Latest news with #SearchGenerativeExperience
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
From Search to Sales: How AI and Modern SEO Drive Real Growth
Organic traffic used to be a numbers game: rank high, watch visits rise, hope some of them convert. Today that approach is obsolete. AI-driven search results, answer engines and recommendation models reward brands that pair technical excellence with genuine authority and a laser-sharp focus on user intent—because machines now evaluate more than keywords. They weigh credibility, context and conversion potential. Modern SEO, therefore, isn't just about getting found ; it's about getting chosen and turning that choice into revenue. Search engines once matched queries to pages largely on phrase similarity. Now, natural-language processing lets algorithms grasp meaning, sentiment and topical depth. Google's Search Generative Experience and OpenAI-powered chat tools summarize, compare and recommend rather than merely list links. If your content lacks depth or authority signals—citations, structured data, user engagement—it risks invisibility, even if it ranks for the right words. Key takeaway: Optimizing for context means tackling core topics comprehensively, answering adjacent questions and structuring data so algorithms can parse relationships between ideas. AI assistive layers don't just influence discovery; they shape decisions. Recommendation systems surface 'people also ask' answers, voice assistants shortlist vendors, and large language models generate side-by-side comparisons that pre-qualify options before a prospect ever lands on your site. Brands that consistently appear in these smart suggestions occupy mindshare earlier, shortening the sales cycle. Action step: Audit how your brand appears (or doesn't) in AI-generated snippets, knowledge panels and chat answers. Fill content gaps, add explicit expertise markers (author bios, certifications) and pursue reviews on trusted platforms that AI scrapes for sentiment cues. Authority is earned when reputable domains reference you, when your expertise is cited by industry voices, and when your on-site content demonstrates depth and consistency. Structured markup (FAQ, How-To, Product), schema for authorship, and evidence of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust) help machines validate your credibility. Off-site, guest features on niche publications and thought-leadership pieces amplify those signals. Search Engine Optimization (søkemotoroptimalisering) also uses the same scores, so you get two for one. Pro tip: A single authoritative backlink can outweigh dozens of generic ones under AI scoring models that prioritize topical relevance and trust metrics. Traffic spikes look good on dashboards, but growth happens when visits convert. AI can assist here as well: predictive lead-scoring models flag high-intent visitors, chatbots deliver personalized offers, and dynamic landing pages adjust messaging based on source or query. Marrying modern SEO with conversion-rate optimization (CRO) ensures the hand-off from 'search' to 'sales' is friction-free. Checklist: • Map keyword clusters to specific buyer-journey stages.• Align on-page CTAs with intent (informational vs. transactional).• Use A/B testing to refine copy, visuals and forms. • Feed behavioral data back into content strategy to close gaps. Traditional KPIs remain useful—rank position, impressions, click-through rate—but they're early indicators. To prove ROI, track: Qualified leads per URL or topic cluster – shows which content actually attracts buyers. – shows which content actually attracts buyers. Pipeline velocity – measures days from first visit to sales-accepted lead. – measures days from first visit to sales-accepted lead. Content-assisted revenue – attributes closed deals to touchpoints across the funnel. These metrics illuminate which SEO efforts accelerate sales and which merely inflate traffic. Technical Foundation: Ensure crawlability, Core Web Vitals and schema markup are in place. Topic Authority Map: Identify pillar pages and supporting articles covering each major pain point your offer solves. AI Visibility Audit: Check how your brand appears in conversational search, voice results and knowledge graphs; document gaps. Authority Building: Secure guest posts, podcast appearances and digital PR on niche-relevant outlets. Conversion Alignment: Pair every traffic-driving asset with a dedicated, intent-matched conversion path and measure relentlessly. Companies that follow this framework often see compounding gains: stronger signals feed AI platforms, which boost visibility, which drives qualified traffic that converts—creating a virtuous cycle. Implementing AI-ready SEO and tying it to sales outcomes can strain internal resources. That's why many growth-oriented firms collaborate with specialists. By integrating high-authority content placement, AI-aligned optimization and systematic CRO, SalesUp delivers a turnkey path from search impression to closed deal—transforming visibility into predictable revenue rather than vanity metrics. The future of SEO belongs to brands that embrace AI's role in discovery and decision-making, prioritize authority over tricks, and engineer seamless conversion experiences. By evolving from keyword chasing to context, credibility and conversion mastery, you move beyond being found —you become the obvious choice. That's the shortest path from search to sales, and the surest way to drive real, scalable growth. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time Business News
3 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
How SalesUp Helps You Dominate Both Google and AI-Powered Search
For years, dominating Google meant understanding ranking factors, optimizing keywords, and building backlinks. But the search landscape has changed—dramatically. With the rise of AI-generated answers, smart assistants, and conversational search, being visible in search results means showing up not just in Google, but also in the minds of language models that shape user behavior long before they click. That's why a modern visibility strategy must focus on both traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimization / Søkemotoroptimalisering) and AI-powered search surfaces. SalesUp is built for this dual visibility challenge. Today, customers don't just 'Google it'—they also ask ChatGPT, browse voice summaries from Siri or Alexa, or rely on AI-powered assistants inside CRM tools and browsers. These systems don't present a list of links. They present answers . And if your brand isn't part of the training data, the citations, or the trusted domains, you're not even in the running. At the same time, Google remains vital—but it, too, has shifted. Its Search Generative Experience (SGE) now combines results with AI summaries, meaning ranking #1 no longer guarantees attention. Fact: According to recent data, users are 3–4x more likely to click content referenced in AI-generated summaries than in traditional organic links. Unlike keyword-focused bots of the past, AI systems weigh authority, topical consistency, and semantic depth. They ask: Is this brand mentioned on trusted, niche-relevant websites? Does the content align with factual information across the web? Are the authors verifiable experts in their fields? Does the site structure reflect deep understanding of specific topics? SalesUp helps businesses meet these standards by publishing articles on reputable platforms, structuring content for machine readability, and ensuring brand messaging is consistent across the entire digital footprint. Winning across both search environments means playing two games at once: Off-site , we place your content on high-authority domains, send the right trust signals to AI models, and build up a digital reputation that machines understand. , we place your content on high-authority domains, send the right trust signals to AI models, and build up a digital reputation that machines understand. On-site, we optimize content architecture, speed, and technical SEO to ensure your site is still Google's preferred source when ranking answers. This hybrid model is what gives our clients a lasting edge. Search visibility only matters if it leads somewhere. That's why we integrate our AI-ready SEO work with landing pages that convert, automated outbound systems like Revenew B2B, and data capture flows that turn attention into leads—and leads into deals. It's a full-funnel approach designed for B2B companies that care about real results, not just rankings. SalesUp isn't an agency that 'does SEO.' We build holistic visibility systems—designed to make your brand present in both search results and AI-generated content. This means: You're found on Google You're trusted by AI You're chosen by decision-makers And it all happens through a single, integrated approach: SalesUp. In today's landscape, SEO alone is no longer enough—and AI visibility without credibility won't convert. But when you combine both, your brand becomes the default answer across every surface: search, chat, voice, and recommendation. SalesUp is built to make that happen. Because real growth doesn't come from being seen—it comes from being trusted and chosen. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Business Insider
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Alphabet (GOOGL) Looks to Checkmate OpenAI With AI Search Strategy
As an investor in Alphabet (GOOGL), I've noticed the growing narrative: that Google is in 'managed decline,' threatened by OpenAI's rapid rise with ChatGPT. This perspective, popularized across podcasts and media, paints Alphabet as bloated, slow, and vulnerable to being overtaken. However, I believe these claims are premature. Confident Investing Starts Here: Rather than merely facing competition, Alphabet is quietly evolving its Search business with Gemini AI. Far from declining, the company appears to be strengthening its competitive edge, positioning itself for sustained growth and long-term outperformance. Google's Gemini Is Far More than a Clone Alphabet has launched the Search Generative Experience (SGE), an AI-powered update to incorporate directly into traditional Search results. Unlike ChatGPT, which runs independently from typical Search behavior, the Gemini-driven SGE is seamlessly integrated into the conventional Search page we've all known for decades. In Alphabet's latest quarterly update for Fiscal 2025, SGE already has over 1.5 billion active users each month, which serves as evidence of extremely rapid adoption. It's clear to me that Alphabet understands its users well: instead of fully reinventing the Search experience, they have enhanced it, drawing from decades of user experience and data. This hybrid version deepens user trust, providing an engaging user experience while limiting incentives for users to migrate to competing products and services. Gemini Doesn't Just Maintain Revenue, It Increases It Another significant aspect of Google's Gemini integration is the clear presence of monetization. Alphabet purposely kept advertising in the mix of SGE. Right in the AI-generated Search responses, you get relevant sponsored responses and product placements. This keeps Google's precious ad chassis model intact without breaking income from it. For instance, searching for 'best running headphones' features prominently sponsored product recommendations and advertisements. The most recent reports from Alphabet show near-double-digit year-over-year increases in Search ad revenue, confirming that this monetization strategy works well for Alphabet. Gemini increases the user's Search experience, verifying this monetization strategy without detracting from the core Alphabet revenue stream. Therefore, it not only maintains Google's current cash flow but also potentially opens up additional opportunities for highly targeted advertising, solidifying Alphabet's lead. Why OpenAI May Face Problems Competing Long-Term OpenAI, while exciting to the market with AI-driven Search via ChatGPT, will face more significant structural limitations compared to Alphabet. It seems that most of the monetization OpenAI will do revolves around subscriptions or application fees, which is far less lucrative, sticky, and sustainable than Alphabet's ad revenue model. This will potentially be a long-term competitive disadvantage for OpenAI when competing with Alphabet, which is underpinned by deeper financial capital and infrastructure. That said, I do think there is enough room for many successful players in this industry. OpenAI's models shouldn't be underestimated, and it is currently the market-leading company for generative AI. The field is still open to play for, and I see many dominant companies winning big, with both Google and OpenAI claiming the limelight similarly. Margins Under Fire Shouldn't Deter GOOGL Investors That said, Alphabet faces significant challenges in managing the substantial costs associated with operating the computing infrastructure necessary for Gemini. AI-powered Search is likely to be significantly more expensive than traditional search, which could put long-term pressure on profit margins. To mitigate this, Alphabet must continue diversifying its revenue streams. Waymo, part of the 'Other Bets' segment, offers one promising avenue. Its autonomous ride-hailing service is already operational in parts of the U.S., though it faces steep competition from Tesla's (TSLA) emerging autonomy network. There's also uncertainty around user behavior. As AI tools—including Google's own subscription-based chatbots—gain traction, they could begin to siphon traffic away from traditional Search. This shift could reduce ad-driven revenue and lead to further margin pressure, potentially forcing Alphabet to lean more heavily on subscription-based models similar to ChatGPT. As a result, some degree of valuation multiple compression may be warranted over the longer term. Still, these risks seem manageable when viewed in light of Alphabet's strong history of adapting its business model to generate durable long-term returns as markets evolve. Is GOOGL a Buy, Sell, or Hold? On Wall Street, GOOGL has a consensus Strong Buy rating, based on 29 Buys, nine Holds, and zero Sells over the past three months. The average GOOGL price target is $199.14, indicating a 15% upside potential over the next 12 months. Alphabet's Moat Isn't Shrinking, It's Evolving The narrative that Alphabet is in 'managed decline' strikes me as an overblown reaction to broader shifts in the tech landscape. In truth, Alphabet is actively leveraging its vast distribution network, proprietary data assets, and mature monetization infrastructure to carve out a defensible position in the evolving AI ecosystem. Rather than showing signs of weakness, Alphabet is executing a strategic evolution—methodically and without premature fanfare. For long-term growth investors seeking both innovation and resilience, Gemini is a strong indicator that Alphabet remains a formidable force. It's not just keeping pace with change; it's positioning itself to deliver sustained, high-quality alpha in a rapidly transforming market.
Time Business News
09-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
The Ultimate Guide to Modern SEO Strategies: Beat the Algorithm with Smarter Tactics
Search engine algorithms are evolving faster than ever. In 2025, winning top positions in Google isn't just about keywords—it's about intent, experience, and adaptability. This guide walks you through modern SEO strategies that not only meet current best practices but also future-proof your rankings in a constantly changing landscape. SEO strategies are high-level plans that guide how you optimize your website to increase visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). Unlike SEO tactics, which are specific techniques (like updating a meta description), strategies define your overall direction—such as focusing on topical authority or targeting high-conversion intent keywords. Think of strategy as your roadmap and tactics as the turns you take. For example: Strategy: Become the go-to source for digital marketing knowledge in your niche. Tactic: Publish three blog posts per week targeting long-tail informational keywords. By clearly distinguishing the two, you'll execute more purposefully. Today's SEO isn't just about appeasing algorithms—it's about delivering user-first experiences. Google's advancements in machine learning (e.g., BERT, MUM) mean that content relevance, quality, and engagement carry more weight than ever. Without a strong strategy, even great content can fail to perform. If you want to outrank your competitors in 2025, you need to build a holistic, adaptive strategy. Here's what should be at the core: Modern keyword research focuses less on volume and more on intent. Tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, and Google's Keyword Planner can still help you identify terms, but it's your job to determine the user's goal behind each query. Tip: Group keywords by intent—informational, navigational, transactional—and tailor your content accordingly. While optimizing titles, H1s, and meta descriptions still matters, modern on-page SEO also includes: Content layout & scannability Accessibility (alt text, ARIA tags) Engagement signals (time on page, scroll depth) Make sure every page is built for users first, bots second. Search engines won't rank what they can't crawl. Focus on: Core Web Vitals Mobile usability HTTPS security XML sitemaps and optimization Canonical tags and proper redirects A well-maintained site foundation supports every other SEO effort. Google's E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) has become a key ranking factor. Establish topical authority by: Covering your niche comprehensively Updating outdated content Adding author bios and source citations Using internal linking to signal content hierarchy Spammy links can tank your rankings. Instead: Earn links through original research, guest posts, and digital PR Use HARO to connect with journalists Leverage broken link building on relevant blogs A handful of high-quality links from authoritative sources outweigh hundreds of weak ones. Smarter Tactics to Beat the Algorithm With AI-driven updates like Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE) changing how results appear, modern SEO demands more than the basics. Below are tactical approaches that align with your strategy—and help you beat the algorithm without gaming it. AI writing tools can boost productivity, but overuse can result in robotic, generic content. Worse, poorly humanized AI content can trigger detection tools used by publishers, educators, and even Google (indirectly). Smarter tactic: Use AI for outlines, ideation, and first drafts—then rewrite with a human voice. Tools like Content at Scale, Koala Writer, or Writesonic can help, but always edit to infuse expertise and natural flow. Aim to pass both human readers and AI detectors. 'AI humanizers' like and AISEO are designed to rewrite content so it appears human. However, they often fail to mimic authentic tone, insight, and emotional resonance. Smarter tactic: Go beyond mechanical rewrites. Include first-hand experience, examples, case studies, and unique analogies. Break the AI mold by writing as if you're speaking to one person, not an audience of bots. Pro tip: Google's Helpful Content System rewards content created for users by humans—don't forget the 'experience' in E-E-A-T. Schema markup helps search engines understand your content better—and can get you featured with rich snippets, FAQs, carousels, or video thumbnails. Smarter tactic: Use JSON-LD to add structured data for: Articles FAQs Product reviews Events How-to guides Tools like Google's Rich Results Test and Validator can help ensure proper formatting. Internal links aren't just for navigation—they signal topic clusters and distribute page authority (link equity). Smarter tactic: Link to cornerstone content from supporting pages Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text Keep your internal links natural, not forced Maintain a flat site structure for easy crawlability Bonus: This tactic also reduces bounce rate and boosts average session duration. Google's SERP has evolved—ranking #1 doesn't guarantee top visibility. Featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes, and video carousels now dominate page one. Smarter tactic: Structure your content with clear H2s/H3s to qualify for featured snippets Add FAQ schema to target People Also Ask Embed optimized YouTube videos with relevant transcripts By aiming for these SERP features, you earn more visibility—even if your organic result is technically 'below' others. Final Thoughts: Staying Ahead of SEO in an AI-Driven Era Modern SEO isn't about gaming the algorithm — it's about working smarter. With the right strategy, quality content, and user-first mindset, you can stay ahead in search engine results pages (SERPs), even as algorithms evolve. Keep your focus on intent, experience, and adaptability. SEO success in 2025 belongs to those who create for people — not just for search engines. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Forbes
14-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The 60% Problem — How AI Search Is Draining Your Traffic
The online marketing landscape is undergoing its largest change in nearly three decades since the inception of Google. As AI-powered search assistants like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Search Generative Experience by Google are gaining popularity at lightning speed, businesses are witnessing unprecedented dips in organic traffic – but things aren't quite as straightforward as the data makes them out to be. Recent research has shown that AI Overviews can cause a whopping 15-64% decline in organic traffic, based on industry and search type. This radical change is causing marketers to reconsider their whole strategy regarding digital visibility. Roughly 60% of searches now yield no clicks at all, as AI-generated answers satisfy them directly on the search results page. In addition, Google's AI Overviews have displaced top-ranked links by as much as 1,500 pixels – which is about two full screen scrolls on a desktop and three full screen scrolls on a mobile device – significantly lowering click-through rates even for highly ranked pages. "Using search engines like Google is like walking into a library and getting a list of book titles that might help. You then have to go pull the books off the shelves, skim through them, and try to piece together the answer on your own," explains Erik Wikander, Co-founder and CEO of a company specializing in AI-powered SEO strategies. "AI search flips that on its head," Wikander continued in an email response. "It's like having a super smart librarian who reads every book for you and then explains the answer, in your language, tailored to your context. And if you don't quite get it? You just ask another question, and they clarify. It's fluid, interactive and helpful in a way that traditional search simply isn't." If you're not sure what AI Overviews are – you've probably seen them without knowing what they were or how they work. If you ask Google a question such as 'What's the significance of Passover' or 'Who attended the Last Supper' – the first entry at the top of the screen will be a Google AI Overview, which is a curated summarized response with footnotes. For 6-out-of-10 viewers of the response, the summary details are all they need so they don't click any other link from the search screen to another website. While that's fine for Google and other AI search engines, the websites on the other end are seeing a significant decrease of click through rates to their sites. So their keyword advertising, onsite marketing content and search engine optimization activities are going to waste if they're not one of the handful of web pages captured in the AI Overview. According to Winkander, resources based on informational content like guides and how-to tutorials are hit hardest. With AI Overviews providing in-depth answers within search results, the need to click through to these resources has significantly declined. This shift is particularly damaging for content marketers who have built strategies on top-of-funnel informational content to create awareness. And the race for prominence has also gotten fiercer, with AI Summaries usually coming from a few of the highest-ranked websites – usually positions 1-2 or above. This is a case of winner-takes-all, with smaller firms and newer websites having very little to no chance of prominence. In spite of these obstacles, there is a silver lining for companies that are able to move quickly. Wikander continues that even though the total traffic drops, the quality of the visitors that do click through is far greater. 'While AI search engines may drive less traffic overall, the value of that traffic is significantly higher than traditional search. Visitors arriving via AI search are often much further along in their buyer journey — ready to take action. This is especially evident in high-consideration categories like software, where customers typically do extensive research before converting. In fact, many of the companies we speak with report that up to 10% of their conversions now come from AI-driven search,' he wrote. For businesses struggling with these changes, Wikander recommends a complete overhaul of how we go about search engine optimization. "The first step is to reframe SEO as a content-first strategy. The technical SEO playbook still matters, but it's no longer the primary driver of visibility," he advised. "To stand out in AI search, the content needs to answer real questions, not just repeat popular keywords. It should anticipate follow-up questions, be written in a natural, conversational tone, and offer something truly useful, whether that's an expert opinion, proprietary data or unique context." This involves going beyond the conventional keyword optimization, which Wikander describes as "not dead, but no longer the winning move on its own." Rather, businesses must focus on developing content that reads naturally, is rich and delivers concrete value to the reader. As AI transforms the search landscape, companies need to evolve or risk not being seen. The old SEO playbook — built on keywords, backlinks and technical adjustments—is quickly becoming irrelevant. Instead, a new playbook built on quality, relevance and authority is taking its place. "Content is becoming the new performance marketing," Wikander emphasizes. "As paid channels get more expensive and traditional search fragments, your best lever for growth is content. Not just any content, but content that AI sees as helpful, credible and worth including." For marketers who are ready to adapt to this new reality, the dividends are significant. By producing excellent, authoritative content that AI software identifies as worthy, brands can position themselves as trusted sources of information — and secure their place in the AI-driven search future. "Success today means becoming the best answer — in every language, every market and every moment that matters," Wikander concludes.
