The search landscape is shifting. Gone are the days of simple keyword queries and static results pages. Enter Search Generative Experiences (SGEs), an AI-powered, revolutionary approach that’s poised to transform how users find and engage with information. As fractional CMOs, it’s crucial we stay ahead of this curve and understand how SGEs can impact our marketing strategies for all of the companies we represent.
What are SGEs?
Imagine a search engine powered by AI that doesn’t just deliver links based on the keywords you search for, but actively understands your intent, anticipates your needs, and provides tailored, dynamic responses. That’s the essence of SGEs. Think:
- AI-powered snapshots: Concise overviews of complex topics, generated on-the-fly, offering bitesized answers and eliminating the need for endless scrolling.
- Conversational search: Engage with the search engine like you would a human, asking follow-up questions and refining your search as you go. The end result: that conversational dialogue is another zero-click search result that you want to end up in.
- Personalized results: No more one-size-fits-all responses. SGEs leverage your search history and preferences to deliver results that are relevant to you in the context you need.
- Creative exploration: SGEs enable searchers to generate ideas, draft content, and even brainstorm solutions within the search engine itself – ideally, finding their way to your product or service.
The road ahead:
While SGEs are still in their early stages, their potential to disrupt SEO as we know it is undeniable. Your SERPs will matter less, while the quality of your content delivered in these AI-powered results will matter more. CMOs who embrace this shift and adapt their content strategies to become “context strategies” accordingly will be best positioned to thrive in the future of search.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Start learning about SGEs: Familiarize yourself with the technology, its capabilities, and its potential impact on your industry.
- Experiment and adapt: Don’t be afraid to test the waters. You’ve probably already been using entity-based SEO tactics, now integrate different types of content and more optimization strategies like structured data and optimized local listings into your marketing and see how they can enhance your reach and engagement.
- Focus on user experience and context: Remember, SGEs are all about providing value to users. Understand their needs and ensure your content and experiences are relevant and engaging.
- Collaborate with your IT team: SGEs are a complex technology with integration needs. Work closely with your IT team to ensure seamless implementation of website schema and to enable ongoing optimization.
By understanding and embracing the power of SGEs, you can unlock a new era of customer engagement and propel your brand to the forefront of the future of search results. Remember, the future of search is not just about finding information – it’s about creating meaningful experiences that answer questions, solve problems and deliver value.