Google’s AI SEO Guide: What I Think Businesses in Cameroon Should Know
For the past few months, the SEO industry has been flooded with new terminology.
AEO. GEO. AI SEO. LLM optimization. AI content optimization. llms.txt.
Every time a new term appears, businesses are told that they need another strategy if they want their websites to appear in AI-powered search.
But Google has now provided something much more useful: official guidance on optimizing websites for its generative AI search experiences, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.
After reading Google’s guidance, my biggest takeaway is surprisingly simple:
Businesses do not need to abandon SEO because search is becoming more AI-driven.
In fact, many of the fundamentals that have always mattered in SEO still matter.
And from my experience working in digital marketing, SEO, data analysis and digital strategy across different organizations and brands, I believe this is an important message for businesses in Cameroon to understand.
First, What Did Google Actually Say?
Google’s new documentation explains how website owners should think about visibility in generative AI features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode.
One of the most important points is that traditional SEO best practices continue to be relevant.
Google explains that its generative AI features are rooted in its core Search ranking and quality systems.
That means the fundamentals still matter:
- A technically accessible website
- Useful and reliable content
- Clear website structure
- Relevant internal linking
- Good page experience
- Content that satisfies the user’s search intent
- Original and valuable information
You can read Google’s official guidance directly in its guide to optimizing for generative AI features on Google Search.
The Part of Google’s Guidance That Stands Out to Me
Google’s recommendation that interests me most is its emphasis on unique points of view and non-commodity content.
This is particularly important because AI has made it incredibly easy to produce generic information.
Anyone can ask an AI system:
“Write an article about digital marketing.”
And within seconds, an article can be produced.
But there is a problem.
If thousands of websites publish essentially the same information, producing another generic article does not create much additional value.
Google’s guidance encourages publishers to provide something more distinctive, including perspectives based on genuine knowledge and experience.
That is something I strongly agree with.
Why Experience Matters More in the AI Era
I have spent several years working across digital marketing, data analysis, research, brand strategy and digital business.
My experience has included working with different brands and organizations, including Las Vegas Bambili and ISEE, while I have also been working with Unib Agency for about four years.
I was one of the founding employees of Unib Agency and have been part of the journey of building the agency from its early stages to where it is today.
I have also worked as a Marketing Associate with Better World Charity, including involvement in organizing and marketing international conferences.
One example was the New Generation Leaders Summit Dubai 2025, organized by Better World Charity and held at the Two Seasons Hotel in Dubai Internet City.
These experiences have shaped how I think about marketing.
Marketing is not simply about producing content.
It is about understanding people, understanding markets, communicating value and making decisions based on evidence.
That distinction becomes even more important when AI can produce content at almost unlimited speed.
AI Can Produce Content. It Cannot Give You Experience You Never Had.
This is one of the biggest changes I think marketers need to understand.
AI can help me structure an article.
AI can help me research a topic.
AI can help me identify questions people are asking.
AI can help me analyse information.
But AI cannot truthfully say:
- “This is what I observed while working with this client.”
- “This is what happened when we tested this campaign.”
- “This is what I learned from training these students.”
- “This is what I saw while analysing this dataset.”
- “This is what happened when we used this marketing approach.”
Those observations come from experience.
And that is why I believe experienced professionals have an important opportunity in the AI era.
My Experience With Data Analysis Reinforced This Lesson
Since 2023, I have also been training students in data analysis.
I have conducted five training cohorts involving more than 50 students, covering areas such as descriptive analysis, inferential analysis, quantitative data analysis and qualitative data analysis.
The tools have included:
- SPSS
- Microsoft Excel
- R
- AI-assisted research and analysis
I have also contributed to the research work of more than 100 students through research writing, data analysis, academic rewriting, mentorship and supervision.
These students have included people from institutions such as the University of Bamenda, University of Buea, Catholic University in Bamenda, Yaoundé International Business School and other professional institutions in Cameroon.
Working with real research projects has taught me something that applies directly to AI:
A tool can help you process information, but you still need the knowledge to determine whether the information makes sense.
The same principle applies to marketing.
AI Should Make Marketers Better, Not Less Thoughtful
I use AI as part of my own research, content and analytical workflows.
But I do not believe that the objective should be to remove human thinking from the process.
The objective should be to make human thinking more productive.
For example, AI can help a marketer:
- Research a market faster
- Organize customer questions
- Generate content ideas
- Analyse large amounts of information
- Identify patterns
- Create initial drafts
- Repurpose existing content
- Develop marketing workflows
But the marketer still has to decide what matters.
What About AI Overviews and AI Search?
This is where many marketers are getting confused.
There is now an entire ecosystem of people selling specialized “AI search optimization” techniques.
Some of these techniques may be useful in particular contexts, but Google’s own documentation is a good reminder not to lose sight of the fundamentals.
Google says that publishers should prioritize effective SEO strategies rather than tactics such as unnecessary content chunking, creating unnecessary AI-specific text files such as llms.txt, or pursuing inauthentic mentions.
Google also says that special structured data is not required specifically for generative AI search, although structured data can still be useful as part of a normal SEO strategy where applicable.
That distinction matters.
So What Should Businesses in Cameroon Actually Do?
If you are a business owner in Cameroon, I would not recommend rebuilding your website around every new AI SEO trend.
I would start with the fundamentals.
1. Build a Website That Google Can Understand
Make sure your website has a clear structure, accessible pages, descriptive titles and useful content.
Your website should make sense to both users and search engines.
2. Create Content That Answers Real Customer Questions
Don’t create articles simply because a keyword has search volume.
Ask what your customer actually wants to know.
Then answer the question better than the alternatives available to them.
3. Add Your Own Experience
This is becoming increasingly important.
If you have worked with customers, tested a strategy, conducted research or analysed data, bring those experiences into your content.
Don’t simply repeat what another website already said.
4. Develop Original Research
This is one of the reasons I am developing the Cameroon Marketing Index.
The goal is to create original research, rankings, profiles, comparisons and observations about the marketing ecosystem in Cameroon.
Instead of simply commenting on what other people have published, I want to contribute original information to the conversation.
5. Use AI as an Assistant
AI can significantly improve productivity.
Use it for research assistance, brainstorming, analysis, content workflows and repetitive tasks.
But don’t surrender your judgement to the tool.
What I Think This Means for SEO Professionals
I believe SEO is moving into a more interesting period.
The easy part of content creation is becoming increasingly automated.
That means the harder parts of marketing become more valuable:
- Research
- Strategy
- Original thinking
- Experience
- Data interpretation
- Brand understanding
- Customer understanding
In other words, SEO professionals may need to become better marketers rather than simply better at manipulating search results.
My Advice to Businesses Building Their Online Presence
If you are building your business online today, don’t become obsessed with trying to “hack” AI Overviews.
Build a website worth finding.
Create information worth citing.
Develop a reputation worth trusting.
Publish things that demonstrate what you actually know.
And use AI to help you do those things more efficiently.
Final Thoughts
Google’s new guidance on generative AI search does not mean SEO is dead.
If anything, it reinforces an important principle:
Good SEO is still about helping people find useful information.
What is changing is the environment in which that information is discovered.
Search engines are becoming more capable of understanding, synthesizing and presenting information.
That means generic content has less opportunity to differentiate itself.
Experience, original research, expertise and genuinely useful information become more important.
That is the direction I am taking with my own publishing work as well.
Through the Blog, I will continue publishing regular commentary and educational articles.
Through the Cameroon Marketing Index, I am building a research platform focused on rankings, profiles, comparisons and original research about the marketing ecosystem in Cameroon.
And through Marketing Insights, I will continue developing practical resources around SEO, AI, digital strategy, marketing research and business growth.
The goal is not simply to publish more content.
The goal is to publish something worth reading.
About Evans Kongnyuy
Evans Kongnyuy is a digital marketing strategist, brand strategist and data analyst working across digital marketing, SEO, research, data analysis and AI-assisted workflows.
He has worked with multiple brands and organizations, including Las Vegas Bambili, ISEE, Unib Agency and Better World Charity. He is one of the founding employees of Unib Agency and has been part of its growth for approximately four years.
Since 2023, Evans has also trained students in data analysis and academic research, completing five training cohorts with 50+ students and contributing to the research work of more than 100 students across universities and professional institutions in Cameroon.
His work also includes marketing and organizing international conferences, including the New Generation Leaders Summit Dubai 2025 organized by Better World Charity.
Learn more about Evans through his professional profile, portfolio, or digital marketing and consulting services.