How to Rank on Google AI's Gemini
If you’re looking for insights into Google Gemini SEO. You’re in the right place. But first, a quick FYI. Google Bard used to be Google’s core generative AI bot, similar to ChatGPT or Copilot. Now Bard has been upgraded to “Gemini”, named after Google’s new set of proprietary large language models.
Gemini is a multimodal AI tool, that can help you with everything from creating content briefs, to designing images, and scaling content production.
I’ve used this tool plenty of time before, as have my colleagues here at Crowdcreate. After all, while we don’t condone delegating your entire marketing strategy to an AI bot, tools like Gemini can make it a lot easier to boost the ROI of your campaigns.
Plus, since Google will soon be implementing Gemini into its search experience, there’s a good chance learning how to master the app will give you a significant boost in the search engines.
However, mastering Gemini isn’t just a great way to boost your standard Google rankings. Gemini can also give customers recommendations on which sites to check out when they’re looking for services and products. That means if you can get the app to recognize your site and company, you could potentially increase your traffic.
So, how do you master Google Bard SEO?
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Google AI SEO: The Basics of Ranking with Gemini
Google Bard (now Gemini) is just one example of how Google is tapping into the benefits of large language models to elevate its product portfolio. The Gemini app (the one you can chat with here), is powered by the Gemini Pro (or Ultra for Gemini Advanced), language models created by Google.
These are also the models that Google will be experimenting with in its search functionality. According to the team, Gemini in search is already reducing search latency by 40%.
The addition of Gemini to Search should make a huge change to how we interact with the web, leading to changes in:
- Multimodal search: Gemini’s ability to interact with images and voice input should mean we can search for information with more than just text.
- Keyword usage: Gemini, and other AI models will focus less on the volume of specific keywords used in content, and more on the “context” of each piece.
- User experience: With Gemini, Google will be able to rank companies based not just on the quality of their content, but the experience they give to customers across all devices.
Ranking Your Website on Google Gemini
So we know that Google Gemini will influence the results of your standard Google search, but what does this have to do with getting your website recommended by the AI app itself?
Well, I think it’s safe to assume that the Gemini bot probably takes a similar approach to “ranking” websites as its parent brand, Google. So, if you’re following Google’s best practice guidelines for the new age of AI search, you’ll probably have a higher chance of ranking on Gemini too.
But as we all know, assumptions don’t count for much in the complex world of SEO.
I decided to conduct an experiment to determine exactly how Gemini chooses its recommendations.
To start, I tested my assumption, asking whether Google Gemini (Bard) offers recommendations based on Google’s organic search algorithms:
Based on Gemini response, I’d say Google’s algorithms are still a factor. However, the bot does say it considers it’s own proprietary factors too, such as user reviews.
I decided to dive a little deeper, with a secondary experiment.
Google Bard SEO: The Gemini Experiment
To determine just how connected Google’s organic ranking algorithms, and Gemini’s technology are, as well as exactly how companies can rank on Gemini, I conducted a test.
I started by searching for “robot vacuum cleaners” on Google. Here’s what I got:
As you can see, we have a list of products at the top of the page, but those results are “sponsored”, so it’s hard to know how trustworthy they are. However, iRobot did rank at the top of the page underneath the shopping section.
So, what happens if I ask Google Gemini to list the top robot vacuum cleaner brands?
Notably, I had to be a bit more precise with my question to Gemini. Simply searching for “Robot vacuum cleaners” probably would have brought up a bunch of irrelevant information, like definitions of what the products can do.
The app responded with a handful of brands (not the number I asked for). Many of these also appear on Google’s shopping section, and on the search result pages. Notably, Gemini also listed iRobot first, just like the Google Search system.
I asked Gemini which factors it considered to create its list, and here’s what it said:
Many of the factors it mentioned actually overlap with the things Gemini told me it considers when giving recommendations earlier. For instance, clearly brand reputation, customer reviews, and market presence seem to play a big role here.
How to Rank on Google Gemini: Top Tips
So, how do companies master Google Bard SEO, and improve their chances of being endorsed by Gemini? Based on the experiment above, I’d say we’ve already established two things:
- Following Google SEO best practices is crucial: While Gemini says it doesn’t solely rely on Google’s algorithms to make suggestions, that doesn’t mean it ignores them completely. A good SEO strategy for Google, will probably improve your chances of ranking with Gemini.
- Reputation and EEAT are essential: Gemini and Google both consider a company’s reputation carefully when it comes to rankings. The better your market presence, your authority, and your reputation, the higher you’ll rank.
When I asked Gemini how I can “optimize my site” for its algorithms, it offered a few additional suggestions:
This response was a little basic, so I decided to dive a little deeper, asking which ranking factors the bot would consider when recommending sites to customers, and how much weight (in percentages) would it give to each ranking factor.
Aside from telling me it would “analyse each user’s query” to understand their intent, Gemini gave me a few useful insights you can use in your own Google Bard SEO strategy.
1. Start by Enhancing your Reputation and EEAT Scores
Clearly, a major part of ranking on Gemini (and Google Search in the future), will be boosting your reputation. When I asked Gemini about the factors it considers, and the weight it would give each factor, it assigned a 10% importance score to “trustworthiness”.
Getting plenty of high-quality reviews from customers certainly seems to make a difference. For instance, look at all the great reviews iRobot has, which appear at the very top of the search results for the brand name:
But customer reviews and ratings aren’t the only way to boost your reputation. Gemini also mentions authorship, citations, security, and other factors.
iRobot has also elevated its presence on the web with third-party reviews from other companies, recommendations from influencers, and even a comprehensive content strategy, that involves highlighting the unique benefits of its products.
As leaders in influencer marketing, the Crowdcreate team has seen plenty of examples of how the right public relations and influencer strategy can make a huge difference to business growth.
I’d definitely recommend taking a multi-faceted approach to boosting your company’s reputation.
2. Create Higher-Quality Content (with the Right Keywords)
According to Gemini, Content Quality is probably the biggest factor influencing your chances of earning its advocacy.
Creating high quality content is a standard element of great SEO.
After all, you need content to connect with your customers through the search engines (and Gemini). Plus, you need it to be relevant, and targeted to the right terms, to boost your visibility.
However, based on what I know about the changes to Google’s algorithms, and the impact generative AI will have on the future of search, I’d say many companies will need to change their approach to keyword research and content generation.
First, you’ll still need to target high-value keywords that are relevant to your customer’s interests. Relevance got a 20% score in Gemini’s list, so it’s important to think carefully about what your customers are actually looking for. Intent-based keyword research will be essential.
Once you have your keywords, use them strategically (such as in your titles, URLs, and throughout your content):
All of the top ranked sites for “best robot vacuums” include this keyword in the title. However, the number one article only uses the keyword 4-5 times throughout the page. This draws attention to the fact that contextual, relevant content is more important than keyword volume in 2024.
Aside from using relevant keywords correctly, there’ll also be an increased focus on creating more engaging, well-structured content. The better your content is structured, with short sentences, headers, and subheadings, the easier it will be for Google’s bots (and Gemini) to scan.
3. Don’t Overlook Technical SEO
My third top-tip, based on input from Gemini, and my own research, is to focus more on technical SEO and user-experience. Gemini says “user experience” would account for around 30% of its decision to recommend your website, product or service.
This shouldn’t be a surprising piece of advice for most companies. For years now, Google has been updating its algorithms with a focus on user experience.
The faster your pages load, the more mobile friendly they are, and the easier the layout is to navigate, the more chances you have of ranking higher on the SERPs. Plus, a great user experience also makes it more likely customers will come back and revisit your site later.
More traffic and return visitors means more authority for your domain.
Beyond boosting mobile friendliness and page loading times, it’s a good idea to invest in clean and crawlable code, the proper use of meta tags, and other technical SEO strategies.
If we take a look at the iRobot site, we can see plenty of examples of great technical SEO:
The pages load quickly on any device. The navigational structure is easy to understand, with lots of useful categories and subcategories. There’s plenty of internal linking between pages, to improve crawlability, and all the URLs are straightforward and structured.
If you’re struggling with the elements of technical SEO yourself, it’s worth reaching out to an SEO expert. Crowdcreate, for instance, can conduct a complete audit of your website, and provide you with step-by-step guidance to boost your SERP potential.
Mastering Google AI Gemini SEO
Ultimately, just as there’s no one-size-fits-all way to ensure your website ranks with ChatGPT, there’s no secret sauce to getting an endorsement from Google Gemini. If you want to boost your chances of earning traffic from AI bots, you’ll need to follow standard SEO best practices.
This is particularly true for Gemini, which is powered by Google, and likely pays attention to the company’s own ranking algorithms.
However, it’s important to be creative too. Think outside of the box to find new ways of demonstrating authority and value to your audience. Rethink how you approach keyword research, and remember the value of great user experience.
If you need help boosting your ranking potential on Google, or earning more endorsements from the world’s leading chatbots, contact Crowdcreate today. Our expertise working with LLMs, AI-focused SEO strategies and more will give you the edge you need.
