As the most popular search engine in the world, Google recently announced their artificial intelligence chatbot, Bard, is now available to everyone. The anticipated launch of Bard and its ability to understand queries and generate human-like answers rivals Microsoft's Bing Bot and the much-talked-about ChatGPT. Bard, like the others, will ultimately change the way we search. So what does this mean for your business? Here's what you need to know about Bard and how it is going to change the online search landscape.

WHAT IS GOOGLE'S BARD?

Google Bard is an experimental conversational AI chat service from Google that can generate human-like responses to any prompt or search query. Not only is it capable of answering questions, it follows instructions, writes and debugs code, and even solves complex math problems.

This AI service or tool was designed to mimic human-like conversations. Bard is currently available in 180 countries and territories and has the potential to revolutionize the way we search for information on the internet.

To access Google Bard, go to bard.google.com, or search for it in any browser. Note, you will need to sign in to a Google account to start using it! Once you are in, you can type in your questions or prompts. It introduces itself as your “creative and helpful collaborator.” You enter a prompt and start conversing.

questions or prompts. It introduces itself as your “creative and helpful collaborator.” You enter a prompt and start conversing.

Before you start using it, Google tells you that you should not rely on Bard’s responses for “medical, legal, financial or other professional advice.” It even lets you know upfront that Bard could give you inaccurate information - but “your feedback makes Bard more helpful and safe.”

Bard is still in its early stages but it promises to constantly improve. If you haven't already tried out Google Bard, we recommend giving it a try to see how it works and the results it delivers.

HOW DOES BARD DIFFER FROM OTHER SEARCH ENGINES?

As a large language model, Bard is trained on a vast dataset of text and code, which makes it different from other search engines. By understanding and generating human-like text, Bard can generate creative content and answer questions in an informed manner.

Bard differs from other search engines in the following ways:

• Bard's abilities include text generation, language translation, and creation of various content types. Other search engines are limited to providing links to pre-existing internet information.
• Bard can answer complex and open-ended questions comprehensively, while other search engines may struggle with them.
• Bard is still under development, as it is constantly improving and learning. Other search engines may not improve as frequently.
• Bard is interactive, providing natural and engaging responses to questions, while other search engines are not interactive.
• Bard is available on multiple platforms, while other search engines may only be available on select platforms.

HOW DOES BARD CHANGE THE WAY WE SEARCH?

Bard represents a significant shift in the way we approach online search. Unlike previous search engines, which used a combination of keywords, links, and other factors to determine the relevance of search results, Bard uses a more sophisticated approach. It also takes into account a website's speed, security, and visual stability.

This means that when you conduct a search on Bard, you'll likely see more relevant results that load quickly and offer a better user experience. It prioritizes user satisfaction above all else.

For example, if you're looking for a restaurant in your area, Bard will show you results that not only match your search terms but also provide helpful information such as menu items, prices, and customer reviews. Additionally, if one restaurant's website is slow to load or not secure, it's less likely to appear in the response.

In a sense, Bard is all about quality over quantity. Rather than bombarding users with endless pages of search results, Bard aims to deliver the most relevant, high-quality results possible.

Businesses that want to adapt to the new AI world need to pay attention to their website's performance, speed, and overall user experience. This includes ensuring that their site is mobile-friendly, optimized for speed, and secure.

By doing so, businesses can improve their chances of ranking highly on Bard and reaching their target audience more effectively. Ultimately, Bard is an important reminder that search engine optimization (SEO) is about creating a great user experience.

HOW BARD COULD AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS

The implementation of Google's Bard has significant implications for the usual SEO practices, which could significantly impact your business's online presence. One of the key changes Bard brings is the replacement of the traditional "position zero" or featured snippet.

Instead, Bard will offer a personalized answer to the user's query based on AI-generated data. This means that traditional SEO techniques such as keyword optimization may become less important, as the focus shifts to delivering high-quality, relevant, and valuable website content.

While Bard may offer a personalized answer, it's important to note that AI-generated responses will not completely replace search results on Google. Rather, Google will likely find a balance between AI-generated responses and organic search results, allowing businesses to still optimize their content for traditional search algorithms.

To succeed in this new era of search, we recommend businesses focus on creating high-quality, relevant, and valuable website content that meets their users' needs. This means not only understanding your audience's search intent but also delivering content that is personalized, informative, and engaging.

By investing in your website's content, you can increase your visibility in both Bard's AI-generated responses and traditional organic search results, making your business stand out in the crowded online marketplace.

HOW TO PLAN FOR THE AI FUTURE

It's still early days for Google's Bard, but that doesn't mean you should sit back and wait for things to develop. As with any significant shift in the world of SEO, businesses need to start planning and preparing now if they want to stay ahead of the curve.

While the full impact of Bard remains to be seen, it's clear that it's going to have an impact on search rankings and how users find information online. So, a first step for any business should be to start researching and learning about what Bard is and how it works.

From there, it's essential to start thinking about how your business can adapt to this new reality. For example, you may need to tweak your SEO strategy to optimize for Bard, or you might need to think about new ways to engage with potential customers on the platforms Bard is most likely to favor.

The good news is that you don't have to navigate these changes alone. Here at Keen Insites, we're already hard at work developing strategies and tactics to help our clients stay ahead of the game. Whether you need help with SEO, web development, social media, or content marketing, we're here to help you adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving world of online search.