You can’t win new customers if your brand is invisible.
Google’s search share dropped below 90% for the first time Q4 last year since 2015 - and it’s not bouncing back. Gartner projects a 50% decline in traditional search volume by 2028.
If you’re still focused on SEO, you’re already falling behind.
The LLM Shift: SEO → AEO
Your customers aren’t scrolling through ten blue links anymore.
They’re asking ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity for direct answers. AI agents, LLMs, and chatbots are deciding which brands get recommended.
Welcome to the new era: AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
SEO was about ranking #1 on Google.
AEO is about being referenced by AI models.
New Playbook: Staying Relevant in AI
What this means: Optimization isn’t about getting ranked anymore. It’s about making your brand part of the answer. In a world where AI does the recommending.
Here’s how to keep your brand relevant.
Build Trust and Authority.
Get cited in credible sources — press mentions, industry sites, collaborations, and case studies. Credible mentions.
Monitor prompts you’re missing out on.
Use AI tools to identify the exact prompts your customers are asking. These are the sources and mentions you’ll want to be.Track citations and % share.
Monitor brand presence, competitor presence, and how often you’re cited over time, across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and AI models.
SEO was about ranking. AEO is about relevance.
Key Takeaway
Make your brand the answer.
If you want to stay ahead instead of playing catch-up, let’s talk.
Book a strategy call with my team.
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