The Propeller – Laptops Need Love and SEO Evolves – 8-10-2025

I’ll admit it, I treat my laptop like a beloved pet. I don’t just mean in the “I carry it everywhere” sense. I mean I get oddly protective if someone sets their coffee too close, and I’ve been known to glare at anyone who dares to touch my screen with a finger. So, believe me when I say that cleaning your laptop isn’t just about vanity. It’s about keeping it alive, breathing, and running like the day you first unboxed it.

Dust in your ports, grit in your hinges, and crumbs between the keys aren’t just gross, they’re slow-motion laptop killers. You wouldn’t pour sand in your car’s gas tank, right? Same idea.

Plus, there are bonus perks. Imagine pulling your laptop out at a coffee shop without the shame of people wondering if you moonlight as a cookie factory. Or cashing in a nice chunk of change when you upgrade because your laptop still looks showroom fresh. I once sold a laptop for more than I expected simply because I’d kept it clean enough to pass for “lightly used” instead of “used as a dinner tray.”

And the best part? This doesn’t have to be a weekend-long, lab-coat-level operation. With a few minutes every so often, you can keep your laptop looking sharp and running smoothly.

Step Zero: The Power-Down Ritual

Before you channel your inner laptop surgeon, turn off the machine. Unplug everything—power cables, USB drives, that mystery dongle you haven’t identified since 2018. You don’t want any chance of giving yourself a tiny, embarrassing shock.

What You’ll Need

Think of this as your geek’s cleaning toolkit:

• Soft, lint-free microfiber cloths (your laptop’s version of silk sheets)
• Water
• 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes
• Screen cleaning solution (certified for electronics)
• A can of compressed air (basically a leaf blower for nerds)

The Screen: Handle With Care

The screen is the diva of your laptop, it’s fragile, expensive, and quick to complain if you’re rough. A damaged display is the tech equivalent of a broken windshield, you can limp along, but it’s miserable.

The safest method is using a barely damp microfiber cloth and gently wiping top to bottom. If there’s a stubborn smudge (probably from that one friend who ignores my don’t touch the screen policy), I’ll use a 70% isopropyl wipe. But be gentle; you’re cleaning a delicate component, not scrubbing barbecue sauce off a plate.

Never spray liquid directly on the screen, it’s asking for trouble. And if you’re using a solution, make sure it’s approved for your machine type. I once used a no-name cleaner that smelled like nail polish remover. My heart rate didn’t return to normal for 20 minutes. (NEVER, and I repeat NEVER use anything with ammonia in it as a cleaner.)

The Base: Where the Real Battle Happens

The keyboard and base see more action than the screen. Between the dust, crumbs, and occasional pet hair, they’re a grime magnet. Microfiber cloths work wonders here, and I stick with the same water or isopropyl approach, small amounts applied to the cloth, not directly to the laptop.

Avoid paper towels or tissues. They can scratch the surface and leave lint behind. I made that mistake once, and my laptop looked like it had dandruff for weeks.

Compressed Air: Your Secret Weapon

For the nooks and crannies, between keys, inside ports, compressed air is magic. Use short bursts and angle the can so you’re blowing away from sensitive parts, not forcing dust deeper inside. This trick saved me once when a grain of sand jammed my spacebar. Two seconds of compressed air and the bar was free again.

Bottom line: A little care now means fewer headaches later. Treat your laptop like the high-tech sidekick it is, and it’ll repay you with years of smooth performance and maybe a few extra dollars when you’re ready to upgrade.

Spoiler alert: AI has decimated website search traffic for many businesses. 

Search traffic isn’t what it used to be.

With tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, and other AI assistants answering questions directly, users are no longer clicking through to websites.

They’re chatting, not searching.

This shift has dramatically reduced organic traffic for many businesses. Traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is no longer the reliable growth engine it once was.

In its place, a new discipline is emerging: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

What Is GEO?

GEO is the practice of optimizing your content so that it gets cited, referenced, or surfaced in AI-generated answers.

Instead of ranking on Google, the goal is to be included in the response from AI tools.

But here’s the catch: the traffic from these citations is a fraction of what SEO used to deliver. So, businesses are now competing for limited visibility in AI-generated content.

How Can Small Businesses Increase Their GEO?  Here are practical steps small businesses can take to improve their chances of being cited by AI tools:

Create High-Authority, Expert-Level Content

AI models prioritize trustworthy sources.

To be cited: 

• Publish original research, case studies, or expert insights
• Include clear author bios with credentials
• Get backlinks from reputable sites to boost domain authority

Use Structured Data and Semantic Markup

Help AI understand your content better:  Implement schema.org markup (especially for FAQs, products, reviews).  Use clear headings, bullet points, and concise answers to common questions.


Answer Specific, Niche Questions

AI tools often pull from content that answers long-tail queries:  Focus on hyper-local or industry-specific topics.  Create content that directly answers “how,” “why,” and “what” questions.


Get Mentioned on High-Visibility Platforms

AI models often cite: 

• Wikipedia
• News outlets
• Government or educational sites
• Popular blogs and forums

Try to get your business or content referenced or linked on these platforms.


Optimize for AI Discovery

Some AI tools allow users to cite sources. To increase your chances:

• Use clear branding and consistent naming across platforms
• Make your content easy to quote — short, punchy, and authoritative.

Why Owning Your Audience Still Matters

Even if you master GEO, you’re still at the mercy of algorithms. That’s why owning your audience, through email lists, communities, and direct relationships, is more important than ever.

This is one of the reasons I created The Propeller, so I could help deliver information I feel is important, to people who are interested in the information.  I encourage businesses, entrepreneurs, influencers, etc. to do something similar

But ownership alone isn’t enough.

To build an engaged audience, you need to mail regularly with engaging, relevant content.

GEO is still evolving, but small businesses that act now, by creating authoritative content, optimizing for AI discovery, and building a responsive audience, will be better positioned to thrive in the new landscape.

Would you like help creating a GEO content strategy or optimizing your business or site for AI visibility?  Let’s talk!

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This is re-published from the weekly email sent by Leonard Mack entitled The Propeller.  To subscribe, visit https://www.LeonardMack.com/subscribe and read it every Sunday evening.

This intellectual nourishment is intended for informational purposes only. One should not construe anything herein as being legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

My rule is this – I have no advice to give, only experience to share. I have no interest in being a guru or telling people what they should do. Rather, I share my own experience because there is no right or wrong. Your mileage may vary.