Another Reason for Content Marketing

Rebecca Tucker • September 24, 2013

Yesterday, Search Engine Land reported that Google will be making a HUGE change to their reporting. No longer will Google report on keyword searches with the one exception of paid AdWords campaigns. 


This is a massive blow to traditionalists SEO marketers. Why? With Google having the lion’s share of all organic search traffic (estimates range from 60-80%), their encryption of keywords and phrases means that marketers cannot see how their sites are being found and what keywords to use to best market to the potential customers and website viewers out in the world of cyberspace. Also, with organic search being approximately 50% of all traffic to websites, Google's change can impact lots of marketers!


In October 2011, Google announced the conversion to encryption for anyone using their platforms, Google+, Gmail, etc. They stated that they are now looking to bring this “protection” to all users. Many marketers echo a resounding, “WHY??” 


Well, there is speculation that Google allowed the National Security Agency access to their information which Google has vehemently denied. This switch to total encryption would be a block to everyone, including the NSA, on user activity and keyword usage. Another theory on the table is that Google is looking to push their AdWords users, who pay for the sponsored sections on the top and right hand of Google search pages, as these keyword results will be the only ones accessible on the Google platform.


How Google Encryption Affects All of Us


Google’s initial encryption efforts in October 2011 were projected to affect about 10% of all searches. Well, this has been flying under the radar for a while, and some progressives like the team over at HubSpot have been keeping up with their encrypted searches as compared to their totals. In January 2013, they were at about 55% encrypted and have seen 4% increases every month. 

BlinkJar has 61% of organic results currently encrypted (see the results below)!! 


google encrypted keywords

Another site that tracks the keyword encryption of 60 large websites, Not Provided Count, has shown astounding increases over the past 4 weeks in the chart below. The chart shows that on August 27, 2013, the total percentage of encrypted words was about 50%, and as of yesterday that number has jumped to 75%!!! Is Google ramping up for this total encryption? It certainly looks so. A sad, sad day for marketers. Or, is it? 

not provided count graph

It comes as no surprise to anyone involved in the world of inbound marketing that this is where Google was going. They have long been trying to eliminate ALL “black hat SEO” and old school methods meat to trick the Google algorithm systems. Too much poor user experience was created in this old world.  I previously discussed how SEO has become a dirty word in the worlds of marketing for this very reason!!


So, Google has started to reward GOOD user experience. This is accomplished by providing quality content that consumers have asked for in their searches, generally by blogging and whitepaper/ebook creation. Google is proving that this is what they want, so move away from the keyword emphasis and move on over to CONTENT CREATION. 


Marketers will have to use the most viewed pages of their sites in place of most frequently searched keyword phrases. What’s that? You don’t have many indexed pages? You haven’t allocated the time and energy to creating the content that your consumers are asking for? Well, this marketing world is changing, and it’s time to get cracking on that!


Page level tracking will be the new measure of marketing analytics for most who track online and marketing metrics. Yes, there will always be the Google Adwords results, but with 75%- 80% of Google users skipping over those ads completely. Most users have become numb to the paid results and don’t even consider them as viable answers to their searches. Having significant quality content, particularly in blogs (so that websites don’t become cluttered and un-navigable), will be the best way of determining how search users are coming in to your site and information. 


BlinkJar utilizes the marketing analytics tool in HubSpot’s software which enables us to determine what pages are producing results for our clients. We may not be able to see which keywords are producing from Google anymore, but from what Google is indicating, they don’t want us to see them. Google wants the whole keyword emphasis to die out and for content to be the focus. Content creation and purposeful implementation to our client’s websites is what we do every day and have been doing since our inception in late 2011. We can help your company too.


The fragmentation of search. Why Being Found Is No Longer Just About Google

The Fragmentation of Search: Why Being Found Is No Longer Just About Google

By Rikki Broussard • July 23, 2026
Your customers are still searching. They are just no longer searching in one place. They may start with Google, ask ChatGPT to compare their options, watch a YouTube video, look for examples on Instagram, read reviews, or open a map to find a nearby business. This does not mean your company needs to chase every new platform. It also does not mean SEO is dead. The best response to fragmented search is to strengthen the foundation you already have. Build a clear, credible website, answer the questions your customers ask, share real expertise, and ensure your business appears consistently on the platforms that matter to your audience. AEO, or Answer Engine Optimization, is part of that approach. It helps search engines and AI tools find and understand your answers, but it works best when it is built on strong SEO . Why Are Customers Searching in So Many Different Places? Customers are searching in more places because they now have more ways to find the type of information they want. Every Monday during our BlinkJar staff meeting, each person brings an industry update to discuss. One recent conversation about artificial intelligence and its impact on search reminded me of what happened to television. Jared, my husband and BlinkJar’s founder , spent years working in television. At one time, a few broadcast networks held most of the audience. Then cable created more choices. Streaming services, YouTube, social video, and on-demand programming divided attention even further. Television did not disappear. People gained more ways to watch. Search is moving in the same direction. A prospective customer may search Google for a service, ask an AI assistant to explain the differences between providers, watch a video to see how something works, and read reviews before visiting a company’s website. The challenge is not that Google has stopped working. It is that businesses can no longer assume every customer will begin there. Does My Business Still Need SEO? Yes, your business absolutely needs SEO as it remains the foundation of being discovered online. Google continues to drive valuable, high-intent traffic for businesses. A strong website also gives AI tools, maps, social platforms, and prospective customers a reliable place to learn who you are and what you offer. Your website needs clear service pages, useful location information, simple navigation, relevant internal links, and a sound technical structure. Search engines must be able to crawl, index, and understand your pages. Traditional SEO is not being replaced. It is supporting a larger discovery ecosystem. Think of your website as your company’s home base. Social media, maps, reviews, search engines, and AI tools may help customers find you, but your website is where you control the complete story. 
Kingsley Working

What I Learned as a Marketing Intern at BlinkJar Media

By Kingsley Lavender • July 20, 2026
Kingsley Lavender shares what he learned as a marketing intern at BlinkJar Media, including SEO, website updates, content marketing, and real-world agency experience.

Why Personal Connections Matter More Than Ever in an AI-Driven Marketing World?

By Caroline Thaxton • July 10, 2026
Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses approach content marketing , social media marketing , and digital communications. AI can generate ideas, streamline workflows, and help marketers create content faster than ever before. At Blinkjar, we embrace AI as a powerful tool, but we also know the most impactful marketing still begins with something technology can't replicate: a genuine human connection. As a Creative Content Specialist at Blinkjar , some of my most valuable work happens away from my desk. Meeting with clients, visiting their businesses, and building real relationships gives me a deeper understanding of who they are and what makes their brands unique. Those face-to-face interactions help me create authentic content that reflects each client's personality , values, and story. Can AI Really Tell Your Brand's Story? Every business has a story worth telling . While AI can help organize information, brainstorm ideas, and improve efficiency, it can't experience a company's culture, observe customer interactions, or hear the passion behind why a business was started. That’s why every interaction matters. Whether we’re on a call, exchanging emails, meeting in person, capturing photos and videos, or simply talking through new ideas, each touchpoint helps us better understand the businesses we support. These conversations allow us to see how a brand operates, hear the stories behind the work, and uncover the details that make it unique. Those real insights often become the foundation for stronger content because they reveal perspectives that AI simply can’t generate. How Do Client Conversations Lead to Better Content Marketing? The more time I spend with the businesses we support, the better I can represent their brand. Photoshoots are one way those connections happen, but many of my strongest content ideas come from everyday conversations, planning calls, emails, meetings, and moments when a client shares something we would not have known otherwise. Those small details often become the difference between content that feels generic and content that feels true to the brand. Whether we're discussing a new project, talking through their day-to-day operations, or simply catching up, those conversations give me the context I need to write content that's accurate, authentic, and true to their voice. Instead of relying on assumptions, I can pull directly from their experiences, expertise, and personality . That's what transforms content from informative to meaningful.