Small web publishers hit hardest by AI-era search decline, losing 60% of referral traffic over two years while chatbot traffic remains under 1%; larger outlets with stronger brands more insulated from drop.

Exclusive: Small publishers hit hardest by search traffic declines

Data: Chartbeat; Chart: Axios VisualsSmaller web publishers, with 1,000–10,000 daily page views, are experiencing the most precipitous traffic declines in the AI era, according to new Chartbeat data provided exclusively to Axios. Why it matters: The data suggests larger publishers with better brand recognition and stronger direct-to-consumer products are more insulated from declines in traditional search traffic.Zoom in: Over the past two years, referral traffic from traditional search engines h...