How To Adapt SEO Strategies To Better Appear In Google SGE?

Let’s just briefly explain this part – so we’re all on the same page with the newest Google ideas (which, as you’re probably well aware, are constantly developing).

Google SGE, or Search Generative Experience, is an experimental update to Google’s search engine that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide users with enhanced search results. But how does it work, exactly?

Well, imagine Google giving you a mini-report right on the search page. It’s something like a direct answer that peaked a few years back (if you were in the SEO industry back then, you probably remember fighting for so-called “zero positions”). You get an answer made of information around the web, which is gathered by Google’s AI mechanisms.

Pros? No more jumping through tons of links. Google summarizes answers to your questions so that you can get the gist without all the hassle. Cons? SGE utilizes generative AI to analyze top search results and create concise summaries directly on the search results page – and AI can be wrong. It makes up information, too (even though it shouldn’t).

Google aims to improve user’s search experience, that’s why SGE:

Think of it as a preview of the information you seek. It’s not perfect (yet), but it’s useful and easy to use.

It’s still in the early development stages. You can try it out on Chrome or the Google app if you’re in the US and searching in English. For a few months now (since November 2023), SGE is also available in120 new countries, such as India, Japan, or Brasil. Because of Google’s expansion, we can now use SGE in four new laguages: Sanish, Portuguese, Korean an Indonesian. Google might (and most likely will) roll out SGE more broadly internationally and for many languages in the future.

Not to worry. One good thing about SGE so far, in terms of SEO at least, is the fact that Google chose to stay as transparent as possible and attributes sources to its answers. Yes, it provides links to the original source materials used to generate the summaries. For users, it’s good because 1) such search results are more trustworthy, and 2) they can search further if the short answer isn’t enough.

If our short answer isn’t enough, let’s make it clear: your link will appear at the top of search results if Google uses your information.

This takes us to the core of this article: what do you have to do to actually appear in the SGE? Which sites are in, and which are out, and, most importantly, why? Are there any requirements, or is it random? Or maybe somehow connected to Google guidelines or ranking factors?

Let’s dive in!

Remember: Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) is still under development, and the exact criteria for becoming a source it relies on aren’t fully public. However, we can glean some insights on how to increase your website’s chances of being featured.

SGE prioritizes reliable sources. Focus on creating well-researched, informative content that adheres to high factual accuracy standards. Avoid clickbait headlines and ensure your content provides genuine value to the reader. Through its various ranking algorithms, Google can gauge the quality and trustworthiness of your content, making it more likely to be surfaced by SGE.

Don’t get intimidated by AI, on the contrary – learn how to use it for your own needs! Learn more about Content Creation in AI Era and 8 Best AI Copywriting Tools.

Google really cares about authoritativeness (we’re going to cover that a little bit more later). Establish your website as a trusted authority in your niche. Regularly publish valuable content and leverage SEO best practices to improve your website’s ranking in organic search results. The more prominent your website is, the more likely it is to be crawled and indexed by Google’s algorithms, increasing its discoverability for SGE. To put it shortly: do your best in terms of SEO.

SGE likely prioritizes well-structured and crawlable data formats. Schema markup is a form of code that helps search engines understand the information on your website. Use relevant schema markup for your content type (e.g., articles, recipes, events) to enhance how your content is presented in search results, potentially making it more appealing for SGE to use. Need an example? No problem!

SEO is constantly evolving – you’re probably well aware of that, since you chose to read this article. What can you do about it? Keep yourself updated on the latest SEO best practices to ensure your website remains discoverable and relevant. Monitoring Google’s announcements and following SEO thought leaders can provide valuable insights, too!

Focusing on these aspects can increase the chances of your website being indexed by Google and potentially used by SGE for its AI-powered summaries. Remember, SGE is still in its experimental phase: it’ll likely change change in the future. However, prioritizing high-quality content (in accordance with Google guidelines regarding E-E-A-T and more), building a strong online presence, and staying informed about SEO trends will help you achieve the best results.

We’ve mentioned autoritativeness and E-E-A-T before for a reason. Why? Let’s see how experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustoworthiness can support your SEO strategy.

By focusing on these comprehensive EEAT principles, you can increase your website’s credibility and make it more appealing for SGE to use as a source in its summaries.

Prioritizing EEAT remains a sound SEO strategy.

Do your job and do it well! Utilize SEO best practices like keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building to improve your website’s ranking in organic search results. A higher ranking makes your website more discoverable for SGE, so as long as you focus on the newest guidelines and algorythm changes, you’re fine.

Let’s see where the challenges and opportunities are!

What can you do to rank even higher in search results, especially AI-generated SGE?

We keep our fingers crossed for your success! And if you need any help – let us know, we’ll be more than happy to advise you.