SEO Weekly Digest – September 15, 2025
Hello SEO enthusiasts! Here are the most important updates from the last week (Sept 5–14, 2025). From changes in Google’s quality rater guidelines to CMS performance data, Amazon’s search visibility, and insights into generative AI — here’s what you need to know.
🔹 1. Google Updates Quality Rater Guidelines with AI Overview Examples and Expanded YMYL
Summary:
On September 11, Google quietly updated its Search Quality Rater Guidelines. The changes include a page of examples for evaluating AI Overviews and an expanded definition of Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) topics. “Society” is now broadened to “Government, Civics & Society,” explicitly covering elections, public institutions, and civic topics.
Why It Matters:
While rater guidelines don’t directly influence rankings, they reveal Google’s evolving standards. High-stakes topics now require even greater accuracy, and AI Overviews are being closely scrutinized.
Source: Search Engine Roundtable
🔹 2. Google Search Console Deprecates Six Structured Data Types
Summary:
On September 8, Google announced it will stop reporting and supporting rich results for six schema types: Course, ClaimReview, EstimatedSalary, LearningVideo, SpecialAnnouncement, and VehicleListing. Reporting disappears Sept 9, with API support returning NULL values until December 2025.
Why It Matters:
If your site uses these schemas, they won’t break your rankings, but they also won’t surface rich results anymore. Developers should update API queries and reporting workflows.
Source: Google Search Blog
🔹 3. CMS Performance Report: WordPress Still Lags in Core Web Vitals
Summary:
A July 2025 Core Web Vitals Technology Report shows Duda leading with 84.96% of sites passing CWV thresholds, followed by Wix (73.37%), Squarespace (68.93%), Drupal (60.54%), and Joomla (54.78%). WordPress came last with just 44.34%.
Why It Matters:
With WordPress powering over 40% of the web, poor CWV scores highlight technical debt and performance challenges. Site owners need to focus on speed and optimization, or risk falling behind lighter CMS platforms.
Source: Search Engine Journal
🔹 4. Amazon Sees Drop in Google Organic Visibility
Summary:
After consolidating merchant brands and discontinuing paid Shopping ads, Amazon’s organic visibility in Google’s product-card grids dropped by 31%. The biggest declines were in apparel, home goods, and laptops, though Amazon devices held strong.
Why It Matters:
Amazon’s shift opens room for other merchants to gain visibility in product search. It also suggests that paid ads may have been indirectly supporting its organic presence.
Source: Search Engine Journal
🔹 5. Ahrefs Reveals Domains Most Cited by ChatGPT
Summary:
Ahrefs analysed 9.6 million ChatGPT queries with its Brand Radar tool. In the U.S., the most cited domains were Reddit, Wikipedia, Amazon, Forbes, and Business Insider. Globally, similar trends showed with Wikipedia (multiple languages) and TechRadar ranking high.
Why It Matters:
Generative AI doesn’t cite based on traditional SEO rankings alone. Being referenced by trusted, authoritative third-party sources is becoming just as important for visibility.
Source: Ahrefs Blog
🟢 My Take
This week highlights how fast SEO is evolving. Google is refining content quality standards with AI in mind, and technical performance remains critical. Meanwhile, the rise of AI assistants shows that authority and trust signals beyond search rankings will play a bigger role in future visibility.