Monday Marketing Shift: How to Beat Google’s New SEO Reality

Welcome to Monday Marketing Shift, your no-nonsense update on the biggest changes in SEO and digital marketing—so you can stay ahead without wasting time on fluff.

Things are changing fast. AI overviews are taking over organic search. Zero-click results are becoming the norm. Small business owners and bloggers are getting less and less traffic, and naturally, people are panicking.

But we need to stop panicking, take a step back, and rethink our strategies. So today, I’m going to cover some recent stories that make sense for small business owners—things you can implement to restart that traffic flow.

The Power of Reddit

Let’s jump into the first story. This one is from Search Engine Land, and it’s about Reddit. If you haven’t noticed yet, Reddit has become a powerful tool for SMBs.

For example, let’s say you search for “best place to have a first birthday party near me.” The results? You’ll see Yelp, Google Maps, and then right after that, Reddit discussions and Facebook groups—before you even get to actual business websites.

The same thing happens with informational searches like, “How often should you get an oil change?” Reddit is showing up in Google’s AI overviews as a trusted source.

So if you’re a mechanic, or you own an auto body shop, you need to be on Reddit. Go to the “Ask Mechanics” subreddit, monitor the questions that pop up daily, and engage with users. If you love your craft, this won’t even feel like work—it’ll be fun.

Back when I had a fitness website, I used to go to different forums, answer questions, and engage with people. I had my website linked in my signature, and over time, that built credibility and drove tons of traffic.

So here’s what you should do:

• Build out your Reddit profile.
• Add a profile picture and a short bio.
• Link your website.

Test it for 30 days. If it works, great. If not, move on to the next strategy.

Pinterest: A Search Engine You Can’t Ignore

Next up: Pinterest. Surprisingly, Pinterest is a search engine, and I’ve seen search results where the top three results were Pinterest boards.

If you sell furniture, home decor, inspirational quote posters, or even if you’re a food blogger or restaurant owner, Pinterest can drive traffic your way.

Even auto mechanics can test it out. Create a pin answering, “How often should you change your oil?” and see what happens. Again, test it for 30 days.

I’ve personally seen pins drive long-term traffic. Sometimes, all it takes is one or two viral pins, and they’ll keep bringing in visitors for months or even years.

Also, if you have a Pinterest Business account, you can access trends.pinterest.com to see what’s trending. This can help you create content around what people are actively searching for.

Deep Research with AI: Game Changer for Competitive Insights

Now, this one is cool. If you’ve ever needed market research or competitor insights, you used to have to pay for a report or hire a consultant. Not anymore. Now, you can use ChatGPT’s deep research feature for just $20/month and get a full report on your industry.

For example, I tested: “Give me competitive insights on auto mechanics in Levittown.” It gave me real market trends, competitor insights, and even unique selling points. One of the key takeaways? Independent, family-run shops tend to enjoy higher ratings and customer loyalty than big chains. That’s powerful information.

If you own a small business, try this for your industry. Find out how your competitors are positioning themselves, and see what strategies you can adopt.

Google Business Profile QR Codes

This one’s a quick tip. Google Business Profile now allows you to generate a QR code directly from your profile. While you could always create a QR code using tools like Canva, the key here is strategy.

Most small businesses aren’t taking advantage of QR codes for Google reviews. Here’s what you should do:

• Generate a QR code for your Google Business Profile.
• Print it out and place it at your counter, on receipts, or even in your emails.
• Ask customers to scan it and leave a review.

Simple, effective, and free!

Reviews: Where Should You Focus?

Let’s talk about reviews. A recent study showed that Google Business Profile reviews are by far the most important, and they’ve skyrocketed since 2020. Meanwhile, platforms like Facebook and Better Business Bureau (BBB) are declining in influence.

Here's the screenshot of the study from Bright Local (brightlocal.com/research/consumer-reviews-historical-trends/):

Another surprising trend? More people are using Reddit, YouTube, and Instagram to research businesses instead of traditional review sites. My cousin, who travels frequently, doesn’t even use Google or TripAdvisor —he just checks Reddit discussions for the city he’s visiting to plan. He uses that data to plan his itinerary.

For small business owners, this means diversifying your online presence. Don’t just rely on Google. Engage with your audience on Reddit, Instagram, and other platforms where your customers are spending time.

Final Thoughts: Google Isn’t Everything

The key takeaway from all of this? Google isn’t the only game in town anymore. If you’re a small business owner, you need to start thinking outside the box.

Test different platforms like Reddit and Pinterest. Leverage AI for market research. Optimize your Google Business Profile and make it easy for customers to leave reviews. Be where your customers are—because they’re not just on Google anymore.

That’s all I had for today. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you next week for another round of Monday Marketing Shift!