Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) is making waves in the world of SEO and digital marketing. As AI-generated responses start to dominate the top of search engine results, traditional organic traffic has taken a hit. This shift can be daunting, but it’s not the end of SEO as we know it. In this post, I’ll share my personal experience of how I adapted to this new reality.
The Problem: A Dip in Organic Traffic
Shortly after Google launched SGE, I noticed a concerning trend. The impressions and click-through rates (CTR) for one of my blogs were declining. Specifically, there was a 15% drop in impressions and a 10% decrease in CTR over just a few weeks. This was a direct result of Google’s AI answering user queries at the top of the search results—eliminating the need for users to click on organic links.
My Solution: Revamping My SEO Strategy
Realizing that my previous SEO strategies wouldn’t work in this new environment, I decided to make a few critical changes:
Focusing on User Intent
Rather than solely targeting keywords, I began focusing on the intent behind the user’s search. This meant diving deeper into what users are really looking for and providing comprehensive, valuable answers.Writing Conversationally
SGE delivers answers in a conversational tone. To adapt, I rewrote my content to be more engaging and informal, mimicking the style of SGE results. This gave my blog posts a better chance of competing with AI-generated content.Targeting Long-Tail Keywords
Broad, short-tail queries are typically answered directly by AI snippets, leaving little room for traditional content. I shifted my focus to long-tail keywords—more specific queries that SGE doesn’t always answer completely.
Results: The Traffic Bounce Back
Within a couple of months, I saw an improvement in impressions by 12% and a rise in CTR by 8%. These changes proved to me that SEO is far from dead—it’s evolving.
Conclusion:
If you’re struggling with the impact of Google’s SGE on your traffic, know that you can adapt. By focusing on intent-driven content, writing more conversationally
, and targeting long-tail keywords, you can mitigate the loss in traffic and stay ahead of the curve.
Read my full experience and detailed strategies here: Google Search Generative Experience
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