Plus, see the latest Comscore rankings across key categories  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Raptive News FEBRUARY 25, 2026 By Cristy Posten Content Editor Hi Raptive, Independent creators and publishers are still a force, and the milestones we’re sharing today are a strong reminder of what that really means. We’re proud to announce that we’ve now paid $4B to our creators and publishers. That’s a big number, but the bigger story is what it represents. It’s proof that advertisers are still choosing premium, independent creators. And the new December 2025 Comscore rankings reinforce our collective’s strength across major categories: #1 in Food, Home/DIY, and Lifestyle, plus top rankings in Family and Travel (and top 10 in several more). This week, we’re also sharing: • An update on testing a new consent experience in California • A special compilation episode of Ctrl Alt Ask • How to get access to the new SEO Workbook What’s new We’re testing an updated consent experience in California From March 2–5, we’ll be testing an updated privacy message for a small portion of California readers as part of our efforts to stay aligned with evolving California privacy laws and protect long-term monetization. During this test, some readers may see a privacy pop-up before accessing site content. The majority of readers will continue to see the standard experience. If you have any questions, submit a support request. Ctrl Alt Ask Episode 11: 8 essential tips for creators Throughout season 1 of Ctrl Alt Ask, we heard from creators and publishers navigating traffic drops, algorithm changes, advertiser expectations, YouTube strategy shifts, burnout, AI scraping, and the rise of Google Discover. In this special compilation episode, we’ve gathered the most valuable insights shared this season by experts from Raptive and across the digital publishing industry. This episode brings those conversations together into one focused playbook for anyone who wants to grow traffic, attract advertisers, protect their work, and build a brand that lasts. Listen to the full episode → SEO Workbook access and how to qualify SEO Workbook is a planning and prioritization tool that turns your search data into clear, actionable next steps. It shows what’s driving Google organic traffic, how your content performs over time, and what to publish or refresh next to grow traffic with confidence. In order to show recommendations, here’s what’s required: • A WordPress site • 14+ months of Google Search Console data (set up as a Domain property) • 52+ weeks of Google Analytics data • Google Search Console connected to your dashboard (so the Workbook can pull your search performance data) The verification process can take a few weeks and then you'll receive a notification once the tool is available in your dashboard. If you have questions about your eligibility or setup, submit a support request. Sign up for the live demo of the SEO Workbook Most SEO tools give you data. The SEO Workbook gives you a clear direction. Instead of sorting through rankings and reports, the SEO Workbook turns your performance data into a focused action plan. It identifies high-impact posts to refresh, uncovers new opportunities, and prioritizes what to tackle first, so you can focus on what’s most likely to drive traffic. Join us on Thursday, March 12, at 1 pm ET for a live walkthrough with Eddie Mercado, VP of SEO Solutions. He’ll break down how the tool is structured, explain the four core tabs, and show how they work together to create a repeatable, sustainable SEO workflow. Register now to see the SEO Workbook in action → Top resource 5 high-impact email plays that drive growth Search and social will continue to change. Your email list is the one audience you own. In this guide, our email team shares proven list-building strategies and engagement tactics to increase clicks and drive consistent traffic back to your site. Turn email into your top growth channel → Quick tip Keep ‘good bots’ unblocked to maximize ad revenue “Not all bots are bad for your site. The ones advertisers use to scan and evaluate your content actually help match your pages with the right ads. If your host settings or robots.txt file blocks these bots, advertisers may misread your content or skip your site entirely, which can lead to lower ad earnings.” James Baldwin SVP of Creator Performance Don’t miss Share your story with the Raptive community We’re featuring more creator and publisher spotlights this year, across our Blog, newsletter, and more. If you’ve seen growth, tested something new, or navigated a challenge alongside us, we’d love to hear about it. Take the 3–5 minute survey → Help us match your content with spring and summer campaigns Advertisers are planning their spring and summer campaigns now, and your upcoming content could be exactly what they’re looking for. Take our quick, 3-minute survey to share what you’re publishing over the next six months. Your responses help our Direct Sales team match your upcoming content with aligned brand and agency campaigns. Complete the quick survey → What we’re reading Catch up on news from around the industry • Google’s AI search results will make links more obvious (The Verge) • Streamline your Google Search Console analysis with the new AI-powered configuration (Google Search Central Blog) • What YouTube’s 2026 strategy signals for news companies (International News Media Association) Question of the week Where are you feeling the most pressure right now? 📉 Platform volatility One update and everything shifts 🔁 Keeping up with content The “always publishing” treadmill 🧑‍💻 Tech and site health Speed, errors, and “mystery” issues that steal time 🧩 Too many priorities SEO, socials, email, video… all at once Was this email helpful? You’re receiving this email because you help manage a site that works with Raptive. To ensure our emails reach your inbox, add hello@email.raptive.com to your email contacts. Want to stop receiving Raptive News emails? You can update your preferences anytime. 1411 Broadway, 27th Floor New York, NY, 10018, US © 2026 Raptive. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe | View online