Google has called it supercharged in their press release, which to me, shows how quickly they’ve had to move to roll this out by not finding a better term to describe it than the 2019 marketing phenomenon of supercharging things.
Take a look at their video showing how generative AI is going to change Google Search.
That being said, what they showed us is pretty astounding and a massive change for the search world as we know it. SGE updates are as follows…
In truth, we don’t know yet; if we did, we are about to become billionaires, but Google said on shopping with AI, "Helping you shop with generative AI in Search, we can help you understand the full picture when you’re shopping, making even the most considered and complex purchase decisions faster and much easier. When searching for a product, you’ll get a snapshot of noteworthy factors to consider and products that fit the bill. You’ll also get product descriptions that include relevant, up-to-date reviews, ratings, prices and product images."
Our understanding is that currently, you won’t be able to opt out of showing ads in the new version, nor will you be able to tell if your ads are showing in traditional Google or the new AI powered version. This will likely change over time, but not in the short term. So the traditional advice applies:
Organic-wise, things are a bit murkier. Position 5 for ‘Nike Trainers’ used to be a cash cow; it now may be dead.
High-quality and unique content that directly addresses the user has never been more important than now. We’d recommend:
Not too different from what you're doing now, no? However, as marketers, we need to do it faster and better than ever. We asked our Content Manager, Billy Kelly, about how this update will change the way you should create content:
“Content always has and always will be about the user and the intent behind the search. Providing the user with helpful content and connecting these queries and follow-up questions will be beneficial for those who consider this when creating content. Google’s Search Generative Experience update will undoubtedly reward high-quality content that adds unique and authoritative input to the conversation.”
Visualsoft’s takeaway: this is a good reminder (for anyone worried about any update) to ALWAYS spread your risk when it comes to your channel mix.
To prove that SEO is business as normal and 100% not dead...who's better to ask what these changes might mean for search than Google's very own, 'Bard'.
This the question and response we got in our live interview:
Visualsoft: Based on the recent news of 'Supercharging Google Search with generative AI' - what can we do from an SEO perspective to ensure our website is ready for this?
Bard A: Here are some things you can do from an SEO perspective to ensure your website is ready for Google's supercharged search with generative AI:
In addition to the above, here are some additional things you can do to improve your website's ranking in Google's generative AI search results:
By following these tips, you can help ensure your website is ready for Google's supercharged search with generative AI.
As we said earlier... Business as usual for SEO.