All the talk around the water cooler nowadays, amongst SEOs, is Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE). For a simple explanation, I asked Google Bard to explain it to me. And it wasn’t a very simple explanation. It was quite longer than I expected.
According to Google Bard, it’s a new experimental search experience that uses AI (artificial intelligence) to give us answers to complex questions. Here’s Google Bard’s explanation:
“Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) is a new experimental search experience that uses artificial intelligence to generate contextual answers to complex questions. It is currently available in the United States in English on Chrome desktop and the Google App for Android and iOS.
SGE works by first using a variety of large language models (LLMs), including MUM and PaLM2, to generate a unique summary for some longer queries. This summary is then displayed above the traditional search results listings, along with links to sites with information that corroborates the summary. Users can also engage in conversational mode with SGE, which allows them to ask follow-up questions while maintaining the context of the original search.
SGE is still under development, but it has the potential to make Google Search more informative and engaging. By providing users with contextual answers to their questions, SGE can help them to learn more quickly and easily. Additionally, by allowing users to engage in conversational mode, SGE can help them to get the most out of their search experience.
Here are some of the benefits of Google Search Generative Experience:
- It can provide more comprehensive and informative answers to complex questions.
- It can help users to learn more quickly and easily.
- It can make search more engaging and interactive.
- It can help users to get the most out of their search experience.
Here are some of the limitations of Google Search Generative Experience:
- It is still under development, so it may not always be accurate or complete.
- It may not be able to answer all questions, especially those that are open-ended or subjective.
- It may not be able to provide links to all of the relevant information on the web.
Overall, Google Search Generative Experience is a promising new development that has the potential to make Google Search more informative and engaging. However, it is important to remember that it is still under development, so it may not always be accurate or complete.”
What Does That Mean?
Well, to be honest with you, it means that it’s another change to Google’s search engine results. Think of it as a “major” Google algorithm update, where a lot will change. And it’s started to change already–if you can get access to it.
But as SEOs and digital marketers, the best thing we can sit and wait, just like any other algorithm update. There isn’t much you can do right now to make changes to your website or even make changes to your website’s content. It’s business as usual, at least for now. I’d still continue to create great content that’s appropriate for your users and your website. Links are still important–but contextual links are more important. Keep going, it’s too soon to be worried about what’s going on, what is going to happen, and how we, as marketers, can take advantage of Google’s Search Generative Experience. And if you’re speculating about what it is and what you can do, stop. Wait it out.
I Asked Google Bard the Important Question
If you’re interested in the answer to the most important question, I asked Google Bard: “As an SEO, how can I take advantage of Google’s Search Generative Experience to manipulate it so my website ranks well?”
Here is what Bard said:
“As an SEO, you can take advantage of Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) by creating content that is relevant to the questions that users are asking. You can also use SGE to identify new keywords and topics that you can target with your content.
Here are some tips for taking advantage of SGE:
- Create content that is relevant to the questions that users are asking. This means using keywords and phrases that are commonly used in search queries. You can use a keyword research tool like Google’s Keyword Planner to help you identify relevant keywords.
- Use SGE to identify new keywords and topics that you can target with your content. When you use SGE, you can see the questions that users are asking about a particular topic. This can help you identify new keywords and topics that you can target with your content.
- Create high-quality content that is informative and engaging. This means writing content that is well-written, well-researched, and easy to understand. You should also use images, videos, and other multimedia to make your content more engaging.
- Promote your content on social media and other channels. This will help you to get your content in front of more people and increase the chances that it will be seen by users who are searching for information on the topic.
By following these tips, you can create content that is relevant to the questions that users are asking and that will help you to rank well in SGE.
Here are some additional tips that you can follow to take advantage of Google’s Search Generative Experience:
- Use natural language in your content. SGE is powered by artificial intelligence, so it can understand natural language. This means that you should avoid using keyword stuffing or other black hat SEO techniques.
- Structure your content in a logical way. SGE uses a variety of factors to determine the relevance of a piece of content, including the structure of the content. This means that you should make sure that your content is well-organized and easy to read.
- Use images and videos. SGE can also understand images and videos, so you should use them to supplement your content. Images and videos can help to make your content more engaging and informative.
- Update your content regularly. SGE is constantly being updated, so you should make sure that your content is up-to-date. This will help to ensure that your content is seen by users who are searching for information on the topic.
By following these tips, you can create content that is relevant to the questions that users are asking and that will help you to rank well in Google’s Search Generative Experience.”
So, to be honest with you, I don’t see anything “new” per se, when it comes to optimizing for Google’s Search Generative Experience. Business as usual if you’re an SEO.
