Is SEO needed now AI is in the search game?

Is SEO needed now AI is in the search game? - More than ever, but you need to look a search in a wider context and invest in it.

This is a question I am asked regularly, just this week I was showing 'why' to a client and also having those conversations with an agency - and I felt it would be useful to share an example that I used.

Search was all about Google. Search is now about anywhere you search. Google, AI, YouTube, Social Media, Voice Search etc. You need to optimise your content so that it appears in the right format and the right place.

So what's different about optimising for Google, AI, Socials or Voice?

Take a look at the chart below based on typing in 'Banana' as a search showing what has been searched for in the last 24 hours across multiple platforms.

🚀 On search engines (e.gGoogle) it's basic terms 3-10 words as we are very used to optimising on our websites and social media. 

🤖 On AI platforms it is noticeable that much more detailed search prompts are being typed in. More depth about any subject is being explored and asked for so your content and website may need to look at deeper blogs, better product descriptions and explanations and better FAQs to be included in AI responses.

🧑‍🍳 On social media - Its social! banana recipes ahoy!. 🍌 

🎤 Voice is not on my chart but ask your Alexa or Siri - 'What can I make with Bananas?' 'Where can I buy Bananas near me?' and it will reply from a website or other searchable source. 

So YES invest in Search and optimise with a wider view. Profile what type of search your customers would use, add it to your target persona work for your customers and deliver wider. 

'SEO' really is now just 'SO' - Search Optimisation