{"id":190968,"date":"2024-09-19T09:23:08","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T14:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leadbuildermarketing.com\/?p=190968"},"modified":"2024-09-17T11:44:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T16:44:00","slug":"searchgpt-what-you-need-to-know-446455","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leadbuildermarketing.com\/searchgpt-what-you-need-to-know-446455\/","title":{"rendered":"SearchGPT: What you need to know about OpenAI\u2019s search engine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Google is regularly updating its algorithm, AI is getting smarter by the day and new tools are entering the market faster than fashion trends, which go in and out of style. That can mean opportunities and challenges for us.<\/p>\n
One of the most talked-about evolutions to the search landscape is OpenAI\u2019s SearchGPT, a product that could rival Google\u2019s dominance soon.<\/p>\n
At my agency, we recently gained early access to SearchGPT<\/a>. Below are our takeaways about this new tool and its implications for digital marketing.<\/p>\n SearchGPT is an AI-powered search engine that combines the strengths of traditional search engines with the advanced conversational abilities of large language models. It delivers answers to user queries using real-time information from across the web.<\/p>\n Rather than returning a list of links for users to sift through like traditional search engines, SearchGPT provides direct answers, summaries and insights based on an understanding of context and the user\u2019s intent.<\/p>\n OpenAI doesn\u2019t clearly state the exact details of how SearchGPT works, however, we can surmise that it uses something akin to retrieval augmented generation<\/a> (RAG) which is a popular approach used by other AI search engines including, Perplexity<\/a> and Google AI Overviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n RAG is designed to reduce the likelihood of hallucinations in responses by integrating information from a database into the LLM response to enhance accuracy.<\/p>\n The model converts the search query into numerical embeddings that capture its meaning and searches a vector database containing trusted information sources. In this case, the web index is most likely provided by Bing based on OpenAI\u2019s partnership with Microsoft<\/a>.<\/p>\n By retrieving the most relevant content, SearchGPT can generate precise responses while linking back to the original web content, ensuring transparency and reliability.<\/p>\n The retrieved sources serve as additional context for the language model to accurately answer the user\u2019s query.<\/p>\n Key features of SearchGPT include:<\/p>\n My initial impression of SearchGPT is positive; it certainly outperforms Google\u2019s AI Overviews (AIO<\/a>).<\/p>\n While SearchGPT may result in fewer clicks for informational terms \u2013 and mostly for low-intent searches \u2013 in my opinion, this shift broadens the search ecosystem and opens new doors to connect with customers beyond traditional Google SERPs.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s AIO still primarily relies on traditional search, with the addition of an LLM-generated response at the top of the page, which feels more like an enhancement of rich snippet results than a full transformation. Non-tech-savvy users may not notice a significant difference.<\/p>\n However, for marketers, two key distinctions stand out:<\/p>\n Google\u2019s AIO uses an icon for references, offering less transparent citations, while SearchGPT mostly links directly from the publication\u2019s name, which could impact click-through rates.<\/p>\n Additionally, Google\u2019s AIO is far less conversational. In contrast, SearchGPT allows users to build on the initial response by expanding queries using the original web content, creating a more interactive experience similar to ChatGPT\u2019s conversational thread UI.<\/p>\n This means marketers might find opportunities with SearchGPT to develop content strategies that cater to a much wider range of conversational queries, encouraging users to explore content in more detail.<\/p>\n SearchGPT\u2019s natural language processing capabilities allow for more nuanced, dialogue-like interactions. It can understand the context and meaning behind words, which means keyword research is likely to change dramatically.<\/p>\n Due to its conversational nature, users are expected to ask a broader range of questions, which presents marketers with opportunities to create highly targeted content.<\/p>\n Instead of focusing solely on translating queries into keywords, marketers will need to understand the key topics and questions users are exploring and develop content that directly addresses these needs.<\/p>\n Content should be engaging, written naturally and designed to meet user intent rather than merely optimizing for algorithms. This transition emphasizes the importance of creating content that resonates with users on a deeper level.<\/p>\n A multimedia strategy has been crucial in marketing for years and its importance is set to grow even further. SearchGPT has the capability to reference and describe various types of media beyond just text.<\/p>\n Integrating videos, infographics and interactive elements into your content will enhance its value for SearchGPT.<\/p>\n Although for AI, descriptive text may become less necessary for multimedia content because it can understand imagery, it\u2019s still important for your media to be well-labeled and contextually enriched.<\/p>\n This is to ensure your content remains inclusive and accessible to all end users, as well as being accessible and relevant to AI models, improving its effectiveness in AI-driven searches.<\/p>\n Dig deeper: Visual optimization must-haves for AI-powered search<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n SearchGPT is likely to prioritize high-authority publications, meaning digital PR<\/a> and thought leadership may become even more important.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, at least right now, SearchGPT seems to link out to content creators more than Google does, which may offer brands increased opportunities to boost awareness and traffic.<\/p>\n OpenAI\u2019s recent partnerships with Conde Nast, The Associated Press and Vox highlight the value of content creators and underscores their role in the success of AI-powered search.<\/p>\n Marketers should consider targeting high-visibility content sources used by SearchGPT to enhance brand inclusion in its responses.<\/p>\n Developing relationships with authoritative publications and focusing on earned media can improve your chances of being featured in valuable AI-generated content.<\/p>\n SearchGPT places a premium on relevant, up-to-date information, making consistent content optimization essential.<\/p>\nWhat is SearchGPT and how does it work?<\/h2>\n
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How does SearchGPT compare to Google AI Overviews?<\/h2>\n
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5 key implications for digital marketers<\/h2>\n
1. Search is about to become more conversational<\/h3>\n
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2. Incorporate rich media into your strategies<\/h3>\n
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3. Earned media will remain important<\/h3>\n
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4. High-quality content still rules them all<\/h3>\n
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