I Followed Google’s SEO Rules—Here’s What Still Failed
For years, I did everything Google recommended. I followed best practices. I optimized keywords. I improved page speed. I built backlinks. I published content consistently. And yet, something didn’t work. Traffic looked decent. Rankings improved. But leads? Sales? Phone calls? They barely moved. That’s when I realized a hard truth most businesses discover too late: Following Google’s SEO rules no longer guarantees results in 2026. This article explains what failed , why it failed , and what actually works now —especially in a world dominated by zero-click searches , AI-powered results, and shifting user behavior. Why Do Zero-Click Searches Break Traditional SEO? Zero-click searches happen when users get answers directly on Google—without visiting any website. Think about it: Google AI summaries Featured snippets Google Maps listings “People Also Ask” Instant answers In many cases, Google shows your content … but users never click your link. That’s why zero-click se...