Phil Risher explains why AI-mode searches are reshaping SEO. Users' AI searches average three times longer than Google searches, and AI-assisted searches make customers seven times more likely to convert. Traditional keyword-focused SEO is becoming obsolete as conversational AI handles research and buying decisions in one interaction.
Fundamentally, keywords don't matter anymore because now people are having conversations with AI mode. The most recent data that they provided from AI mode was that the average search is 3 times longer and 63% of people use AI mode in voice. So they actually like talk to it. Mm-hmm. So naturally, if keywords don't matter and conversations matter, the old way of SEO and like jamming keywords and trying to rank on keywords, it doesn't really matter anymore. When someone goes through AI search, whether ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, they're 7 times more likely to convert into an actual customer. And the reason is, is because they have done their research. with AI as a partner to them, and they feel a lot more confident in their decision where before they would go and search HVAC repair near me, go through the blue links, read some reviews, go to websites, fill out 3 forms, wait for people to get back to them. Now they're just like, here's my problem, here's what I need to do, here's the stuff, who should I work with, you know, narrow in and then like, okay, I feel confident in this decision. Click here for the full episode.
