The February 2026 website positioning Replace by Yoast is a part of our month-to-month webinar sequence protecting the newest developments in search and AI. In every session, we overview an important information from the previous month and discover the way it impacts your search technique.
Hosted by Carolyn Shelby and Alex Moss, this month’s replace centered on AI-driven shifts in search, rising agentic workflows, and Google’s newest core updates. Beneath is a recap of the subjects mentioned and what they imply to your technique.
Watch the total recap on YouTube to listen to Carolyn and Alex dive deeper into these subjects, reply viewers questions, and share real-world examples.
website positioning and AI information from February 2026
Engines like google develop AI reporting and web site controls
Google and Bing launched new instruments for publishers to handle AI interactions. Bing’s AI Efficiency Report reveals how usually Copilot cites your website, together with quotation counts and queries. Google now permits publishers to management AI entry through robots.txt utilizing Google-Prolonged.
Actionable takeaway:
- Monitor AI quotation studies in Bing Webmaster Instruments to trace visibility
- Overview your
robots.txtand AI entry settings to align along with your technique
Debate over Markdown, AI brokers, and machine-readable content material
OpenAI launched the Codex app, enabling customers to handle a number of AI brokers for complicated duties. WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg proposed making content material obtainable in Markdown format to enhance AI comprehension, whereas Cloudflare launched a Markdown-based strategy for AI bots. Nevertheless, Google’s John Mueller dismissed Markdown information as rising crawl load.
Actionable takeaway:
- Simplify your website’s construction to make content material extra accessible to AI brokers
- In case your website is overly complicated, discover Markdown or structured information options, however prioritize fixing underlying points first
Is Google cracking down on self-promotional listicles?
Lily Ray recognized a sample of web sites dropping visibility because of self-promotional listicles (e.g., “High 20 website positioning Companies within the US,” with the writer ranked #1). Google seems to be penalizing manipulative ways.
Actionable takeaway:
- Keep away from self-serving listicles. If creating comparability content material, use goal standards and clear methodology
Microsoft’s imaginative and prescient for a sustainable agentic internet
Microsoft outlined its strategy to agentic search, emphasizing structured information, concise content material, and writer compensation for AI-driven site visitors. The shift from human clicks to AI-driven retrieval was highlighted as a significant pattern.
Actionable takeaway:
- Optimize for machine-readable actions (e.g., structured information, clear CTAs)
- Put together for AI-driven monetization fashions (e.g., compensation for citations)
Meta’s Avacado agent and OpenClaw integration
Meta is testing Avacado, a brand new AI agent integrating OpenClaw and Manus for workflow automation. This displays a broader push towards omnichannel AI interactions.
Actionable takeaway:
- Guarantee constant messaging throughout all platforms (web site, social, e-mail) to strengthen AI comprehension
ChatGPT rolls out adverts
ChatGPT started serving adverts to free customers, with OpenAI charging advertisers based mostly on advert impressions quite than clicks. The transfer mirrors conventional search advert fashions however raises considerations about person expertise.
Actionable takeaway:
- Monitor how AI-driven advert placements influence person engagement and model visibility
WebMCP is a brand new protocol for AI brokers
Chrome launched WebMCP, a protocol that permits AI brokers to work together with web sites through machine-readable actions (e.g., type submissions). Early adoption is proscribed, nevertheless it indicators a shift towards agent-first internet design.
Actionable takeaway:
- Audit your website’s underlying code for readability (e.g., semantic HTML, structured information)
- Proceed cautiously. WebMCP is experimental and will pose safety dangers if misconfigured
Bing Webmaster Instruments launches AI Efficiency Report
Bing’s AI Efficiency Report now reveals how usually Copilot cites your website, together with queries and cited pages. The device bridges conventional website positioning metrics with AI-driven search.
Actionable takeaway:
- Arrange Bing Webmaster Instruments if you happen to haven’t already
- Examine Bing’s AI information with Google Search Console to establish gaps
Google AI Mode introduces UCP-powered checkout
Google’s AI mode now helps UCP-powered checkout, permitting brokers to finish purchases on behalf of customers. Early adopters embrace Etsy, Wayfair, and Walmart.
Actionable takeaway:
- If you happen to’re in e-commerce, prioritize structured product information and quick load instances to capitalize on agentic commerce
OpenClaw, OpenAI, and the way forward for AI brokers
The rise of OpenClaw and OpenAI’s developments underscores a shift towards web sites exposing capabilities (not simply pages) to AI brokers. Early experiments present brokers interacting with websites through machine-readable actions.
Actionable takeaway:
- Give attention to clear website construction and constant information to make sure dependable AI interpretation
What to concentrate on in 2026
The February website positioning Replace by Yoast highlighted 4 key priorities:
- Optimize for AI-driven search: Use structured information and markdown to enhance AI comprehension
- Construct model authority throughout channels: Guarantee constant messaging for AI brokers to strengthen
- Put together for agentic commerce: Prioritize structured product information and quick load instances
- Keep away from low-quality AI content material: Google is cracking down on manipulative ways like self-promotional listicles
Join the following website positioning Replace by Yoast
The subsequent website positioning Replace by Yoast is on March 24, 2026, at 4 PM CET / 10 AM EST. Join right here to hitch the stay dialogue or obtain the recording.
