DIGITAL MARKETING: The Generative Engine Optimisation Tipping Point?

Generative Engine Optimisation: Why It’s Overtaking SEO in Google Search and Why You Must Act Now

Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) is fast becoming more important than traditional SEO, especially when it comes to visibility in Google Search Results and across the latest AI-powered platforms.

GEO vs SEO: What’s Changing?

While SEO has always been about climbing the rankings in search results and attracting clicks, GEO is about ensuring your content is referenced, cited, or summarised directly within AI-generated answers. This shift is significant. Instead of users scrolling through a list of blue links, they’re increasingly receiving instant, conversational answers from AI tools such as Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.

Industry analysts are already predicting a sharp decline in traditional search. By 2026, organic search traffic could fall by more than half as users turn to AI-powered search for immediate answers. The numbers speak for themselves: the majority of consumers now trust generative AI results, and adoption of AI-enhanced search is rising rapidly. Have we reached the tipping point where innovators and early adopters are replaced by a majority?

Why Taking Action Now Is Critical

  • User behaviour is evolving: People are moving away from sifting through search results and are instead asking AI tools for clear, direct answers. Google’s AI Overviews are already replacing featured snippets, and platforms like Perplexity and ChatGPT are seeing a surge in use, particularly among younger audiences.

  • Visibility is on the line: If your content isn’t optimised for GEO, you risk being left out of these new AI-driven answer boxes, even if your SEO is strong. AI engines favour content that is authoritative, conversationally written, well-structured, and easy to extract for their responses.

  • Influence over clicks: With GEO, your brand can be referenced in AI-generated answers, keeping you front-of-mind even if users don’t immediately visit your website. This is the new battleground for digital influence.

What You Should Do

  • Update your content: Make sure your information is clearly structured, answers questions in a conversational manner, and demonstrates genuine expertise and trustworthiness.

  • Optimise for AI platforms: Don’t focus solely on Google. Ensure your content is accessible and easily referenced by all major AI engines.

  • Move quickly: Early movers are already gaining a significant advantage. Delaying could mean losing both visibility and influence as AI-driven search becomes the norm.

GEO isn’t just the next step after SEO – it’s the new standard for digital presence. Those who adapt now will secure their place in the AI-powered future of search. I can guide you through this transformative phase.

Can I integrate GEO into SEO?

Steve Coulter has a 35+ year sales and marketing career both pre & post Internet. A serial innovator and early adopter of technology and new media. In a world of recombinant business ideas and disruption, increasingly involved in digital transformation and the cutting edge of search. I enjoy partnering with companies who scan the horizon and wish to stay ahead of the competition. Please contact me to discuss your digital marketing strategy. 

DIGITAL INTEL: Hot Topic – Mastering AI Prompts

Digital Intel. April 2025 Newsletter. Mastering AI Prompts

 

Your Guide On How To Obtain The Most Accurate Results From AI Apps

In today’s AI-powered world, the quality of your outputs depends largely on the quality of your inputs. Whether you’re using ChatGPT, Perplexity, or other AI assistants, your prompting technique can dramatically impact the accuracy and usefulness of the responses you receive. This guide provides effective methods to craft prompts that extract the most precise and helpful information from AI applications. Honestly, working with (& playing on) AI apps is addictive and I’m finding these resources invaluable for business and for achieving top results.

Be Specific and Detailed

Vague requests yield vague responses. Instead of asking “Tell me about climate change,” try “Explain the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and rising sea levels, including current scientific consensus on projected sea level rise by 2050.” The more context and specificity you provide, the more tailored and accurate the response will be.

Use the Chain of Thought Technique

When seeking accurate answers to complex problems, ask the AI to work through its reasoning step by step. For example: “Please solve this probability problem step by step, showing your work at each stage and explaining your reasoning.” This approach helps the AI organise its thinking and reduces errors, particularly for mathematical or logical problems. I like Deepseek because the app shows you it’s working prior to the result. It’s sometimes fascinating to watch the process. (Geek)

Provide Examples

Show the AI exactly what you’re looking for by providing examples. If you want a specific format or style, demonstrate it: “Please generate three product descriptions following this example: [Product: Eco-friendly Water Bottle] This sleek, sustainable water bottle keeps drinks cold for 24 hours whilst helping reduce plastic waste. Made from recycled materials, it features a leak-proof lid and comes in four vibrant colours.”

Set Clear Parameters

Define the scope, length, and format you want: “Write a 300-word summary of quantum computing fundamentals suitable for sixth form students. Include 3-4 key concepts and avoid technical jargon.” Use Role Prompting. Ask the AI to adopt a specific perspective or expertise: “As an experienced climate scientist with background in oceanography, explain how ocean acidification affects marine ecosystems.”

Iterative Refinement [Important]

Don’t expect perfection on the first try. Start with a basic prompt, then refine based on the response:

1. Initial: “Tell me about effective teaching methods.”

2. Refinement: “Based on your previous response, elaborate specifically on inquiry-based learning techniques for secondary school science classes.”

Request Alternative Perspectives

To avoid bias and get more comprehensive information: “Present three different viewpoints on the economic impacts of universal basic income, including supporting evidence for each perspective.”

Specify Your Audience

Tell the AI who the information is for: “Explain how neural networks function to an audience of business executives with limited technical background.”

Use Formatting Instructions

Request specific structuring of information: “Create a comparison of electric vs. hybrid vehicles in a two-column format addressing: initial cost, maintenance expenses, environmental impact, and driving range.”

Ask for Confidence Levels

For factual queries, ask the AI to indicate its confidence: “Explain the current understanding of dark matter in astrophysics, and indicate your confidence level for different aspects of your explanation.”

Request Citations

For research-based content: “Provide an overview of recent developments in mRNA vaccine technology, citing specific research where possible.”

Test With Counterfactuals

Challenge the AI’s reasoning: “After explaining why diversification is important in investing, describe a hypothetical scenario where diversification might not be advantageous.”

Frame Complex Problems

Break down complex requests into clearly defined components: “I need help creating a marketing strategy. Please address: 1) target audience identification, 2) competitive positioning, 3) key messaging, and 4) channel selection.”

Conclusion

The art of prompt engineering is increasingly valuable as AI tools become more integrated into our workflows. By implementing these techniques, you’ll not only receive more accurate responses but also develop a more productive relationship with AI assistants. Remember that prompting is iterative, practice and refinement will help you discover which approaches work best for your specific needs.

The most effective prompt engineers understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI systems, setting realistic expectations whilst knowing how to push these tools to deliver their best possible outputs.

Naturally, these skills are not for every business owner, entrepreneur or busy manager. I provide affordable consultancy for digital marketing, content creation, SEO, AI optimisation and as a business enthusiast I enjoy seeing the improvement and extra profit generated by our partnership. Please contact me to discuss how we might work together.

DIGITAL MARKETING: The New Kid On The Block.

I’m going to introduce you to an innovation around Internet search you have possibly not heard about, but will undoubtedly dominate the conversation (excuse the pun) in the near future.

Every now and then there’s a paradigm shift that alters the way we behave and that moves from something niche, to serious mainstream. Have you ever read Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point? I recommend it to anyone interested in human behaviour and especially where everyday technology applies.

If you are relying upon your website and its performance in search and in 2025 that means Google, you need to understand there is a new kid on the block who is not going away.

That’s ‘Conversational Search’ or CCAI to give it the correct acronym. The usurper of SEO?

Have you noticed how you might have started to use conversational language in the search field? Example a search ‘Rolex For Sale Near Me’ becomes ‘What are the most popular new luxury watches that hold their value?’.

If people are searching the latter and you’ve optimised your site only to rank on Google or with less relevancy or authoritative information you won’t do so well in CCAI, that could have profound effects on your business. As the investment guru Warren Buffet says ‘If you have all your eggs in one basket, you better keep an eye on the basket’. I’d put money on the majority of business owners being myopic about their Google ranking with little interest in alternatives. Let’s be honest, people like me exist because many businesses are not even strong on Google!

So, is CCAI the future of online information retrieval? In January 2025, the landscape of online search is rapidly evolving. CCAI is gaining traction and challenging the traditional search paradigm nowadays dominated by Google. But could it replace the search giant and undermine our SEO tactics? I’m old enough to remember the Nineties where ranking, even inclusion on Yahoo was vital to search success. Anyone remember Alta Vista?

Advantages of Conversational AI Search

  1. Natural Interactions: Users can ask questions in their own words, making the search process more intuitive and user-friendly.
  2. Direct Answers: Instead of a list of links, CCAI provides concise, contextually relevant responses, saving time and effort. Great for research.
  3. Personalisation: AI can tailor responses based on user preferences and previous interactions, offering a more personalised experience.

Challenges and Limitations

  1. Accuracy Concerns: While improving, we’re still at ‘Ford Model T’ stage, AI can still misinterpret queries or provide incomplete information.
  2. Data Recency: Traditional search engines often have more up-to-date information, crucial for current events and rapidly changing topics.
  3. Comprehensive Results: Google’s vast index and sophisticated algorithms still provide a broad range of sources and perspectives although have you noticed how dated many search results are nowadays?
  4. Self Referencing: A real issue with AI is self referencing, where results from AI are included in new website content, thus in time overemphasise importance.

My Verdict

While Conversational AI search is making significant strides, it’s unlikely to completely replace Google in the near future. Instead, we’re moving towards a complementary ecosystem where both technologies coexist, each serving different user needs and preferences. As professionals, it’s crucial to stay informed about these advancements and consider how they might impact our industries. We’ve become complacent with Google SEO fettling, the future of these new search alternatives is exciting, and it’s clear AI will have a role in reshaping it.

What are your thoughts on the future of search? Have you begun to use conversational language in your Internet searches? What will you do to create content that searches effectively in all models?

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As ever, please Like, Share, Save and Follow and please contact me if you would like to discuss improving your digital marketing and growth strategy.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Back To The Futurism 3

Futurist Preamble Ramble Pt.3:

The Clubhouse app analogy. Like attracts like, people follow those they respect and meet more like minded, all these people invite their friends to join the app and a ripple effect of like minded & a virtuous circle. An app that existed before the pandemic but floundering, came alive when we were stuck at home and realised that interactive podcasting meant you could contribute to the discourse of your pet subjects and interests. Typically, the larger platforms are now on the bandwagon with their own offerings. Speaking and sound was the last of the senses to be properly catered for by Social Media, the effect of hearing tone in someone’s voice is more personal than text creating an unexpected hit. Unexpected seems to be a thread.

At the creator level, ideas from people across the world are disseminated and applied to individual markets. Collaboration is a natural effect.

On a buyer level, obviously influencers are embedded, but micro influencers are targeting a smaller niche audience from subsets of interests. It’s simpler to market a niche product or service than larger.

How many have dyed their own hair during the pandemic and how many have sought reviews online? Some ultra agile smaller brands have capitalised mightily in the last twelve months by creating simple to use products and receiving rave reviews. The rise of the #RavingFan !

Social Media Groups are simple to create and market to. Brands who interact at a quantum level in these forums build trust in a subscriber that they are the most qualified supplier of goods and services (Social Listening). Backed up by encouraging great feedback within these forums and the Internet in general. Your brand’s clean fingerprints have never been more vital in a world where you simply cannot erase a poor review.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Back To The Futurism 2

 

Futurist Preamble Ramble Pt.2

Creatives can use Blockchain as a method of dating and copyrighting their output – Intellectual Property is becoming critical when nation states are prepared to steal copy ideas and products. Leading creatives will create a Cryptocoin that reflects any rise in their stock. Imagine investing in designers Johnny Ive, Dieter Rams or architect Frank Lloyd Wright stock at the beginning of their careers.

The development of creator to brand exchanges where creatives will bid for work and brands can pick from the most competitive and creative talent to bring new messages to their customers.

We have only scratched the surface of the effect of Blockchain and Cryptocurrency. There is nothing to prevent well known brands jumping this bandwagon, encouraging investment in their coin generating interest bearing tokens that can be exchanged for limited edition products, uniquely offered sale goods and media launches and cross brand endorsements. Brands expanding outside of the regular economy into the decentralised economy that even countries like the newly independent Great Britain*, a G7 economy are considering entering – maybe tied into Free Port policies.
*I am Remainer lol but we are stuck with Brexit so we have to make it work.

In summary, a new breed of independently funded creators will provide infinite new competitively priced content to brands wishing to personalise their offerings to a savvy consumer.

Convenience
Consumers want Ease, Speed, Reliability & Consistency.

The rise of apps. Expedited delivery. Free Returns

Tribes & Influences
People want advice from like-minded people or people they admire & respect. We all want to belong.

They want to support brands they relate to and admire too. Cont.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA: Back To The Futurism

More of the brainstorming from last week’s futurist marketing think tank.

Futurist Preamble Ramble Pt.1

The pandemic has enabled work from home and freelance culture. #WFH This was coming down the tracks with inevitable automation of industries but accelerated due to national lockdown policies. Home schooling (Child & Adult) and public service broadcasting was simply enabled to accommodate this. Surely a key to future economic prosperity would be a permanent extension of learning via television and Internet resources.

Millions of people around the world may become or are already unemployed or soon to be laid off when stimulus and furlough ends. Disruptors will radically alter industries like banking and law one by one as the dots are joined between industries to create recombination businesses like Air BnB and Uber. These were unthinkable a decade ago, but technology and the acceptance to use apps on smart phones by the general public plus price competition is fuelling this rise. The more sophisticated the apps become the more personalised and effective the offering will be to sectors of the demographic.

Already AI embedded plug-ins will track your e-commerce website journey and pigeon hole your behaviour then tailor a specific discount or offering to your buyer type. Rather like the person in a store who makes a purchase when an assistant only has to say “Have you tried the orange top with the blue skirt?” Until now sites like Etsy could only offer you a blanket discount across your range, added to their commission this was prohibitive. Imagine how profit can be increased when on an individual basis you offer only what you need to give to gain a sale? Or recognise a re-visitor who wants something no longer in a sale but would buy with a small incentive.

The New Creator Economy means self employed freelance creators will need to be ultra creative and competitive to create content and bandwidth to make an income. I’ve started using the hashtag #ultracreatives

These will be prolific, high quality content creators.

Cont.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Brainstorming The Future

Apologies for neglecting my weblog posts, reality keeps me from what I love to do. Some unfinished brainstorming for a Clubhouse friend prior to her Digital (Auto) Dealer Conference presentation ‘Digital Dopamine’ in Florida last week. Broken down into four Instagram posts there’s content in here to apply to your overall thinking. I enjoy applying my experience in retailing and retail advertising / marketing and adding in current shifts in buying trends and expectation. Of course also what is state of the art coming down the tracks at us all. If you’d like to add commentary and your own ideas as a collaborator please feel free to do so in the comments. As ever, please Like, Comment, Share & Save especially the latter which are vital to being on the correct side of the altered Instagram Algorithm. Are you aware of this? The brief was to think tank external influence on selling mid pandemic, post pandemic and through the era of disruptive businesses. Feel free to contact me if you would like to add to the discourse, it’s an ongoing project.

1.Path to sale

Tribes & Influences, Restrictions, Budget, World View, Brand Values (fairness, Green, ethical investors etc.) The Big Picture, Media, Contemporaries, Dominating Values, Funding, Research

2.Inspiration & Decision

Brand attitude to staff and customers, Socially Aware, Reaction to newly taboo methods like fast fashion, plastics etc. Personalisation, Greater Purpose, Entertainment, Engagement, Trust,

3.Buying Experience

Convenience, Feeling Appreciated & Valued.

4.The Sale & Follow Up = Path To Next Sale

Serving (Explaining & serving not selling) Simplicity, Speed, Courtesy.

5.The Future

The End Of Pandemic (Withdrawal of stimulus, furlough), The Creator Economy, Blockchain uses. More recombination industry disruptors. Social Funding / Universal Basic Income – impossible to avoid?Security & Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, 5G / Internet of Things, Sensitive to Sustainability, Protection of Employment, Reduce Consumption, Re-Use & Repair, Alt. Energy & Products Yet Unknown, Gamification, Transhumanism.