AI is taking over search engines!
The speed at which AI has changed the way we seek information has been incredible. ChatGPT and Perplexity are tools of the trade for many. It's now time we start talking seriously about the next step - SGEO (Search Generative Experience Optimisation), or as Google calls it, AI Overviews.*
As an SEO expert, I've seen a lot of changes over the years, but this feels like something completely different. We're moving from optimising for crawlers to optimising for AI that actually understands what we mean. Stay tuned, and I'll tell you how you can keep up!
*(NOTE! Not yet launched in Europe with the exception of the UK. This is due to EU legislation Digital Marketing Act. There are few exceptions in the rest of the world, and it is expected to be launched in 2025 in Europe).
What exactly is SGEO?
It's about customising content for AI-powered search engines that actually give you straight answers instead of a list of links. Imagine the difference between asking a librarian who points to a shelf of books (the old way) and one who directly tells you the answer to your question (the AI way).
Here's how to fix it
Firstly, let go of the old way of thinking with keywords stacked on top of each other. The AI is smarter than that! Instead, you need to:
- Write naturally and answer real questions
- Build credibility by showing your expertise
- Structure the content so the AI can easily understand it
- Thinking about the big picture - multimedia, interactivity and user-friendliness
- Build your brand through ex. Social Media, Google Ads Performance Max etc.
We who work with SEO have been working with Google EEAT for a long time and anyone who focuses on producing content that lives up to Google's wishes for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness is still on the right track.
The funny thing is that AI search engines actually reward content created for humans, not crawlers. They understand context, can read between the lines and appreciate when you share your experience.
My top tips
As someone who has lived and breathed SEO for many years, I can say that the most important thing is to focus on:
- Create content that answers specific questions in a natural way
- Use schema markup and structured data (let me know if you need help with that!)
- Build your credibility by being active in your niche
Executive summary
AI has changed the game for search engine optimisation, and SGE'O is the future. It's no longer about optimising for algorithms - it's about creating content that really helps people.
If you take anything away from this text, let it be this:
- AI search engines provide direct answers instead of links* - customise your content accordingly
- Write for humans first, AI will understand and reward it
- Focus on credibility and expertise in your field
*AI systems typically refer to links as "sources" or "references" when citing the origin of information. This terminology emphasises the origin of data or insights provided by the AI, allowing users to understand where the information comes from.
Want to know more?
Want to know more about how to customise your website for AI search engines?
Me and seodr® are happy to help - contact us and let's talk about how we can make your content stand out!
