Freelancer with 18+ years in web development and digital marketing. I share stories on websites, marketing, SEO, and AI, plus honest lessons from life in the trenches as a solopreneur.
Just A Minute: The Most Perplexing Lead Source Yet?
Just A Minute!Hi Reader, Whenever I build a website, I use all kinds of tools for marketing (analytics, heatmaps, click tracking), but sometimes, I add in one simple question on contact forms as well: "How did you hear about us?" The answers people give are mostly predictable: Google, Facebook, or the always-unhelpful “Online” (facepalm). But every once in a while, something surprising pops up. This week, I saw one that made me think: "Just a minute!" A user wrote: "Perplexity." Of course, I know about Perplexity (I've used it since it came out in 2022), but as a lead source? This was a first. If you haven’t tried it yet, Perplexity is an AI tool like ChatGPT, but it behaves more like a "search engine of search engines." Instead of just Googling something, you can ask it conversational questions and get tailored results. Think of it like asking an intern to Google something for you and hand back the highlights neatly organized and sourced. Here’s why this matters to you: people are increasingly using AI tools as their first step in researching products and services. That means your future customers might never type your name into Google at all... AI does it for them. (Mind = blown.) In the past, a "user journey" for digital marketing might look like this: I have a need → open Google → type keywords: "hot dogs in Chicago" → click results. Now it’s more like: I have a need → open AI chatbot → type: “I’m flying into Chicago. Where can I get the best authentic Chicago dog at 9:30 pm that's within a 20-minute Lyft ride from O’Hare?” → get results and ask 16 more questions to further refine the query. Searches are much longer, way more specific, and far less predictable. This makes tracking and anticipating behavior harder. But fear not! The good news is that what’s good for SEO is still good for AI. You don’t need to optimize for every imaginable phrase combination. If your site is SEO-friendly and has clear, useful content that answers real questions, AI tools will find and surface it. In my client’s case, Perplexity did exactly that: sent a visitor to their website, who then filled out the contact form to request services. That single AI-driven lead is for half a million dollars of potential business. That’s a HUGE win. And I didn't even have to do anything to specifically "optimize for Perplexity" at this point. We’re entering an era where “ChatGPTing” and “Perplexitying” are becoming verbs. And these tools can send real customers your way IF you've paved the runway to guide them in for a smooth landing on your website. Now I’m curious: what’s the strangest or most surprising AI journey you've taken to find a product or service? Do tell: I might feature a few in a future email. Craziest story wins! Got a question you’d like answered in a future email? Just hit reply. Yes, it’s really me, and yes, I read every response. Ron Stauffer Lieder Digital |
Ron Stauffer
Freelancer with 18+ years in web development and digital marketing. I share stories on websites, marketing, SEO, and AI, plus honest lessons from life in the trenches as a solopreneur.
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