Google AI is reshaping the search landscape, and major news publications are feeling the impact. Search traffic to HuffPost and Washington Post has declined by over half in the last three years, with The Atlantic expecting theirs to eventually reach zero. But here's the thing—this disruption isn't just affecting news sites. It's coming for every industry. The question is: will you be a victim or a victor?
Key Takeaways
The AI Search Revolution Is Here
Google AI Mode is their direct response to ChatGPT stealing search traffic. Instead of showing you 50 pages of results with the first 5-7 being sponsored ads, AI Mode delivers a streamlined AI-powered response with only 12 sources total—and most users will only see the top 3.Think about that. We went from infinite real estate to just 12 spots. This is Amazon eating retail all over again—one algorithm owns discovery, and everyone else disappears.
Why This Matters for Business Owners
This presents both danger and opportunity. The danger? If you're not in those top spots, you're invisible. The opportunity? If you're competing against companies with bigger budgets who've dominated sponsored search results, the playing field just leveled.Gary Vaynerchuk uses Pizza Hut as an example, but the same principle applies to your expertise. You don't want someone asking ChatGPT "Who is the best consultant for X?" You want them already saying, "What courses does [YOUR NAME] have available?"
That only comes through brand awareness—which is why building your personal brand on social media isn't optional anymore.
How to Get Started with Google AI Mode
The Winning Strategy: LinkedIn + YouTube
Here's what I discovered testing my own searches: Two out of three top results for "LinkedIn live video for entrepreneurs" weren't from my website—they were from LinkedIn.Why? When LinkedIn launched collaborative articles, their domain authority skyrocketed. When you publish a LinkedIn newsletter, you're riding that SEO unicorn.
The process:
You can do this without a marketing team. You can do this even if you're "bad at tech." In fact, not being a perfectionist about production quality might be your biggest advantage—just focus on being genuinely helpful.
The New Reality
Your buyers aren't just Googling anymore. They're:If your strategy only revolves around Google rankings, you're invisible in 80% of the places people are actively seeking answers.
The brands that understand this and show up across search experiences are the ones becoming category leaders. If you're still playing the old SEO game, it's time to rethink everything.
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Ready to dominate the new search landscape? Watch the full video breakdown here: AI Search is Killing News Sites: Here's How to WIN with Google AI Mode
Subscribe to Shanee Moret's YouTube channel for more strategies on building your personal brand and leveraging AI for business growth: youtube.com/@ShaneeMoret