Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
Have you ever felt like your search engine really understands you? Imagine you are trying to remember a movie and the only thing that comes to your mind is some random element of it.
You enter some words and – voila, the answer is there. That’s AI search in action. It’s not just about what you write but also the context.
In this article, we look at the differences between traditional and AI search engines, analyse the challenges and opportunities they present, and examine how brands are leveraging AI search to increase traffic and sales.
Traditional search engines work by using keyword algorithms and indexing to give users a list of possible web pages that should have the information they are looking for. However, they aren’t great at understanding the context of the queries they receive.
For example, if a user searches for ‘apple’, traditional engines may show results for both the fruit and the technology company with no understanding of the user’s intent.
Unlike traditional search engines, AI-powered search engines use advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, which enables them to understand the concept of user intent and respond with direct conversational results.
AI search isn’t just about matching keywords. It understands the context of what you are asking. It learns from each query and adapts to your style. Here’s how it works:
AI search brings clear benefits:
These changes can save you time and make your searches more enjoyable.
Gartner predicts that by 2026, traditional search might lose about 25% of its traffic due to more users turning to AI chatbots and virtual assistants.
For businesses, AI search means a change in their content strategy. Instead of cramming in keywords, you now need clear, helpful content that AI recognises.
Brands are seeing the benefits of appearing in AI search results; they are seeing increases in website traffic and sales.
US-based period care brand Viv saw a 400% increase in web traffic from AI search, specifically for queries related to sustainable menstrual products. But it didn't stop there – sales conversions from AI-driven traffic shot up by 436%.
Viv's success can be attributed to its in-depth blog posts that provided valuable context and sources, perfectly matching the kind of cohesive, informative content that AI tools favour over keyword-stuffed material.
This impressive growth was mainly driven by platforms like Google Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT.
The adaptive clothing brand saw a surge in traffic and sales over the holiday season, thanks to ChatGPT recommendations.
Joe & Bella's strategic focus on SEO keywords like "adaptive clothing," combined with their rich blog content, helped them stand out in AI-powered search results, increasing their visibility in a crowded online market.
For more details on how brands are using AI to boost their reach, check out RetailWire.
Kevin Indig's research on transactional AI traffic offers useful insights into the capability of AI chatbots as drivers of website traffic.
His research points out that referrals from AI chatbots are more successful than conventional search in both engagement and conversion, as outlined in Search Engine Journal.
The study covered more than 7 million sessions, which showed that AI chatbot traffic is more engaged, with longer session durations and higher page views per session than conventional search traffic.
Does this data inspire you to explore new strategies for your own online presence?
While AI search has many advantages, it also presents challenges:
The move towards AI-driven search is changing the online environment, presenting users and businesses with both opportunities and challenges.
With AI becoming more advanced, companies need to change their strategies in order to optimise for AI search.
By concentrating on personalised, conversational, and contextual content, businesses can get themselves ahead of their competitors.
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