🐹 Hamsterdam Part 126: Weekly SEO & AI News Recap (11/29 to 12/4, 2025)
By Ethan Lazuk
Last updated:
A weekly look-back at SEO & AI news, tips, and other content shared on social media & beyond.
Opening notes, thoughts, and musings:
- Welcome to another new week of Hamsterdam! 🐹
- I appreciate you being here, and look forward to sharing the week’s news! 🙌
If you’re in a rush, hop down to the news portion. 📰
Or continue reading for two vocabulary lessons plus an introduction.
And we’re off …
🧑💻 Marketing word of the week: “Earned media”
Earned media is publicity you don’t pay for, such as mentions, shares, reviews, or press coverage that happens naturally because people like your brand.
Earned media happens because other people choose to talk about you. Maybe it’s a blogger who reviews your product or a post on TikTok someone does because they like your brand. Or maybe it’s a recommendation on Reddit or Quora.
Earned media has become particularly important because of AI search visibility. LLM-powered search pulls from multiple sources. Earned media provides third-party validation, or evidence of credibility, that is much stronger than what you say about yourself. This directly supports EEAT signals.
🤖 AI word of the week: “Encoder”
In transformer models like those Google and ChatGPT use, an encoder is the component that takes raw input, like text, images, or other data, and turns it into a meaningful numerical representation the model can understand.
The encoder reads your content, analyzes its meaning, compresses it into embeddings, and sends that to the AI so it can make sense of it. In a transformer, the encoder does things like identify the topic, understand relationships between words, detect tone and intent, understand entities, evaluate expertise signals, and resolve context.
Encoders read your content like a human would. They analyze meaning, context, relationships, expertise, sentiment, and how your content is truly helpful. What matters to be successful is clear writing in a helpful tone with depth and experience in well-organized sections with real-world examples. In other words, great writing.
😊 Introduction to week 126: “Moving to NYC”
This rendition of Hamsterdam is being published a day early because I’ll be traveling to NYC, my new home.
I’ve lived in Florida for the past decade or so and enjoyed my time, especially here lately in Orlando.
I went to NYC for the US Search Awards earlier this year and fell in love with the city, hence, it’ll be my new stomping grounds starting next week.
Look forward to pictures from my new adventure! And if you’re in NYC or the surrounding areas, let’s make sure to connect!
Thank you for supporting Hamsterdam and the cause of SEO & AI learning. 🙏
Enjoy the vibes:
Missed last week? Don’t worry, I got you! Read Part 125 to catch up.
🌟 Other great sources of weekly SEO news:
- The SEO Weekly – Garret Sussman, iPullRank
- SEOFOMO – Aleyda Solis
- Weekly Video Recaps – Barry Schwartz, SER
- Weekly SEO News YouTube channel – Olga Zarr, Seosly
- Niche Surfer – Yoyao Hsueh
Time for our weekly review of SEO social posts, articles, & more …
Now, let’s step inside the white flags of Hamsterdam …
⏩ Jump to a section:
- News, Google updates, & SERP tests
- SEO tips & tidbits
- Fundamentals & resources
- Articles, videos & case studies
- Local SEO
- Technical SEO
- Content marketing
- Local SEO
- Data analysis & reporting
- AI, LLMS, & machine learning
- Miscellaneous & general posts
- Older stuff that’s good!
Or keep scrolling to see it all. ⏬
📰 SEO news, Google updates, SERP tests & notable posts
Notable updates or news related to Google Search or related SEO topics.
🍟 SEO tips & tidbits
Actionable tips, cool tidbits, and other snackable findings and observations that can be teaching moments.
Essential information, concepts, or resources to learn about SEO or AI
Longer-form content pieces shared on social, in newsletters, and elsewhere.
🧑💻 Technical SEO
Everything from basics to advanced moves (and also tools).
✍️ Content marketing
From what is helpful content to user journeys and beyond.
>> Check back next week!
📍 Local SEO
From Google Business Profiles to reviews and more!
📊 Data analysis & reporting
Showing that what you’re doing is helping.
🤖 AI, machine learning, & LLMs
News related to models, papers, and companies.
🤔 General marketing & miscellaneous
This is for great content that isn’t necessarily SEO or marketing-specific. PPC, PR, dev, design, and social friends, check it out!
💎 Older stuff that’s good!
Not everything I find worth sharing is new as of this week, so these are gems I came across published in the past.
Great job making it to the end. You rock! 🪨
Let’s connect!
Hit me up anytime via text or call at 813-557-9745 or on social or email:
Cheers! ✌️
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