Loop Digital June Digital Marketing Industry Update 2025
Are AI searches and overviews reshaping digital marketing faster than marketers can adapt?
June 2025 has seen the rapid expansion of AI-driven features across search, social, and advertising platforms, bringing both innovation and uncertainty for digital marketers. From ChatGPT’s smarter, image-based queries to the rollout of Google’s AI Mode across the U.S., the lines between AI assistance and traditional search continue to blur.
Meanwhile, analytics professionals face new challenges, as AI-powered interactions like those from Google’s AI Mode and Reddit’s AI-translated content are increasingly untrackable or difficult to segment. At the same time, platforms like Meta and LinkedIn are doubling down on AI-led ad management and creative decision-making, raising concerns around transparency and brand control.
Yet, it’s not all risk. Marketers who revisit their marketing strategy and embrace these tools early, either through the means of AI-generated video, structured content for LLMs, or platform-native commerce innovations, can stand to gain a first-mover advantage in a dramatically changing digital ecosystem.
In this month’s industry update, let’s break down the most important developments in the full-stack digital marketing landscape so you can adapt your strategy with confidence.
Digital Marketing Highlights
ChatGPT Search Gets ‘Smarter’ with Image-Based Queries
OpenAI has upgraded ChatGPT’s search capabilities by enabling users to ask questions using images. This new multimodal feature lets users upload a photo to receive contextual answers, transforming ChatGPT into a more intuitive and versatile search assistant. From identifying obscure objects to troubleshooting based on screenshots, this move further blurs the boundaries between search engines and AI assistants. Marketers should watch this space, especially for opportunities in visual search optimisation and AI-enhanced customer service experiences.
Reddit Uses AI to Translate Millions of Pages (And Google Is Okay With It)
Reddit has begun using AI to translate its massive content library into multiple languages, enhancing accessibility and broadening global reach. Notably, Google has shown support for this initiative, indicating that AI-translated content, when done correctly, will not negatively affect search rankings. This endorsement sets a significant precedent for international SEO, paving the way for other content platforms to scale localisation efforts using generative AI without fearing algorithmic penalties.
AI-Generated NBA Finals Ad Created in Just 2 Days for $2,000
A milestone in AI-led content creation: an advertisement entirely generated using Google’s Veo 3 model aired during the NBA Finals, produced in just 48 hours for only $2,000. The ad showcased cinematic-quality visuals and compelling storytelling, achieved without traditional production teams. This marks a potential turning point for brand content strategies, making high-quality video production significantly more accessible and affordable.
Structuring Content for AI Search: A Guide for Marketers
As large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini increasingly shape how information is retrieved, understanding how they interpret content is essential. A recent guide highlights the importance of clear headings, semantic structure, bullet points, and real-world examples to make content more ‘AI-readable’.
Google Search Console Bug Disrupts Discover Performance Reporting
Marketers relying on Discover traffic data faced disruption in early June due to a bug within Google Search Console. The issue caused inaccurate or missing data in Discover performance reports, making it difficult for SEOs to analyse mobile content performance accurately. Although Google is working on a fix, the incident serves as a reminder to use multiple tools and sources for critical traffic analysis.
Perplexity Hits 780 Million Monthly Queries
AI-powered search engine Perplexity continues its rapid rise, reaching a staggering 780 million monthly queries. Known for its fast, citation-rich answers, Perplexity is gaining traction among users who value transparent AI responses over traditional black-box search algorithms. Marketers may need to start considering how to optimise content for non-Google search ecosystems.
Meta to Launch Fully AI-Automated Ads by 2026
Meta is planning to roll out fully automated AI advertising tools by 2026, according to internal reports. This system would generate entire ad campaigns, from creative assets and targeting to budgeting and performance optimisation, without human input. It also raises concerns over creative control and brand consistency.
SEO Highlights
Google AI Mode Officially Rolls Out to U.S. Users
Google’s long-anticipated AI Mode has finally launched across the United States, bringing AI-generated responses to the forefront of the search experience. AI Mode transforms search into a conversational interface, surfacing AI-curated summaries and answers above traditional results. While the rollout marks a significant milestone for Google’s generative search ambitions, it also raises fresh concerns among publishers and marketers.
Google Launches Search Live with Talk and Listen in the Google App
Google is doubling down on voice-first search with two major updates that enhance how users interact with search results. First, the introduction of Search Live in the Google App allows users to speak their queries and hear results in real time, offering a hands-free, conversational experience that prioritises accessibility and ease of use.
Google Search Console to Report AI Mode Data, But Not in Detail
Google Search Console will now reflect performance metrics for queries involving AI Mode, but with a catch: the data cannot be broken out or segmented. This means site owners will see aggregate figures that include AI Mode traffic, but won’t be able to isolate or attribute performance changes specifically to this new search format. As a result, marketers may struggle to measure the effectiveness of content within AI-generated responses, hindering strategy development and A/B testing.
Google Removes 7 Structured Data Types to Simplify SERPs
This change could lead to reduced SERP visibility for affected content types. Businesses relying on these structured data markups should review and adapt their SEO strategies to prioritise formats still supported by Google, such as FAQ, How-To, Product, and Event schemas.
Zero-Click Searches Continue to Rise, Organic Clicks Decline
A new report has confirmed that zero-click searches are increasing, meaning more users are finding answers directly in the SERP without clicking through to websites. Meanwhile, organic click-through rates are dropping, particularly for informational queries. This shift is likely tied to the growth of AI Overviews and featured snippets, making it harder for brands to attract traffic from traditional ranking positions. Marketers must adapt by focusing on brand visibility within AI summaries, optimising metadata, and offering value beyond the snippet.
Sundar Pichai Calls AI Mode Google’s “Bleeding Edge”
Google CEO Sundar Pichai described AI Mode as the company’s “bleeding edge” innovation, positioning it as a core pillar in the future of search. His statement reinforces Google’s intent to fully embrace AI as a foundational layer of user interaction. For SEOs and content strategists, this announcement underscores a paradigm shift: optimising for AI-generated answers may soon be just as important as traditional search rankings.
LLMS.txt Is Not robots.txt, it’s a “Treasure Map” for AI
Google has begun crawling a new file format called LLMS.txt, a machine-readable directive meant to inform how websites interact with AI models. Unlike robots.txt, which controls crawler access, LLMS.txt can signal licensing preferences, usage rights, and attribution guidance for AI training and summarisation. While still in early stages, this protocol could give site owners more influence over how AI tools engage with and summarise their content. This is a vital update for publishers concerned about AI scraping and content ownership.
AI Mode Introduces Data Visualisation for Finance Queries
Google Ads No Longer Auto-Selects Display Network for Search Campaigns
In a move that gives advertisers greater control, Google Ads has stopped automatically including the Display Network in new Search campaigns. Previously, Search campaigns were often unknowingly expanded to include placements on the Display Network, potentially skewing performance metrics and budgets. This update means advertisers now need to explicitly opt in to Display placements, leading to better budget control and more accurate reporting. It’s a welcome change for performance marketers who want precision targeting across Google Ads.
YouTube Introduces “Follow-On Views” Optimisation for Demand Gen
YouTube has launched a new “Follow-On Views” optimisation in Demand Gen campaigns, designed to boost brand engagement beyond the initial impression. This setting allows advertisers to optimise toward users who watch additional videos after seeing the original ad, nurturing longer viewing journeys. For brands using YouTube as a storytelling platform, this tool helps enhance brand recall and viewer connection, making it ideal for video-first strategies or product education campaigns.
YouTube Tests 30-Second Non-Skippable Ads in Standard Campaigns
In a significant shift toward more TV-style ad formats, YouTube is trialling 30-second non-skippable ads in standard campaign settings. This format was previously reserved for YouTube Select but is now being tested more broadly. While this could boost ad view rates, it may also increase viewer frustration if overused. Brands should monitor early performance and viewer engagement data carefully before leaning too heavily into this longer, unskippable format.
Performance Max Campaigns Gain Channel-Level Reporting
Google is rolling out channel-level reporting for Performance Max campaigns starting June 2025. This long-requested update allows advertisers to view campaign performance broken down by Search, Shopping, YouTube, Display, Gmail, and Discover, though budget control for each channel remains automated. The additional visibility empowers advertisers to make more informed creative and optimisation decisions.
LinkedIn Launches New Video Ad Formats and CTV Expansion
First Impression Ads: Full-screen vertical videos are served to users when they open the app for the first time that day.
Reserved Ads: Guaranteed placements at the top of a user’s feed for sponsored content.
CTV Expansion: LinkedIn’s Connected TV ads are now available in the US and Canada, with Paramount added to its media partners.
“Stores Near You” Section in Mobile Search Sees Headline Optimisation Tests
Google is testing new headline variations in its mobile “Stores Near You” feature, which appears during local intent searches. While the section’s content remains unchanged, the updated headlines aim to better match user search queries and drive more engagement. Local businesses should ensure their location data, reviews, and Google Business Profiles are fully optimised to capitalise on these visual placements.
Ads Can Now Appear Inside or Around AI Overviews, But Not Both
TikTok has reported a staggering 120% increase in in-stream shopping activity this year, reflecting the platform’s growing dominance in social commerce. Thanks to the seamless integration of product links within videos, more users are making purchases without leaving the app. The success underscores TikTok’s evolution from a short-form video platform to a full-fledged e-commerce engine, creating opportunities for brands to leverage entertainment-led selling to drive conversions, especially among Gen Z consumers.
TikTok Granted Another 90-Day Extension in the U.S.
Study Shows SMBs Still Rely Heavily on Social Media for Growth
A recent industry study has confirmed that small and medium-sized businesses continue to depend heavily on social media platforms for marketing, lead generation, and customer engagement. Despite rising ad costs and changing algorithms, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn remain essential for brand visibility. This reaffirms that even with AI’s growing role in content and advertising, community building and organic engagement remain foundational to SMB success.
Meta Leans on AI for UX and Rule Enforcement Decisions
Meta is increasingly using AI systems to make decisions around user experience and policy enforcement, including flagging content violations and adjusting UI/UX elements based on behavioural patterns. While this automation allows for quicker moderation and adaptability, it raises questions about accuracy, fairness, and transparency. For marketers, this may result in automated ad rejections or format adjustments, so staying compliant and monitoring campaign feedback closely will be crucial.
Web and Design Highlights
Yoast SEO Plugin Bug Injects Hidden AI Classes into WordPress Sites
A significant bug in the premium version of the Yoast SEO plugin led to hidden <span> tags being injected into WordPress websites. The issue arose from improperly formatted content copied from AI tools like ChatGPT, which Yoast’s plugin failed to sanitise. Although the bug has been patched as of June 18, the incident reveals the potential risks of AI-generated code integration and underscores the importance of plugin testing before deployment. The free version of Yoast was not affected.
FAIR Project Aims to Decentralise WordPress Plugin Hosting
The Linux Foundation has announced a new open-source initiative called FAIR Package Manager, a decentralised plugin and theme repository for WordPress. Positioned as an alternative to WordPress.org’s centralised system, FAIR aims to increase transparency and distribution flexibility. WordPress Co-Founder Matt Mullenweg has expressed cautious interest, though he downplayed its immediate impact.
33,000 WordPress Sites Exposed to Privilege Escalation via RealHomes Theme
A newly discovered privilege escalation vulnerability in the popular RealHomes WordPress theme has exposed over 33,000 sites to potential admin takeovers. The flaw allows attackers to elevate user roles from subscriber to admin, posing a serious security risk. Site owners using this theme should update immediately and audit all user roles to prevent malicious exploitation. This incident is a reminder that premium themes must be updated and security-checked just like plugins.
WordPress Forms AI Team to Accelerate Innovation
On May 27, WordPress officially announced the creation of a dedicated AI Team, bringing together contributors from Automattic, Google, and 10up. This new group will lead the coordination and implementation of AI-powered features across the WordPress ecosystem, from content assistance to plugin functionality. This is part of a larger push to modernise the platform and ensure WordPress remains AI-relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing web environment.
Stay Ahead of Digital Marketing’s Evolution
AI and automation continue to upend long-standing marketing norms, from how we reach audiences to how we measure success. In June, we’ve seen Google challenge traditional traffic reporting, ChatGPT redefine the search interface, and Meta plan for fully autonomous ad systems.
At the same time, new vulnerabilities in data disruptions in Search Console, and shifting user preferences signal that marketers must balance innovation with caution. Staying informed is absolutely necessary for a competitive advantage.
Want help aligning your digital strategy with the latest AI, search, and advertising updates? At Loop Digital, our team of SEO, PPC, and web design specialists can help you stay visible, agile, and ROI-focused in a time of accelerated change.
Emir is an invaluable member of our team, serving as one of our esteemed Account Managers. With a profound passion for on-page SEO, he possesses an exceptional talent for discovering innovative ways to optimise websites and enhance their rankings. Joining our organisation, Loop, in 2022, Emir brought with him a wealth of expertise gained from his Bachelor's degree in Marketing Management and Advertising. Currently, he is eagerly pursuing his Master's degree in International Marketing Strategy, further enhancing his comprehensive understanding of the global marketing landscape. Emir thrives on challenges and continuously seeks fresh opportunities to elevate our clients' businesses to new heights. Aside from his professional endeavours, Emir has an unwavering passion for culinary arts and loves to cook up a storm. This ardour for cooking exemplifies his drive, creativity, and meticulous attention to detail, qualities that seamlessly translate into his work as a Digital Marketing Executive. His commitment to delivering exceptional results and his genuine enthusiasm for each project make him a trusted and highly sought-after professional. Emir's profound expertise in on-page SEO, combined with his ambitious pursuit of knowledge and dedication to his clients, make him an invaluable asset to our team. His passion, both in and out of the office, reflects his commitment to excellence, leaving an indelible mark on our clients' businesses.
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