The digital search landscape has never stopped evolving, but for Denver’s small and medium-sized B2B companies, one fact remains: content is still king. While Google search is still a dominant force, the explosive growth of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots is reshaping how and where buyers discover solutions. Understanding the differences between Google and ChatGPT (as well as SEO and GEO), and why ChatGPT matters for your digital marketing strategy is now essential for future growth.
Google and Traditional SEO
For years SEO has revolved around Google and nothing else. With over 89% of global market share and more than 8.5 billion daily searches, Google remains the primary gateway for online discovery. With sophisticated algorithms, massive index, and integration of AI (like Gemini), ranking on Google is still critical for any B2B company seeking visibility and leads.
Key Google Stats (2025):
- 8.5 billion searches per day
- 139.9 billion monthly visits
- 89.66% global market share
- Search volume and usage still growing year-over-year
Every digital marketer pays attention to Google’s algorithm updates, ranking factors, and best practices. Traditional SEO including keyword research, backlinks, and technical optimization remains vital for capturing high-intent buyers. However, the steep increase in search using AI chatbots has caused a shift.
The ChatGPT Surge: A New Kind of Search
While Google’s scale is unmatched, ChatGPT’s rise is rewriting the rules of digital marketing once again. In just a few years, ChatGPT has become the world’s leading AI chatbot, now serving hundreds of millions of users and generating billions of monthly visits.
Key ChatGPT Stats (2025):
- 400 million weekly users
- 4.5–5.2 billion monthly visits
- ~122 million daily active users
- Market share in AI chatbot space: 79%
- Still less than 1% of total global search market, but growing rapidly
Unlike Google, ChatGPT doesn’t show a list of links. Instead, it delivers direct, conversational answers, often citing and summarizing trusted sources. For users, this means faster, more contextual responses. For businesses, it means that being referenced in AI-generated answers is the new frontier of digital visibility.
Why B2B Companies Must Work With ChatGPT
1. Changing Buyer Behavior
B2B buyers are increasingly using ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for research, vendor comparisons, and even shortlisting solutions. If your company isn’t being cited in these AI-generated answers, you’re missing out on early-stage consideration.
2. New Referral Pathways
While Google still drives most website traffic, ChatGPT’s referral share is rising fast and is up 740% in the past year alone. Early adopters of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) are already seeing new leads and inquiries from AI platforms.
3. The SEO Playbook Is Expanding
Traditional SEO focuses on Google’s crawlers. GEO, by contrast, is about structuring your content, schema, and brand signals so that AI models like ChatGPT recognize, trust, and cite your expertise. This means optimizing for both Google and generative engines is the best bet at doubling your chances of being discovered. But how can you accomplish this?
4. Early Adopter Advantage
Just as early SEO adopters dominated Google rankings, early GEO adopters are becoming the go-to sources in ChatGPT’s answers. For Denver B2B companies, this is a unique opportunity to leapfrog larger competitors and become the trusted voice in your niche.
Google vs. ChatGPT: How the Digital Marketing Approach Differs
| Google Search | ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Market Share | 89–93% of global search | <1% of global search, 74–79% of AI chatbots |
| User Experience | List of links, ads, featured snippets | Direct, conversational answers with citations and links |
| Content Discovery | Web crawling, page indexing | Model training, real-time web reading |
| Optimization Tactics | Keywords, backlinks, site structure | Structured data, semantic clarity, authority building |
| Referral Traffic | High, but competitive | Fast-growing, early-stage opportunity |
| Algorithm Updates | Frequent, publicized | Opaque, driven by AI model updates |
What Should Denver B2B Companies Do Now?
1. Maintain Strong SEO for Google:
Continue investing in traditional SEO. Ranking on Google remains essential for capturing the largest pool of search-driven buyers. Just because GEO is the shiny new toy, abandoning your SEO efforts will hurt in the long run. SEO is a long-term strategy.
2. Start GEO Now:
Don’t wait for ChatGPT to catch up to Google in scale. GEO is already driving results for early adopters by getting them cited in AI-generated answers. This means:
- Structuring content for AI readability
- Implementing advanced schema markup
- Building authority with clear, trustworthy information
- Monitoring where and how your brand is referenced by AI
3. Track Your AI Visibility:
Use tools and services (like those offered by PlaymakersX) to audit your current presence in both Google and major AI chatbots. Identify gaps and opportunities to improve your digital footprint.
4. Educate Your Team:
Ensure your marketing, sales, and leadership teams understand how AI chatbots are influencing buyer journeys and what this means for your content strategy. Encourage them to use the Chatbots themselves to gain an understanding of how they work and what they feel like.
How PlaymakersX Digital Marketing Can Help
PlayMakersX Digital Marketing specializes in helping small and medium-sized B2B companies bridge the gap between traditional SEO and the new world of GEO. Our services include:
- AI Visibility Audits: Benchmark your current presence on Google and AI chatbots.
- Content Structuring for AI: Restructure your website and thought leadership for both Google and generative engines.
- Schema & Data Pipeline Integration: Make your expertise easy for AI to find and cite.
- Ongoing Monitoring & Optimization: Stay ahead of both Google and AI model updates.
Google remains the foundation of digital marketing, but the rise of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots is creating new opportunities—and new risks—for B2B companies. By embracing both SEO and GEO, Denver businesses can maximize their visibility, authority, and lead generation in a rapidly changing landscape.
Don’t get left behind. Start optimizing for both Google and ChatGPT today, because tomorrow’s buyers are already there.
