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SEO is not dead and remains a crucial distribution channel for MicroSaaS, despite claims otherwise

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contrarian_take

The Reasoning

Good SEO ranks well in traditional search and new AI search tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, creating compound growth for niche tools

What Needs to Be True

  • Quality content and domain authority still matter to search algorithms
  • AI search tools continue to reference well-ranking traditional content
  • Long-tail keywords remain less competitive for niche tools
  • Local/specific search queries maintain commercial intent

Counterargument

AI tools are replacing Google search, making traditional SEO irrelevant as users go directly to ChatGPT/Claude for answers

What Would Change This View

If AI tools stop referencing web content entirely and generate all answers from training data, or if voice search completely replaces text search

Implications for Builders

Continue investing in content marketing and domain authority

Focus on long-tail, specific keywords related to your niche

Create content that ranks well in both traditional and AI search

Don't abandon SEO strategy despite AI search growth

Example Application

PermitSync targeting 'San Francisco permit help' will rank well in Google and get referenced by ChatGPT when users ask about SF permits, creating dual-channel traffic

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