James Schramko Podcast

James Schramko Podcast


1113 - E-Commerce SEO in the AI Era: What’s Changing and What Still Works

March 25, 2025

01:05 - E-commerce businesses are starting to see real traffic from AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity AI—not just traditional engines like Google.

02:32 - AI is growing fast, but it’s not replacing Google yet—successful e-commerce SEO means optimizing for both.

03:50 - Optimizing for AI and e-commerce isn’t a one-time task; it’s a long-term shift in how you create, structure, and distribute content.

06:31 - Modern SEO for e-commerce goes beyond keywords—it now includes technical elements like embeddings, vectors, and entities.

07:33 - Search engines and language models rely on semantic SEO, understanding context and meaning—not just keyword repetition.

10:06 - AI-generated content can be technically sound, but often lacks the nuance and persuasion needed to convert.

12:28 - Knowing how your audience searches—whether on Google or via AI-powered search—is essential to showing up in results.

14:45 - Use actual performance data to decide if AI-focused optimization is worth it for your market, or just a shiny distraction.

17:11 - Most users turn to AI-powered search for research, not transactions—your content must support decision-making, not just selling.

18:52 - As AI and e-commerce converge, product recommendations may be driven by partnerships and algorithmic bias—not just relevance.

20:36 - Analyze how Perplexity AI breaks down and answers queries—then reverse-engineer that format into your content strategy.

22:29 - To compete, your SEO for product pages must mirror how your audience speaks and searches across different platforms.

25:06 - High-performing product pages deliver more than specs—they provide unique value, clear context, and real buying insight.

27:08 - Language models often pull from forums like Reddit, where real users share specific, contextual experiences—tap into that.

29:43 - Content based on lived experience—like reviews, customer stories, or hands-on testing—cuts through the noise in a sea of AI content.

33:51 - Gert shares five high-impact strategies to future-proof your e-commerce SEO for both traditional search and AI.

49:19 - SEO for e-commerce now spans the full digital ecosystem—from Google to AI-powered search tools and beyond.