THE Q3 EDITION · 2026
Inside the ideas. Behind the strategy. Beyond the headlines.
The big picture
Our perspective on what really mattered this quarter.
The end of the click: Rethinking what visibility means in search
What happens when your website is no longer the final destination in someone’s search journey?
As AI-powered search evolves, so does the way people discover businesses. Search engines are increasingly delivering answers directly to users, often without them ever needing to click through to a website.
This means websites are becoming more than just destinations. They’re becoming valuable sources of information that AI platforms pull from to generate answers and recommendations.
Our Director of Search, Lisa Westland, explores this shift in her recent blog, breaking down what an AI-first search landscape means for businesses and how they can adapt.
The seoplus+ perspective: Success in search is no longer just about driving clicks. It’s about making sure your brand is part of the conversation, even when users never visit your website. Investing in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Digital PR, and consistent, authoritative content will be key to building long-term visibility.
Something to think about: If your audience is finding answers without clicking, how are you making sure your brand is still being discovered?
Read Lisa’s full article: The End of the Click: Your Website Is Becoming a Database, Not Just a Destination.
Inside the conversation
Fresh perspectives from the people behind seoplus+.
This quarter’s featured voice: Raquel Geylman, SEO Manager
The question: As AI continues to change how people discover brands online, what should businesses be focusing on beyond traditional search rankings?
Raquel’s perspective:
“Rankings still matter, but they’re no longer the whole picture. More and more, people get answers straight from AI tools, often without clicking through to a website. So the question is shifting from ‘Where do we rank?’ to ‘Are we part of the answer?’
Here’s where I’d focus:
- Be the source AI can trust.
AI tools pull from content that is clear, accurate, and authoritative. That means publishing original insights, expert perspectives and specific answers to the questions your customers are actually asking.
- Build your brand presence beyond your own site.
AI models learn about you from across the web: reviews, directories, industry publications, Reddit, YouTube and news mentions. Consistent, positive visibility in those places shapes how AI describes your brand.
- Make your content easy for machines to understand.
Strong technical foundations, structured data and well-organized pages help AI systems read, interpret and cite your content correctly.
The brands that win in this next era of search won’t just rank well. They’ll be the ones AI recognizes, trusts and recommends.
Learn more about driving AI Search visibility: https://seoplus.com/services/geo/
Out of office
Where we’ve been, who we’ve met, and what we’ve learned.
Some of the best ideas and conversations happen outside the office! This quarter, our team traded their desks for industry events, connecting with fellow marketers, sharing ideas, and finding fresh inspiration along the way. From Ottawa to Toronto, here’s a look at where we’ve been and what we’ve taken away from the experience.
HeyOrca Community-Led Summit | Toronto, ON
Haley, Maddie and Kyle attended HeyOrca’s Community-Led Summit in Toronto, connecting with marketers, creators, and social media professionals from across North America.
A key takeaway? Great social media marketing goes beyond impressions and algorithms. It’s about building genuine connections and creating communities people want to be part of.
Our own partnership with HeyOrca is a great example of how community-driven relationships can create opportunities for collaboration, learning, and growth.
SEO IRL | Toronto, ON
Catherine, Raquel, Juwairiya and Brock headed to Toronto for two days of learning, fresh perspectives, and conversations about the future of SEO at SEO IRL.
From the growing connection between SEO, PR, and brand reputation to the importance of original insights and first-party data, one message stood out: sustainable search success comes from building a strong brand and prioritizing quality over shortcuts.
What we’re bringing back: Fresh perspectives, valuable industry connections, and a renewed focus on creating meaningful, long-term impact for the brands we work with.
Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with our team
On Our Radar
The latest events, industry news, and digital marketing trends worth watching.
SocialEast | Halifax, NS
Kyle and Amanda are heading to Halifax for SocialEast, Atlantic Canada’s largest marketing conference!
Bringing together 600+ marketers for two days of learning and networking, SocialEast is all about practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and meaningful conversations. With marketing becoming increasingly complex, we’re looking forward to exploring new ideas around collaboration, building trust, and navigating an evolving industry.
If you’re attending, be sure to say hello to Kyle and Amanda!
Learn more: SocialEast
Google Business Home | A New Era for Local Marketing?
Google is reportedly testing Google Business Home, a new dashboard designed to bring Google Business Profile, YouTube, Google Ads, and Merchant Center together in one place.
The platform aims to simplify how businesses manage their online presence, from publishing content and responding to reviews to tracking performance and managing multiple locations.
One of the most interesting features is its potential integration with Gemini AI. Businesses could use AI to uncover insights from customer reviews, identify opportunities, and make more informed marketing decisions.
Google is also exploring ways to help businesses respond to shifts in local demand with timely, relevant promotions.
Why it matters: For local businesses, this could mean less time managing multiple platforms and more opportunities to connect with customers.
Google Business Home is reportedly in closed beta for select business categories in the US and UK, but it’s definitely a development we’ll be keeping an eye on.
Behind the Work
The thinking behind the strategies.
A strong digital marketing strategy needs a strong website behind it.
One challenge we often see is businesses investing in SEO, paid ads, and content while overlooking the foundation that supports it all: website performance, hosting, and security.
Behind the scenes, our team looks beyond how a website ranks or converts. We also consider what keeps it running smoothly, from WordPress updates and security monitoring to site speed and ongoing maintenance.
Staying ahead of security. Recent vulnerabilities in PHP are a reminder of why we keep your website’s software current. We monitor your hosting closely and keep you in the loop on anything that matters. If your site needs attention, we’ll reach out with a plan.
Because even the best marketing strategy can lose momentum when a website is slow, outdated, or vulnerable.
What we learned: Website maintenance shouldn’t be an afterthought. Keeping your WordPress site secure, updated, and performing well is an important part of protecting your marketing investment.
Learn how our WordPress maintenance services can help keep your website in top shape: https://seoplus.com/services/wordpress-maintenance/
Beyond the Brief
The people and moments that make seoplus+.
Growing Leaders, One Year at a Time
Another year of leadership training is officially in the books!
This quarter, we celebrated the latest graduates of our nine-month Business and Leadership course, led by Catherine Hansen. From stepping outside their comfort zones to building confidence and new skills, this group has shown what it means to invest in personal and professional growth.
We’re proud of their commitment to becoming stronger leaders and can’t wait to see how they put their learnings into action!
Meet our newest graduates and join us in celebrating their achievements in our LinkedIn post.
Learn more about our team of digital marketing experts
Before You Go
One final thought.
If this quarter has taught us one thing, it’s that while digital marketing continues to evolve, the value of genuine connections isn’t going anywhere.
From rethinking visibility in an AI-first search landscape to exchanging ideas at industry events and celebrating the growth of our future leaders, one theme stood out: lasting success comes from building trust, staying curious, and being willing to adapt.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to keep learning, challenging our thinking, and finding new ways to create meaningful results for the brands we work with.
We want to hear from you: What’s one shift in digital marketing that’s changing the way you approach your work? We’d love to hear your perspective. Reply or connect with us on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going!
Until next quarter,
The seoplus+ Team
