Shalin Siriwardhana

Shalin Siriwardhana

Search, growth, and digital strategy notes.

Personal notes on SEO, AI search, content strategy, and durable organic growth.

A close up shot of a person's hand using a mouse to highlight a specific line of code on a computer screen, with a notebook and pen resting nearby.

Notes / SEO / Oct 7, 2026

Using AI to Assist with SEO Work, Not Replace the Worker

Some parts of technical SEO are simple, and will be forever simple, at least if you know what you're looking for: A link. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

6 min read
A close up shot of a person's hand holding a smartphone, displaying a search engine results page with a few visible text links, resting on a plain wooden table.

Notes / SEO / Oct 6, 2026

Data Shows Which Negative Search Results Can Actually Be Removed

• Negative Search Results: What 2026 Removal Data Shows • How Long Successful Content Removals Took • How To. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

6 min read
A person in India holds a smartphone showing a Google Search profile page, with a physical notebook and a pen resting on a wooden table beside the phone.

Notes / SEO / Oct 6, 2026

Google Opens Search Profiles in India & Canada, Brazil Next

"One of our most requested updates for Search profiles is live today: expanding to new countries!" He wrote that creators and. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

6 min read
A close-up shot of a person's hand holding a smartphone displaying a Google Search Console error message, resting on a wooden table next to a cup of coffee.

Notes / SEO / Oct 6, 2026

Google Explains Couldn’t Fetch Sitemap Errors

Splitt acknowledged that many people who receive the "couldn't fetch" error have valid XML sitemaps that are properly linked from. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

6 min read
A close up shot of a person's hand holding a smartphone displaying a Google search results page with a "blocked" or "captcha" overlay appearing on the screen.

Notes / SEO / Oct 6, 2026

Google Is Fighting SERP Tracking. AI Agents May Make It Worse

What may be a reason behind Google's actions to stop rank tracking is that the amount of AI Agent traffic has grown. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

7 min read
A close up shot of a person's hand holding a smartphone displaying a chat interface with a brand citation, resting on a wooden table next to a notebook.

Notes / SEO / Oct 5, 2026

AI Cites Your Brand: How to Choose Your Next Move

Generating hundreds of prompts does not guarantee useful coverage. Tan organized monitoring around three kinds of questions:. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

6 min read
A close up shot of a laptop screen showing a Google Shopping result with a "Sale" badge, while a physical product on a nearby table has a standard price tag.

Notes / SEO / Oct 5, 2026

Google’s Hidden Data Layer: What Is It and What to Do About It

The hidden layer is Google's internally generated data about your products, gathered over time and sometimes stitched together. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

7 min read
A close up shot of a person's hand holding a smartphone displaying a search results page, with a physical notebook and a pen resting on a wooden table beside it.

Notes / SEO / Oct 5, 2026

What to Expect from Google’s Next Search Ranking Update

Google has a history of rolling out at least one and as many as two updates prior to and during the end of year holiday season in. The practical question is what this changes for SEO, content quality, and AI search visibility.

7 min read