SEO Evolving

[t2van]

This thread by @UnusualSubstance sent me down a rabbit hole

⚠️ Is Google about to destroy the web?

Now I ain't a fan of BBC news but this was a surprisingly good article talking about the new AI Mode that's been rolling out in America. Ai Mode will essentially just generate everything. No need for 10 positions anymore. SEO is finally dying. The end times are near my friend for our beloved...

officeoutlaw.com

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So although I think at the moment you can combat AI results how that will evolve no one can or knows. I think google will just become a version of ChatGPT where you just ask and it tells you with the odd link thrown in. Anyway that's what got me thinking.

Rather than adapting to just "Google" as I often find myself doing maybe we need to change the scope and start thinking how the next generation uses the web and how they interact. Because within my time frame I guess "Gen Z" or whatever you want to call them is going to have a bigger impact on me and my business and yours! Compared to say my children habits, by then we have all made our money or sold up or living off the state whatever floats your boat not to care no more.

So Gen Z around 40% use social media to search. IG, TikTok that same generation has a trend for what's know as Zero-Click searches. Meaning they just search get the answer and don't click anything which is exactly what AI will be serving up to them. So how can you adapt to that audience with traditional search means? I don't think you can. You can't make someone click something if they never have bothered with doing that previously.

The old you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink it.

So the generation that's up coming I think that's who Google is targeting and it makes sense. When I'm in my 70s if I'm here shit posting I'll kill myself, I'll want more time off line and more with grandkids I don't and won't give a fuck about the internet.

So how do we combat that? Well the obvious is Social is the Answer.

Social Media.

Rather than trying to adapt to Google and ever game the system, the golden days are behind us and the old long in the tooth people like myself need to wake the fuck up and adapt. Now is the time to make the shift to social media not later. Later is too late.

I'm a firm hater of social media, what it's for, what it's about everything I hate it. I put no effort in but the past few weeks it's made me re-shape my focus I need to. If I want to seriously exit my company with a 7 figure turn over having less than 1500 followers or in some case less than 500! Is a JOKE.


I can hear you say now. Ah but AI will come for social media.

I started to look at that, while AI isn't going to change the landscape like it will, has and is doing with traditional SERPs it will be doing the following:

AI will significantly impact social media search by personalizing results, improving content discovery, and enhancing content creation. It will also introduce new challenges like algorithmic bias and the spread of misinformation.

So this seems like an opportunity. To get in now. Adapt or die. While there are influencers and that out there already and they may have a head start on you (in my case they do) there is an opportunity to start translating what you do for Google to Social Media.

AI isn't here in the social searches yet (from what limited experience I have had searching - looking at you Facebook) so crafting your content, your information and brand now is where efforts should go. I don't think a full shift is needed. I'm not saying ditch traditional SEO and SERPS and go all in. But if like me your focus is a core high % of your business PPC or Organic moving a good portion to social now is the way to beat the trend.

It's still in the early stages. While your competitors are doing SEO & Social with almost a 50-50 split or just posting products maybe it's time to flip the switch and get ahead now. Before it all becomes too late.

Thoughts?

 

[TheVigilante]

The thing is people have been always searching for information but since the introduction of AI they will find new ways

 

[t2van]

The thing is people have been always searching for information but since the introduction of AI they will find new ways

Btw paid ads is the way to go

But there is a generation that is coming up that does not search in traditional means. 40% of them use social media.

That same % does not click ads does not click anything in traditional search. So paid ads won't help you. It's like taking out a TV advert to hit a generation that does not watch TV.

That's why streaming services have introduced ads

1. for revenue
2. they can hit non traditional TV audiences

Zero-click searches, where users find information directly on the search engine results page without clicking a link, are increasingly prevalent, especially among younger generations like Gen Z. This shift is driven by features like featured snippets, knowledge panels, and AI-generated summaries that provide quick answers, minimizing the need to visit other websites. While this enhances user experience, it poses challenges for businesses relying on website traffic and conversion

This site has zero clicks at 60% in google:

https://livelongdigital.com.au/why-focus-on-optimising-your-digital-marketing-efforts-to-zero-click-search/

So rather than always trying to game the system with getting AI mentions, PPC, SEO whatever. Why not shift and just go adapt to the systems they use. I think thats the wake up we need to understand now as SEO and Marketers who reply on SERPS

In a few years they will become your main customer base. IF they not clicking or using search like your previous customer base no amount of budget or spend on SEO is going to help.