Search Optimization Is Bigger Than Google
It’s time to stop thinking about SEO as just “Google rankings.” Search optimization now spans across all discovery platforms
[recommended reading before continuing, digital marketing foundations that support lead generation]
TikTok and Instagram Search
Users increasingly go to platforms like TikTok or Instagram to search for:
- Reviews
- Tutorials
- Local recommendations
- Inspiration
If your content isn’t optimized for discovery on these platforms (hashtags, alt-text, captions, trending audio, etc.), you’re missing major organic traffic opportunities.
YouTube = a Visual Search Engine
YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world. SEO here means:
- Keyword-optimized video titles
- Engaging thumbnails
- Chapter markers with timestamps
- Detailed descriptions and tags
Good SEO practices on YouTube also benefit Google search results, since Google pulls YouTube videos into its results pages.
AI Search + Voice Search
We’re entering a world where people are asking questions to ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Alexa. To stay relevant, your content has to:
- Be structured clearly (think FAQs, concise headers, schema)
- Match natural language queries
- Offer genuinely helpful, human-centered information
SEO is no longer just about ranking #1 on Google, it’s about being found wherever people search
