Field notes

Short notes on what’s worth knowing in search, Google and AI.

• 11.02.2026

  “AI only recommends brands it already knows”

  But.

  If AI only recommends brands it knows, how would new players ever be able to show up? Yet they do.

  Established brands have advantages.
  But having an advantage doesn’t mean exclusive access to visibility or immunity from competition.

• 10.11.2026

  Google’s October 1 update

  Google says it is critical to fact-check and review everything AI writes for your site before you publish it. That includes page titles, meta descriptions, structured data and image descriptions.

• 10.11.2026

  How to get cited by AI

  AI tools don’t only look at your website when they decide whether to mention you. They look at your reviews, your Google Business Profile and the places your business is listed. The work doesn’t stop at your website.

• 10.11.2026

  Does Google rank AI content?

  Google doesn’t care whether a person or AI wrote your page. It cares whether the page is useful. What gets you in trouble is putting out page after page that says nothing new.

• 10.11.2026

  Should you focus on time on page?

  A long time on page can look like a good sign, but it only tells you the page stayed open. What you want to know is whether people took the next step. Did they call, book or buy?