Category Archives: Google Analytics

SEO Strategies for Small Businesses in 2025

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SEO Strategies for Small Businesses in 2025

In today’s digital economy, having a strong online presence is no longer optional—it’s essential. For small businesses, the SEO landscape in 2025 is shifting rapidly, especially with the rise of AI-generated search summaries, personalized ranking algorithms, and voice-based queries. The good news? With the right strategies, small business owners can stay competitive and even outrank larger competitors.

At Zenergy Works, we specialize in helping small businesses get found, get clicks, and grow. Here’s how we recommend you approach SEO in 2025.

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Understand the New SEO Landscape

Search engines are evolving. Google and others are increasingly using AI summaries to answer queries directly on the results page, reducing the number of traditional organic clicks. That means your website needs to be more than just optimized—it needs to be indispensable.

To adapt, small businesses must:

  • Target long-tail keywords that AI summaries may miss
  • Create authoritative, original content that establishes trust
  • Prioritize structured data to help search engines interpret your pages correctly

This is where working with a dedicated SEO firm becomes crucial. We tailor strategies that reflect not only current algorithms but also anticipate how search is changing.

Optimize for AI Search: It’s Already Here

AI-powered search tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) are changing the game. These platforms summarize key answers at the top of the page—and only reference a few sources.

Here’s how to increase your chances of being featured:

  • Use concise, accurate answers in your content
  • Incorporate FAQ sections on every service and landing page
  • Optimize for voice search by using natural, conversational language

An experienced SEO company will ensure your site architecture and content meet the demands of this AI-first world.

Local SEO Still Reigns for Small Businesses

One of the most valuable SEO strategies for small businesses is still local optimization. In 2025, that means more than just claiming your Google Business Profile.

Effective local SEO includes:

  • Earning consistent reviews from real customers
  • Using location-specific schema markup
  • Creating hyperlocal content (like blog posts about community events or neighborhood trends)

If you’re not actively investing in local SEO strategy, you’re leaving leads—and revenue—on the table.

Build Authority with E-E-A-T

Google continues to favor sites that demonstrate Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). This applies to small businesses just as much as major brands.

To build authority:

  • Showcase team credentials and certifications
  • Secure backlinks from trusted industry sources

Our SEO strategy for AI search also includes techniques to ensure your expertise is recognized by both algorithms and potential customers.

Speed, UX, and Mobile Optimization Matter More Than Ever

Your website’s performance directly impacts your search rankings. In 2025, Google penalizes slow, unresponsive websites—even more so on mobile devices.

Key areas to address include:

  • Fast page load speeds (under 2.5 seconds)
  • Mobile-friendly layouts
  • Clear calls to action (CTAs)

Small businesses don’t need the flashiest websites, but they do need the most functional ones. We can help you fine-tune every aspect for performance.

SEO Is Not One Size Fits All—Get the Right Partner

The biggest mistake small businesses make is trying to manage SEO in-house with limited time or relying on generic tools. SEO is dynamic, and with the rise of AI, the rules are changing fast.

At Zenergy Works, we focus on:

  • Transparent SEO strategies
  • Customized plans tailored to your business goals
  • Deep knowledge of how to optimize for AI-driven results

You don’t have to do this alone.

Final Thoughts: Small Business, Big Opportunities

SEO for small business in 2025 is all about visibility, adaptability, and strategy. If you want to thrive in the age of AI, now is the time to update your SEO approach. Don’t just get found—get chosen.

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Get a free quote on SEO, Website Optimization for AI search, or Paid Ads Management. Let’s position your small business for long-term digital success.

Clicks Are Being Taken By AI Summaries in Google

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Clicks Are Being Taken By AI Summaries in Google

As AI continues to reshape how users interact with search engines, one thing is clear: clicks are disappearing. More specifically, organic clicks from Google are being absorbed by AI-powered summaries, featured snippets, and evolving SERP experiences that give users answers without ever needing to visit your website.

This trend—what some are now calling Google’s “Great Decoupling”—is no longer speculation. It’s happening. And for businesses that rely on search visibility and web traffic, the implications are serious.

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What Is the “Great Decoupling” in Search?

The term refers to a growing shift in how Google delivers results. Rather than simply showing a list of blue links that direct users to external websites, Google now attempts to decouple the question from the need to visit another page by offering AI-generated summaries and answers directly on the search page.

For users, it’s seamless. For businesses, it’s disruptive.

The content you’ve worked hard to create may now be used to feed AI summaries—without earning you a click, engagement, or conversion.

How AI Overviews Are Changing SEO

At first glance, these AI-generated summaries seem like just another evolution in Google’s constant algorithm updates. But in practice, they represent a structural change in how search works:

  • Fewer Clicks to Websites: As Google answers questions directly in the SERP, fewer users feel the need to click through to actual websites.
  • Increased Competition for Position Zero: Brands now have to compete not just for the top spot, but to become part of the AI-generated content bubble.
  • Reduced Value of Long-Tail Content: If AI can summarize multiple sources into a neat package, the value of your in-depth content may never be realized through traffic alone.

Why This Matters to Business Owners

If your business depends on organic search traffic to generate leads or sales, the rise of AI summaries may already be eroding your performance metrics—without you realizing it.

You may still rank well. You may still show up on page one. But if the AI answers the question before users click, your rankings won’t convert into traffic.

This is especially important for local businesses, service providers, and eCommerce brands that rely on traffic from long-tail queries and content-rich pages.

SEO Strategy for the AI Era

At Zenergy Works, we believe in adapting early. Here’s how we’re helping clients respond:

1. Focus on Value Beyond the Summary

Craft content that goes deeper than what an AI summary can offer. Include unique perspectives, original data, strong calls to action, and visuals that keep people on your site longer.

2. Optimize for AI Participation

Position your content in ways that make it more likely to be used by AI summaries—while also ensuring branding is clear so users know where the info comes from. Think semantic markup, structured data, and clarity in messaging.

3. Diversify Your Traffic

Invest in paid search, social advertising, and email marketing to reduce dependency on organic clicks alone. A strong multi-channel strategy protects your visibility no matter how the SERP evolves.

4. Track SERP Behavior Closely

Monitor impressions, click-through rates, and SERP layout changes over time. Don’t just look at rankings—look at the actual clicks you’re receiving and identify which types of queries are being cannibalized by AI overviews.

Don’t Wait for Traffic to Vanish

Organic clicks are still valuable—but they’re no longer guaranteed. The sooner you adapt your SEO strategy for AI search, the better you’ll protect your digital presence in a rapidly shifting landscape.

At Zenergy Works, we specialize in advanced SEO, AI search optimization, and paid ads management tailored for modern businesses. We stay ahead of Google’s changes—so you don’t fall behind.

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Is Google Losing Ground To AI Answer Engines?

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Is Google Losing Ground To AI Answer Engines?

At Zenergy Works, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the latest shifts in search engine behavior—and if there’s one trend we can’t afford to ignore, it’s the rise of AI answer engines. From ChatGPT to Perplexity to Google’s own Search Generative Experience (SGE) and Google Gemini, the traditional way people search for information is changing fast.

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For years, Google has been the undisputed gateway to online discovery. But as AI platforms begin serving answers directly—without needing to click through to a website—businesses like yours could see big changes in how visibility, traffic, and conversions are generated.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s happening and how your company can stay ahead.

What Are AI Answer Engines?

AI answer engines are tools that use machine learning to pull from vast sources of information and provide users with instant, conversational answers. Instead of presenting a list of blue links like Google has traditionally done, these engines respond with summaries, solutions, or even advice—all in a single interface.

Popular examples include:

  • ChatGPT (OpenAI) – Now integrated with web browsing and plugins
  • Perplexity AI – Sources content with citations in a user-friendly summary
  • You.com, Claude.ai, Gemini – Other growing platforms with similar functionality

While Google remains dominant in traditional search, AI tools are shifting how people access information, often bypassing websites entirely.

Why This Matters for SEO

The move toward zero-click, answer-based search is already impacting businesses. According to Search Engine Land, Google’s search traffic is declining in some verticals, and AI answer engines are capturing more of users’ attention and intent.

For your business, this means:

  • Fewer clicks from traditional search engine results pages (SERPs)
  • Greater competition for featured snippets and answer boxes
  • Higher reliance on AI-friendly, structured content
  • The need to diversify beyond standard keyword SEO

This isn’t just a shift in rankings—it’s a shift in search behavior.

How to Adapt Your SEO Strategy

We’re actively helping our clients develop SEO strategies for the new AI-powered landscape. Here’s what your business should consider right now:

1. Focus on Topical Authority

AI answer engines prioritize trustworthy, authoritative content. This means your website should go deeper into topics—not just skim the surface. Publish detailed blog posts, FAQs, tutorials, and industry insights that establish your company as the go-to expert.

2. Use Clear, Structured Data

Formatting matters. Headers (H1, H2, H3), bullet points, schema markup, and short, concise answers all make your content easier for AI to interpret and use. If you want to be featured in an answer box, your formatting must make sense to machines.

3. Refresh Your Content Regularly

AI engines prefer up-to-date content. Older blogs or outdated service pages may be ignored in favor of fresher answers. We recommend revisiting your top-performing content and updating it for 2024 search intent.

4. Optimize for Conversational Queries

Think beyond keywords—focus on natural language and question-based search terms. “How much does X cost?” or “What’s the best way to do Y?” is the kind of phrasing AI engines love.

5. Diversify Beyond Google

It’s time to look at a multi-platform SEO approach. YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, and even Amazon are taking market share from Google in specific niches. Make sure your SEO firm is optimizing across multiple ecosystems.

Paid Ads: Still Powerful, Still Evolving

While organic SEO is shifting, paid advertising remains an effective tool—especially when managed strategically. We’re helping clients adjust paid search strategies to account for reduced organic traffic, and we’re also exploring new ad opportunities in AI-powered platforms.

Platforms like Microsoft Copilot and Google’s SGE may begin offering AI-integrated ads, and getting ahead of those developments could offer early movers a real advantage.

The Bottom Line

No, Google isn’t going away—but it is adapting. And your business should be, too.

AI answer engines aren’t a threat—they’re an opportunity to reimagine how your content reaches potential customers. With the right strategy, you can not only preserve your digital visibility—you can grow it.

At Zenergy Works, we specialize in forward-thinking SEO strategies that meet today’s demands while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges. From AI search optimization and SEO audits to paid ads management, we’ve got the tools to keep your business competitive.

Get A Free Quote On SEO Or AI Search Optimization Get A Free UX Review

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Ready to modernize your SEO? Let’s chat.
Get your free quote now and discover how we can help you thrive in the evolving world of AI-driven search.

Navigating the GA4 Reporting Disruption: What Businesses Need to Know

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Navigating the GA4 Reporting Disruption: What Businesses Need to Know

For businesses and marketers relying on Google Analytics 4 (GA4), recent weeks have been a challenging time. Starting November 13, 2024, users noticed unexpected drops in reported website traffic, with some seeing up to 50% discrepancies. This issue sparked widespread concern, as accurate analytics are vital for business intelligence, performance monitoring, and strategic planning.

After a week of uncertainty and frustration, Google confirmed the problem and announced that it had been resolved as of November 20, 2024. Here’s an overview of what happened, how it was addressed, and lessons businesses can take away from the incident.

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The Root of the Issue

GA4 users first reported seeing sharp declines in their website traffic metrics. While real-time data appeared normal, historical reporting tables were significantly underreporting visitors, causing confusion and concern.

The disruption appeared to stem from an issue with the generation of standard reporting tables in GA4. Users with BigQuery integrations noted that their exports were unaffected, confirming that data collection itself was intact, but the reporting system was flawed.

Despite the severity of the problem, Google remained silent for five days before acknowledging the issue through its Google Ads Status Dashboard. The statement confirmed ongoing investigations and reassured users that granular reports and BigQuery exports were unaffected.

The Fix: Resolution Announced

On November 20, 2024, Google announced that the issue had been resolved. The company apologized for the disruption and thanked users for their patience.

In its statement, Google confirmed that reporting functionality in GA4 had returned to normal. However, there has been no confirmation yet about whether the missing historical data will be restored retroactively. This leaves businesses with a potential gap in their analytics history, requiring additional reconciliation efforts.

The Impact on Businesses

For many organizations, the disruption highlighted just how reliant they have become on GA4 for business-critical decisions. Accurate analytics are essential for tracking the success of marketing campaigns, allocating budgets, and understanding customer behavior.

The week-long underreporting of traffic posed challenges in several key areas:

  • Performance Analysis: With traffic metrics inaccurately reported, businesses struggled to evaluate campaign success.
  • Budget Allocation: Inconsistent data may have led to hesitation or missteps in marketing spend decisions.
  • Client Reporting: Agencies relying on GA4 data for client reporting had to scramble to find alternative metrics or explain discrepancies.

Lessons Learned

While the issue has been resolved, this incident underscores the importance of diversification and redundancy in analytics tools. Here are some takeaways for businesses:

  1. Leverage Multiple Tools
    Relying solely on one platform, such as GA4, can leave you vulnerable to unexpected disruptions. Pair GA4 with other analytics tools, such as Google Search Console or independent platforms, to ensure consistent data availability.
  1. Utilize BigQuery Integration
    For those using GA4, integrating with BigQuery provides an additional layer of data security and accessibility. During the disruption, BigQuery exports remained intact, offering a lifeline for users who needed reliable metrics.
  1. Regular Data Backups
    Periodically exporting data to external storage ensures you have a reference point in case of future issues. Historical backups can provide continuity and peace of mind.
  1. Monitor Real-Time Data
    Real-time analytics proved to be a reliable resource during this incident. Keeping an eye on live metrics can help identify anomalies and maintain situational awareness.

Moving Forward

The GA4 reporting disruption serves as a reminder that even industry-standard tools are not immune to technical issues. As businesses adapt to this new analytics era, resilience and preparation will be key.

Google has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the week-long disruption, but the incident highlights the need for transparency and timely communication in such situations. By diversifying tools, integrating BigQuery, and maintaining regular data backups, businesses can safeguard their analytics efforts against future challenges.

The resolution of this issue is welcome news, but it also serves as a wake-up call for organizations to strengthen their analytics strategies. The goal is not just to collect data but to ensure it remains accurate, accessible, and actionable—no matter what comes next.

For more insights on digital marketing tools and strategies, visit Zenergy Works. Keep your analytics robust and your business thriving.

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Is Direct Traffic Really Direct?

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Google Analytics is the most common analytics platform out there. Because of this, GA, as it is affectionately known by those familiar with it, has had a leading role in identifying the types of traffic to a website and how they are measured. Google Analytics shows 5 primary types of channels of traffic: Direct, Social, Organic, Paid, and Referral. There can be other channels present (ie. email) if tracking has been established for these channels.

To reach the traffic report broken down by medium, you should follow this path in your Google Analytics account: Home>Acquisition>All Traffic>Channels. Google defines   Direct traffic as URLs that people either type in directly or reach via their browser bookmarks. GA relies on a code that is usually placed in the header of your website which tracks the referring site user clicked on to reach the site.Direct Traffic

We saw the amounts of Direct traffic increase dramatically in 2012/2013 as the use of mobile browsers and browser privacy settings became more prevalent. The reason for this is that GA began to place all the traffic for which the source could not be recognized under the “Direct” channel. The numbers on direct traffic for most of our clients are continuing to grow because:

  • The increased use of privacy and security plugins in users’ browsers, thus more traffic is stripped from the organic and referral channels to be placed in the Direct channel.
  • Tablet and mobile devices (ie. Safari in iOs6 and above) are not reporting the traffic source, especially for organic traffic, making mobile traffic difficult to track.  Studies show that iOs, despite losing significant market share to Android, still represents approximately 30% of the mobile browsers currently in service.
  • The current popularity of QR codes has added to direct traffic because QR scans show up in GA as Direct traffic.

How do you minimize this trend? Unfortunately, only partial solutions are currently available. Email marketing, social media posts, and paid campaigns can be tagged using Google Tag Manager and UTM codes, and Google Paid campaigns can easily be added to GA by following the path here: Admin>+create property>Google Ads Linking.

 Google Analytics will continue to create a challenge in identifying and reading between the lines to identify direct traffic v. organic traffic v. mobile traffic from the sources outlined here. Use common sense and follow the trend of direct traffic v. mobile traffic overview (path in GA Audience>Mobile>Overview) v. mobile traffic by device (path in GA Audience>Mobile>Devices) to see if the trends match. Over time, patterns will develop that will help to fully outline the success of organic placement in mobile SERP.

Eric Van Cleave is Co-CEO and Digital Director for Zenergy Works, a Santa Rosa, California Online Marketing and SEO firm.

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