Google’s annual developers conference was held this past Tuesday, May 14, 2024. There were over 100 announcements. We’ll break down the most important ones influencing your business and your sales leads. We’ll take it a step at a time, one per weekly newsletter beginning with “organized” search results:
WHAT: Google’s groundbreaking announcement is that it intends to revolutionize the search results page using generative AI to list businesses in categorized results. Now providing answers, not just 10 blue links.
WHEN: The rollout of this new AI-organized search results page is imminent. For English searches in the U.S., you can expect to see it first when a prospect is seeking inspiration. The categories to be first introduced include dining and recipes, followed by movies, music, books, hotels, shopping, and more.
WHERE: On the search results page when Google detects that your prospect is “looking for inspiration” using their words. For example, that might be a search asking, “What are the best anniversary-worthy restaurants in Detroit that have a 5-star rating and are located near the Marriott Hotel in the Renaissance Center?” Google will deliver these results in seconds, and your prospect may never search any further looking at individual websites as in the past.
HOW: Google computer scientists are becoming increasingly proficient in determining prospects’ intent and delivering those results. Now, with Gemini, they are able to provide more information to prospects in addition to your website search listing.
TAKEAWAY: Search results are changing in style but the need for an optimized website isn’t. If Google can’t reference your website, your company will not appear in the search results… with or without AI.
Onward and upward
