Weekly SEO and Marketing Recap: Jan 24, 2025

Ali here, your marketing bro, back with the juiciest SEO, affiliate marketing, and media buying tea of the week! ☕

This week is PACKED with Google drama, lawsuits shaking up affiliate marketing, AI flexes, and a party in Dubai you cannot miss. Oh, and I’ve sprinkled in some tweets and extra goodies to keep it spicy. Let’s get into it! 🔥

1. Google Search Ranking Volatility is Heating Up

Google’s search rankings have been all over the place since January 20th. If your traffic is acting weird, you’re not alone. Blame the algorithm chaos. 😅

SEO pros are reporting massive fluctuations, and it’s unclear if this is a core update or just Google being Google. Keep an eye on your analytics, fam, and don’t panic (yet).

2. Deepseek R1: China’s AI Model Claims to Outperform OpenAI’s GPT-4

China just dropped a bombshell with , their new AI model that claims to be better than OpenAI’s GPT-4. 😱 The model is reportedly faster, more accurate, and better at understanding complex queries.

Should we be scared? Or is this just marketing hype? Either way, competition in the AI space is heating up, and it’s gonna be wild to see how this plays out.

Ali’s Take⬇️
"Lowkey, I’m curious to see if Deepseek R1 can actually deliver. If it’s legit, OpenAI might have some serious competition. But hey, more competition = better tools for us marketers, right? Let’s see who wins the AI war. 🤖"

3. Google Signs Deal with AP to Deliver News via Gemini AI Chatbot

Google just signed a deal with the Associated Press (AP) to integrate up-to-date news into its Gemini AI chatbot.

This means Gemini will now deliver real-time, fact-checked news directly to users. AI-powered journalism is officially here, folks.

Is this the future of news consumption? 🤔

4. Google Search Hits Its Lowest Market Share Since 2015

Google Search is losing its grip on the market, hitting its lowest share since 2015. With competitors like Bing (thanks to ChatGPT) and TikTok search gaining traction, Google’s dominance is being challenged.

Marketers, it might be time to diversify your SEO strategies. 👀

5. Google Can Show Sites With Manual Actions in AI Overviews

Even if your site has a manual action (aka a penalty), Google’s AI overviews can still show your content. This is HUGE for sites trying to recover from penalties.

It’s like Google saying, “We’ll still give you a chance… kinda.”

6. Google Says Word Count is Basically Irrelevant for SEO

John Mueller from Google said word count doesn’t matter for rankings. It’s all about quality, not quantity.

So, if you’re still writing 5,000-word essays for no reason, STOP. 😂 Focus on value, not fluff.

7. AI Search Optimization: Structured Data is Your BFF

AI search is taking over, and structured data is the key to staying relevant. Use schema markup to make your content AI-friendly.

If you’re not doing this, you’re basically ghosting Google Bard and ChatGPT. 👻

8. Hidden SEO Gems in Google’s Documentation Update

Google quietly updated its SEO docs, and OMG, it’s a goldmine. 💎 From canonical tags to internal linking, there’s a lot to unpack. SEO nerds, this is your moment.

9. Google Ads Testing “Search Max Match Type”

Google Ads is testing a new match type that’s like broad match but smarter. PPC marketers, this could be a game-changer for your campaigns. Keep an eye on this one! 👀

10. TikTok’s Future Under Trump’s New Term

With Trump back in office, TikTok’s future in the U.S. is uncertain again. Marketers, this could shake up your ad strategies big time. Stay tuned!

11. Affiliate Marketing Trends to Watch in 2025

AI, live-streaming, and first-party data are the big trends in affiliate marketing this year. Also, micro-influencers are the new MVPs. If you’re not adapting, you’re falling behind

12. PayPal, Honey, and Capital One Lawsuits Shake Up Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is in the legal spotlight! PayPal, Honey, and Capital One are facing lawsuits over how they handle affiliate links and cashback programs.

This could change how affiliate networks operate. Marketers, keep an eye on this—it’s a BIG deal. 👀

13. Ecommerce Ad Spend Hits Record High in Q4 2024

Ecommerce brands spent a record-breaking $20 billion on ads in Q4 2024. Most of it went to Google and Meta, but TikTok is catching up FAST. If you’re not running ads on TikTok yet, you’re missing out.

14. Media Buying in 2025: The Rise of Programmatic Video Ads

Programmatic video ads are dominating media buying in 2025. With better targeting and higher engagement rates, they’re a no-brainer for brands. If you’re not using video in your campaigns, wyd?

🤔 Quiz Time!

What’s the big trend in affiliate marketing for 2025?
A) AI and live-streaming
B) Writing 10,000-word blog posts
C) Ignoring first-party data
D) Using only macro-influencers

OMG, fam, this is THE affiliate party of the year! 🌟

• What: ClickBid Dubai 2025

• When: Around Affiliate World Dubai

• Why You Should Go: Network with top affiliate marketers, enjoy insane parties, and learn from the best in the biz.

• 🔥 Special Deal: Get 50% OFF tickets with the code AFFINCO/50-DU25.

• Link: Click here to grab your tickets

Who’s heading to Affiliate World Dubai 2025? Let’s schedule a meeting or grab a coffee! Hit me up, and let’s make it happen. ☕

This week’s spotlight is on AdultForce, the ultimate affiliate network for adult marketers. 👀

• What it does: Offers top adult gaming and paysite offers with the highest conversion rates.

• Why it’s awesome: If you’re in the adult niche, this is where the money’s at. Their offers are 🔥, and the payouts are even better.

• Use case: Perfect for affiliates looking to crush it in adult gaming or subscription-based adult content.

• Link: Check out AdultForce here

If you’re not on this network yet, wyd? Go sign up and start earning! 💸

When Google says word count doesn’t matter:

 "Me deleting 2,000 words of fluff from my blog post like…"

That’s a wrap, fam!

Hope you’re feeling hyped and ready to crush your marketing goals this week. Don’t forget to grab your ClickBid tickets and hit me up if you’ve got any hot tips or tools to share. Until next time…

Your marketing bro, Ali 💪
Brought to you by Aff.ninja 🥷