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How SearchGPT Revolutionized SEO: Transformative Insights & Strategies

OpenAI’s Bold Move: Shaking Up Google’s Reign

OpenAI, the genius behind ChatGPT, is gearing up to challenge Google’s search supremacy with their new AI-powered search engine, SearchGPT. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, felt the heat, as their stock dipped 3% to a 2024 low. But why are Google execs breaking into a sweat? Let’s dive in.

SearchGPT promises a whole new search experience that users are eager for. OpenAI claims that getting answers on the web can be a hassle, often needing multiple searches to find relevant results. They believe enhancing conversational skills with real-time web data can make finding answers quicker and simpler. We’ll see if they walk the talk in this article.

The Game-Changer

If SearchGPT takes off and even a fraction of users switch from Google, we’re at a pivotal moment in marketing history. This could revolutionize search engine optimization (SEO), either becoming the best news ever for marketers or signaling the end of organic search traffic as we know it. In today’s article, I’ll break down the story, give you my take on where things are headed, and show you some beta tester footage of SearchGPT in action.

For those who don’t know me, I’m Fred Boyer, founder of several seven-figure businesses in the SEO world. A couple of weeks ago, OpenAI launched the prototype of SearchGPT, accessible to only 10,000 lucky beta testers. What does it look like? Let’s check it out.

First Impressions

Here’s a SearchGPT result for “what’s going on in the stock market,” a query needing up-to-date info from the web. First off, it’s fast—just as quick as ChatGPT 4.0. Unlike Google, which gives you a list of websites, SearchGPT provides direct answers. For instance, it covers recent surges in the Dow and S&P, tech sector news, and economic indicators. No ads, just answers. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to Google’s ad-heavy results.

SearchGPT also shows numerous links to the sources it used, much better than Google’s link-shy AI summaries. This is great news for website owners. The left sidebar expands to show all the articles and data sources, adding transparency.

Real-World Applications

Let’s try another search: “who is leading in the presidential polls?” Again, SearchGPT delivers with lots of graphics and links. And for a summary of last week’s political events, it even outperformed Perplexity in speed. One beta tester said, “This GPT search is pretty darn good.”

Why did OpenAI launch SearchGPT? Financial reports show OpenAI is struggling with $5 billion in annual expenses, while ChatGPT brings in only $100-$200 million a year. Yikes. According to Statista, Google has 82% of the search market. But ChatGPT isn’t a search engine—SearchGPT is. If it captures just 3% of Google’s market, OpenAI’s expenses are covered. Plus, Google’s facing antitrust lawsuits, which could open the door for competitors. OpenAI smells opportunity.

Data is Gold

Another reason for SearchGPT is data. More user data means better training for their language models, reducing inaccuracies about current events. So, is Google in trouble? We’ll get to that.

Back to why Google is nervous. Users will love getting direct answers rather than a list of links. For example, searching “what did Elon say about Zuckerberg last week?” Google’s result might not even show current info. SearchGPT, on the other hand, gives you the latest scoop. For another test, search “how many calories are in an apple?”

A medium-sized apple (about 182 grams) contains approximately 95 calories. The exact number can vary depending on the size of the apple, with smaller apples containing around 70-80 calories, and larger ones potentially exceeding 115 calories. Most of the calories come from natural sugars and carbohydrates.

Google’s top result is full of fluff, while SearchGPT gives you the calorie count for different apple sizes, no muss, no fuss.

OpenAI’s smart to highlight that SearchGPT can handle follow-up questions. Another advantage? No ads. Google’s ad-based model means ads always come first, but SearchGPT puts users first. It’s a better experience overall.

The Visual Edge

SearchGPT also enhances results with videos and images. Ask about medieval European history or the weather, and you’ll see it in action. But the biggest reason Google is sweating? OpenAI’s track record. ChatGPT hit 100 million users in just two months. If SearchGPT has similar success, especially if Google loses its exclusive partnership with Apple, it could be game over.

Impact on SEO

What does this mean for SEO pros? A shift to SearchGPT could be fantastic. Publishers are frustrated with Google’s tough algorithm updates, pushing down organic results with more ads. Meanwhile, Reddit is booming with traffic. SearchGPT promises to support publishers, citing and linking to them prominently. Plenty of links and no ads pushing them down. For example, a search for a portable stove encourages readers to click the links, unlike Google.

But what about smaller publishers? So far, SearchGPT’s deals are with big companies like News Corp and Associated Press. If it stays that way, smaller sites might get left out. Some searches also show few citations. For instance, a search on books released in June 2024 had only one book actually released in June. However, most demos have plenty of links.

Let’s consider the other side. Could this be another AI hype bubble? LLMs still struggle with accuracy. Users prefer human-written content for things like health or travel advice. Plus, people like to choose whose advice they follow. And how will SearchGPT make money? Without ads, will it be a paid service like Perplexity? If so, adoption could be slow.

Preparing for Change

So, what should you do? Stay tuned for updates. The digital landscape is always shifting. We might see a SearchGPT console and a new field of AI search optimization. I’ve started experimenting with content optimization for Google’s AI overviews, and I’ll do the same with SearchGPT once I have access.