SEO has already changed. This is what you missed.

Summary

This video reveals how SEO has evolved, with traditional methods becoming obsolete. It compares the adaptation of restaurants during COVID to the shift in search behaviors in 2025. As Google search becomes more AI-driven, businesses must optimize for AI tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT to stay visible. The video outlines key strategies for getting recommended by AI, such as creating clear, specific content, leveraging press releases, and asking for detailed reviews. It also emphasizes the importance of YouTube as a primary search tool, showing how video content can lead to better, more trustworthy leads compared to traditional SEO.

Takeaways

• 😀 SEO is evolving, and traditional methods are becoming outdated, which is leading to a decrease in website traffic for many businesses.
• 😀 AI-driven tools, like perplexity and ChatGPT, are changing how customers find businesses, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt to AI recommendations.
• 😀 In 2025, search engines are shifting away from traditional Google search results in favor of AI-generated answers, videos, and other forms of content.
• 😀 Businesses that have adjusted to the changes in SEO, such as switching to AI-driven strategies, have seen better results in terms of leads and sales.
• 😀 Just like how restaurants had to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses must adapt their SEO strategies to thrive in the changing landscape of search.
• 😀 To succeed in SEO today, businesses need to focus on clarity, ensuring their websites are crystal clear about what they do and who they help.
• 😀 Building a strong digital reputation by getting mentions across trustworthy websites is crucial for AI to recommend your business.
• 😀 AI-optimized press releases can be a powerful tool to get your business mentioned on reputable websites, helping AI recommend your services more effectively.
• 😀 A controversial but effective SEO hack involves creating detailed listicle blog posts ranking businesses in your category, with your business as the top recommendation.
• 😀 Video content, particularly on YouTube, is becoming more valuable than traditional Google search results, offering higher-quality leads and better long-term sustainability.
• 😀 YouTube's algorithm prioritizes high-quality content, making it easier for businesses to be found by potential customers without AI interference, leading to better customer trust.

Q & A

What is the key difference between businesses succeeding with SEO and those who are struggling?

Businesses succeeding with SEO have adapted to the changes in search behavior and have embraced newer strategies like generative engine optimization (Geo). Those who are struggling are still optimizing for outdated SEO practices that no longer work effectively in today's search environment.

Why is traditional SEO becoming less effective in 2025?

Traditional SEO is becoming less effective because Google and other search engines are shifting towards AI-generated answers, displaying various other content types (like YouTube videos and Reddit threads) above regular search results. This pushes organic listings further down and makes it harder to stand out.

How did the restaurant industry adapt during the COVID shutdown, and how is this similar to SEO changes?

During the COVID shutdown, many restaurants were forced to accept high fees from delivery apps. However, smarter restaurants built their own delivery services, which led to higher orders. Similarly, businesses today need to adapt to changes in search behavior, building their own strategy instead of relying solely on outdated SEO methods.

What is generative engine optimization (Geo), and how does it differ from traditional SEO?

Generative engine optimization (Geo) focuses on getting AI tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT to recommend your business by ensuring that AI tools find your business valuable based on specific, clear criteria. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on keyword optimization, Geo considers factors like clear messaging, digital reputation, and customer reviews.

What are the key strategies for getting recommended by AI tools like Perplexity?

To get recommended by AI tools, businesses should ensure their website is crystal clear about what they do, get mentioned across trustworthy websites, use AI-optimized press releases, create detailed listicle content with helpful comparisons, and regularly ask customers for detailed, positive reviews.

How can businesses improve their AI visibility by clarifying what they do on their websites?

Businesses should eliminate vague marketing jargon and clearly state what they do, who they help, and what makes them different. By providing this clarity, both AI tools and human visitors can quickly understand what the business offers, increasing the chances of being recommended by AI tools.

Why is it important to get your business mentioned on other trustworthy websites?

AI tools are not only scanning your website but also the entire internet to build a comprehensive picture of your business. Frequent, consistent mentions on reputable websites help establish trust and improve your chances of being recommended by AI tools.

What is the controversial hack mentioned for getting AI to recommend your business?

The controversial hack involves creating a detailed listicle on your website that ranks the best businesses in your category, with your business at the top. While it may seem spammy, this tactic works well for getting AI recommendations as long as the content is helpful and well-structured.

How can businesses use video content to improve their visibility in 2025?

Businesses can leverage video content on platforms like YouTube, where the algorithm focuses on showing the best content. By answering frequently asked questions and providing helpful how-to content, businesses can improve their visibility and attract better-quality leads compared to traditional Google search.

How does video content on YouTube differ from Google search in terms of user engagement and lead quality?

Video content on YouTube offers deeper engagement since viewers often watch multiple videos and develop a sense of trust with the creator. In contrast, Google search results show a list of links where users are less engaged. Leads generated from YouTube are often of higher quality because viewers feel a stronger connection to the content creator.