Understanding the Landscape
The internet is evolving, and AI is playing a significant role in this transformation. Google’s recent introduction of AI overviews (AIOs) has led to a significant decline in engagement, with a 54.6% drop in organic click-through rates when an AIO is present. This shift in behavior could break the internet as we know it, forcing creators to move their content behind a paywall or make it pay-to-play.
Your Next Move
While experts suggest focusing on bottom-of-funnel keywords or using LLM Engine Optimization (LEO), these approaches are only temporary solutions. The only way forward is to own your audience; as business professionals, we can no longer kick that can down the road. This means building an authentic connection with your audience, making them feel like part of the process, and showing the human side of your business.
The Only Way Forward
Owning your audience means building a real relationship with them. People do business with people, not algorithms. When you own your audience, you can point your attention exactly where you want it, whether it’s to a piece of content, an email, or your site. This approach leads to revenue and solves real problems.
My Two Cents
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, own your audience. AI could be detrimental to us, so we need to act sooner rather than later. Hope this helps.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AI overviews are changing the way we interact with the internet, and it’s essential to adapt to this new landscape. Owning your audience is the key to success, and building a real relationship with them will help you drive attention and revenue exactly where you want it.
FAQs
Q: What is an AI overview?
A: An AI overview is when Google provides what it thinks is the best answer to your question using an AI-generated summary at the top of the results.
Q: How does AI affect my business?
A: AI can affect your business by reducing engagement and driving traffic away from your site. It’s essential to adapt to this new landscape and own your audience.
Q: How can I own my audience?
A: You can own your audience by building an authentic connection with them, making them feel like part of the process, and showing the human side of your business.
Q: What is LLM Engine Optimization (LEO)?
A: LLM Engine Optimization is a technique that optimizes your content for AI search engines like Perplexity. However, this approach is only a temporary solution and doesn’t fix the problem of not owning your audience.
