Content Caffeine #16: Google charging for search?; HubSpot acquisition; NYT, NPR placements for $160 CPL or less


Content Caffeine: a newsletter for the content-obsessed.

Hi everyone!

We’re working on a new initiative at the agency so this week’s issue is on the shorter side.

I'm covering the most important headlines here.


News & Analysis

March Core Update is still rolling out.

When Google announced this update on March 5th, it said it would likely last 3 to 4 weeks. According to the Google status dashboard, it’s still rolling out 5 weeks later.

And the community continues to see volatility.

Google is considering charging for SGE.

First reported by the Financial Times, Google is considering an ad-free search experience that would instead charge users. If this happens, it would be the first change in Google’s business model in the history of the search engine. This also demonstrates how transformative and challenging AI is for Google.

SGE rolls out in UK test.

SGE continues forward as Google begins rolling out SGE in the UK for a limited subset of logged-in users.

ChatGPT no longer requires a login.

In yet another indication that Sam Altman intends to take on Google, ChatGPT no longer requires a login. They write,

“It's core to our mission to make tools like ChatGPT broadly available so that people can experience the benefits of AI. More than 100 million people across 185 countries use ChatGPT weekly to learn something new, find creative inspiration, and get answers to their questions.”


Microsoft Copilot referrer data is now visible in GA4.

More and more new referrers are popping up in Google Analytics. As search continues its rapid evolution, its important to keep pace in our GA4 dashboards. Check out the regex in the article.

Google is considering a HubSpot acquisition.

Google, or should I say its parent company, Alphabet, met with investment bankers to consider making a bid for HubSpot. If so, it would be the largest acquisition in the company’s history. A HubSpot deal would give Alphabet more exposure to enterprise customers and their marketing spend.

See our work!

Check out more of our work or how we might help you achieve your organic goals.


Inspiration

How to get coverage from the NYT, NPR, and other DA 90+ sites for $160 CPL or less?

Data journalism, or digital PR, is the hardest link-building tactic to execute. But it can also be the most cost-effective and brand-sensitive way to earn placements and brand awareness at scale.

For the past four years, we’ve been on a journey to improve the quality and ROI of our client campaigns.

Our engagements run at $300 CPL, and we’ve delivered CPLs of $160 or better not once, not twice, but four times in the last two years.

With just 17 campaigns, we earned over 2800 placements, including in The Guardian, Time Magazine, CBS News, Daily Mail, NPR, Tripadvisor, LA Times, and Investopedia.

By focusing on relatable stories told with big data, we set our work apart and provide consistent results for clients again and again.

Check out the case study.

Hit reply to get the case study that included the New York Times and Axios coverage.

Got something to share?

Let me know if you've got a resource or campaign you're proud of. We'd love to feature your awesome work.


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Content Caffeine

My team and I have been helping brands reach their SEO traffic and conversion goals through content and links for over 10 years. Recognized by industry leaders and household brands as an authority in both organic content and digital PR.

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