News

The digital landscape changes fast—and the right insights at the right time can mean the difference between leading the market and falling behind. Our News category delivers timely updates, expert analysis, and key developments shaping marketing, AI SEO, and the broader business environment. From industry announcements and search engine updates to major milestones at Xponent21, we keep you informed on the trends that matter most.

We don’t just report on changes—we break down what they mean for your visibility, strategy, and bottom line. Whether it’s the latest Google AI search features, shifts in digital advertising, or innovations in content and video marketing, our coverage helps you respond quickly and confidently.

In this category, you’ll find analysis, commentary, and actionable takeaways designed to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Screenshot of AI Overview inclusion tool from Advanced Web Ranking showing 57% of searches including AI overviews as of June 23, 2025

Google’s AI Overviews Surpass 50% of Queries, Doubling Since August 2024

June 15, 2025
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Will Melton
The search landscape just shifted—again—and we captured the play-by-play on our latest Xponent21 Podcast episode. Minutes after Advanced Web Ranking confirmed that Google’s AI Overviews now surface in more than half of all queries, we hit record to unpack what this means for visibility, trust, and revenue. That conversation—now live wherever you get your podcasts—lays the groundwork for the analysis…

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Screenshot of Google Marketing Live 2025 announcement of ads in Google AI search results.

Ads Are Now in AI Search: How Google’s AI Mode Redefines SEO and Paid Visibility

May 27, 2025
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Will Melton
We knew it was coming: Google’s 2025 Marketing Live confirmed that AI search results will now include ads, changing the game for marketers. Google announced that its new AI Overviews (AI-generated search summaries) will now include Search and Shopping ads on desktop, and that the recently launched AI Mode in Google Search will also show ads. In practice, this means…

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Screenshot from Google's live stream of Google I/O showing off AI Mode

Google’s AI Mode Just Changed Everything. Here’s What Businesses Need to Know

May 21, 2025
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Will Melton
After 27 years of Google, the era of search is over. Google’s launch of AI Mode—its full generative search experience—marks the official end of traditional search as we knew it. If you’ve built your business on organic traffic from Google, it’s past time to reassess everything. This is not a drill. It’s the acceleration of a trend that’s been in…

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Will Melton and Emmanuel Pezoa at a video shoot in 2023.

Xponent21 Merges with dBArcade, Expands Video Capabilities to Accelerate Content Ecosystem Strategy and Drive Growth for Clients

April 4, 2025
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Will Melton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Will MeltonCEO, Xponent21wmelton@xponent21.com(804) 205-9019 x700 Xponent21 Merges with dBArcade, Expands Video Capabilities to Accelerate Content Ecosystem Strategy and Drive Growth for Clients Richmond, VA — March 25, 2025 — Richmond-based digital marketing agency Xponent21, now in its 10th year of business, has merged with local video production studio dBArcade. The merger strengthens Xponent21’s in-house video capabilities while deepening…

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Xponent21 Launches Full Suite of AI SEO Solutions to Help Brands Dominate AI Summaries and Top Citations

March 18, 2025
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Will Melton
By Xponent21 Team As global search traffic continues to decline and AI-generated summaries reshape the way users receive information, Xponent21 is proud to announce the launch of a full suite of AI SEO solutions built to help brands lead in this rapidly evolving digital landscape. Traditional SEO alone no longer delivers the impact it once did. With Google’s AI Overviews,…

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