Shift from Search Engines to LLMs for Queries
We know the internet has changed now. For years, Google has been the gateway to the internet for most of us.
hasgasgasg
Since I started using the internet, I have known Google as my gateway to the internet. Whether I have to search a query or a website, I just go to Google and type it.
hasgasgaasdasdasdsg
And it gives results exactly matching the search intent. But things are different now.
AI is everywhere; we have AI chatbots, AI browsers, and even the Google Search results now show Gemini’s response at the top.
The Internet has shifted from search engines to LLMs for Queries.
But this shift changed a lot of things not only for the users but even for website owners, such as-
1. Focus on Thinking
A search engine used to fetch websites through web crawlers. Consider them a library of an unending list of websites.
You search something and you see all the related websites. But that does not mean you get what you’re looking for.
You will have to filter out the crap and then get the information you are looking for.
Result? You will end up with multiple tabs opened on your browser and hours wasted on getting something useful.
But LLMs don’t just fetch data. They read the query and think about the user’s search intent. They look for related data on the internet and then synthesize the data to present to the users.
If you search for something like ‘How to clean bike chain’, then LLM will show you the complete guide, the tools you will need, and even the best brands to consider for tools.
2. Death of Keywords
Search engines focused on keywords. Content with matching keywords ranked higher. But LLMs are different as they are built on Natural Language Processing.
On a search engine, your query used to be like ‘Best Chain Lubes for Bike’. Websites with matching keywords ranked higher.
But on LLMs, users generally type their queries like this: ‘I have a new BMW G310RR bike, and I am new to bike maintenance.
I am looking for some good chain lubes and cleaners for my bike.
Can you recommend some? User queries are more in natural language, and AI understands the context behind and presents the correct answers.
3. Focus on Authority
With AI, your focus should not be on clicks but on building authority. Let me tell you why. On Google and other search engines, the main focus was getting clicks on the site.
And SEO was successful when the site got more clicks and a higher CTR. But now, users get their answers in one app or page, so clicks aren’t relevant anymore.
While this can be a nightmare for some, if you consider it the other way, it’s a better way to build authority.
Consider it this way, Gemini answers the query and gives a citation like ‘According to XYZ brand.’ This builds an authority for the user, and you will end up getting high-intent traffic on your site.
