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Why Google Continues to Lead in Search Despite AI Advancements

April 9, 2025 by AIM

Why Google Continues to Lead in Search Despite AI Advancements

Google Search Isn’t Going Anywhere — and Here’s Why That Matters

Published: April 9, 2025

Automotive Internet Media | Digital Marketing Agency

In the era of rapid AI innovation and the growing popularity of tools like ChatGPT, one might expect Google’s dominance in search to be challenged. But the data tells a different story — one that highlights Google search for lasting consumer trust, reliable performance, and ongoing value for marketers.

% of US consumers who use AI chatbots or AI search tools to find out information, by generation, Dec 2024

According to a December 2024 survey from Pearl, conducted by Censuswide and reported by eMarketer, 57.8% of US consumers still prefer to use Google search over AI platforms like ChatGPT when they need a factual answer. That’s more than half of the population choosing Google — not out of habit, but because they trust it for real, reliable information.

Consumers Still Trust Google for Facts

The key takeaway from the survey? When accuracy matters, users turn to Google. Despite the conversational aspect and accessibility of AI platforms, people still see Google as the definitive source for factual information. This trust has been built over decades of delivering relevant, credible results — reinforced by Google’s sophisticated algorithms and its vast indexing of the web.

The fact that people still trust Google says a lot and it’s something marketers should pay attention to.

Google Search Ads Are Not Dead — They’re Essential

With so much buzz around AI, it’s easy to assume traditional digital marketing tactics like search ads are losing relevance. However, it is evident that Google search ads remain highly effective, especially because the platform is still where the majority of users go when they’re actively looking for information.

If your audience is still using Google for answers — especially fact-based or purchase-intent queries — then showing up there through paid ads and organic SEO remains a smart investment. Marketers can use this data to validate an ongoing (or even increased) focus on Google-centric strategies and campaigns.

But Don’t Ignore the Rise of AI Search

While Google continues to lead, the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other answer engines shouldn’t be ignored. The survey chart highlights two key points: Google is still the top choice, but new search habits are forming. As AI tools grow, people are starting to mix traditional search with conversational AI — especially for things like product discovery and more detailed questions. Marketers should take note and start thinking about how to show up on these AI platforms, too.

What This Means for Your Strategy

Keep prioritizing Google SEO – It’s still the most trusted search engine for factual content.
Don’t sleep on search ads – They’re still a crucial and relevant tool for promoting your products and services.
Start integrating AI-aware strategies – Position your brand for visibility not just in Google, but in the growing number of AI-driven platforms.

Final Thoughts

The future of search is evolving, but that doesn’t mean one platform has to replace another. Google isn’t going anywhere, and neither are the search behaviors it’s shaped over the years. Marketers who recognize both the staying power of Google and the rise of AI will be best positioned to thrive in this shifting landscape.

AIM One-Stop Shop

September 9, 2016 by Tony

A Look Under the Hood
We are better than your average digital marketing company. We know how to market your dealership with some of the best, fresh digital content and social presence while keeping your overall goals in mind: more traffic, engaged users and increased sales.
The Best Mix of Marketing Services
Full Service: Let us take the driver’s seat and drive more traffic to your dealership. Our full service option lets us help you achieve your over-arching goals using some of the best digital marketing practices including, original website content, social media, SEO, display and retargeting ads, pay per click advertising and more!
Conquest Email Marketing: You might want to make a U-turn if your dealership isn’t currently utilizing email marketing. But AIM’s email marketing is not something you’ll find using standard email marketing services. Our Supercharged email marketing services offer data to dominate your market and increase sales.
Email Newsletters: Living in a digital age, it is important to make sure you are in your customer’s eyes consistently. AIM’s email marketing allows you to send all your specials and information without having to do the work—we take care of it all! You’ll expect to have a quick turnaround, a flexible design and high ROI.
Pay Per Click (PPC): Paid search advertising is a great way to drive more traffic to your dealership. This service allows customers to find your inventory and dealership. Market your dealership and inventory with AIM’s PPC services.
Retargeting: Leverage your traffic coming to your website and capture those visitors who have expressed an interest in your inventory but didn’t make it to check out. The consumer will then receive online ads for your dealership with our placement of code.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is an investment and it’s an investment a dealership should highly consider. It will increase your customer base, your sales, your dealership’s reviews and your visibility on the web.
Social Media: Today it is important and a necessity to have a social presence. Join the conversation with your customers! We’re ready to do the work for you by managing your social presence while you sell and service cars.
Video Production: Expand your brand today with video. Use video to promote your vehicles, sales and services with YouTube pre-roll. Let us turn your vision into a reality while we represent you and your dealership.
Web Design: Let us set your business apart from others in the automotive market with a customized, responsive website. To top it off, we offer a one-stop dealership website experience with a dual language site. With the click of one button your English site can switch to Spanish.

Breaking Down the Difference: CarClicks vs. Traditional Pay Per Click Marketing

February 24, 2016 by Tony

You may be wondering if you have a CarClicks account, do you really need a pay per click presence, or vice versa? Or, do you even need either of these advertising mediums?
We recommend having both, and not because CarClicks is our product! The benefits will outweigh the costs, and you will sell more cars. It’s that simple. We’ll break down the two strategies so it’s easier to understand the differences, as it can get kind of confusing when you start hearing acronyms like PPC, CPC, SRP, and VDP. We’re confident you’ll see why each of these services will be worth it in the end.
How CarClicks Works
CarClicks is another version of a pay per click campaign where your ads are not listed on Google, but instead on various auto shopping websites for in-market customers. For example, you may have a used 2014 Ford Focus on your lot that you are looking to sell. Because CarClicks updates their database every day, they saw you have that Focus in your inventory, so they will automatically list the car on dozens of automotive websites where customers can shop for 2014 Ford Focus’ in their area.

There are several benefits to this mode of advertising. First, you are not charged anything until a customer clicks on your car, so you know that whoever clicks is interested in that specific car on your lot. Second, when a customer clicks on your car, they will then be redirected to your website – specifically the vehicle display page, rather than staying on that third party site. The customer can then check out the car itself and browse any other cars on your site, fill out a contact form, etc.
Unlike Google’s pay per click campaigns, CarClicks ads are actual vehicle detail page listings, not just keywords that would link to either your website home page or search results page. The customer is taken directly to that exact vehicle, avoiding confusion and increasing the likelihood of them scheduling a test drive.
How Pay Per Click Marketing Works
Unlike CarClicks being linked directly to your VDPs, pay per click (PPC) ads are typically linked to corresponding search results pages or homepage of your website, depending on the ad. These ads are also not displayed on popular vehicle shopping sites, but are displayed right on the Google search page when you search a specific term, such as “2016 Chrysler 200” or “New 2016 Truck”.

The PPC process uses a bidding system to determine which ad will show up for which keyword on Google, ranking in position – with 1 being the very first spot and also the most expensive per click. Recently, Google has gone away with side bar ads and is only filling ad spots for 1 through 7, so demand for ad space is at all all-time high.
Although Google PPC ads are similar in the sense that they are billed at a cost per click (CPC), they aren’t very similar in many other ways. These ads will show up based on the relevance, location, time of the day that a user searches for the keyword, budget, etc. An ad is not likely to show up in every search unless there are unlimited finds, of course. The more competitive a keyword, the more money it will cost an advertiser. There is no fixed CPC here, and it’s a balancing act with trying to juggle funds and maintaining a good position in a Google search so that users will see the ad and click on it.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Pay per click search marketing can be time consuming, tricky, and tedious, so companies often outsource this service to experts like AIM. If your ads are not placed properly, relevant, or targeted in the correct way, you could be wasting thousands of dollars!
Customers are shopping online now more than ever before, so being absent from search marketing is a big no-no. We’re willing to bet that your competitors are paying for pay per click ads that are relevant to you, so don’t let them take your customers from you! Give us a call us today and let’s get started on your PPC strategy.
Additionally, if you are looking to drive customers straight to your vehicle display pages (and who isn’t?), schedule your 15-minute demo now! More views on your VDPs means more cars sold. Don’t lose out on a deal you could easily win.

How to Take Control of Your Online Presence

December 22, 2015 by Tony

When you search for your company or brand online, what pops up? Chances are, your social accounts and reviews show up first. What are people saying about you and how can you change this? Well, here’s the bad news: it’s harder and more time consuming than just a click of a mouse, but the good news is that there are steps you can take over time to improve your digital presence. Here are some tips.
1. Have a plan
Before you take a step to better your digital presence, it’s important to first have an action plan. What is the message you are trying to convey? What is your company’s mission? How are you different from your competition? What makes you better? These are all good questions to ask yourself before you begin any advertising or content creation. Otherwise, your brand could be confusing to customers and will eventually get lost in a sea of competitors.
2. Content creation
There are many different forms of content that should be used online, such as blog articles packed with links and keywords, social media posts that engage your followers, online advertising that leads the right kind of customers to your inventory or brand, and website content that ranks organically.
Blog articles should have completely original content so your site is not penalized for plagiarism or duplicate content. The articles should also include relevant keywords in order to rank organically in Google for those keywords. If images are included, make sure they have alt text associated with them so bots can scan the image and know what it is (since they cannot read images).
Social media posts should be personal, timely, and engaging. Be sure to respond to all customer comments, even negative, as this presents you in a personable light instead of as a large company with no face. Facebook advertising is also beneficial if you would like to target a specific audience with your advertisement for a very reasonable CPC.
If your online advertisements are not eye-catching and unique, they’ll be lost in the clutter. If they are search ads, they should have the proper text for a small space that will effectively attract a customer. If they are display or retargeting ads, they should stand out from the webpage and entice the customer to click the link. Focus on being creative but not going too over-the-top graphically. Oh, and don’t forget to triple check the text for spelling mistakes!
The content on your website is just as important, if more important than everything we discussed above. Your website needs to convey to Google what you do and where you do it clearly so your site will rank organically. Outdated content with mistakes and a disorganized order will harm you in the long run.
3. Packaging your message
Communicating the right message is essential across all channels so your customers know what to expect, what your mission is, and are able to decide if they would like to do business with you. With a plethora of options for customers to go to, you need to make sure you are definitely different from your peers, whether that be through pricing, customer service, or the overall customer experience at your store. In addition, be sure this message is consistent across all of your marketing channels and that your staff is educated and able to deliver this message to customers.

All of this may seem like it would take a couple of full-time employees to handle. No need to worry, though. AIM has you covered. Give us a call today to see how we can help you improve your digital presence better than you thought possible – you won’t have to worry about a thing.