Hey Reader,
We’ve got some big updates to share this week! From major industry shifts in AI search to insights on the fastest-growing companies of 2024, there’s a lot to cover.
But first, we have some exciting news of our own to share!
What's The Buzz?
BIG NEWS...
I am thrilled to share that Growth Machine has been acquired by MBE Group, a full service marketing, advertising and communications agency based in the Detroit area.
I, along with the entire Growth Machine team, have joined MBE Group and am energized and excited for the amazing work we'll do together.
As we embark on this transition, we remain committed to delivering the high-quality strategy, content, and results that our clients expect from us.
In addition, we now have access to a larger team and broader suite of services, making us better able to support our clients' business goals in 2025 and beyond.
This marks an exciting new era for us, as we become part of an organization that shares our values, culture, desire for personal and professional growth, and commitment to serve our clients.
We’re so proud of everything we’ve built at Growth Machine, and looking forward to the next chapter as part of MBE!
Read more here.
--Nora
SEO News You Need To Know
THE FASTEST-GROWING SITES OF 2024 -- What do the fastest-growing websites of 2024 have in common? A new report from Similarweb highlights the biggest traffic winners across industries, revealing key trends that could impact your SEO and content strategy in 2025.
- Gig economy platforms are booming – JustAnswer.com saw an 81% traffic surge, showing continued demand for expert advice online.
- AI-driven sites continue to grow – ChatGPT’s visitor count jumped 33%, proving that AI-powered tools are still on the rise.
- News sites saw explosive growth – In an election year, traffic to Newsweek (+71%), APNews (+47%), and Substack (+37%) skyrocketed.
- E-commerce trends are shifting – Fashion brands like Quince (+176%) and Peppermayo (+416%) gained ground by focusing on user-generated content and strong return policies.
- Niche products win big – Brands like SharkNinja and YotoPlay saw massive growth by delivering high-value, unique products to targeted audiences.
So, what can we learn from these trends? Consumers want trusted expertise, seamless experiences, and niche solutions—whether in content, AI, or e-commerce.
AI OVERVIEWS EXPAND TO COMPLEX QUERIES-- BrightEdge’s latest data reveals a significant shift in Google’s AI Overviews (AIO), with a 100% increase in its presence for complex search queries. Notably, 25% of searches with eight or more words now trigger AI-generated responses, reflecting Google’s growing confidence in AI’s ability to deliver precise and authoritative answers. This trend is particularly evident in high-trust categories like healthcare, where content from major medical research centers now accounts for 72% of AI Overview results—up from 54% earlier this year.
The data also highlights shifts in content visibility, with YouTube citations rising for technical tutorials but declining for health-related queries. Google appears to be refining its context awareness, favoring structured, step-by-step content for how-to queries and prioritizing authoritative sources for complex topics.
--Leilani
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We’re being acquired, and we’re spilling all the tea about what the process was like from start to finish! Nora will go over how she knew it was time to sell the company, how it felt going through the acquisition process, and what she learned along the way.
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In this new guide, we’ll explore how the evolving Google search engine results page (SERP) rules are changing the game and share actionable tips to help you stay competitive.
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