The New SEO Frontier: AI Search Optimization - Strategies & Predictions Thread

[Xavier X]

This thread is to have an ongoing discussion strategizing creative ways to optimize our online presence for the new AI Search frontier. It's inevitable.
So the key question is, how do we get our businesses and websites "ranked" in this new playing field?
Perplexity's free version offers source links and ChatGPT's paid version does that too. I'm sure Claude will add it too.

----------------
Some of my related thoughts.

I have replaced Google search with Perplexity and couldn't be happier, as it provides source links of where it obtained the information.
Even though it uses ChatGPT and Claude, it's more accurate than both, as it's connected to the internet and accesses up to date info, which ChatGPT and Claude will instead fabricate.
I only use Google for image searches these days.

Some of us already saw the signs on the wall early on, and knew it will come to this. I did contract work for Anthropic in 2021-2022, working on Claude before its release.
I told people 3 years ago that in 5-10 years, Google Search will likely be like AOL and other dinosaurs in the sands of internet time.

Google hasn't helped its case, as the Google Search product has deteriorated to nearly unusable levels, with irrelevant search results. Nearly all its search products are broken.
YouTube search is one of the worst search algorithms I use these days, with completely irrelevant results and all that "what others are watching."

Remember when YouTube search was like magic? You didn't even need to remember the name of a channel, video or song to find it. You'd enter a clue and it would find it.
Now, entering even exact match titles of clips often fails to find it.

Google is currently at over 90% search engine market share. I saw a WSJ publication today (behind paywall), that Perplexity and TikTok will cause Google to dip below 50% of Search market share by next year.
I suspect it will be downhill from there, straight to AOLville. Considering search ads are Google's bread and butter, losing that in a short period of say, 1-2 years will be a big blow to its entire operation.

So once again, how do we optimize for AI search engines? As time goes on, new information, tips, tricks, magic dust and all that will emerge and we can discuss optimizing them here.

 

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[SEBASTlAN]

So once again, how do we optimize for AI search engines?

The same way you optimize for SEO and every other channel: Be a real company. Do real company shit.

 

[circleme]

Google hasn't helped its case, as the Google Search product has deteriorated to nearly unusable levels, with irrelevant search results. Nearly all its search products are broken.
YouTube search is one of the worst search algorithms I use these days, with completely irrelevant results and all that "what others are watching."

I agree with your point of view. However, it doesn't reflect the reality. I still earn my money from Technical SEO consulting. My clients were very concerned about ranking losses in November 2022 (Public Release of GPT LLM). This fear was still noticeable throughout 2023 - also in my case, as I had predicted a dying market, like many others.

But the fact is:If you look at the actual market share loss almost a year after OpenAI's official launch, the total market has only lost about 1.5% in market share. While that’s not an insignificant amount in absolute numbers, I would by no means make statements like "Google is dying" or "AI is a Google killer."

Previously, we didn't have the data, but now we do. Source: Search Engine Market Share Worldwide | Statcounter Global Stats

Another point that many people forget is the cost issue behind an AI-driven search engine. We are comparing a search engine based solely on a relational database (Google, for about 25 years now) with a cost-wise much less attractive AI-driven search engine. The costs are in no way comparable. I now see the rollout of Gemini into more and more Google products as a kind of marketing strategy, showing the world that Google is still keeping up with the trend - but not fully living it. It simply wouldn’t be financially viable. If you look at the financials of the major LLM providers, you'll find that most of them are still cash flow negative. And not by just a little.

So once again, how do we optimize for AI search engines? As time goes on, new information, tips, tricks, magic dust and all that will emerge and we can discuss optimizing them here.

I completely agree with @Sebastian here. No shenanigans, just like the last ~15 years (though I’ll exclude the first 10 years, when you could use a lot of shady tactics to your advantage).

I still consult a handful of clients as an Technical SEO consultant, whether for technical relaunches or general technical optimizations. It always boils down to the same thing, which unfortunately many people forget:

1.) Provide the search engine (like Google) with a semantically correct page.
2.) Increase the relevance score of your content as much as possible, so that your content provides a direct answer to the user's query. Keyword: Relevance.

With ALL of my clients, since the LLM hype, I've only seen positive SERP results/changes (better rankings, more traffic). All of our changes remain basic (like the two above), and companies are still focusing slightly on the SEO channel for organic traffic - and rightly so, as the data backs up continued investment here.

However, my entire statement should still be viewed critically, as I can’t say how the market will develop in the future. But I would exclude the fear of a "Google killer" for the next ~10 years.

 

[Xavier X]

The same way you optimize for SEO and every other channel: Be a real company. Do real company shit.

When a client consults with you on SEO, do you just take the consultation fee and auto-reply them an email saying, "Be a real company. Do real company shit."? If that's not the case, then what exactly is your point?

To assume everything applicable to Google SEO is applicable to and will work the same way as AI Search optimization is a shortsighted view of it - in my opinion, of course. AI Search optimization is mostly uncharted territory. To pretend you already know how it will work sets you up for failure at it.

 

[Xavier X]

@circleme Not in a negative way, but I think it's understandable that since you and the poster above you earn money from traditional SEO, you might be a little more skeptical (or in denial?) to a fundamental change in the search landscape.

That said, did you read the WSJ article I linked? It was behind a paywall, but I'm sure you can search for reports that reference it.
Like I mentioned in my first post, yes, Google is currently over 90% of the search marketshare. However, that is likely and projected to change soon and fast. The WSJ piece estimates Google will lose quite a bit of marketshare to Perplexity, TikTok, etc. and drop to around 50% by next year.

Let's assume they're way off the mark and it drops to 80%. How many more years of decline will it take for them to become a smaller player? Assuming the momentum is maintained by the likes of Perplexity, that is. In my opinion, the free version of ChatGPT is not exactly a "Google Killer." It isn't capable of replacing Google, in its current state. It could steal a little marketshare, but not that much. However, the free version of Perplexity can absolutely replace Google. For my personal use, the free Perplexity has already replaced Google. I'm not the only one.

If all it took to rank highly on Google (for instance) was "just do what you do," then why would anyone pay you or the other guy for a consultation? My point is, the kind of actionable tips and insights you share during those consultations that make a difference in their rankings is what this thread aims to share in an open format.

In this case, the information is specifically for AI Search Optimization, now and in the future. This is not about approaching it with only information available to us today. Things will change in ways we haven't accounted for, and we're here for it. So let's not take a "horses could never pull carriages that fast" approach, as we all know how that typically goes.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I told people 3 years ago that in 5-10 years, Google Search will likely be like AOL and other dinosaurs in the sands of internet time.

What a dream come true!

I always thought evil lived forever.

 

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[markspray]

This thread is to have an ongoing discussion strategizing creative ways to optimize our online presence for the new AI Search frontier. It's inevitable.
So the key question is, how do we get our businesses and websites "ranked" in this new playing field?
Perplexity's free version offers source links and ChatGPT's paid version does that too. I'm sure Claude will add it too.

----------------
Some of my related thoughts.

I have replaced Google search with Perplexity and couldn't be happier, as it provides source links of where it obtained the information.
Even though it uses ChatGPT and Claude, it's more accurate than both, as it's connected to the internet and accesses up to date info, which ChatGPT and Claude will instead fabricate.
I only use Google for image searches these days.

Some of us already saw the signs on the wall early on, and knew it will come to this. I did contract work for Anthropic in 2021-2022, working on Claude before its release.
I told people 3 years ago that in 5-10 years, Google Search will likely be like AOL and other dinosaurs in the sands of internet time.

Google hasn't helped its case, as the Google Search product has deteriorated to nearly unusable levels, with irrelevant search results. Nearly all its search products are broken.
YouTube search is one of the worst search algorithms I use these days, with completely irrelevant results and all that "what others are watching."

Remember when YouTube search was like magic? You didn't even need to remember the name of a channel, video or song to find it. You'd enter a clue and it would find it.
Now, entering even exact match titles of clips often fails to find it.

Google is currently at over 90% search engine market share. I saw a WSJ publication today (behind paywall), that Perplexity and TikTok will cause Google to dip below 50% of Search market share by next year.
I suspect it will be downhill from there, straight to AOLville. Considering search ads are Google's bread and butter, losing that in a short period of say, 1-2 years will be a big blow to its entire operation.

So once again, how do we optimize for AI search engines? As time goes on, new information, tips, tricks, magic dust and all that will emerge and we can discuss optimizing them here.

going to be interesting for sure, I mean who would have thought BING would make a comeback as being the default search engine for chatgpt until this news.

But ive found myself leaning into perplexity more as the google results are terrible one you see the light of day with how manipulated things are by people to rank. But local maps still a google game at the moment

So comes back to the website and really good content now, everyone is hammering the AI producing garbage content to rank and now the tides going out and your going to see who had no pants on Someone still has to make sure all those things are connected in so the AI can find it try not to overthink it too much like are we in the matrix already who knows lol

 

[circleme]

@circleme Not in a negative way, but I think it's understandable that since you and the poster above you earn money from traditional SEO, you might be a little more skeptical (or in denial?) to a fundamental change in the search landscape.

Your assumption that I might be more skeptical or somewhat biased is 100% correct, of course I am. However, I think I didn’t express my main point clearly enough. You should know that I’m not at all a fan of SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) from recent years or even currently. The results are getting worse; big media outlets with high PA/DA (Page Authority/Domain Authority) always rank higher, despite having worse user experience and less relevant content. Meanwhile, smaller sites that prioritize UX, technical aspects, and, above all, useful content are left behind.

I wish the trend would go in the direction predicted by WSJ, but due to the points I’ve mentioned, I just can’t see it happening. Especially when considering the cost aspect.

I’ve personally been a 100% non-Google user since 2023. I’ve already explained my reasons above. I’m just comparing the predictions from the end of 2022 with the market share development two years later, and I think a 1.5% loss overall is too insignificant to start preparing for new technologies aimed at the masses. The masses don’t use ChatGPT, the masses don’t use Perplexity or any other LLM provider.

Check out this study, for example: A majority of Americans have heard of ChatGPT, but few have tried it themselves

At the end of the day, only 14% of American adults have even tried an LLM. There’s a world of difference between trying it out and using it daily. This also applies to habit-building. Combined with the relatively high costs of offering LLMs on a mass scale (without upfront costs) and the lock-in effect that Google has achieved with billions of people over the last 20 years, I still feel negative about the idea of wasting time optimizing for a new technology right now.

 

[Xavier X]

@circleme I think you're making the mistake I highlighted earlier. You're predicating what will happen or be available tomorrow purely based on yesterday and today. What "the masses" use today is often different from what they'll use tomorrow. 14% of Americans having tried an LLM in less than 2 years of it going "mainstream" isn't trivial. Remember the early days of Facebook? Remember how "no serious business would ever use it as a marketing channel"? Remember how "it's just a stupid thing for bored college kids and no responsible adults will ever be on there"?
Remember how "older folks can barely turn on their TV, how do you imagine they'll use Facebook?" Well, say hi to grandma next time you're on FB.

You say you "still feel negative about the idea of wasting time optimizing for a new technology right now."
Those who felt negative about having a social media presence for their business and actively resisted it ended up playing catch up. My guess is that in the future, you'll look back at this conversation. At that time, when you probably already included "AI Search Optimization" in your consulting offerings, you would smile and shake your head. Or maybe, the cost of LLMs would've caused an implosion, and it all goes away like a bad dream and you'll tell me, "See? I told you so." Either way it goes, some of us will be here for it. Some prepared, some not.

In the 4th quarter of this year, Perplexity will roll out search ads. That will create a new demand for "AI Search Ads Specialists." If someone who is currently a Google Ads Specialist chooses to also learn Perplexity's ad interface offering, they might get a leg up on the changing tide. If they decide it's not worth it, they'll likely play catch up later, when the first movers have established themselves as experts and cornered the market. Once again, either way it goes, some will be prepared and take advantage of it, some won't.

 

[MouseTrap]

I rarely use search, I ALWAYS reach for free copilot on the Windows taskbar, although they have temporarily ruined the speech back capability, something I used all day long, I can still get all my answers in a side by side Window as I keep doing the thing I was doing.

Interesting observation I had about my own business, (the one I am trying to get away from), is that I was delisted from certain search results for a while because I had accidentally left a link to my remote assistance hidden behind an image on my site, so they must have thought I was one of those online scammers that try to get control of the computer.

Regardless even though I could not be found by searching, the AI (CoPilot) knew exactly who I was how to get in contact with me and referred to my business in very glowing terms because of data it had scraped from various sources. I know a lot of my audience is not currently searching with AI, but the future is coming fast. It won't be long before we are all telling the computer what to do while we sit back and watch it "take a letter" like a secretary and print it off, and file it away without ever touching the keyboard.

Cool stuff, looking forward to it all.

 

[HoosierLife]

I prefer AI driven search results over links from Google nowadays.

But I’m an early adopter and daily AI user.

We were googling something during a family vacation and I pulled out chatgpt to get the response we needed easier and clearer.

My 72 year old MIL said she wanted to start using something like that.

But they have no idea how. Gemini responses is Google’s answer to this.

Not sure how that’s going to affect Search ad revenue though.

You Google Search pros, can you run a Search Ad that will show up as the AI response to a search with a CTA?

 

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[BizyDad]

You Google Search pros, can you run a Search Ad that will show up as the AI response to a search with a CTA?

Just starting to roll out.

Google AI Overview ads launch on mobile in U.S.

The sponsored AI Overview ads will appear below the organic AI-generated answer. Will this positioning be good or bad for advertisers?

searchengineland.com

This thread is to have an ongoing discussion strategizing creative ways to optimize our online presence for the new AI Search frontier. It's inevitable.
So the key question is, how do we get our businesses and websites "ranked" in this new playing field?
Perplexity's free version offers source links and ChatGPT's paid version does that too. I'm sure Claude will add it too.

----------------
Some of my related thoughts.

I have replaced Google search with Perplexity and couldn't be happier, as it provides source links of where it obtained the information.
Even though it uses ChatGPT and Claude, it's more accurate than both, as it's connected to the internet and accesses up to date info, which ChatGPT and Claude will instead fabricate.
I only use Google for image searches these days.

Some of us already saw the signs on the wall early on, and knew it will come to this. I did contract work for Anthropic in 2021-2022, working on Claude before its release.
I told people 3 years ago that in 5-10 years, Google Search will likely be like AOL and other dinosaurs in the sands of internet time.

Google hasn't helped its case, as the Google Search product has deteriorated to nearly unusable levels, with irrelevant search results. Nearly all its search products are broken.
YouTube search is one of the worst search algorithms I use these days, with completely irrelevant results and all that "what others are watching."

Remember when YouTube search was like magic? You didn't even need to remember the name of a channel, video or song to find it. You'd enter a clue and it would find it.
Now, entering even exact match titles of clips often fails to find it.

Google is currently at over 90% search engine market share. I saw a WSJ publication today (behind paywall), that Perplexity and TikTok will cause Google to dip below 50% of Search market share by next year.
I suspect it will be downhill from there, straight to AOLville. Considering search ads are Google's bread and butter, losing that in a short period of say, 1-2 years will be a big blow to its entire operation.

So once again, how do we optimize for AI search engines? As time goes on, new information, tips, tricks, magic dust and all that will emerge and we can discuss optimizing them here.

You're not wrong. You're not 100% right, but the writing is on the wall. The discussion back and forth here seems to be a matter of time frame as opposed to what is actually going to happen.

That said, AI is often crawling search results to get its answers. So the death of SEO is over blown as of yet.

The WSJ article reads like propaganda to me. Tiktok? Come on. It's been around for a while, and it's still not surpassed DuckDuckGo in terms of search market share. Why was tiktok singled out?

Regardless, discussing AIO is a good idea. Even if no one knows how to properly do it.

The same way you optimize for SEO and every other channel: Be a real company. Do real company shit.

When a client consults with you on SEO, do you just take the consultation fee and auto-reply them an email saying, "Be a real company. Do real company shit."? If that's not the case, then what exactly is your point?

In case it helps, "real company shit" includes time tested business practices like branding, PR and hiring. I thought he gave a common sense answer.

And he isn't getting paid to consult you, so why are you getting all bent?

There are ways to tell if a business is reputable and growing. Mentions of your brand on a variety of "authoritative" websites will carry weight, like media sites and hiring sites, and so will people including your brand in perplexity searches.

Of course, if we look far enough in the future those authoritative and hiring sites will likely die as we all relinquish our data to the AI overlords to pick winners and losers.

It's already begun.

View: https://youtu.be/jW6b4ObnYMY?si=A2lpX3xAldLyJn_j

 

[Xavier X]

If the DOJ actualizes all the things they've outlined, Google's search dominance will be significantly reduced. We are going to see such things play out simultaneously with alternatives like Perplexity gaining ground. Not looking too good for Google search. This news tanked Alphabet's stock price by 5% today.

Google must sell Chrome to restore competition in online search, DOJ argues​

https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-prosecutors-propose-cure-search-monopoly-2024-11-20/

"The measures presented by the Department of Justice are part of a landmark case in Washington which has the potential to reshape how users find information.

They would be in place for up to a decade, enforced via a court-appointed committee to remedy what the judge overseeing the case deemed an illegal monopoly in search and related advertising in the U.S., where Google processes 90% of searches.

"Google's unlawful behavior has deprived rivals not only of critical distribution channels but also distribution partners who could otherwise enable entry into these markets by competitors in new and innovative ways," the DOJ and state antitrust enforcers said in a court filing on Wednesday."

 

[Xeon]

I made a post here several years ago about the rise of AI and how in future, AI will replace people and AI bots will buy AI stuff in a world run by AI, way before ChatGPT was released to the mainstream. So I'll place a bet again and say I agree with every single character Xavier typed lol

Since 2 - 3 years ago, I and many others, have realized that when searching on Google, we add "reddit" to the end of our search terms.

E.g: instead of searching for "best hiking shoes"
It is now "best hiking shoes reddit"

Why? Because Google's search results are shitty af nowadays and Reddit is the only place you can read real data/content.

It's even a phenomenon :

https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualConversation/comments/r2020w/does_anyone_else_google_something_and_add_reddit

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualConversation/comments/r2020w/does_anyone_else_google_something_and_add_reddit/


There's memes everywhere about this quirk.

Google will fade. Go to Reddit r/Agencies. Many agencies are finding their sales crashing for the most part, because who actually scrolls down Google search results nowadays? Google not only screws themselves over, but also SEO and businesses over by introducing their AI Overview. On the rare occasion when I still visit Google, I would glance at the AI Overview or maybe look at the next 2 - 3 results, then switch tabs. Pretty sure this is the experience of many others.

If you still want to do traditional search engine game, make sure your search is at least the 1st result after AI Overview.
Not just the first page anymore, but literally the 1ST SEARCH RESULT. And even then, people are lazy to look at that. You're literally fighting against the Convenience factor at this point.

For people starting their businesses in 2025, I would say go all in on stuff like Perplexity.

But I still hope Google will be around. I need Gmail, Single-Sign-On accounts, Youtube, Android and lovely Google Drive.

 

[Xavier X]

@Xeon I would say about 60% of my Google or Bing searches need to have "reddit" appended, just to get somewhat useful perspectives on many things. Otherwise, I just get a bunch of garbage barely-related content marketing results I have to wade through to get only slightly useful info.

I certainly don't want Google as a company to die out, as they provide a lot of really useful tools and make cool stuff. However, their search algorithms on Google search and YouTube are severely degenerated, compared to what they used to be.

 

[Xeon]

After Shaking Up Search Engine Market With SearchGPT, OpenAI Is Now Gearing Up To Challenge Google With Its Own Web Browser

OpenAI is reportedly working on bringing its own web browser to be integrated with its chatbot and could potentially take on Google

wccftech.com

 

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[Andy Black]

Oh, I only just spotted this thread. Watching.

If someone who is currently a Google Ads Specialist chooses to also learn Perplexity's ad interface offering, they might get a leg up on the changing tide. If they decide it's not worth it, they'll likely play catch up later, when the first movers have established themselves as experts and cornered the market.

As a consultant who helps businesses spend their money on Google Ads, it's simple enough. I'll get into Perplexity Search Ads when advertisers start spending their money there.

I always wondered what I'd do when Google (paid search) Ads stopped working. I figure people will always search for what they want when they want something, and that if they stop using Google then they'd go somewhere else. The advertisers would then follow, and I'd follow them (until I stop providing such a service).

I don't think I'd be playing catch up if I joined late.

 

[Xavier X]

Oh, I only just spotted this thread. Watching.


As a consultant who helps businesses spend their money on Google Ads, it's simple enough. I'll get into Perplexity Search Ads when advertisers start spending their money there.

I always wondered what I'd do when Google (paid search) Ads stopped working. I figure people will always search for what they want when they want something, and that if they stop using Google then they'd go somewhere else. The advertisers would then follow, and I'd follow them (until I stop providing such a service).

I don't think I'd be playing catch up if I joined late.

The point of this thread isn't really, "drop what you're doing and hop on Perplexity optimization." Rather, it's a "watch party" of a likely changing tide. The rules of engagement and structures with Perplexity and its likes aren't yet defined. However, with a thread like this, as things start to take shape, people on this forum will be in the know.

There is a good chance that nothing changes and Google search remains the default search for the rest of our lives, but that rarely happens. I think the key questions this thread attempts to bring to the fore are:

1. For website/business owners: Would you rather wait for your competition to figure out and establish themselves as "highly referenced" on Perplexity, then come in much later to fight for crumbs if the tide changes? Same way it's currently impossible to rank for certain prime keywords on page 1 of Google.

2. For paid search consultants: Would you rather lose your ongoing clients to the competition, if Perplexity or a variant takes off and they decide to jump ship immediately? They won't wait for you to learn a new platform. They'll go to whoever is ready.

Once again, there isn't really much anyone can or should be doing right now, as we're only here to see how this unfolds over time. The value of this thread is if things start to unfold, someone like yourself, who is a paid consultant can make informed decisions on how to proceed. Website/business owners can also decide how best to position themselves.

 

[Andy Black]

I understand this is a thread to discuss what may happen and what we see unfold over time.

I also agree that for ranking on the AI platforms, the sooner people start figuring it out the better.



I want to brain-dump a reply to this though:

2. For paid search consultants: Would you rather lose your ongoing clients to the competition, if Perplexity or a variant takes off and they decide to jump ship immediately? They won't wait for you to learn a new platform. They'll go to whoever is ready.

I believe overthinking is the art of solving problems we don't have.

There's so many current marketing channels that I don't bother keeping up with those I don't specialise in.

There's millions spent a day on Google paid search Ads, and will be for a long while. I also think Google will fight to maintain that spend. They've the revenue, infrastructure, data, systems, staff, etc to compete with Perplexity if they decide to (maybe they already have, I'm not up on it).

None of our clients have even mentioned contemplating diverting their Google Ads budgets towards Perplexity. It's just not on their radar. There's so much work to do just in the paid search channel with them that diverting our attention to what-ifs would be taking our eye off the ball.

If the time comes to get into Perplexity Ads then I can't imagine Perplexity will make it hard for Google Ads advertisers to migrate over, so I don't see it as being an issue. Bing Ads tries to clone the Google Ads interface so the learning curve is as small as possible.

I don't believe it would take me long to understand how a new platform works, and not too long to start figuring it out. I also believe our current clients would jump at the chance I learned a new platform for them. They retain us not just because of our platform knowledge, but mostly because of how we communicate with them while trying to reach their targets (and that we reach targets of course).



Here's Google Trends for the US. I think it would be silly of me to jump from yellow to red or blue.

 

[Xavier X]

@Andy Black You've made some valid points. However, comparing how much people on Google searched for these three terms might not be the best yardstick. That's like being in the 1890s and comparing how many people travel by horse and buggy in the US, versus by automobile.

Since you've introduced it though, let's deduce a few important facts from it:

1. Google is trending downward, over time.

2. ChatGPT (Perplexity uses ChatGPT and Claude) is trending upward, over time.

3. The likely future intersection point of 1 & 2 above, which your chart alludes to, is where the tide turns. That's why this thread exists.


It's also important to note that the change from traditional search engines like Google to something like Perplexity is very different from moving from Google to Bing or DuckDuckGo. There are many traditional search engines out there, so this thread isn't about the next shiny Google clone wannabe, as that wouldn't be worth keeping an eye on. It's about what direction the paradigm shift in online search will likely be.

Again, this thread doesn't suggest there's something you should be doing right now or diverting your attention to. Go on with business as usual. However, if a day comes where you should be doing something different, you'll have the advantage of knowing what that is, sooner than later. That's why we spend time on a business forum - to be informed.

I've trained AI for major companies like Pinterest, Meta, Anthropic (Claude) and more, for many years (before AI went mainstream). I certainly don't know it all, but there are things I saw coming years ago with AI that some dismissed as a "trendy fad which will pass in no time." Well, here we are.

 

[123mass]

This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. I absolutely love using perplexity / SearchGPT.. you get results with sources in less than 3 seconds.

People keep forgetting the hedonistic nature of humans. Chances are if there’a an easier path it will be walked.

With ads being so important to Googles revenue, I can definitely see a potential opening in the market for a new form of SEO. I can’t imagine they’d just hand over market share.

Also, super surprised with some of the responses… seems like a lot of cope. I believe it’s not if it happens; it’s when.

 

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[Andy Black]

I think there's a few conversations going on here.

How will/are AI platforms and snippets affecting organic search?

What problems and opportunities have changes made already?

How much attention should we give to changes that haven't had an impact yet (future problems)?

I still feel negative about the idea of wasting time optimizing for a new technology right now.

Me too.

I choose to help businesses with Google paid search Ads only. I don't do Google Performance Max Ads, Display Ads, YouTube Ads, Shopping Ads, etc. I just to paid search, just Google, just for lead gen, just long-tail, and just Ireland or the UK.

I don't do TikTok Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Instagram Ads, Reddit Ads, or even Bing Ads. I'm certainly not going to do Perplexity Ads, and none of the above while there's businesses out there still in need of long-tail lead gen Google paid search Ads in Ireland or the UK.

Also, super surprised with some of the responses… seems like a lot of cope. I believe it’s not if it happens; it’s when.

Separate conversations imo.

Yes, search is going to evolve. I'm not saying it won't.

Am I coping by staying focused on what's currently working and deciding not to solve a problem I don't currently have?

 

[123mass]

Again, this thread doesn't suggest there's something you should be doing right now or diverting your attention to. Go on with business as usual. However, if a day comes where you should be doing something different, you'll have the advantage of knowing what that is, sooner than later. That's why we spend time on a business forum - to be informed.

To better highlight where I was coming from. This thread is simply about the emerging potential of new technology. Nobody is saying optimize right now, we're saying "this technology is most likely coming whether you like it or not".


The real money is made with conversations like this. While others continue to blissfully ignore the magnitude because of being short sighted, others will see this as an opportunity and be ready whether the opportunity comes or not.

 

[Xavier X]

Google is currently at over 90% search engine market share. I saw a WSJ publication today (behind paywall), that Perplexity and TikTok will cause Google to dip below 50% of Search market share by next year.

It's interesting that the WSJ article I referenced last year suggested Perplexity and TikTok's search system will eat into Google's marketshare, as Perplexity recently made a bid to merge with TikTok.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/18/perplexity-ai-makes-a-bid-to-merge-with-tiktok-us.html

Also, for the first time in 10 years, Google search has now dipped below 90% market share, to 89.6%. There's a chance Google has just stepped on the proverbial banana peel.

 

[chazwazzer]

Is it just about high-quality, well-ranked content, or are there new factors at play?

I started digging into this. Ran across the term Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

This article might be worth a gander. Hard to imagine it's almost 2 years old.

Researchers Discover How To SEO For AI Search​

 

[Xavier X]

Is it just about high-quality, well-ranked content, or are there new factors at play?

I started digging into this. Ran across the term Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

This article might be worth a gander. Hard to imagine it's almost 2 years old.

Researchers Discover How To SEO For AI Search​

Interesting. Good find.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Upgraded to NOTABLE, a conversation / topic that will become more important over time...

 

[Xavier X]

Upgraded to NOTABLE, a conversation / topic that will become more important over time...

Thanks, MJ.

 

[Xavier X]

This link was shared in the general AI Chat, but I think it's relevant to for anyone looking for actionable tips concerning this thread topic.

https://openai.com/chatgpt/search-product-discovery/

It contains some brief information on how to make sure Open AI's crawlers can index your web content.

 

[Andy Black]

Long. Not read it yet.

How AI Mode Works and How SEO Can Prepare for the Future of Search -

AI Mode is transforming Google Search beyond recognition, and SEO isn’t ready. This article explains how generative search works, why traditional tactics are falling short, and what marketers must do to adapt.

ipullrank.com