Will your business still show in search results?

Big changes are a foot for how people find information online in New Zealand and around the world, and it's crucial for Hawke's Bay businesses to start making changes. When someone searches on Google, they might not see a list of websites at the top of their results. Instead, Google might display a detailed, AI-generated answer. It's called Search Generative Experience (SGE), it is already appearing at the top of the page for some searches. If your business relies on customers finding you online, now's the time to adapt.

What is Google's AI-Powered Search?

Google's SGE uses artificial intelligence to provide full paragraph answers to search queries, appearing right at the top of the results page. Instead of your company's website appearing first, Google might show an AI-generated summary of solutions. If your content isn't referenced in that summary, you could miss out on potential customers. This AI layer offers instant, comprehensive answers, meaning fewer people may click through to your website unless your content directly contributes to that AI-generated result.

Riding the AI wave, how to boost your website's visibility in the new search landscape 

Here at WebShed, we're constantly monitoring the evolving digital landscape to ensure our clients stay ahead. We've noticed a significant trend in our customers' Google Analytics reports: a steady increase in traffic from AI referrers like Perplexity and ChatGPT. This indicates a shift in how people are finding information online, and it's a trend your website needs to embrace to maintain and grow its visibility.

The rise of AI referrers: What it means for you 

You might have already spotted these AI referrers in your monthly reports from us. They signify that AI tools are pulling information from your website to answer user queries. To ensure your site continues to be a go-to source for these AI assistants, and by extension, for potential customers, some strategic content adjustments can be made.

Optimizing your content for AI search

The key to thriving in this new environment is to create content that directly addresses user questions and builds authority. Users are now searching for answers and want a result not a list of websites to click through to find the answer. Here's some things that you can look at implementing: 

• Answer specific questions
  Think about what questions your ideal customers are typing into search engines. Does your website provide clear, direct answers to those queries? Structure your content to anticipate and resolve these specific information needs.
• Integrate FAQs on key pages
  Adding a dedicated section of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to your main service or product pages is incredibly effective. This allows you to directly answer common questions users have, making your content highly relevant for AI tools seeking concise answers.
• Develop content around key topics
  Move beyond simply listing your services. Instead, create comprehensive content that explores broader, relevant key topics. This demonstrates deeper expertise and provides more context for AI models to draw from. For example, rather than just a "Web Design Services" page, you might have articles on "Understanding SEO for Small Businesses" or "Choosing the Right E-commerce Platform."
• Build your site's trustworthiness
  AI models, like human users, value reliable sources. Focus on enhancing your website's trustworthiness. This includes prominently displaying the qualifications and experience of you and your team, actively collecting testimonials on reputable platforms like Google Reviews, and striving for backlinks from highly trusted sites, such as government or industry association websites.

Stay ahead of the curve with WebShed

The world of AI search is dynamic and constantly evolving. We're actively monitoring these changes to provide our clients with the most up-to-date strategies. If you'd like a personalized review of your website's current standing or want to discuss how WebShed can help you optimize your content for the AI-driven search landscape, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. Let's ensure your website continues to be found and valued in this exciting new era of online search.