44: Future-proof: SEO in the AI Era with Michael Buckbee

Summary

The global SEO (Search Engine Optimization) business is massive, with the SEO services industry projected to reach nearly $107 billion in 2025, and the SEO software sector valued at about $85 billion this year. Rapid growth is fueled by e-commerce and the integration of AI. AI search is already mainstream, but we still struggle to understand how it interacts with traditional search.

Join Anastassia and Michael Buckbee as they explore how AI is reshaping the digital landscape, the challenges of maintaining brand visibility, and the evolving role of content in a world where AI-driven insights are becoming the norm.

Discover practical strategies for businesses to adapt and thrive in this new era of digital marketing.

Learn what has changed for Google and Bing since ChatGPT got deployed across the globe.

Michael Buckbee is the founder of Knowatoa, a pioneering platform that helps businesses optimize their brand visibility and ranking within AI-driven search engines like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. With a career that spans cybersecurity, marketing, and SaaS startups, Buckbee is recognized as a serial entrepreneur and software developer with over a decade of hands-on experience in both technology and digital strategy. Before founding Knowatoa in 2024, he held leadership roles in demand generation for public cybersecurity firms. Michael is a thought leader in the evolving intersection of AI, search, and reputation management.

Takeaways:

AI is transforming SEO by providing more personalized and accurate search results, reducing the need for traditional keyword strategies.

Businesses need to focus on creating unique, high-quality content that AI can easily index and understand.

It's important to recognize and navigate the limitations of AI to effectively use it in marketing strategies.

Marketers need to evolve their skills to work alongside AI, focusing on strategy and creativity. Mediocre marketers don’t stand a chance, but there is a bright future for human excellence in marketing shaped by LLMs.

Search might become even further fragmented. AI will dominate as it extends search to further actions and brings the user to what he or she wants to do with the search result.

Chapters:

(1:54) The Shift in Content Strategy

(5:09) Understanding AI Context

(8:24) Adapting to AI Insights

(11:54) Maintaining the Human Touch

(15:39) Challenges with LLMs

(19:14) Future Trends in Digital Marketing

(22:54) Leveraging AI for Growth

(26:24) Navigating AI Limitations

(29:54) Evolving Role of Marketers

Links:

Michael Buckbee

Knowatoa

Dr. Anastassia Lauterbach

@romyandroby

“Leading Through Disruption”

AI Edutainment

The AI Imperative Book

Romy & Roby Book