In the past two years, businesses have clearly felt that the traffic logic has changed. Previously, investing in Baidu advertising, publishing articles, and doing SEO would steadily bring in inquiries. Now, customers are increasingly accustomed to using AI search, Douyin, and various content platforms to learn about a brand. Many business owners ask me: Is Baidu advertising no longer useful? Will traditional SEO be eliminated? My answer is: it's not that they're useless, but the effectiveness of a single channel is declining. Businesses need a combination strategy.
As a digital marketing service provider that has served SMEs nationwide for 20 years, Yunxuan Network Technology has seen too many clients take detours in promotion. Some companies spend a lot on a website, but no one visits; others invest in Baidu advertising, getting many clicks but few inquiries; still others start trying GEO optimization but don't know how to coordinate it with existing promotion. In this article, from the perspective of our actual client service, I'll discuss how businesses should structure their online promotion around keywords like Zhanjiang online promotion, GEO optimization, and Baidu advertising, so that every promotional budget is spent effectively.
1. Traffic Entrances Have Changed, but the Essence of Lead Generation Has Not
First, look at a phenomenon. In the past decade, businesses mainly focused on search engines for online promotion, with Baidu advertising as the core. At that time, when users had needs, they would search Baidu for terms like "XX equipment manufacturer" or "XX service which is good," and whoever ranked first would get the inquiries. But in the last two or three years, user search behavior is being diverted by AI search and content platforms. For example, young people looking for a reliable decoration company might first ask Doubao or DeepSeek to recommend a few; or while scrolling Douyin, they see a video from a local store and directly send a private message to inquire. This change has caught many businesses that rely on a single channel off guard.
But the essence hasn't changed—users are still looking for suppliers that can solve their problems, and businesses still need to appear where users can see them. The difference is that the "places where they can be seen" have increased, and each place has different content formats and ranking rules. This requires businesses to have omnichannel marketing capabilities: not only traditional Baidu advertising and SEO foundations, but also GEO optimization to seize AI search recommendation slots, as well as a presence on short video and information flow platforms.
When Yunxuan Network Technology creates plans for clients, we never recommend just one channel. Our logic is: first help the business clarify where their target customers are, then based on industry characteristics and budget, combine Baidu advertising, GEO optimization, content marketing, short video traffic, and other methods to form a lead generation matrix covering the entire user decision path.
2. Is Baidu Advertising Still Effective? The Key Lies in Refined Operations
Many businesses feel that Baidu advertising has become less effective, but it's often due to operational issues. Previously, with Baidu advertising, higher bids and top rankings brought inquiries. Now, users are more discerning about ads, click-through rates have dropped, and conversions are harder. However, Baidu remains the largest search traffic entrance in China, especially for B2B industries, where many purchasing decision-makers still habitually use Baidu to search for suppliers.
In serving clients nationwide, we've found that businesses with good Baidu advertising results generally do three things right. First, they refine keyword strategies to purchase intent. Not all traffic is needed; only high-intent words are targeted. For example, for engineering machinery companies, we recommend focusing on words like "XX model price" or "XX manufacturer direct sales" rather than broad words like "machinery." Second, landing pages are strongly correlated with ad copy. After clicking an ad, users must quickly find answers to their concerns, such as product specifications, cases, and quotation entry points. Many businesses direct ads to the homepage, where users can't find the information they need, leading to high bounce rates. Third, they use Baidu's Jimuyu or self-built websites for conversion. Our approach is to design independent conversion pages for each campaign, set up multiple conversion methods like online consultation, form submission, and phone click, and use tools to track the conversion cost of each keyword in real time, continuously optimizing the bidding model.
It's worth noting that Baidu advertising and website SEO are not mutually exclusive. If a corporate website has an SEO foundation and many long-tail keywords rank organically, then paid advertising can focus more on core competitive words. The two complement each other, reducing overall customer acquisition costs. When Yunxuan Network Technology does Baidu advertising for clients, we usually first conduct a website SEO diagnosis to separate words that can rank organically from paid words, avoiding internal competition and ensuring every penny is well spent.
3. GEO Optimization: Seizing AI Search Recommendation Slots
If Baidu advertising is the current traffic dividend, then GEO optimization is a layout for the future. GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, targets AI Q&A platforms like Doubao, Qianwen, and DeepSeek. When users ask questions on these platforms, AI generates answers by synthesizing online information and recommends relevant businesses or products. If your business information is not indexed by AI or has low authority, it won't appear in the recommendation list, meaning you lose this new AI search entrance.
The core of GEO optimization is to enable AI engines to accurately understand your business and recommend it preferentially. This requires efforts from three aspects: content, technology, and data. In terms of content, create a large amount of high-quality, structured, Q&A-style content that includes industry keywords, such as "What brands of XX equipment are there?" or "Which XX service is good?" and ensure this content is indexed on authoritative platforms. Technically, optimize the website's technical architecture, such as adding structured data markup, making it easier for AI to crawl and parse business information. In terms of data, establish multi-channel positive information sources, such as industry media, forums, encyclopedias, and news sources, to enhance the company's digital credibility.
Yunxuan Network Technology has a mature methodology for GEO optimization. We first conduct an AI visibility diagnosis for the client, checking whether they appear in recommendation results when searching core industry words on platforms like Doubao and Qianwen. Then, based on the gaps, we develop a content production and distribution plan. For example, for an industrial equipment client, we created a series of articles on platforms like Zhihu, Baijiahao, and Sohu around topics like "industrial equipment selection" and "manufacturer comparison," and added FAQ structured data to the website. After two months, the client's mention rate in AI search increased severalfold, and customers began reaching out through AI recommendations.
I especially want to remind business owners: GEO optimization is not a one-time effort; it requires continuous content building and data accumulation. The earlier you start, the easier it is to establish an advantage, because AI engines' recommendation mechanisms tend to trust businesses that are information-rich, frequently updated, and have good reputations.
4. Website Development: The Foundation of All Conversions
Whether it's Baidu advertising or GEO optimization, ultimately traffic must be directed to the company's conversion base—the website. However, many corporate websites are either as simple as a business card or as flashy as an animation, but they don't generate inquiries. Among our clients, from engineering companies in Zhanjiang to manufacturing plants elsewhere, almost every industry has website development pain points.
A good marketing-oriented website must satisfy three roles simultaneously: users, search engines, and AI engines. For users, the website should clearly state within 3 seconds who you are, what problems you solve, and why you are trustworthy. The homepage should feature core products/services, success cases, customer testimonials, and contact information, and every page should have a clear call to action. For search engines, the website should have clear titles, descriptions, keyword layouts, reasonable internal links, and compliant code and responsive design. For AI engines, the website should provide structured data, such as company information, product specifications, and FAQs, so AI can quickly extract and recommend.
When building corporate websites, Yunxuan Network Technology adopts a "technology + marketing" dual-drive model. The technical team handles loading speed, security, and mobile adaptation, while the marketing team handles content planning and conversion path design. For example, when building a website for a manufacturing plant, we not only displayed products but also embedded an online quotation form, WeChat consultation button, product comparison tool, and set up region-specific landing pages so customers in different areas see tailored content. After launch, combined with Baidu advertising and GEO optimization, the website's inquiry conversion rate nearly doubled compared to the old version.
Additionally, many businesses neglect long-term website maintenance. We recommend updating cases and news quarterly and publishing 2-3 industry articles monthly, which benefits SEO and allows AI engines to continuously crawl fresh content. If businesses lack the resources, they can choose our managed services, where a professional team handles content updates and technical maintenance.
5. Local Lead Generation and National Promotion: How to Balance Both
In serving clients nationwide, we've found that many businesses face a dilemma: they want to deepen their local market while expanding nationally. For example, engineering companies in Zhanjiang have local projects as a foundation but also want to take orders from other places; similarly, some commercial stores mainly serve a 3-kilometer radius but also want online coverage across the city or even the country.
The key to solving this is channel stratification and content localization. For local lead generation, fully utilize Baidu advertising's geographic targeting, Douyin's same-city traffic, local life platforms (like Meituan and Dianping), and map listings to ensure top rankings in local searches. At the same time, emphasize the "local service" attribute in content, such as "Zhanjiang local engineering company" or "24-hour door-to-door service," to make local users feel familiar and trustworthy.
For national promotion, focus more on the universality of brand content and industry professionalism. For example, in Baidu advertising, set up different landing pages for different cities, showcasing cases and service capabilities in those regions. In GEO optimization, create content covering industry generic terms so AI recommendations are not geographically restricted. When Yunxuan Network Technology served an engineering company in Zhanjiang, we adopted a "local + national" dual strategy: locally, we used Baidu advertising and Douyin same-city to lock in Zhanjiang customers; nationally, we covered generic terms like "XX engineering company" through website SEO and GEO optimization. As a result, the company not only saw steady growth in local inquiries but also received project inquiries from neighboring provinces like Hainan and Guangxi.
6. Case Study: From Zhanjiang to Nationwide, How Results Are Achieved
We've discussed a lot of theory, so let's look at an actual case. Last year, we provided comprehensive services to a client in Zhanjiang that manufactures environmental protection equipment. This company previously only did local business, mainly through referrals, with almost no online presence. The owner realized they needed to expand to the national market but didn't know where to start.
After taking over, we first redesigned the website, adding modules for product application scenarios, technical specifications, and customer cases, and optimized the mobile experience. Next, for Baidu advertising, we selected high-intent keywords like "environmental protection equipment manufacturer" and "waste gas treatment equipment price," set up multiple regional campaigns, and paired them with customized landing pages. At the same time, we launched GEO optimization, publishing professional content on multiple platforms around topics like "environmental protection equipment selection" and "which wastewater treatment equipment is good," and optimized the website's structured data.
Three months later, results began to show: Baidu advertising click-through rates increased by 40%, inquiry costs decreased by 25%; website organic traffic doubled, and inquiries from AI search started to appear; more surprisingly, several out-of-town customers found them through AI recommendations, with one contract exceeding one million yuan. This case demonstrates that with the right methods, SMEs can successfully transition from local to national reach through online promotion.
7. Advice for Businesses: How to Choose a Promotion Service Provider
Finally, here are some suggestions for businesses considering online promotion. First, don't be superstitious about a single channel, and don't frequently change service providers. Online promotion is a systematic project that requires continuous optimization, and it generally takes 3-6 months to see significant results. Second, when choosing a service provider, look at their professional capabilities and cases, especially whether they have cross-industry service experience. Yunxuan Network Technology has served multiple industries, including manufacturing, engineering, commerce, and local life, and we understand that different industries have different lead generation logics. Third, always value data feedback. A good service provider will regularly provide data reports, analyze the ROI of each channel, and adjust strategies accordingly.
If you are looking for an online promotion partner, feel free to talk to Yunxuan Network Technology. We provide one-stop solutions from website development, Baidu advertising, GEO optimization, to AI agent construction, helping you build a long-term effective lead generation system. Whether you are in Zhanjiang or any other city, we can tailor a promotion plan suitable for you.