The number of Google Search queries without SGE increased last month from 25% to 65%. That’s a surprisingly big drop, especially considering the rumors that SGE could launch before or during Google I/O next week.
Search results without SGE augmentation. Why did this happen, starting in mid-April? The reduction in SGE can be traced back to Google’s Opt-in type of results (when users have to request an AI-generated response).
This screenshot shows data from BrightEdge Enterprise SEO Platform and the company’s BrightEdge Generative Analyzer:
Why we care Many SEOs have been worried about the day Google SGE moves from an opt-in experiment to the default experience because of the potentially devastating impact it could have on the amount of organic traffic Google sends to websites. But it looks like Google has been cautiously and patiently testing various factors over the past year, all with the goal of improving it for a wider release.
SGE vertical space reducing. In addition to SGE showing up in fewer queries, the amount of space SGE takes up has decreased over the past month. Here’s a screenshot showing SGE dropping from around 1200px to less than 1050px:
Viewers of the product decrease. There was a major drop in this SGE format at the end of April:
Clothes carousel results increase. This type of format gained visibility in SGE for specific apparel queries.
More notices In April, a new caveat of universal application appeared: generative AI is experimental. This warning now appears in all sectors and query types.
AIO. SEO for classic search will remain important for the foreseeable future, but it’s clear that AIO (artificial intelligence optimization) may be just as important or more important in the coming years for AI search, according to the founder and BrightEdge Executive Chairman Jim Yu:
“Google Search has undergone massive changes in recent months to test and refine SGE, with the goal of providing the best possible search experience. For marketers, it’s essential to keep up with these changes to adapt to New Ways to Optimize for AI Generative Search.”
the report BrightEdge continues to track live SGE updates as part of its resource, The definitive guide to Google SGE.
