Google's Latest AI Update - 6 Ways to Stay Ahead

Just when you thought you had the search engine giant figured out, they just have to go and toss yet another curveball. This time, it’s in the form of generative AI slapping itself right on top of your search results. Yep, that’s right, Google’s latest update is here to make sure you get the answers you need without clicking anywhere. Let’s dive into this new madness and figure out how businesses can ride this wave and stay ahead. Spoiler alert: it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Meet Google's Gemini: Your New Overlord

Google has rolled out its generative AI model, Gemini, with the subtlety of a marching band in a library. This AI-powered beast will now summarize the internet for you. No more wading through those pesky search results yourself; Gemini’s got you covered with AI-generated overviews that spoon-feed you key information.



But wait, there’s more! These AI snapshots also come with handy links to dig deeper, because, you know, Google still wants you to click around a bit before you find that exact cat video you were looking for​ (blog.google)​​ (blog.google)​.

Quick Overviews and Context Magic

Gemini’s greatest trick? Making you feel like it is smarter than it is. Imagine asking Google a convoluted question and getting a neat little summary instead of having to click through ten different articles. Need to plan a family trip with toddlers and a dog to Bryce Canyon or Arches?

Google’s AI will tell you which is better and throw in a few extra tips for good measure​ (blog.google)​.

And for those who love to overcomplicate things, you can now adjust your AI overview. Simplify the language or break it down into even tinier bits. Perfect for when you’re explaining complex stuff to your dog or trying to satisfy your kid’s endless curiosity​ (blog.google)​.

How Businesses Can Stay Ahead

Alright, business owners, it’s time to play ball with your new AI overlord. Here’s how you can stay in Google’s good graces:

1. Embrace High-Quality Content: Forget about that keyword-stuffed drivel you’ve been churning out. Google’s updates favor high-quality, original content. So, maybe spend more than five minutes writing your next blog post​ (blog.google)​.
2. Get Clickable Links: With AI overviews providing quick summaries, the links included need to be enticing. Make sure your meta descriptions and titles are clickbait-worthy, but not in a "lose weight fast" scammy way​ (blog.google)​.
3. Optimize for AI Summaries: Tailor your content to be easily summarized. Clear headings, concise paragraphs, and structured data can help Gemini pick up the essence of your content. Think of it as writing for an exceptionally lazy reader​ (blog.google)​.
4. Stay Relevant: Regular updates and fresh content are more important than ever. If your site looks like a digital fossil, Google’s AI is going to walk right past it. Keep things current, and maybe throw in a meme or two​ (blog.google)​.
5. Optimize Your Google Business Profile: Make sure you optimize your Google Business Profile to ensure that you show up in the maps in your area.

Who’s Impacted?

Pretty much everyone in one way or another, but local businesses are not affected at the time this article was written . From small businesses to multinational corporations, if you’re relying on Google for traffic (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), this update is your new reality. SEO experts may have to rethink strategies, content creators will need to up their game, and marketers will be praying to the Google gods for mercy.

Websites that get traffic from answering simple questions stand to lose the most, however this has been the case for years.

In conclusion, Google’s generative AI update is here to stay, whether we like it or not. Businesses that adapt quickly and focus on creating genuinely useful, high-quality content will find themselves ahead of the curve. As for the rest, well, there’s always Bing.

So buckle up, it’s going to be an AI-driven future. And remember, in the world of search, content is still king — it’s just got a shiny new crown now.

The Bottom Line

Everyone is still learning and navigating this market. However, by optimizing your site for SEO and following the usual best practices, you are more likely to show up in the Generative AI summary. It's a well established rule that the #1 result gets a disproportionate amount of traffic, but we are still waiting for the data to come in to find out exactly how much this change will impact organic traffic.

Past attempts to push organic results down in favor of more ads by Google oftentimes has resulted in no meaningful change in organic clicks, but only time will tell.

Strictly offers a way to create stunning websites and optimize for SEO in a single click.