So, What’s Left for SEOs in the Age of AI?
Let’s be honest for a second. I’ve been feeling it too.
The AI stuff is coming in fast. Everyone’s saying “optimize for LLMs,” “AI-first SEO,” or “ChatGPT ranking strategies.” Feels like a gold rush. But under all that noise, I’m sitting here asking myself:
“What’s really there for me?”
I’ve spent years learning SEO the hard way, through blogging, flipping sites, helping clients, fixing messy local listings, building Divemarketers. And now? The SERPs are shrinking, AI is answering questions before anyone clicks, and clients are confused.
Let me break this down for anyone else feeling the same way.
🔄 What’s Changing (And Why It Feels Shaky)
- Search behavior is shifting – People are asking ChatGPT and Perplexity instead of Googling.
- Google’s SERP is bloated – AI overviews, videos, snippets. Even when you rank, clicks are falling.
- Clients want “AI SEO” – But most don’t know what that actually means.
- The definition of SEO is being stretched – It’s not just title tags anymore. It’s citations, content embeddings, and untractable visibility.
And that makes you wonder- am I being replaced?
🧱 What’s NOT Changing (This Is Your Foundation)
- Businesses still need to be discovered. Doesn’t matter if it’s Google, YouTube, Perplexity, or social.
- They still need STRATEGY. Most don’t need an “LLM SEO audit.” They need leads, bookings, and growth.
- Fundamentals still work. Local SEO, on-page structure, content systems, conversion-focused writing—it still matters.
- Being self-taught is still powerful. The ability to learn, adapt, and solve problems hasn’t gone out of fashion. In fact, it’s a superpower.
🛠️ So What’s There For Me (And You)?
1. Become a Real SEO/AI Hybrid (Without the BS)
You don’t need to be a prompt engineer. But you can:
- Help businesses stay SEO-ready
- Improve content to be more citation-worthy for LLMs
- Use AI for content repurposing & strategy, not magic tricks
2. Start Building + Flipping With a Smarter Stack
You already know how to rank. Now mix in:
- High-converting lead gen pages
- Local businesses still underserved
- AI-friendly content formats (video, multichannel assets)
3. Go Deep in a Niche
SEO is your flag. Own it.
- Keep showing up with high-value SEO + AI + content solutions for businesses
- Build an ecosystem around that audience
- No one can out-rank your experience + specialization
4. Be the Real Voice in a Noisy Industry
People are tired of buzzwords. Start a micro-newsletter, blog, or video series:
- “SEO for Humans in the AI Era”
- Break down LLM concepts in plain language
- Show what actually works from your tests
🔑 Final Truth
SEO isn’t dying. But fake SEO? It’s collapsing.
We’re entering a world where:
- Systems matter more than hacks
- Brand presence is everything
- Those who learn how things work (not just what to do) will survive
You’re already one of them.
You’ve got fundamentals, real experience, and the drive to evolve. That’s more than enough.
So yeah, it’s scary. But it’s also wide open.
Let’s build. Let’s adapt. Let’s be the ones who don’t just chase the next shiny thing—we understand it, shape it, and lead through it.
