OK … let’s get the acronyms defined and then move forward with the marketing synergy their marriage delivers.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the marketing strategy that will drive more visibility for your business, establish you as a thought leader and convert more qualified inbound leads who are seeking what you offer. To be effective your strategy must be alert and responsive to the continuing evolution of the search engines, particularly Google. That means being nimble and proactive in perfecting your strategy as search algorithms and market conditions advance.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has now evolved from “suitor” status to a “joined-at-the-hip” partner in perfecting SEO strategies. AI has advanced from an idea to program a machine to demonstrate intelligence to its ever-accelerating capabilities to communicate by listening and learning human interactions. That data is then translated to feedback that improves the accuracy of online searches.

When it comes to online searches, Google remains the 800 pound gorilla. As such their intellectual property, their algorithm, is constantly changing. Now changes may be arriving with increased velocity.  Their stated commitment is constant expansion of AI applications. Effectively, Google is evolving into a learning machine to develop and analyze metrics that better identify human intent.

Google’s mission statement is revealing in summing up their commitment to AI, “To organize the world’s information and make it freely accessible.”

Here’s a 4 minute video that amazingly demonstrates the heights to which Google has gone to develop its AI capability to “converse” naturally with people to schedule an appointment at a hair salon or book a table at a restaurant. In a further move to employ new automated processes for AdWords (now renamed Google Ads) , Google announced it will use AI and related technologies to make suggestions for optimizing ad campaigns run on the platform. This will further enhance desired responses to Google Ads by truly interested prospects.

Now think about the marketing power behind matching customers to businesses … immediately, seamlessly and with a superior customer experience in convenience and time-savings! Additionally Google’s preeminence is likely to be further fueled as 60 percent of small/medium size businesses (SMBs) currently have no online booking system.

Business owners and decision-makers … what are your plans to get aboard this fast moving AI train and ensure your competitive advantage?

One more notable Google advance is Google’s RankBrain technology. It employs machine learning to understand the meaning of the content it reviews electronically. From that it infers intent from otherwise vague search queries to improve the accuracy of its results. Click here if you want to deep dive into 5 ways SEO experts say you should optimize for RankBrain. Otherwise, call us and we’ll fill you in.

So AI is real and will continue to have SMB marketing impact on an ever-increasing incline to maximize the results of SEO. In just the last few years, SEO has moved from tweaking a few things on a website, to adding pertinent links, to providing meaningful content, and now customer engagement in a whole new dimension through AI.

With Google leading this technological parade, AI will be implemented more and more to power their Google Ads (formerly AdWords ) and Google Search Results. That means Google will likely prevail as the absolute choice to market your business online.

This surge in sophisticated, technology-rich AI applications to SEO also means the days of DIY are over for virtually all SMB owners, decision-makers and marketing firms serving this huge market segment. SEO strategy and execution is a profession unto itself. You are well-advised to seek proven expertise just as you do with your accountant, attorney or other trusted advisors.

Takeaways

So we’ve covered a lot of ground making the case for SMB marketers on the critical need to position themselves for optimum exposure to Google searches in this burgeoning era of increasing AI dominance.

That means you will be at the top of the vendors list when your customers, prospects and referral resources are searching for what you can deliver. If you are not at the top of the vendors list, i.e. Page 1 of Google , then you just lost a customer to a competitor who has successfully done what is necessary to occupy that critical position.

We at Third Marble Marketing share the same marketing vision clearly stated by Seth Godin .

Seth’s quote is in synch with the Third Marble promise … "We help you advertise to the right people at the right time by putting you on page one of Google! What other advertising can put you in front of millions of people at the exact moment they are looking for your product or service? "

We continue to stay current with and deliver to our clients the latest in applying the AI/SEO juggernaut of marketing change to drive the right people to the threshold of sales conversion at their websites. That happens when you are consistently on page one of Google. We can help with Google Ads tailored to your offerings and always with an eye to enhancing your SEO.

What To Do?

Now your choices are do-it-yourself or enlist the aid and invest in third-party, professional SEO services. It is likely that you are already wearing several hats as a business owner and ladling in yet another marketing responsibility is probably not an option … particularly if you have to master the learning curve of effective SEO in the age of AI as the new driver.

Why not rely on a resource that delivers proven, successful strategies to maximize the effectiveness of your Google Ads, improve your SEO strategy, feature you on page one of Google and drive pre-qualified traffic to your website?

Third Marble Marketing is primed to be your SEO “go-to” resource. Give us a call or drop an email. We’ll respond promptly … at no charge for initial consultation.