Welcome to another edition of The SEOs Diner's Club! Each week, I bring you a digest of the latest SEO updates and AI-driven insights, all crafted to fit into just a few minutes of your time. With over a decade of experience in SEO, my goal is to break down the week’s most important developments into a quick, insightful read. This way, you stay ahead of the curve in less than seven minutes. Let's jump into what matters this week!

ChatGPT Search: Next-Generation Search Experience

ChatGPT Search is an innovative alternative that challenges Google by offering direct answers and an AI-powered chat-based search experience.

ChatGPT Search (CGS) is transforming search technology with its innovative, chat-based, AI-driven approach that directly challenges Google's market dominance. By prioritizing direct, intuitive responses, CGS minimizes the need for users to navigate through countless search results, effectively addressing immediate and contextual inquiries with precision.

Fundamental Features and Advantages of ChatGPT

• Chat-Based and Contextual Search

  CGS allows users to refine their searches with follow-up questions, considering the context of previous interactions to provide more accurate results. This dynamic approach engages users by offering a more comprehensive and conversational experience.

• Direct Answers and Source Attribution

  Instead of traditional search links, CGS provides users with direct answers and clear links to sources, making it easier to verify information and build trust.

• Integration with Multiple AI Models

  CGS offers users access to various AI models, presenting diverse perspectives and solutions that help them broaden their understanding.

• Less Noise

  Unlike Google's ad-based revenue model, CGS provides an ad-free experience, ensuring a user-centered approach free from distracting elements.

Although the above example answers the question correctly, the resources provided are incomplete. The answer to this question is given on this page, but it is not among the ChatGPT resources.

ChatGPT Search Results: Accuracy and Timeliness According to Google and Bing

ChatGPT Search combines Bing's search index with its technology (including unique crawlers and citation methods). Therefore, websites not indexed by Bing do not appear in CGS results. Also, while ranking higher in Bing leads to more visibility in CGS, this correlation is not absolute. CGS's three separate crawlers (OAI-SearchBot, ChatGPT-User and GPTBot) perform different functions:

• OAI-SearchBot manages the primary search function.

• ChatGPT-User processes real-time requests and integrates with external applications.

• GPTBot is used for AI training and can be blocked without affecting search visibility.

Timeliness Advantage

One of CGS's strengths is timeliness, especially for searches that require the most up-to-date information. In tests, CGS was better at providing more up-to-date information than Google's AI Summaries. For example, CGS can accurately provide a live score of an ongoing rugby match, while Google's suggested results can show scores from the previous year. Also, when searching for Black Friday or Christmas shopping, CGS consistently highlights the most recent content, demonstrating its importance on freshness.

Accuracy Strengths and Limitations

While CGS provides generally accurate information, limitations were observed in some specific areas. For example, for certain product deal searches (e.g. “Nike Air Max 10 Deals”), CGS sometimes shows prices that differ from those on retailers' sites. CGS occasionally shows shortcomings for local search queries by providing irrelevant or inconsistent results.

Compared to Google's AI Overviews and Bing's Generative Search, CGS still lags in responding to text-oriented information queries, and the interface is considered less familiar and intuitive for users of traditional search engines.

Can CGS Become a Competitor to Google?

CGS's growing user base raises questions about Google's future in search. ChatGPT's traffic surpassing Bing shows users increasingly prefer CGS's conversational and direct approach. While CGS and traditional search engines serve similar purposes, the rise of CGS points to users' changing behaviour towards seeking AI-based solutions. This functional overlap suggests that CGS can potentially impact Google's market share.

SEO Strategies: Preparing for the AI Search Era

As AI-based search models like CGS reshape the search landscape, SEO strategies must evolve. While traditional SEO remains essential, businesses must look for ways to increase visibility on AI-based search platforms like CGS.

SEO Adaptation Recommendations for AI Search

1. Monitor Routing Traffic

Monitoring referral traffic from ChatGPT can reveal the impact on CGS's engagement with the target audience and guide the adjustment of SEO strategies.

2. Increase Visibility on CGS

Using tools like Flow Agency's dashboard to monitor traffic from CGS can provide valuable insights into how users engage with content on ChatGPT Search.

3. Optimize Content for AI Search

Try new content approaches to increase visibility in AI-based searches and strike a balance that maintains traditional SEO methods.

4. Take Advantage of Early Adoption

Businesses that are early adopters of AI Search strategies can have a chance to gain competitive advantages and traffic boosts like those experienced by early adopters of traditional SEO.

The Changing Dynamics of Search: The Role of ChatGPT

CGS signals a shift in search behaviour as users demand fast, conversational answers. Websites performing strongly on Bing may have an initial advantage through CGS's integration. Still, as CGS develops its data sources and ranking systems, it can further differentiate itself from traditional engines.

Strategic Considerations for Businesses

• User Interaction: How do target users interact with CGS, and what strategies can be implemented to keep them in the ChatGPT ecosystem for longer?

• Content Relevance: What kind of information are users looking for on CGS that differs from traditional search engines, and how can businesses tailor their content to meet these needs?

• User Journey Optimization: When do users migrate from CGS to other platforms, and what can businesses do to optimize conversions at these new touchpoints?

ChatGPT Search and the Future of Search

ChatGPT offers a revolutionary alternative that prioritizes direct and contextual answers. CGS shows promise in time-sensitive searches, and if it continues to improve its accuracy and user experience, it could be a real competitor to established search engines like Google. This new platform allows businesses to grow by updating their SEO strategies and seizing the opportunities presented by AI-powered search.

Google's AI Overview Updates Could Impact SEO

Google's latest AI Overviews update could impact organic traffic for shopping queries. New AI Overviews (AIO) features are leading to significant changes in e-commerce rankings.

Google's recent updates to AI Overviews could directly impact the SEO world, especially for shopping queries. With these updates, Google is now opening up more ad space on results pages, giving more prominence to AIOs and prioritizing certain types of content.

Here are the main changes:

• Ad Boost in AIOs: Google places more ads in AI Overviews, leaving organic search results below the fold.

• Less Fluctuation in Shopping Queries: Ranking fluctuations for shopping queries were reduced by 37%, providing a more stable preparation for the holiday season.

• Increased Precision in AIO Triggers: The number of keywords showing AIO has decreased by 15%, suggesting that Google is making more careful choices about when and where to show AIO.

• Growth in AIO Features: The use of product carousels in AIOs increased by 300%. YouTube-sourced content also increased by 121%, emphasizing the importance of video content.

• Shift in AIO Content Focus: Google now emphasises research and exploratory queries more, with “best of” searches and educational content appearing more frequently in this summary.

These latest AI-driven updates from Google impact e-commerce and shopping queries, suggesting that we must reevaluate our SEO strategies. Stay tuned to the newsletter to learn more about the updates and keep up with these changes.

Research: LinkedIn Video Posts Get 3x More Reach.

LinkedIn's algorithm now favours video content more. Discover tips to increase engagement with video strategies that will highlight your brand.

LinkedIn's algorithm has recently been favouring video content more than written content. According to a new study, the platform is increasing its support for video content and is on its way to becoming a TikTok-like, business-focused video hub.

Tips for Video Content on LinkedIn

• Be Short and Concise: Videos under 5 minutes attract more attention, especially in the morning.

• Add Subtitles and Sound Effects: Using subtitles in videos makes the content more accessible.

• Strategic Use: Video content is ideal for initial engagement, and written content is ideal for in-depth information sharing.

I intend to conduct tests in the weeks ahead and share my insights with you.

This Week in the World of AI: Tools, Services, and Tips

I've put together this week's agenda focused on AI for you, highlighting key topics exploring the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, discussions on ethical considerations, and innovative applications across various industries. Get ready for an engaging week of learning and collaboration!

• You can now access ChatGPT at its new domain: https://chat.com/.

• HubSpot has published a comprehensive guide designed to enhance ChatGPT usage in the workplace. This guide features over 100 practical examples and best practices to facilitate the integration of ChatGPT into business operations. It offers concrete strategies for effectively utilizing ChatGPT in various areas, including email writing, content creation, customer support, and data analysis. Additionally, it outlines best practices to maximize ChatGPT's potential, ultimately boosting workplace productivity.

• Napkin AI is an innovative artificial intelligence platform that enhances business communication by automatically transforming text into diagrams, graphs, and visuals.

• This tool, developed by Replit, allows users to enter an XML sitemap URL, generating a file that provides valuable context for a large language model (LLM).

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Best,

Mert Erkal