Tag Archives: Search Ranking

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.

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How To Optimize Your Site For AI Search

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How To Optimize Your Site For AI Search

AI is changing the way we search—and how we show up in results. As AI-powered search tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), Bing Chat, and ChatGPT continue to evolve, traditional SEO practices alone are no longer enough. If you want your business to stay visible, competitive, and conversion-focused, it’s time to start thinking about AI Search Optimization.

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At Zenergy Works, we help business owners like you get ahead of the curve by aligning SEO strategies with the evolving expectations of artificial intelligence—and the customers who use it.

Let’s break down what this shift means, and how you can position your website for success in the new AI-driven search landscape.

What Is AI Search Optimization?

AI Search Optimization refers to the practice of crafting your website and content in ways that appeal to the way AI-powered search engines collect, interpret, and surface information.

Unlike traditional search, where users are presented with a list of links, AI search platforms now often:

  • Summarize content from multiple sources
  • Generate quick, conversational answers
  • Prioritize structured and semantically rich content
  • Emphasize user intent and topic clusters

If your site isn’t optimized for these behaviors, you risk being excluded from the conversation.

Key AI Search Optimization Strategies

To future-proof your online visibility, your SEO strategy for AI search must go beyond keywords. Here’s what to focus on:

1. Answer Questions Directly

AI tools pull from clear, concise answers—often in list or paragraph form. Use headers (H2s and H3s) followed by focused answers to common questions your customers ask.

Pro tip: Add an FAQ section or schema markup to increase visibility in AI-generated summaries.

2. Embrace Semantic SEO

Rather than stuffing in keywords, use related terms, synonyms, and contextually relevant phrases that paint a full picture for AI algorithms.

For example, instead of repeating “SEO firm” endlessly, include phrases like:

  • Website optimization agency
  • Local SEO experts
  • Digital marketing consultants

This helps AI agents understand how your content fits into broader user intent.

3. Structure Your Content for Scannability

AI thrives on structure. Break content into short sections with:

  • Clear headers
  • Bullet points
  • Tables and step-by-step guides
  • Internal links to related content

This helps AI tools extract relevant information more easily and position your site as a valuable source.

4. Build Topical Authority

AI-driven engines reward trusted, knowledgeable sources. That means publishing a series of content around your core topics, not just a one-off blog post.

At Zenergy Works, we help our clients build authority with content clusters, including:

  • Service pages
  • Supportive blogs
  • Explainer videos
  • Case studies

The more depth your site has on a given subject, the more likely AI is to favor your brand in responses.

5. Optimize for Voice Search and Conversational Queries

AI search isn’t just typed—it’s spoken.

Users ask questions like:

  • “What’s the best SEO strategy for small businesses?”
  • “How do I optimize my website for AI search engines?”

Use long-tail, natural language phrases that mimic these queries and answer them directly within your content.

6. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Adding schema markup tells AI what your content is about—whether it’s a review, service, event, product, or FAQ.

Structured data helps your content stand out in rich snippets and get pulled into AI-generated answers with attribution.

7. Prioritize E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness)

AI tools are trained to favor content that comes from credible sources. Make your trust signals loud and clear by:

  • Featuring author bios with credentials
  • Including real testimonials
  • Using HTTPS and contact information
  • Showcasing awards, partnerships, or media mentions

Why This Matters More Than Ever

AI-generated answers often highlight just a few sources—not ten blue links. If your content isn’t selected by the algorithm, you may be left out entirely.

At Zenergy Works, we specialize in AI Search Optimization, helping you:

  • Restructure content for AI crawling
  • Refresh outdated content to align with AI intent
  • Launch high-impact blog strategies
  • Implement schema markup and technical SEO fixes
  • Track rankings across AI and traditional results

Ready To Future-Proof Your SEO?

AI isn’t just the future of search—it’s the present. Whether you’re a local business looking to attract nearby customers or a national brand optimizing at scale, now is the time to adjust your strategy.

Let’s make sure your business isn’t just searchable—it’s chosen by AI.

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

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Let’s build a more intelligent presence—together.

What’s New for October 31, 2013 – Bing Optimization, Instagram Ads & Mozilla Lightbeam

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Do You Optimize for Bing?

All SEO professionals and clients know that Google is the king of organic search. Searchmetrics recently released a report detailing the Bing Ranking Factors for Bing and it includes a Rank Correlation study for Bing to evaluate the factors that differentiate better-positioned websites from those with lesser rankings.

Searchmetrics studied over 10,000 keyword streams and 300,000 websites appearing in the top 30 search results and were able to identify 5 factors that seemed to heavily influence rankings. The 5 factors are listed here:

  • Quality content is a factor. The correlation on Bing was that sites with more text on them, in general, had better rankings. Bing tended not to rank pages with lots of pictures, while Google was the opposite.
  • Social signals help rankings, and Google+ “plus ones” had a significant rankings correlation, as did Tweets and Facebook Comments.
  • Known brands tend to have higher rankings and there are more Exact Match Domains (EMDs) ranking in the top ten search result listings, on average, at Bing.
  • Link numbers are significant. Approximately 53 percent of the backlinks of websites ranked among the top 30 results on Bing contained keywords in the anchor text. This is about 10% higher than Google.
  • Surprisingly, SEO elements such as H1 headings, site speed, and keyword-rich meta descriptions had a low correlation to high rankings. Positive on-page factors were present in nearly every page appearing in the top 30 search results at Bing, making good on-page SEO the prerequisite to obtaining good rankings.

Bing Search Rankings

Instagram Ads To Start This Week

A very small, select group of advertisers will begin introducing high quality brand-oriented ads that include video and imagery, into the Instagram news feed. The Instagram advertisers include Adidas, Levi’s, PayPal, Macy’s, Starwood Hotels and others, and were chosen because they have high-quality ads. The ads are designed to have a high level of artistic value and be more brand-centric than direct response in nature. Instagram’s take on the new ads is as follows:

“Our aim is to make any advertisements you see feel as natural to Instagram as the photos and videos many of you already enjoy from your favorite brands. After all, our team doesn’t just build Instagram, we use it each and every day. We want these ads to be enjoyable and creative in much the same way you see engaging, high-quality ads when you flip through your favorite magazine.”

The ads will have the ability to be targeted in nature, although the quality of the “rifle shot” online advertising approach remains to be seen.

Instagram Ads

Mozilla Lightbeam Helps You Find Out Who Is Watching You on the Internet

Mozilla, the open-source software company that makes the Firefox browser, wants to make it a bit easier for you to visualize what sites and third-party site services might be tracking or watching your Internet activity. The new add-on for your Firefox browser called Lightbeam lets you know who is watching you online.

Lightbeam offers a very clear toggle that allows you to turn which tracking you contribute to the service on and off. Download the add-on and try it.

Mozilla Lightbeam

Bottom Line: Privacy increases, new ad campaigns that promise to be targeted on social media… does anyone else see the potential new trend here? Social Media sites have targeted information, while search engines continue to fight privacy initiatives to continue to track data. If your business has a significant online marketing platform, these trends bear watching.

Eric Van Cleave is a Partner in Zenergy Works, a Santa Rosa, California based SEO, Website Design, and Online Marketing Firm.

One Change Will Not Dramatically Change Rankings

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Clients ask all the time about the effect of one change, link additional links, additional content, etc. on their search ranking. As an SEO Professional, I constantly warn clients not to expect huge changes with any one website or strategy tweak. I want to share the definitive answer on this question straight from the source-Google.

Google’s John Mueller said in a posting on Google Webmaster Help that a single change made to a site will not result in huge positive search ranking changes. John further outlined the fact that there are over 200 ranking factors, so one tweak is unlikely to change your search ranking. The full quote reads as follows:

Often there isn’t a single “tweak” that can be made to a website to automatically make it jump up in rankings — we use well over 200 factors in crawling, indexing, and ranking, and it’s always good to work on the small things as well. When looking at the bigger picture, it’s useful to really take a step back, and to try to see what could be changed overall to improve the quality of the content (when it comes to our algorithms), especially with regards to the content that’s indexed.

Bottom Line: It is best for you to do a website evaluation, check for unique and user friendly content, and the quality of the link structure as a whole. Also, look to improve the frequency and quality of site updates rather than look for one quick and easy fix for your website.

Eric Van Cleave is a Partner in Zenergy Works, A Santa Rosa, California based Local SEO Services, Website Design and Online Marketing Firm.

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