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Rand Fishkin

@randfish.bsky.social
4.4K followers 71 following 1K posts

Cofounder of SparkToro, Alertmouse, & Snackbar Studio. Geraldine's husband.

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Reposted by Rand Fishkin
Clarissa Motta @claricmotta.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
@randfish.bsky.social always insightful and necessary! #vendedigital #b2bgrowth
youtube.com
Your Buyers Aren’t Clicking Anymore: Overcoming the New B2B Visibility Crisis
YouTube video by Vende Digital
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
This is a phenomenal game. If you loved classic CRPGs (Planescape, BG2, et al.), this is not just a love letter, it's a sprawling, hilarious, deeply enjoyable, unique experience.
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Reposted by Rand Fishkin
Steve McLeod @steveofmcleod.com · 25/03/2026
My friends at Balsamiq have taken a bold new direction, switching from being a wireframing tool to an AI prototyping tool.
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Balsamiq @balsamiq.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
NEW: AI prototyping + the Balsamiq MCP server, now in Balsamiq Cloud. It's the product building workflow that puts your users first:
New AI prototyping + Balsamiq MCP server
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Darren Shaw @whitespark.ca · 10/03/2026
The statistic that 90% of searches happen on Google is outdated. The real number is more like 73% according to new research by @randfish.bsky.social. @clairecarlile.bsky.social and I talk about Rand’s findings and more in today’s podcast episode. Watch the full episode below!
youtu.be
Contact Page Improvement, Bing vs ChatGPT, Google Posts Masterclass |E23 The Whitespark Local Update
YouTube video by Whitespark
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Aleyda Solis @aleyda.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
👀 Interesting research from @randfish.bsky.social sharing how AIs are highly inconsistent when recommending brands or products: Does this means that AI tracking is useless? No! The key is what Rand mentions at the end: ...
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Matt Wright 🤞 @honed.co · 28/01/2026
"AIs almost never give the same list of brands/recs in the same order"... from new research by @randfish.bsky.social "...any tool that gives a “ranking position in AI” is full of baloney": sparktoro.com/blog/new-res...
sparktoro.com
NEW Research: AIs are highly inconsistent when recommending brands or products; marketers should take care when tracking AI visibility - SparkToro
The Problem: For the last few years, companies have been investing inordinate sums into AI tracking and AI visibility for their brands and products.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
NEW research: sparktoro.com/blog/new-res... If you give ChatGPT the same request for product recommendations 100X, will you ever get the same list twice? And what does that answer mean for folks who try to track their brand presence in AI tools? Finally, some real answers 🧐
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Andrew Bohrer @andrewbohrer.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
“Hello, can I interest you in some times?” “Oh, no thank you. I’ve had enough of these unprecedented times.” “Don’t, worry, we only provide precedented times.” “In that case, I’ll take some.” “Alright then, here are your precedented times. By the way, the precedent is 1933 Germany. No refunds.”
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James Whatley @whatleydude.com · 12/01/2026
Pricing is marketing and this is excellent marketing.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
NEW post: sparktoro.com/blog/the-5-b... I made 5 predictions for the marketing world in 2026 based on these 5 big trends we're seeing. Feel free to fight with me in the comments AFTER you've read the piece 😉
sparktoro.com
The 5 Big Trends that Will Dominate Marketing in 2026 - SparkToro
I find most end-of-year prediction and crystal ball-gazing listicles to be trash. They don't prove their assertions, use anecdotes rather than data at
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
www.getflack.com/p/responding... Great analogy "Imagine a thermostat for your credibility. If you’re above their setpoint, people feel you’re overrated and want to bring you down; if you’re below it, people feel you’re underrated and want to build you up."
getflack.com
When someone says they hate your product with a burning passion
How to reset the thermostat, and CodeRabbit as a case study
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Andrew Bohrer @andrewbohrer.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Tip 50% or better for the next eight days. Make a reservation for a restaurant in January. Buy a round for the neighborhood bar. Be a hero.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
"It's Holocaust $#*&" Exactly. Love these two.
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Ross Hudgens @rosshudgens.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Want a quick way to (potentially) pay for gifts? Take our survey! We're looking for responses to our 2026 trends report to fully capture the state of the market. Two responders will be selected for a $500 Amazon gift card. Survey only takes ~3 minutes: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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Andrew Bohrer @andrewbohrer.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
A nonviolent, fascinating, but still a “firearms in America related story.” Nothing bad happens, but skip it if you don’t want to read about guns. It starts with trying to legally and ethically dispose of a gun.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
www.nubero.ch/blog/017/ never expected to enjoy a piece like this as much as I did (which was a lot!)
nubero.ch
More Than Skin Deep – A Polemic on the Importance of Beauty
The Nuberodesign Blog
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
I wonder if younger folks read takes like this and think "I don't care about whether AI or artists made it, just gimme the content," aftermath.site/ai-pendleton... Or are they, too, sad for what we're about to lose.
aftermath.site
Adventure Time Creator on AI: ‘We’re Cooked’
Pendleton Ward sees his fellow Cartoon Network all-stars’ new Adult Swim special, The Elephant, as “the last squirts of human creativity.”
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
I'm going to share a dark secret with all of you. My Kindle reading habits are those of a thirsty, middle-aged white lady who cannot get enough romantasy. And apparently this gentleman is my type? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
www.reddit.com/r/NewsStarWo... Seems to me like the solution is what Uniqlo does -- put all the items on the counter and the computer instantly tells you how much you owe and what you're buying. No need to scan.
reddit.com
From the NewsStarWorld community on Reddit: TheStreet: Amazon solves Walmart, Target, and Kroger’s shoplifting problem.
Posted by coinfanking - 48 votes and 49 comments
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Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
A new study of the last 50 years of US pop music shows “a significant increase in stress-related language, alongside declines in positive sentiment and lyrical complexity.”
nature.com
Societal crises disrupt long-term increases in stress, negativity, and simplicity in US Billboard song lyrics from 1973 to 2023 - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Societal crises disrupt long-term increases in stress, negativity, and simplicity in US Billboard song lyrics from 1973 to 2023
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Ryan Jones @ryanjonesseo.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
The Results: 📈 +309% average click difference vs control 📊 +4.32% impressions for the test group
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Today, I read the most important AI post of the year: sparktoro.com/blog/never-a... It's from @britneymuller.bsky.social. The topic: Why you cannot ask an AI how or why it gave you a particular response. Because it will lie to you 👇
sparktoro.com
Never Ask an AI Tool How It Came Up with That Answer - SparkToro
This post on LinkedIn by Britney Muller is, IMHO, the most important short piece on AI you'll read this year. It's so critical to understand what she's
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Wil Reynolds @wilreynolds.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
What this makes me think: We're winning more with humans, Direct, Social, and Referral for the most part indicate that the content we are putting out is getting progressively more eyeballs, more shares, etc. Meaning we are DEFINITELY creating human value and HOPEFULLY algorithmic value too.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
NEW post: sparktoro.com/blog/the-202... Thanks to the tireless work of @paddymoogan.bsky.social, our survey of 200+ digital agency owners is now live featuring answers to critical questions about the field's health, growth, and threats. 👇
sparktoro.com
The 2025 State of Digital Agencies: it's still rough out there, but slowly improving; and is AI really a threat? - SparkToro
Introduction from Rand: I care deeply about the consulting world in digital marketing. These people are my friends, my colleagues, my fellow speakers, and
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
NEW post: sparktoro.com/blog/the-7-m... Buyer journeys on the web moved from the familiar, funnel-shaped process to a pinball-machine-shaped one... And us marketers are facing 7 problems as a result. My latest #5MinuteWhiteboard 👇
sparktoro.com
The 7 Marketing Problems Pinball-Shaped Buyer Journeys Create - SparkToro
Last week, I showed you how Internet buyer journeys have transformed from the cleaner, more predictable funnel model of the 2000-2015 web into something
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Best new feature Google's built in years. Yes, including all the AI stuff.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
NEW: sparktoro.com/blog/the-pin... Buyer journeys don't look like funnels anymore. IMO, they're like pinball machines -- people bounce around between sources before, during, even after purchases to numerous sources of influence regardless of what message you intended to put where 👇
sparktoro.com
The Pinball Customer Journey Has Replaced the Marketing Funnel - SparkToro
I like the marketing funnel. It's a great analogy, and has served me well for years. I *STILL* think it works reasonably well as a way to describe how
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
NEW post: sparktoro.com/blog/welcomi... I'm honored to announce that the incredibly talented, deeply kind, shockingly on-top-of-everything @kristym.bsky.social has joined SparkToro, Snackbar Studio, & Alertmouse as my Chief of Staff. 💗💗💗
sparktoro.com
Welcoming Kristy Morrison as Chief of Staff - SparkToro
Story time—late last year, I developed a painful, still-undiagnosed condition in my hands, likely from repetitive stress. Blah blah chronic pain, it's
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Alertmouse @alertmouse.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Google Alerts: Sorry we got nothin' Alertmouse: Golden cheddar baby!! 🧀
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Andrew Bohrer @andrewbohrer.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
What people think really fancy #whisky bottles look like vs what they actually look like.
Highland Park 54 is a stupid fancy bottleSpringbank fresh Sauternes cask at barrel strength in a stock bottle
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Cyrus Maxx @zyppy.com · 21/11/2025
Tool of the day: Alertmouse For finding new brand/keyword mentions on the web, this is the best tool, hands down, for tracking + daily alerts If you haven't already, try it out. Every day, I've received comprehensive email reports I never would have known about otherwise alertmouse.com
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Wil Reynolds @wilreynolds.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Here is the link to donate: www.sleepout.org/participant/...
sleepout.org
I'm giving up my bed in solidarity with youth facing homelessness.
I'm giving up my bed for one night in solidarity with youth overcoming homelessness at Covenant House.
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Wil Reynolds @wilreynolds.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Hey folks, I'm sleeping outside tonight, this is why... youtube.com/shorts/deKHw...
youtube.com
Why I'm sleeping outside tonight - and why I would love your support
YouTube video by Wil Reynolds
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Your City @yourcityseattle.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
an image of Katie Wilson standing in a button-up shirt and slacks riding the bus in the morning while holding on onto a rail
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JD Shadel @jdshadel.com · 18/11/2025
The best advice for freelance journalists today is to be born rich. The second best advice is to marry well. This is not shade. This week's long-form essay has been a long time in the making, as I go deep into the sad state of freelance journalism over on ESC KEY .CO: www.esckey.co/the-death-of...
esckey.co
RIP freelance journalism: Candid advice to the young writers the world needs to read
Every year, freelance journalism pays less. A typical gig today pays 80% less than the same assignment in 2001. It is no longer a sustainable career. It is, more often, a side-hustle, or the domain of...
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
www.hcn.org/issues/57-11... is a beautifully written account of a beautiful project. It's the kind of piece no AI could write, where the author's passion for the subject and love for the people shines through.
hcn.org
Heavy metal is healing teens on the Blackfeet Nation - High Country News
In response to youth suicides, teachers show students the power of headbanging at Fire in the Mountains festival.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
nautil.us/the-surprisi... great advice "Sticking with impossible goals can take a real toll, with research suggests it can lead to higher stress, poorer well-being, and even physical health costs. But letting go and—crucially—reengaging with new goals, was found to restore purpose and well-being.”
nautil.us
The Surprising Benefits of Giving Up
The Surprising Benefits of Giving Up: Ditching or adjusting goals in the face of adversity might often be the best thing for us.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Rarely do I read something thoughtful & nuanced about Israeli/Palestinian politics. Rarely do I read something thoughtful and nuanced about creative uses for AI. And yet, www.betterconflictbulletin.org/p/what-you-c... is somehow simultaneously both. (it's a podcast, too, for those who prefer)
betterconflictbulletin.org
What You Can Learn from 4,000 Conversations Between Israelis and Palestinians
Adam Becker is building an AI-powered platform for difficult conversations - BCB #171
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
NEW in SparkToro today: Take Action 16 common marketing tasks (from PR pitches to content ideation to landing page suggestions) made easier by combining real audience data + LLM calls. Anyone can try it free starting now 👇
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
DONATE here: www.sleepout.org/participants... Next week, I'm chipping in $6,500 and sleeping outside in the freezing Philly cold w @wilreynolds.bsky.social, not b/c I want to (dear god I am not built for sleeping outside in a cardboard box 😅🥶), but b/c it's important. Would 💗 your support
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Cyrus Maxx @zyppy.com · 04/11/2025
Google's new deceptive ad layout not only tricks people into clicking more ads It's costing businesses real money 💸
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
No. Your Twitter traffic did NOT double overnight. What happened? Twitter's been stagnating/declining since 2023 The growth team growth hacked (making links auto-open in webview) They hope marketers will fall for it & pay more attention again. But, it's nothing more than smoke & mirrors.
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Got interviewed re: the digital marketing AI "revolution" (which I admit has changed a lot, but has also caused a lot of dumb decisions): www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7a5... The first 60 second-trailer bit almost convinced me to watch the whole thing and I was there the first time around! 😎👇
youtube.com
AI Hype vs Reality: What actually works in marketing (w/ Rand Fishkin)
YouTube video by Lunio
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Alertmouse @alertmouse.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
*puts on best Mighty Mouse outfit* Here I come to save the day!! 🦸🧀
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Lily Ray 😏 @lilyray.nyc · 30/10/2025
Used @randfish.bsky.social’s awesome new tool, @alertmouse.bsky.social (a better version of Google Alerts) for a whole 30 seconds only to learn that my name was mentioned in Forbes this week. (1/2)
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
I *know* Google Alerts is aware of these brand mentions for my company. And yet... 😡😤😒😠🤬 they won't send me alerts. It's inexplicable. Google (the search engine) clearly has these URLs indexed, so what gives? Mystifying. Thank goodness for🔔🐭
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Looking good @thekraken.bsky.social !
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Rand Fishkin @randfish.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
I've got a new job today: alertmouse.com Not leaving my other jobs, but alongside my friends Adam & Nathan, we built a "what if Google Alerts was really good?" product. Your first alert is free forever; I suspect that if Google's let you down the way it has me, you'll like it a lot 😎👇
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Aleyda Solis @aleyda.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
Agency owners: Fill it now! PS: I'll feature in today's edition of #SEOFOMO 👀
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