Uh-Oh, Google’s on Life Support! Is Your Online Biz Ready for This?

Remember a few months ago when Google AI decided to channel its inner comedian and spit out some absolute howlers?

It was like watching a toddler try to explain quantum physics – hilarious but terrifying.

Here are some real knee-slappers:

This one’s so bad, it's good. Or maybe it's so bad, it's dangerous. Imagine a kid reading this and deciding to surprise Mom and Dad with a homemade pizza smeared with glue. Yikes!

In this next one, Google AI almost had me when it explained that gasoline can't speed up cooking. I mean, c'mon, who didn't at least think about pouring some premium into their oven for a turbo-charged dinner?

…until it carried on.

This one’s my favorite. It cracked me up so hard that I snorted my drink when I was reading it.

These descriptions are legit, by the way. They’re from a 2018 Autostraddle humor piece by Abeni Jones. But this result shows that Google AI is just pulling stuff from anywhere without verifying its authenticity.

So, why am I bringing this up?

Well, Google claims it released AI Overview to make its AI tech more transparent, build trust, and help folks like us understand it better…you know, the standard spiel.

But honestly, I’m not buying it 100%. It feels more like a move to claw back the traffic they've been losing since ChatGPT burst onto the scene.

Those awkward mistakes you’ve seen are just more evidence of that scramble.

GOOGLE IS GETTING DESPERATE because whatever it’s doing, it’s not working—the numbers don’t lie.

Google’s search market share dipped from 93.11% in May 2023 to about 90.91% this year. Sure, they’re still leading, but that slide is hard to ignore.

There’s even a prediction floating around that by 2026, traditional search engine traffic could drop by a whopping 25% as more people turn to AI-powered tools for their info needs.

So, what does this mean for you?

First off, let me clear something up—Google isn’t going anywhere, at least not in the way you might think. Like other big tech companies, Google’s tapping into AI, so it’s not going to disappear.

What is changing is Google’s current business model. The days of typing in a search and getting a bunch of links to webpages that might have what you need are fading.

People are leaning more towards generative AI tools like ChatGPT because they’re easier to use and don’t bombard you with ads and irrelevant stuff.

Google, on the other hand, is starting to feel cluttered with inaccurate and irrelevant information, kind of like how ChatGPT was in its early days.

It tends to favor big websites like LinkedIn, Quora, and Reddit, while smaller, more reliable sites get pushed down.

So, if your online store depends a lot on organic traffic from Google, it might be time to start exploring other ways to drive traffic.

And if Google’s eating up a big part of your advertising budget, it could be smart to start cutting back and investing more in other platforms.

So, what other platforms should you be using?

Honestly, there are a ton!

#1: TikTok and Instagram

People’s attention spans are shorter than ever, and TikTok and Instagram are perfect for this trend with their short-form videos.

Did you know that 73% of consumers actually prefer learning about a product or service through a quick video instead of text or images? Even better, 84% of people say a brand’s video has convinced them to make a purchase.

For online sellers, the secret to continuous sales is growing your email list, and TikTok and Instagram are the best places to do that.

Plus, TikTok now has its own marketplace that you can link directly to your online shop. This means viewers can buy your products straight from your videos.

#2: Facebook Groups

Joining or creating Facebook groups lets you connect with other business owners, potential customers, and industry experts.

You can also keep an eye on the conversations to learn more about what your customers want, their preferences, and any issues they’re facing, which can help shape your products and marketing strategies.

And if the group allows it, you can even promote your online store there.

#3: Online Marketplaces

Where better to sell your products than on platforms where people are already shopping? Amazon, eBay, and Walmart Marketplace are fantastic places to reach more customers. Sure, you might not drive traffic directly to your website, but you'll definitely make sales.

Here’s the deal…

Most social media platforms and e-commerce websites are starting to act like search engines, just like Google.

For instance, if you’re looking for a particular product and you prefer watching videos over reading articles, you can head to TikTok or Instagram. They’ll show you videos featuring those products.

The best part? These videos give you a firsthand experience of the product without you even needing to try it yourself, which can be more reliable than reading a long review. Plus, with Google, you sometimes have to dig through a lot of irrelevant stuff before finding what you want.

But don’t ditch Google just yet. They still dominate the market. And with the rise of generative AI, things are changing fast. Google’s even rolling out a new business model with its own AI, Gemini.

It’s all about staying adaptable and ready to shift when trends change. So, keep yourself updated and make sure you’ve got enough inventory to handle any potential risks.