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So it turns out to be 'mentioned' and to be 'cited' by AI are completely different playbooks. Very few brands, as you see below, are both name-dropped AND cited in ChatGPT and Google AI Mode. Now it's clear to us there are 2 pathways to visibility in AI systems: 🗣️ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗜 📝 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗜 Here's what to do in both scenarios: 🗣️ 𝗧𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗜: Drive UGC, reviews, engage in communities, and appear on "best of" lists. 📝 𝗧𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗜: Ensure public information (including pricing) is accurate, and publish original research and content AI can reference. Interesting to see how marketing swings away from quick hacks to the fundamentals (strong brand, word of mouth, compelling content) as this space evolves. I'm also grateful to see, as a writer concerned with the onrushing wave of GenAI slop, how important original research is to build authority. Hats off to Leigh McKenzie and asif ali for unpacking the strategy to be both seen and trusted (link in comments). #SEO #AIO #AIOptimization #ContentMarketing

AI search is changing the game and your brand’s visibility depends on it 👀 We’re entering a new era where AI-driven search is fast becoming the front door to discovery. It’s no longer just about ranking #1 on Google, it’s about being cited by ChatGPT, referenced in Google’s AI Overviews, and recommended inside tools like Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, and Gemini. According to Semrush, LLM-driven traffic is projected to surpass traditional organic search by 2028. That means that optimizing for AI visibility isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore, it’s mission-critical for brands that want to stay discoverable and top-of-mind. Whether you’re at HubSpot, Shopify, or running your own SaaS startup, AI search is quietly reshaping how customers find, trust, and choose brands. Learn how to win in this new era NOW:

In our new YouTube video, we break down: -Why traditional SEO rankings aren’t enough anymore, inspired by Semrush and our blog -The playbooks top brands are using to get cited by tools like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, and even search experiences on platforms like Bing Search and You.com. -How brands like Patagonia and Garmin are building authority that helps them get surfaced in AI-generated answers -How YOU can start applying these strategies today Because AI tools are already changing how people discover and choose brands and if you’re not mentioned or trusted in AI-generated answers, you’re invisible. Watch the full video to see exactly what’s working and how to make sure your brand shows up when it matters most in the answers people actually read.

We’re in the era of Search Everywhere, where ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Reddit, Inc., YouTube, and even LinkedIn shape how buyers discover solutions. That’s where Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) comes in. It’s not about ranking higher, it’s about being the brand that AI tools mention, cite, and trust when people ask questions. The data’s clear: -LLM traffic is set to overtake Google by 2027 (Semrush) -And we have seen an 800% YoY spike in LLM referrals If your content strategy doesn’t account for AEO yet… you’re already behind. Here’s how to stay visible in the age of AI search:

Most SEO advice still starts with: “Do keyword research.” But in 2025, that’s backward. Your audience isn’t just typing queries into Google anymore. They’re asking ChatGPT for comparisons, scrolling YouTube for tutorials, and checking Reddit, Inc. for reviews before they ever land on your site. That’s why traffic for traffic’s sake doesn’t matter. The right SEO strategy depends on how your business actually makes money: A SaaS startup doesn’t win with “what is…” blogs; it wins when bottom-funnel content drives demo requests. An e-commerce brand doesn’t need thought leadership; it needs buying-intent content that converts. A local business won’t scale on backlinks; it thrives on reviews and location visibility. The common thread? You don’t start with rankings. You start with revenue goals. Only when you map business outcomes → SEO focus areas can you build a strategy that survives AI Overviews, zero-click searches, and the messy customer journey.

AI Search is changing the game. When buyers ask ChatGPT or Google AI Mode about your category, two things happen: 1.Brands get mentioned 2.Sources get cited Most companies win one. Almost none win both. That’s why we built the Seen & Trusted Framework: -Get Seen → Secure mentions in AI answers -Be Trusted → Earn citations as a reliable source Run both playbooks, and you give AI no choice but to recommend your brand. This isn’t just SEO. It’s reviews, forums, news, docs, and community all working together. The result? Visibility, trust, and conversions across AI platforms. Are you ready to be the brand AI can’t ignore?

The marketing industry loves creating new acronyms. GEO. AEO. LLMO. AIO. All different names for essentially the same thing: optimizing content so AI tools cite your brand. GEO: Generative Engine Optimization AEO: Answer Engine Optimization LLMO: Large Language Model Optimization AIO: Artificial Intelligence Optimization Here's what the search data actually shows (Semrush/Backlinko): "SEO": 250,000+ searches/month "Generative Engine Optimization": 1,300 searches/month "Answer Engine Optimization": 720 searches/month "AI Optimization": 480 searches/month So why all the new terminology? Simple. Everyone's trying to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Agencies need new service offerings. Consultants want to sound cutting-edge. LinkedIn experts need fresh content angles. Nothing wrong with that. But it's definitely creating confusion. Here's the reality: You don't choose between SEO and "AI optimization." The same high-quality, authoritative content that ranks on Google also gets cited by ChatGPT. The same clear structure that helps users also helps AI systems extract quotable passages. The same expertise that builds domain authority also builds trust with AI tools.

Do people treat Google AI Mode more like traditional search or ChatGPT? Semrush data from 69M search sessions reveals the answer. And it's somewhere in between… AI Mode usage grew 4x in just 2 months, from 0.25% to over 1% of searches. That might sound small, but it represents millions of people switching to conversational search every day. And the behavioral changes are dramatic. AI Mode solves problems in half the searches compared to traditional Google, which means fewer searches = fewer chances for your brand to be discovered during the customer journey. The traffic implications are even more stark. 92-94% of AI Mode sessions are zero-click. People are researching your competitors, comparing prices, and making buying decisions - all without ever visiting your website. Most telling is how queries are evolving. Query length jumped from 4 words on traditional Google to 7 words on AI Mode. People are slowly learning to talk to search engines instead of typing keywords. As Michael King's patent analysis reveals: "The future of search is probabilistic, the past was deterministic." Your content isn't just competing for rankings anymore - you're competing to be used by a machine to construct answers. Barry Schwartz nailed it: "It's billboard SEO now. You look at overall visibility, brand mentions." Google is training users to ask longer, more conversational questions. Your content needs to answer the questions people are starting to ask, not just the keywords they used to type. You want to show up in context - not just in rankings.

New Backlinko video alert, now streaming on YouTube! In this new Backlinko video, Matt Kenyon breaks down: - 6 content formats AI consistently cites (with real examples) - How to structure content so LLMs want to reference it - A copywriting technique to give your brand more visibility in AI search If you’ve ever been frustrated watching thin content outrank your hard work on Google, this is a must-watch. Link in the comments 🔗