What is Google SGE? How can it impact your business?
On May 14, 2024, Google launched Search Generative Experience (SGE). This will negatively affect your company’s website ranking and visitor numbers. Have I gotten your attention yet? You are most likely asking yourself, “What is SGE?” Let me explain. Google SGE is a new form of AI-driven search. Instead of Google delivering a list of websites that address the user’s needs, the AI answers the search request on its own. It’s a two-way communication – much like ChatGPT. SGE delivers a summation as a response combining input from several sources. So, if the user is satisfied with Google’s AI response, he or she won’t search any further or visit any websites for real subject-matter experts. In other words, the search ends before the user can dive any deeper. Are you getting the point now? This means most websites’ rankings will drop – possibly even drastically drop. Additionally, Google has admitted that its AI can make mistakes. Here are just a few:
- It may misinterpret its findings due to language differences, resulting in an inaccurate answer.
- In Google’s attempt to provide high-quality data, the AI may offer a narrow response that can appear biased. Yes, it will provide you with content that the AI deems more accurate based on its analysis of online sources. But based on whose opinion? It seems it wants to do the thinking for you.
- Another problem is that Google’s SGE may appear to contradict other search results. Instead of you seeing individual responses, the AI consolidates information from many sources and gives a summation of those combined responses. Again, this does not allow the searcher to draw their own conclusion.
So how will online users find your website? You will have to pay. Pay Google, that is. Today, Google’s search revenue is near $46 billion. That is up 14% from Q1 2023. That is no coincidence. SEO experts have found that it will decrease organic visibility, thereby lowering organic traffic, conversions, and revenue. Some experts are estimating up to a 60% decrease in organic traffic. According to SEO.com, websites ranking #1 may reduce organic visibility to the point that it often takes scrolling halfway down the search results to view the first organic listing. In a recent study by BrightEdge, published on the Search Engine Land website, the researchers found that SGE was having a significant impact on healthcare queries and a high impact on ecommerce, B2B tech, insurance, and education. Here were the industries in the study where search visibility was reduced by percentage on search queries: Healthcare: 76% Ecommerce: 49% B2B Tech: 48% Insurance: 45% Education: 44% Restaurants: 36% Entertainment: 36% Travel: 30% Finance: 17% SGE is a “fundamental shift” that will impact all companies – and their bottom line, according to Jim Yu, BrightEdge co-founder and executive chairman. “Marketers will have less of a say in the customer journey. Google will have the final say on the quality and relevance of your brand. This will have a massive impact on all types of marketers in every kind of industry,” Yu said.
At Agency Creative, we don’t just depend on Google Search to build awareness. We rely on many other proven and reliable tools to gain awareness for your brand. We take a more omnichannel approach to acquiring new clients, integrating online and offline tactics beyond Google search. Not to mention, we use excellent AI partners of our own that can counter this trend by maintaining privacy while increasing your visibility. While Google may have the final call on search, don’t let Google be the final call on your visibility.
For alternative strategies, please reach out to us. We’d love to help. Learn how Agency Creative can help boost your brand by calling us at 972.488.1660 or by contacting us online.
See More Work
