Monthly Search Insights: June 2026
June has been another important month in search, with Google continuing to refine how it handles spam, giving us new ways to measure visibility in AI search, and making it easier for local businesses to connect across platforms. For your business, this means three important developments that are reshaping how visibility works across traditional search, AI-led results and local discovery.
The overall message is clear: search is becoming broader, more measurable and more connected. This is not about overhauling your strategy month to month. It is about staying positioned across the places customers actually search, and making sure we are tracking and responding to the data that matters. Here is what June’s updates mean for your business.
Google’s June Spam Update
Google rolled out its June 2026 Spam Update between 24 and 26 June.
Spam updates are different from core updates. Core updates usually look more broadly at the quality and relevance of search results, while spam updates focus on reducing the visibility of content or tactics that go against Google’s spam policies.
At this stage, we are not seeing anything unusually concerning across the accounts we monitor. Some fluctuation is normal when Google releases an update, so the most sensible approach is to review the data carefully rather than react too quickly.
What this means for your business
If your website is built on useful content, clear structure and genuine expertise, there is no need to panic when Google releases a spam update. These updates are aimed at websites using low-quality or manipulative tactics, and are far less likely to be an issue for businesses following best practice.
You may see some minor ranking fluctuations or traffic variations over the next few weeks as Google settles the update. This is normal and usually temporary. The key is not to panic or change direction based on short-term movements. If your business relies on genuinely helpful content and a well-structured website, you are positioned exactly where you need to be.
What we are doing to support this
At Artemis, we have never recommended shortcuts. Our approach has always been to focus on useful, relevant, and trustworthy content that supports long-term visibility.
This month, we are continuing to monitor ranking activity, traffic levels and any changes that may need closer review. Where we spot anything that needs attention, we will flag it and explain what action (if any) makes sense.
New AI Performance Reports in Google Search Console
Google has started introducing Search Generative AI performance reports within Google Search Console. These reports give website owners a clearer view of how their pages are appearing within Google’s generative AI features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.
The reports include data such as which pages have appeared in AI features, the countries and devices involved, and how visibility changes over time.
What this means for your business
AI-led search is already driving visibility and potential enquiries for many businesses , but AI visibility has, until now, been difficult to measure clearly.
Now that we can measure it, this becomes another layer of data to watch alongside traditional rankings and traffic. It is important to understand what these reports measure. A page impression is counted when your page is shown or cited within an AI Overview or AI Mode response. This is visibility data, not a direct measure of clicks or enquiries. But visibility matters: you cannot get enquiries from customers who cannot find you.
These reports will not answer every question, but they provide another layer of insight into how websites are being surfaced within Google’s AI-led search experiences.
What we are doing to support this
Where the report is available, we are reviewing it alongside rankings, traffic, conversions and wider search visibility.
This supports the direction we have already been working towards: making websites clearer, better structured and more trustworthy so they can be understood and referenced across both traditional search and AI-led results. We are also continuing to optimise page content to be more useful for AI systems to cite, which reinforces its value to human visitors as well.
Connecting YouTube with Google Maps
For many local businesses, video is becoming a stronger part of how potential customers research and choose suppliers. A helpful video can show the people behind the business, explain services more clearly and build trust before someone makes an enquiry.
Business owners can now connect a YouTube account with Google Maps to help strengthen that journey.
It gives businesses another opportunity to be visible across Google, with the potential to appear in local results and video-led search features. It can also support stronger entity signals by helping Google connect the business, its location, video content and wider online presence more clearly.
What this means for your business
For local businesses, this is a simple but useful way to connect video, Maps, reviews and business information.
It supports visibility and trust across the customer journey, especially for businesses where people want reassurance before they enquire, book or visit.
We have created a practical guide to help clients connect Y
What we are doing to support this
ouTube with Google Maps, and we can also support this directly where appropriate.
This is a good example of how local search is becoming more connected. Google is not only looking at a website in isolation. It is also looking at the wider signals around a business, including profiles, reviews, location data and video content.
Final Thoughts
June’s updates show how search is continuing to change in practical ways.
Google is still tightening its approach to spam and low-quality tactics. AI visibility is becoming more measurable through Search Console. Local search is becoming more connected across Maps, video, reviews and business profiles.
For businesses, the priority remains the same: be clear, credible and easy to understand wherever potential customers are searching.
At Artemis, we are continuing to monitor these changes carefully and make practical improvements that support search visibility, AI/LLM visibility, local visibility and long-term performance.
Search is changing quickly, but the goal remains the same: making sure your business is found, trusted and chosen by the right people today, and in the future.
