May 20, 2025

May 2025’s Digital Marketing News Roundup

Welcome to this month’s digital marketing news roundup! As ever the digital landscape continues to transform at lightning speed, so we go through the key elements you won’t want to miss from the last month. Whether you’re a fellow SEO, PPC or digital marketer, or a business owner, we’ll share the latest insights to keep you up to date!

So what made headlines in digital marketing in the last month? Read on to find out!

Google Business Profile updates – NEW ‘What’s Happening?’ Feature

Google has rolled out a new ‘What’s happening’ feature on Google Business Profile – So, what’s this? A great new feature for local businesses such as restaurants, bars and events which allows you to update your customers with information on special deals, events and promos. They’ve made this even better by linking it with your socials such as Facebook, so it’s automatically added to your profile! Learn more about improving your Google Business profile in our dedicated blog ‘Why optimise my Google Business Profile?’.

Search Ranking Volatility Spiked – May 

Many of us thought (though perhaps a little optimistically) that the volatility from April was wrapped up, and the start of May showed very normal levels of volatility. May the 12th upset many of us as volatility levels reached very high levels – indicating something could be happening, such as yet another update, so watch this space!

Google Asks – Stop Using Different Urls for the Same Image

A rare insight into the Google rules, but a helpful one. If you use one image across your website, especially a larger website – you don’t need to use unique URLs for it! Once the crawlers have indexed it, they won’t need to again, thus saving you that valuable crawl budget! 

Google themselves explained ‘If an image is referenced on multiple pages within a larger website, consider the site’s overall crawl budget. In particular, consistently reference the image with the same URL, so that Google can cache and reuse the image without needing to request it multiple times.’

Learn more about crawl budgets in our blog ‘How to manage crawl budget for larger websites’.

Google Rolls Out AI Overviews Into More Territories 

Google has rolled out their AI overview to even more countries, now testing in Turkey, the Netherlands and Sweden before fully rolling out. As the tool expands we can expect it to appear in even more territories, leveling out the search landscape across the board. See a full list of countries now using AI overview.

AI Overview is Lowering CTR – What Can You Do?

Many businesses are seeing a lower CTR due to the growth of the AI overview appearing for a huge number of searches now – so what can you do?

It’s a tough time to be an SEO, the growth of AI means less people are actually clicking through to a website, rather they read the overview (prime top spot) and bounce straight off when they have what they want. 

More and more people are starting to question the validity of the answers however, so here is where you shine!

One top tip, and an obvious one, is to make your content obviously human. Deliver experience and knowledge in your niche like no other to engage your audience and be authentic. While we still figure AI out and what it means for the search landscape, write your content for your users, not the search engines.

For more insight see this article from Search Engine Land that provides valuable tips!

PPC – Google introduces AI Max for Search campaigns

Google have recently rolled out AI Max, a comprehensive pack of search tools powered by AI and search intellect labelled as the future of automated search.

So, what does it do exactly? It is said to:

There have been lots of questions raised about this new suite of tools, to find out more info see this great insight from Search engine land.

Top Tools from the Team

This month, here are the tools our team have been utilising and raving about!

Semrush – We use Semrush on a regular basis and is for many in digital marketing, a hugely valuable resource. It’s recently had a bit of a facelift, which can take some time to get used to. It largely looks to have the same features, in the same place, thankfully!

Semrush Sensor – With a lot of keyword volatility in the last few months we’ve been keeping an eye on this through the semrush sensor. Here you can take a look at the volatility in your country for both desktop and mobile, and even segment it down to industry!

Key Dates for Your Marketing Diary

5th May – Early May Bank Holiday

12th May – Mental Health Awareness Week

18th May – World Baking day

19th May – Vegetarian Week

20th May – Rescue Dog Day

26th May – Spring Bank Holiday

29th May – National BBQ Week

Keep on Top of The Trends With Wildcat Digital

Digital marketing certainly keeps you on your toes! It can be hard to know which direction to take sometimes and that’s where we come in! Our roundups are to try and give you a quick overview of what’s changed in the digital marketing world, so if you want to see what else you might’ve missed, be sure to check out last month’s post! If you’re looking to chat about any of our services, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Post by

Paul Pennington

SEO Account Director

Will Hitchmough

Founder

Our founder, Will Hitchmough, worked at a number of high profile Sheffield Digital Agencies before founding Wildcat Digital in 2018. He brings an extensive knowledge of all things related to SEO, PPC and Paid Social, as well as an expert knowledge of digital strategy.

Digital Marketing can be a minefield for many businesses, with many agencies ready to take your money without knowing how to deliver results. I founded Wildcat Digital to deliver digital success to businesses with smaller budgets in a transparent way.

Rich Ayre

Head of Growth

Rich joined us in May 2024 to head up our growth team. With years of experience helping other agencies to grow, Rich joins us at an exciting time as Wildcat is working on a five-year plan to become one of the biggest agencies in the UK.

Outside of work, Rich is a father to three children, which keeps him very busy! He’s also recently started running again to keep fit and loves a bit of DIY.

Sarah Tyree

Head of Digital

Sarah joined Wildcat in January 2025, bringing over seven years of SEO expertise to the team. With a background in Fashion Communication and Promotion, she has worked both in-house and at agencies, covering a range of digital marketing specialisms before focusing on SEO.

Passionate about all things search, Sarah thrives on helping brands grow their online presence.

Outside of work, she enjoys walking her dog, running, and shopping for vintage clothing.

 

Amelia Ashman

Office Manager

Amelia joined Wildcat Digital in January 2025, bringing extensive experience in HR, Health & Safety, Facilities Management and IT Support. Previously an Operations Manager at The University of Sheffield, she has a strong background in creating efficient and well-organized work environments.

Specialising in HR, Health & Safety, and Facilities Management, Amelia ensures the Wildcat Digital team has the resources and support needed to thrive. Whether managing office operations, maintaining compliance, or fostering a positive workplace culture, she keeps everything running smoothly.

Outside of work, Amelia loves trying new things, traveling, camping, and walking. She also enjoys socialising and exploring new places with friends and family. Her adventurous spirit and proactive approach make her a valued member of the team.

Siena Russell

Client Success Coordinator

Siena joined us in 2023 with a background in sales and digital marketing. She leads on client relationships across the company, ensuring that our customers are happy throughout their journey with us, from their initial consultation through to onboarding and beyond. 

Outside of work, Siena enjoys travelling and getting stuck into the local culture. She likes to make the most of her experiences and particularly enjoys watching sunrises and sunsets from beautiful locations around the world.

Paul Pennington

SEO Account Director

Paul has a strong background in SEO, having previously founded and ran a successful eCommerce business, as well as running a personal blog that achieves an average of 17K users per month. Paul’s knowledge of SEO is extensive, with a strong emphasis on client handling and technical SEO.

Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time with his family and staying active with weight lifting and combat sports.

Dariusz Baczyk

Team Lead & Technical SEO Account Manager

With a degree in Computer Science and SEO experience dating back to 2017, Dariusz has a wide range of SEO skills and knowledge. His specialist knowledge of Technical SEO has firmly landed him the title of Wildcat’s Technical Wizard, and he has recently taken on the responsibility of Team Leader for the Panthers Team.

In his spare time, Dariusz loves hiking, experimenting and trying new coffees and loves learning new things. He is currently learning more about CRO and AI and how this could benefit our clients.

Molly Sturgeon

Team Lead & Senior SEO Account Manager

With a background in sales, Molly is a natural Account Manager, brilliantly handling any issues that come her way. Having joined us as a Digital Marketing Executive, and working part-time through her final year of University, Molly is a shining example of how hard work pays off. She is now an SEO Account Manager with a particular interest in Content and Client Management. 

In her spare time, Molly loves to get out in nature, hiking and exploring the Peak District. She also loves cooking and likes to unwind with a bit of yoga.

Libby Oldale

PPC Team Leader

Libby joined Wildcat in 2021 as our first PPC hire. With a degree in Digital Media Production, a Master’s in Digital Media Management and previous experience in Social Media Management, Libby hit the ground running and has since climbed the ranks to Senior PPC Account Manager and has a particular interest in the eCommerce sector.

Outside of work, Libby likes gaming, and cooking and likes to keep active by lifting weights.

Jamie Stowe

Senior SEO Account Manager

With a degree in Film and TV production, and a varied career history, Jamie made the move to marketing with a Masters degree in Digital Media Management. He has since worked in SEO at Agencies across Sheffield, before joining Wildcat and working his way up to SEO Account Manager. Jamie has a particular interest in backlinks and Digital PR and has recently gained a client a valuable backlink from Forbes!

In his spare time, Jamie is an avid foodie and loves trying new restaurants and cuisines. He also loves to travel and spent a year travelling to Australia after university.

Jasmine Savery

SEO Account Manager

Jasmine joined Wildcat in 2022 with a strong background in SEO and Account Management. At the time, she was finishing up a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and has since worked her way up to SEO Account Manager. Jasmine excels at content writing and promotion, and particularly enjoys finding creative ways to join the dots on multi-channel campaigns.

In her spare time, Jasmine volunteers at a charity, helping combat loneliness & social isolation experienced by older neighbours. Outside of Wildcat, she owns a catering company, Savery Grazing, creating delicious grazing tables & platters for a range of events. She also loves skiing and exploring the Peak District.

Thea Chapman

SEO Account Manager

Thea has a wealth of experience in SEO, having previously worked for other Digital Marketing Agencies in Sheffield. She has a particular interest and skills in Technical SEO, but is more than willing to get stuck in and give anything a go. 

Outside of work, Thea spends most of her time with her children, but also loves reading, photography and gardening. 

Masilda Hysi

PPC Account Manager

Masilda joined the Wildcat team in October 2024 with over seven years of experience in digital marketing. She specialises in Google Ads, but is also certified in Google Analytics, YouTube Ads, Google Ads for Ecommerce and Apple Search Ads. She has extensive expertise in performance marketing, display advertising, online lead generation and market planning.

In her free time, Masilda likes staying active, cooking, trying new restaurants and exploring new places.

 

Braden Godley

Senior PPC Executive

Prior to joining Wildcat, Braden founded and ran his own Social Media Management agency where he gained valuable skills in growing brands’ online presence, which has since proven invaluable in his role at Wildcat. 

Outside of work, Braden is a big football fan, regularly travelling to Pride Park to support Derby County. He also enjoys watching and playing snooker, hiking in the Peak District, and attending air and car shows.

Jon Herdman

Senior SEO Executive

After spending ten years managing businesses, restaurants, cafes and event spaces across Sheffield, Jon decided to change careers and joined Wildcat as an SEO Executive in 2022. He especially enjoys the client management side of the job, helping them to understand digital marketing and ways in which they can build their business’s presence online. 

Outside of work, Jon likes to keep fit with running, badminton and football, and also loves music. 

Rachel Davies

Senior SEO Executive

Rachel joined us as a graduate, having recently graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in English Literature. Since joining, Rachel has proven herself to be a Content Queen, and particularly enjoys getting stuck into projects that allow her to explore her creative side. 

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including rugby, singing, reading, and spending time with her family and three labradors.

Andy Blanchard

Senior SEO Executive

Andy joined Wildcat in 2023 after starting his digital marketing career in-house for a local Sheffield company. Since joining, he has developed a strong interest in Technical SEO and has strong skills in Account Management. 

Outside of work, Andy loves music and plays in a couple of bands. He also enjoys rock climbing, cycling, photography and good food.

Kezia Humphries

Senior SEO Executive

Kezia joined us in July 2024 after completing a CIM Certificate in Digital Marketing and gaining experience in Content SEO at another Sheffield agency.

In her spare time, Kezia loves to get outdoors, bouldering, hiking and travelling.

Alex Hickling

Senior PPC Executive

Alex joined Wildcat Digital in December 2024 as a Senior PPC Executive, bringing a strong background in Paid Media, Paid Social, and Programmatic advertising. With a degree in Business & Marketing and Google Ads certifications, she has the expertise to craft high-performing campaigns that drive results.

Before joining Wildcat Digital, Alex worked at two leading agencies in Leeds, honing her skills across various digital advertising platforms. Her analytical mindset and strategic approach help businesses maximize their online presence and advertising budgets.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with her dog, Lola, and going on walks with her dog walking group. She’s also a keen footballer and loves playing five-a-side whenever she gets the chance. Her enthusiasm and team spirit make him a great addition to the Wildcat Digital team.

Amy Varley

SEO Executive

Amy joined Wildcat in 2024 with a background in journalism, having worked as a News Editor and Editor-in-Chief at The Sheffield Tab. She is naturally interested in Content SEO and research, so will no doubt prove to be a content power-house.

In her spare time, Amy loves watching crime shows, listening to music and hanging out with her dog, Eddie!

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