Whether you personally or professionally use AI or not, has zero effect on whether or not your audience is using AI. I’m going to share a couple of staggering stats with you…
- 37% of consumers begin their research with AI tools rather than traditional search engines
- AI-driven traffic converts 5× higher than organic
So we have to optimize our website not only for Google but for AI. In order for your client or customer to find your website, it needs to speak to 3 different types searchers.
Enjoy the episode!
🧰 I love me a good digital marketing tool. This week’s recommended tool is answersocrates.com
While traditionally I used this for finding more ideas around keyword topics, I’ve recently been using this for LLM tracking. Where and how my clients are showing up for certain topics. It shows share of voice and competitors. And it’s affordable.
🎧 This week’s recommended podcast episode is Should You Put Pricing on Your Website on the Small Business Casual podcast with Emily Aborn.
I am forever a fan and this question as old as the internet itself. And still just as debateable. Emily asked 5 service providers their advice, including yours truly.
If you listen to the book, let me know how you like it!
Find other recommended episodes here.
Other Resource Links
- [webinar] Updating Your SEO Strategy for AI Search
- https://ridgemarketing.com/blog/how-people-search-in-2026-understanding-the-split-path-model/
- https://sedestral.com/en/blog/ai-search-market-share-2026
Listen on Spotify
<iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1HO3xGbZFLBmHz6BM2xfT6?utm_source=generator&si=ed1f21c40aaa4039" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe>Listen on Apple
<iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" height="175" style="width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;border-radius:10px;" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-optimizing-your-website-for-3-searchers-ep117/id1728291369?i=1000780022245"></iframe>Whether you personally or professionally use AI or not, has zero effect on whether or not your audience is using AI.
I’m going to share a couple of staggering stats with you…
- 37% of consumers begin their research with AI tools rather than traditional search engines
- AI-driven traffic converts 5× higher than organic
So we have to optimize our website not only for Google but for AI. But what about the searcher themselves? We’ve been slapped across the face so many times with “write for your audience”… I’ll get to that later.
And I’m not saying this to put the fear of “AI is here” in you. I say this to help guide you in how to show up so your website gets seen.
In order for your client or customer to find your website, it needs to speak to 3 different types searchers. That’s what we’re getting into in this episode.
Let’s go to this “write for your audience” advice… If you don’t write first for the tools that will show your website, like the AI tools and Google, then how do you think your audience is going to find it? At least without paying for that traffic.
I’m blaming instagram for the whole write for the emotion era we’ve been in. There’s so much “advice” on hook language that people have brought it over to their blogs. It’s not wrong exactly but it doesn’t help search engines or AI tools know if what’s in the content is going to answer the question the searcher has.
Here’s an example title…
How I Finally Figured Out Throw Pillows (After Getting It Wrong for Years)
Sure that invites curiosity IF someone sees the page. But it won’t get shown to someone searching about how to do throw pillows as much as something more direct like…
How Many Throw Pillows Should You Use on a Sofa?
It’s more authoritative and definitive.
So we have to optimize our website for 3 types of searchers… let’s get into what those are now.
- Google traditional SEO
- AI search engines like ChatGPT, technically they are generative AI tools, but let’s just keep simple shall we?
- and then AI agents.
AI agents are little different than just AI search in that they go off on their own and do searching, sometimes purchasing and filling out forms, and bring back information vs you having a back and forth like in ChatGPT.
And well Google traditional is still here and many AI search tools use it in their algorithms for who they decide to cite and/or recommend; which by the way, are two different things.
If your website gets cited by AI, that means it’s used your information and your website shows as a resource similar to a footnote in a book.
If your website gets recommended, they’re mentioning your business or website in the results it puts forward.
The goal remains the same as it always has… conversions.
Oh what was that? you thought it was website traffic?
No, website traffic is a means to get conversions, whatever your particular conversion is, be it a sale, download, sign up, what have you.
Have I convinced you enough that it’s important to bring in an AI optimization strategy into your traditional SEO strategy?
Before I share the takeaway, I am hosting a free webinar the last week of August called Updating Your SEO Strategy for AI Search. From the webinar you’ll get:
- An understanding of how online search has evolved
- Ways to check your AI visibility and how it lines up with the SEO numbers you’re tracking
- A tactical list of on-page and off-page moves to show up in AI searches
And you’ll leave with next steps to fold in AI search optimization with your traditional search strategy. Replays are free with sign up. Link is in the show notes, be there or be square!
The Takeaway
People are turning to tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google’s own AI at an alarming rate. This new behavior needs to be addressed in your marketing strategy if you want more website traffic.
About This Show
The Get More Website Traffic Podcast covers the strategies, tools, and tactics that help small business owners get more people to their website and turn that traffic into leads. Host Barb Davids breaks it down in plain language every week, with bonus episodes featuring other business owners sharing their expertise on topics that matter to running a small business. Produced by Compass Digital Strategies.
