Mackerel Media’s Search, Media and Digital Marketing Roundup – June 2026
There have been a number of developments this June across search, AI and digital advertising, with new AI Search features from Google, expanded reporting tools and new targeting across LinkedIn advertising. We also have news of Mark Ritson’s landmark (and highly interesting) global study on the effectiveness of audio advertising.
Google has completed the rollout of its June 2026 Spam Update, which ran from June 24 to June 26. Unlike Core Updates, Spam updates are designed to improve Google’s spam detection systems, including SpamBrain, rather than broader changes to search rankings. Google has not announced any new spam policies, so the existing guidance of focusing on high quality, relevant content and following Google’s existing spam guidance remains the best approach to ensure organic search visibility. If you notice any changes in your website’s traffic and impressions, we here at Mackerel Media can help review your site and identify any impact and roadmap solutions from this latest update.
One Profile to Rule Them All
Google has officially launched Search Profiles, a new way for publishers and creators to showcase their content across multiple platforms within a single Google profile. These profiles can include articles, videos, social media accounts and website URLs, and allows users to follow creators and see their content in Google Discover. Search Profiles are currently only available to creators with at least 100,000 followers on YouTube, Instagram or X, or 300,000 followers on TikTok, and are initially being rolled out in the United States. As Google continues to expand Discover, Search Profiles offers another way of improving impressions and user engagement.
Generative AI performance reporting is now being rolled out within Google Search Console. The new report provides insight into how often URLs appear within Google’s AI-powered search features, including AI Overviews, AI Mode and AI powered Discover results. The Generative AI report which can be found under the Performance tab, includes impression data, along with page, country, device and date breakdowns. Unfortunately click data and search query reporting are not yet available. As Generative AI becomes more prominent, AI reporting will help provide further insights into how sites are performing within Google’s changing search experience.
Google’s One Stop Stat Shop
Google has added new integration between Google Business Profile and GA4, allowing businesses to view their Business Profile performance alongside website data all within a single platform. This new integration includes local engagement metrics such as website clicks, phone calls, direction requests, bookings and messages. The update also provides an improved overview of how customers have interacted with their Google Business Profile before visiting their website.
Microsoft has expanded its AI Performance reporting within Bing Webmaster Tools, introducing four new AI visibility insights – Intents, Topics, Citation Share and Compare. These new reports help users to understand why their content is being cited within Bing AI and Microsoft Copilot, which topics they are appearing for, and how their AI visibility has changed over time. Whilst it is currently available as a preview phase, these new reports make Bing Webmaster Tools one of the most comprehensive platforms for measuring organic AI search performance.
Microsoft Advertising has improved its LinkedIn Profile targeting capabilities by adding the ability to target job seniority across Search and Audience campaigns. Ads can now target or observe users based on ten different seniority levels, including Owner, Manager, Director, VP and CXO, making it easier to target specific job roles and decision makers.
Prime Day Goes AI
Amazon has become one of the first major retailers to advertise within ChatGPT by launching sponsored ads during Prime Day. The ads appeared below ChatGPT’s responses and were targeted using conversational terms rather than traditional keywords. Whilst ChatGPT ads are still in their early stages, the fact that Amazon has started to adopt them suggests a growing confidence in AI platforms and the importance of varying your ad reach outside of traditional search and social campaigns.
The Sound of Success
The media industry is abuzz with the results of a new global study that has highlighted the effectiveness of audio advertising, with campaigns which used commercial audio delivering stronger results than those without. The research which was presented by Mark Ritson at the Cannes Lions Festival, analysed more than 1200 campaigns over 17 years, and found that campaigns which included audio achieved higher profits, increased customer trust and improved customer acquisition. The study also found that audio was particularly effective when combined with emotionally-led creative. These findings highlight the value of including radio and digital audio within the media mix, especially for advertisers looking for new channels to build their brand.
End of the Aerial?
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has published a new green paper on the future of UK broadcasting, including proposals for a transition away from Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and towards internet-only TV services. Whilst the report is focused on television, Radiocentre have reported that any changes to DTT could have implications on the future of radio, as many TV and radio services currently share the same transmission infrastructure. Whilst online listening continues to grow, broadcast radio is an important platform for millions of listeners each week, meaning any future changes to television broadcasting could also affect the future of the UK’s radio network.
