How to Improve Your SEO as Google’s AI Changes Search

Have you noticed that when you type a question or key word into the Google search bar, you are now provided an AI generated answer? Rather than having to click the link that you think may provide the best information, Google AI scours the internet and comes up with what it thinks is the best answer. Pretty cool right? As an internet consumer, yes! But as a business and website owner, this can be scary.

Many businesses worry that Google’s AI changes will make it harder for their website to rank, especially if they’ve relied on old SEO tactics like keyword stuffing or outdated link-building strategies. Some key concerns include:

• More Competition: AI-driven search prioritizes high-quality content, meaning businesses that don’t update their websites may be outranked by competitors.

• Less Control Over Rankings: Traditional SEO tactics, like manually optimizing for specific keywords, are becoming less effective as AI shifts focus to context and user intent.

• Higher Content Demands: Websites need to provide more in-depth, relevant, and updated content to remain competitive.

Google’s search engine is getting smarter, and that means the way businesses approach SEO (Search Engine Optimization) needs to evolve. AI-driven search is changing how Google ranks websites, making it more important than ever to create content that directly answers customer questions in a natural way. If you're not an SEO expert, don’t worry! This guide breaks down what you need to know and gives you actionable steps to keep your website ranking high.

Why Google’s AI Is Changing SEO

Google’s AI can now better understand what people mean when they search, rather than just matching keywords. Instead of focusing on short, generic keywords, businesses should optimize for natural, conversational searches. For example:

• Old SEO: “best pizza NYC”

• New SEO: “Where can I get the best pizza in NYC?”

Because of this shift, businesses need to focus on creating high-quality, informative content that answers full questions rather than stuffing pages with keywords.

5 Ways to Improve Your SEO for Google’s AI Updates

1. Write Content That Answers Real Questions

What This Means: Google prioritizes content that directly answers common questions. When someone searches for “How do I market my restaurant in the slow season?” your website should provide a complete, helpful answer.

Action Steps:

• Create blog posts that answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) from your customers.

• Use a tool like AnswerThePublic or Google’s “People Also Ask” section to find common search questions.

• Write in a conversational tone that feels natural and easy to read.

2. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup) to Help Google Understand Your Content

What This Means: Schema markup is code added to your website that tells Google exactly what your content is about. It helps search engines display rich results (like star ratings, FAQs, and business info).

Action Steps:

• Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to generate schema code.

• If you use WordPress, install plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to automate schema markup.

• Add schema markup for key elements like:

  • Business name, address, and contact info (Local Business Schema)

  • FAQs (FAQ Schema)

  • Product pricing and reviews (Product Schema)

3. Optimize for Conversational Searches and Voice Search

What This Means: More people are searching using voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant. Voice searches are often longer and more conversational, so your website should reflect that.

Action Steps:

• Include full, natural-sounding sentences in your content.

• Use long-tail keywords (phrases that mirror how people speak, like “What’s the best coffee shop near me?” instead of just “coffee shop”).

• Add a FAQ section on key pages to provide direct answers.

4. Keep Your Content Fresh and Updated

What This Means: Google’s AI favors websites that are regularly updated with relevant, valuable content.

Action Steps:

• Update old blog posts with new stats, trends, and examples every 6-12 months.

• Create a content calendar to consistently post new blogs, videos, or case studies.

• Repurpose old content into new formats (e.g., turn a blog into a YouTube video or infographic).

5. Improve User Experience (UX) on Your Website

What This Means: Google’s AI also considers how easy it is for visitors to navigate your website. A slow, confusing site with too many pop-ups will rank lower.

Action Steps:

• Make sure your website loads in under 3 seconds (use Google PageSpeed Insights to check).

• Ensure your site is mobile-friendly, as most searches now happen on phones.

• Simplify your website navigation so visitors can quickly find what they need.

Why Businesses Should Pay Attention to These Changes

Ignoring these AI-driven SEO shifts could mean fewer website visitors and lost business. By focusing on natural language content, structured data, and user-friendly websites, you’ll be better positioned to rank well in search results and attract more customers.

Would you like help implementing these SEO strategies? Contact us, and let’s make sure your website stays ahead of the competition!