Blog Entry

Search Killers are Everywhere

Let’s dive into the dynamic world of search technology and its transformative effects on e-commerce. Buckle up as we uncover how AI assistants like Perplexity and Siri are reshaping the way people access information, and why your business needs to adapt to stay ahead of the curve. We’ll explore the decline of traditional search methods, the surge of AI-powered tools, and offer actionable tips for optimizing your e-commerce site.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • The transition from classic search to AI assistants and how to optimize for answer engines.
  • The impact of Google’s content updates on publishing and what it means for your business.
  • How to build and utilize AI tools for smarter, more efficient searches.
  • Top strategies for tuning your e-commerce site to thrive with AI-driven search tools.

Remember when I predicted that traditional search was on the way out? Well, that’s even truer today—and honestly, I thought it would happen faster. Why? Because asking an AI assistant for something is just way easier than hunting for it yourself. This shift is why Google rolled out its helpful content update last year. They saw their traffic slipping to tools like ChatGPT and knew they had to adapt.

People aren’t interested in slogging through endless Google results, clicking through links, and wading through lengthy articles with ads and pop-ups. They want information fast, and Google’s updates were a step in that direction, but they’re still catching up.

The Evolution of Search

Google’s rolled out features like zero-click results, rich snippets, and AI overviews to speed up information delivery. But despite these advances, they’re lagging behind. Just this week, I caught an interview with Perplexity’s CEO on Lex Friedman’s podcast. He discussed answer engine optimization, which is intriguing but not quite the solution.

Perplexity.ai is getting buzz as a potential disruptor, but I see it more as a search revolutionizer. I even built a similar tool over the weekend—yes, even though I’m not a coder, I know my way around code, thanks to the incredible AI tools available today. I’ve even taught my grandsons how to use these tools!

Getting E-commerce Ready

No need for lengthy articles anymore. These AI assistants want quick, essential details like shipping information, prices, and site performance. My tool outperforms Google for these specific needs, and e-commerce sites should focus on delivering concise, impactful answers and ensuring fast load times to keep users engaged.

Collecting reviews is crucial—shoppers, including B2B customers, seek them out. Use tools like Perplexity to check if your site appears in relevant searches. We’re working hard to ensure our clients’ sites perform well, and if they don’t, we dig deep to uncover the reasons. We’re also offering detailed “Scrum reports” for purchase to help non-clients boost their sales.

Building these tools is not just valuable—it’s transformative. You can learn to create them too. I’ve even taught my grandsons, recognizing this as the future of learning. While there are still questions about accuracy and data sources, these tools are incredibly powerful.