEO Optimization


Article Image

User Experience and SEO Optimization


2/18/2026


AI search KPIs: Focus on inclusion, not position

AI users consider 3.7 businesses per response, and 60% decide without clicking. Here’s what that means for your AI visibility strategy.

Source:
Search Engine Land

Paid Search & Platform Innovations


Paid Search and Advertising


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


LinkedIn Launches New Campaign for LinkedIn Premium

LinkedIn Premium has seen a 50% rise in subscriptions over the past two years.

Source:
Social Media Today – Latest News


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Paid search click share doubles as organic clicks fall: Study

Text ad clicks surged year over year as classic organic fell across key verticals, with paid listings now taking up to one-third of clicks.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Google Ads shows PMax placements in “Where ads showed” report

Google Ads now shows where Performance Max campaigns run, giving advertisers clear insights to optimize performance.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Microsoft Advertising adds a multi image creative to Shopping ads

Microsoft Advertising’s multi-image Shopping ads let brands show more product visuals in search to boost engagement.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Google Ads adds Results tab to show impact of applied recommendations

Google Ads now shows the real performance impact of applied recommendations in a new Results tab, comparing outcomes against estimated baseline results.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Perplexity stops testing advertising

Perplexity began testing sponsored placements in 2024. It’s abandoning them, saying labeled ads can erode credibility.

Source:
Search Engine Land


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Google AdSense Anchor & Vignette Ads Bug

There is a bug impacting a number of Google AdSense publishers where the anchor and vignette ads won’t close for users. This has been an issue since February 13th and Google is reportedly working on a fix for the issue.

Source:
Search Engine Roundtable


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Google Ads Showing PMax Placement Report Details

Google Ads is now showing in the "When and where ads showed" report, the ability to see PMax, Performance Max, reporting. So you can see the placement, type, network and impressions you are getting from your PMax campaigns.

Source:
Search Engine Roundtable


Article Image

Paid Search and Advertising


2/18/2026


Google Ads Auto Enabling Paused Keywords Via Low Activity System Bulk Changes

Google Ads may be automatically enabling paused keywords in your advertising accounts. I am waiting for a statement from Google on this but there are reports that this is being done through the low activity system bulk changes.

Source:
Search Engine Roundtable

Job Postings


Article Image

Job Postings


2/18/2026


Head of SEO/AEO

Join the Tilt team At Tilt (formerly Empower), we see a side of people that traditional lenders miss. Our mobile-first products and machine learning-powered credit models look beyond outdated credit scores, using over 250 real-time financial signals to recognize real potential. Named among the next billion-dollar startups, we’re not just changing how people access financial […]

Source:
In-house SEO jobs – SEOjobs.com


Article Image

Job Postings


2/18/2026


Growth Marketing Manager (SEO, AEO, SEM)

About Harmonic Security Harmonic Security lets teams adopt AI tools safely by protecting sensitive data in real time with minimal effort. It gives enterprises full control and stops leaks so that their teams can innovate confidently. We are led by cybersecurity experts and backed by top investors including N47, Ten Eleven Ventures, and In-Q-Tel. We […]

Source:
In-house SEO jobs – SEOjobs.com


Article Image

Job Postings


2/18/2026


Senior Content Marketing Manager

The Role We’re seeking a Senior Content Marketing Manager dedicated exclusively to Southwest Airlines, helping one of America’s most iconic companies redefine travel inspiration and organic discoverability. This role will act as the content lead within an embedded, cross-functional Earned & Owned team, working onsite at Southwest Airlines’ office in Dallas, TX for key meetings […]

Source:
SEO Agency Jobs – SEOjobs.com


Article Image

Job Postings


2/18/2026


Senior SEO Strategist

Nectiv is an SEO and AI search agency focused on helping brands grow their visibility across search engines and AI-driven discovery platforms. We work with fast-growing SaaS companies, marketplaces, and enterprise brands to solve complex organic search challenges — from technical architecture and crawl optimization to content strategy and search performance analysis. The Role We’re […]

Source:
SEO Agency Jobs – SEOjobs.com


Article Image

Job Postings


2/18/2026


Content Marketing Strategist (SEO, GEO, Social)

About Culligan Quench Culligan Quench’s purpose is to impact people’s lives and improve the earth by helping to eliminate the 500 million plastic bottles consumed each year.  We play a front-line role in the battle against single-use plastic water bottles by delivering on-demand filtered water solutions to more than 120,000 healthy and environmentally conscious customers […]

Source:
Entry Level SEO Jobs – SEOjobs.com

Filter Posts






Latest Headlines & Articles
  • Google Expands AI Mode To 53 New Languages
  • Google Does Not Have A Bad Title Algorithm Filter
  • Complaints Of Google Reviews Being Removed Again
  • SEO Daily News Recaps for Wednesday, February 18, 2026
  • Google Search Console Still Testing Branded Queries and Social Channels Feature
  • Google Ads Certification Process For Cryptocurrency
  • Off Page SEO Specialist
  • SEO Operations & Account Manager (Remote / 50% Capacity) – The SEOFOMO Hub
  • Google Ads shows PMax placements in “Where ads showed” report
  • Paid search click share doubles as organic clicks fall: Study

February 2026
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
232425262728  
« Jan    

ABOUT OPTIMIXED

Optimixed is built for SEO professionals, digital marketers, and anyone who wants to stay ahead of search trends. It automatically pulls in the latest SEO news, updates, and headlines from dozens of trusted industry sources. Every article features a clean summary and a precise TL;DR—powered by AI and large language models—so you can stay informed without wasting time.
Originally created by Eric Mandell to help a small team stay current on search marketing developments, Optimixed is now open to everyone who needs reliable, up-to-date SEO insights in one place.

©2026 Today’s SEO & Digital Marketing News | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme