How AI Is Changing SEO and What Every Business Owner Needs to Know with Julia Bocchese
The way people search for businesses is changing.
For years, Google has been the primary place people went to find products, services, and answers to their questions. Today, artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude are becoming part of that search journey.
While traditional SEO still matters, business owners need to start thinking differently about how their websites are being discovered.
On this episode of The Six Figure Plus Club, I sat down with Julia Bocchese, founder of Julia Renee Consulting, to talk about building a sustainable SEO business, adapting to the rise of AI, and creating marketing strategies that continue to work as technology evolves.
Julia's journey from freelancer to agency owner offers valuable lessons for any entrepreneur looking to grow intentionally, diversify their income, and stay ahead of changing trends.
Here are some of the biggest takeaways from our conversation, "How AI Is Changing SEO and What Every Business Owner Needs to Know with Julia Bocchese."
Your Business Doesn't Have to Be Perfect Before You Find Your Niche
Many entrepreneurs feel pressure to identify their niche immediately.
Julia's journey looked very different.
She began as a freelancer offering a variety of creative services, including content writing and graphic design. Instead of forcing herself into one specialty, she allowed herself time to discover what she enjoyed doing and what clients were actively looking for.
Eventually, SEO and Pinterest became the intersection of both.
Her advice is simple:
Give yourself permission to experiment.
Finding the right niche often comes from testing different services until you discover the balance between what excites you and what creates real results for your clients.
There Is a Difference Between Freelancing and Running a Business
One of the biggest mindset shifts Julia experienced was moving from freelancer to business owner.
As a freelancer, she was constantly searching for the next project.
As a business owner, she created defined services, clear pricing, and repeatable processes.
That shift gave her confidence.
It also made it easier for potential clients to understand exactly how she could help them.
When people know what you do and how you solve their problem, saying yes becomes much easier.
Growth Often Happens When You Ask for Help
Like many entrepreneurs, Julia eventually reached a point where she felt stuck.
Instead of trying to figure everything out herself, she invested in a business coach who specialized in SEO.
That decision helped her streamline her services, improve her systems, and eliminate offers that were no longer serving her business.
It also led to one of her biggest growth strategies: strategic partnerships.
Sometimes the next level of your business isn't found by working harder.
It's found by learning from someone who has already solved the problem you're facing.
Strategic Partnerships Can Create New Revenue Opportunities
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation centered around collaboration.
Julia has built strong partnerships with website designers, copywriters, and other creative professionals through referral relationships and white-label services.
Rather than competing with complementary businesses, she collaborates with them.
These partnerships allow everyone to stay in their zone of expertise while creating a better experience for clients.
She also recommends creating a dedicated partnerships page on your website so other professionals clearly understand how they can work with you.
Sometimes your biggest source of growth isn't another marketing tactic.
It's another business owner.
AI Is Changing the Way People Search
One of the biggest topics we discussed was how artificial intelligence is changing online search.
People still use Google every day.
But they are also turning to AI tools when they have more detailed or complex questions.
Instead of typing a few keywords into a search engine, users are asking complete questions and expecting personalized answers.
That means business owners need to make sure their websites answer those same questions clearly.
The businesses that communicate clearly will have an advantage as AI continues to evolve.
Your Website Needs to Answer Questions Clearly
Julia shared several practical ways business owners can improve their websites for both SEO and AI.
These include:
Adding Frequently Asked Questions to service pages
Placing the most important information near the top of each page
Writing in clear, simple language
Explaining exactly what you do without relying on industry jargon
For example, using terms like "email copywriter" instead of more creative titles makes it easier for both people and search engines to understand your expertise.
Clarity always wins.
Authority Matters More Than Ever
SEO is no longer just about keywords.
Julia explained that authority plays a major role in how businesses are discovered online.
Appearing on podcasts, being featured in online publications, participating in business directories, and having people talk about your business across the internet all help establish credibility.
The more trusted sources that reference your business, the stronger your online presence becomes.
Building authority is becoming just as important as optimizing your website.
You Don't Need to Be Everywhere
Many business owners believe they need to show up on every social media platform to grow.
Julia disagrees.
Instead of trying to market everywhere, she recommends focusing on the platforms where your ideal clients already spend their time.
For Pinterest, for example, people are not looking for behind-the-scenes updates or personal stories.
They are searching for ideas, inspiration, and solutions.
Every marketing platform has a different purpose.
Understanding how your audience uses each platform helps you create content that actually gets discovered.
Build a Business That Can Support Your Life
Beyond SEO, Julia shared valuable lessons about sustainability.
Preparing for maternity leave required systems, planning, delegation, and trusted support.
She relied on a virtual assistant, documented workflows, created waitlists, and trained team members to continue serving clients.
She also spoke honestly about the importance of childcare and household support.
Trying to build a successful business while simultaneously providing full-time childcare simply wasn't sustainable.
One of the most powerful reminders from our conversation was that building a business also means building the support systems that allow you to keep showing up.
Focus on Your Client's Problems, Not Your Packages
Julia ended our conversation with one of the simplest but most impactful marketing lessons.
Business owners often spend too much time talking about what's included in their services.
Instead, talk about the problems you solve.
People aren't looking to buy a package.
They're looking for someone who understands what they're struggling with and can help them find a solution.
When your messaging consistently speaks to your ideal client's needs, your marketing becomes much more effective.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Marketing Is Built on Clarity
The tools we use to search for information will continue to evolve.
Artificial intelligence is changing the way people discover businesses, but the foundation of good marketing remains the same.
Be clear.
Be helpful.
Create content that answers your audience's questions.
Build relationships with other professionals.
Focus on solving real problems.
As Julia shared throughout our conversation, entrepreneurs don't need to chase every trend.
They need to build businesses that are intentional, sustainable, and centered around serving the people they want to help.
Listen to the full episode of The Six Figure Plus Club: How AI Is Changing SEO and What Every Business Owner Needs to Know with Julia Bocchese to hear more about SEO, AI, strategic partnerships, and creating a business built for long-term growth.
Connect with Julia Bocchese
Learn more about Julia Bocchese and Julia Renee Consulting:
https://juliareneeconsulting.com/
Instagram: @juliareneeconsulting
Listen to more episodes of The Six Figure Plus Club for conversations with founders about the mindset, strategy, and real experiences behind building successful businesses.
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