SEvO vs. SEO: What Small Businesses Need to Know

Search Isn’t Just Google Anymore

Search behavior has changed. People no longer rely solely on Google when they want answers. Today, consumers ask ChatGPT, search Instagram, scroll TikTok, browse Amazon, talk to Siri, and even use LinkedIn and Pinterest to find what they’re looking for. If your business isn’t showing up across these platforms, you’re invisible to a massive and growing audience.

According to Neil Patel Digital, an estimated 45 billion searches happen every single day. Google accounts for just 8.5 billion of them (about 19%). The rest happen on social apps, AI tools, marketplaces, and voice assistants. TikTok, ChatGPT, Amazon, YouTube, LinkedIn, and even internal website search tools are becoming mainstream search destinations.

That’s why a new approach has emerged: Search Everywhere Optimization (SEvO). SEvO is not a buzzword. It represents the evolution of digital visibility. Businesses that embrace it will stay relevant through 2030. Those that don't will fade behind the platforms where consumers now prefer to search first.

This article breaks down what SEvO is, how it differs from SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and other optimization strategies, and how two approaches, Neil Patel’s and Mazloy’s, can help your business thrive. Whether you’re running a small shop or leading a marketing team, understanding and applying SEvO is now critical to staying visible.

What is SEvO?

Search Everywhere Optimization (SEvO) is a marketing strategy that ensures your business shows up across every platform where people search for information. It is not limited to search engines like Google or Bing. Instead, it includes AI engines like ChatGPT, social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, ecommerce sites like Amazon, internal website search tools, voice assistants, and more. SEvO reflects the modern reality that people search in many places, and businesses must meet them there.

SEvO is about visibility, relevance, and format. Each platform has its own rules and behaviors. The content that works well on TikTok will not necessarily perform on Pinterest or in a voice query. SEvO involves understanding these differences and preparing content that fits the platform’s format while still representing your brand consistently.

While each platform has unique behaviors and formats, small businesses can still make efficient use of a single core asset by repurposing it strategically. The key is not to copy and paste, but to adapt. A video interview can become a blog post with a more formal tone, a podcast with trimmed pauses and audio polish, and a series of short-form clips tailored to the style of Instagram Reels or TikTok. This approach saves time and budget by using one source of truth while still respecting the expectations of each channel. Repurposing is not about being lazy - it’s about being smart with limited resources and expanding reach without sacrificing relevance.

Traditional SEO focuses on search engines using backlinks, keywords, and technical structure. SEvO includes those efforts but expands them to platforms where SEO has no influence. It also emphasizes content distribution and discoverability across the broader search ecosystem. If your customers are searching on ten different platforms each day, your business must be optimized for all ten - not just one.

How is SEvO Different from SEO, AIO, and GEO?

SEvO takes a wider view than SEO, AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization), or GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). While each of those strategies focuses on a specific type of search behavior, SEvO brings them all together and builds on them. It is not just about ranking in Google or being understood by AI. It is about showing up wherever a potential customer might search, no matter what platform they are using.

SEO helps your content perform better in traditional search engines like Google and Bing. AIO focuses on clarity and metadata so AI tools like ChatGPT can accurately understand and reference your content. GEO is aimed specifically at being surfaced in AI-generated answers. SEvO combines the best of all three and extends them into marketplaces, social media, app stores, and internal search tools.

Think of SEO, AIO, and GEO as tools in a toolbox. SEvO is the system that tells you when, where, and how to use each one. It is a complete approach to visibility in a world where search is fragmented across platforms.

Who Coined the Term SEvO?

The term Search Everywhere Optimization (SEvO) was popularized by Neil Patel in late 2024. As one of the most recognized voices in digital marketing, Neil introduced SEvO to describe a new, more comprehensive approach to visibility. His goal was to help businesses shift from optimizing only for search engines to optimizing for every platform where people actively search for answers, products, and recommendations.

Neil’s framing of SEvO came from observing massive shifts in user behavior and search trends. He recognized that the traditional playbook for SEO was no longer enough and positioned SEvO as a modern solution built for a platform-diverse future.

What Does Research on Search Show?

Neil Patel’s blog post on Search Everywhere Optimization outlines a major shift in how consumers search for information online. According to his research, Google is no longer the only gatekeeper. While it still handles around 8.5 billion searches per day, Patel estimates that over 45 billion searches now happen daily across a variety of platforms.

Instagram sees 6.5 billion searches per day, Baidu handles 5 billion, and Snap processes 4 billion. Amazon, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest each receive billions of daily queries. AI tools like ChatGPT now account for over 1 billion daily searches. Even platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and voice search like Alexa and Siri play a growing role. Patel compiled these estimates using data from Google, Statista, Similarweb, Pew Research, Exploding Topics, and others.

Patel’s core insight is clear: businesses can no longer afford to rely on Google rankings alone. Users are turning to platform-specific search tools, and each one has its own format and user expectations. SEvO provides the framework to meet this challenge and stay relevant through 2030.

How Small Businesses Can Win at SEvO

Most small businesses do not have the time, team, or budget to execute Neil Patel’s version of SEvO from day one. We address this by recommending a streamlined, repurposing-first strategy. It starts with a high-leverage video interview of a subject matter expert (SME), which can be turned into a blog post, podcast, YouTube video, social media clips, and more - with minimal edits.

This creates an organic content foundation that spreads across multiple platforms without requiring a large upfront investment. It gives small businesses early visibility and data, which can inform future efforts. Once a particular channel shows signs of engagement, we recommends shifting to platform-specific optimization - aligning more closely with Patel’s approach at that stage.

We also encourages small businesses to use their content beyond marketing. A well-structured interview can be used for employee training, onboarding, or as a value-add for existing clients. This increases ROI without requiring new content for every touchpoint.

Precision vs. Momentum

Neil Patel’s SEvO strategy is designed for companies that can afford to focus deeply on one channel at a time. It prioritizes high production value, platform-specific engagement tactics, and iterative performance optimization. For larger marketing teams, this method works exceptionally well.

Our approach favors momentum over precision at the start. By casting a wide net with repurposed content, small businesses can gain traction and learn what works without overcommitting. When a channel proves itself, the business can shift into Patel-mode - focused investment, higher quality, tighter targeting.

The two strategies are not mutually exclusive. They are sequential. Ours is the on-ramp. Patel’s is the express lane.

A Strategy Built for Small Business Reality

Our strategies are built for businesses that have been burned by risky marketing investments. The clients we support are looking for controlled growth, not marketing guesswork. That’s why every recommendation starts with low-risk, multi-use content assets that deliver results across departments and customer touchpoints.

By repurposing early content into blogs, podcasts, social posts, and internal resources, small businesses get more mileage from their investment. This builds confidence and capability before layering on more advanced tactics. It’s a strategy designed for momentum, not gambling.

SEvO Isn’t the Future. It’s the Now

Search Everywhere Optimization is not a trend - it is the new baseline. As consumers continue to diversify how and where they search, businesses must respond with flexible, platform-aware content strategies. Traditional SEO is no longer enough by itself.

Whether you follow Patel’s deep-focus method or begin with our scalable foundation, the path to visibility is clear: show up where your customers are already looking. The sooner you start, the faster you’ll be found.

Looking for more marketing tips? Consider reading "Strategies to Win: A Digital Marketing Playbook for Small Businesses". This book contains a unique blend of personal stories, technical know-how, and practical advice that will ensure you have the tools you need to compete - and win - in today’s digital economy.