Key Takeaways
- AI is reshaping search behavior: Users are increasingly turning to generative tools like ChatGPT and AI-powered overviews for quick, direct answers, bypassing traditional link-based search.
- SEO isn’t dead, just evolving: Combine traditional SEO with GEO and AEO to increase brand visibility across both search engines and AI platforms.
- Brands must prioritize AI visibility: GEO and AEO rely on natural language, question-based queries, and clear content to get noticed by AI.
- Trust is the new currency: Today’s buyers and AI need to see credibility in your brand in order to attach themselves to it.
So many brands are grappling with the same concern right now: how to stand out in the age of AI. Between going straight to an AI platform and reading the AI-powered results in traditional search engines, many people have made AI their go-to source for information and recommendations.
This transition has led to every business leader and CMO questioning how the new wave of search will challenge their hard-earned Google rankings. Is SEO still relevant… or has AI replaced it entirely? At Method Q, we see this debate play out daily with our clients. The truth is, SEO isn’t going anywhere, but it’s no longer enough on its own.
We’ve been preparing for this for a while, adapting our strategies to ensure brands stay competitive and generate quality leads. We’re helping companies combine answer engine optimization (AEO) and generative engine optimization (GEO) with their existing SEO campaigns to take visibility to the next level. In using all of these, brands will move their focus from pleasing algorithms to helping AI understand their content’s relevance.
Here’s the difference between the three concepts:
- SEO – Developing your content so your website shows up at the top of search results.
- GEO – Tailoring your content to show up in AI-generated summaries in search engines or in AI platforms like ChatGPT.
- AEO – Formatting your content so search engines or voice assistants can pull directly from your page, such as through Google’s featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes, and voice responses.
We’ll break down how to leverage these new strategies, but first let’s understand the changes in search behavior.
How Search Has Evolved
Search has shifted significantly over the past few years, both in how people search and how search engines respond. Traditionally, users would head to Google or their search engine of choice to find the most relevant information to their query. Based on their keywords and the search engine’s algorithm, users would get a return of a list of links.
Today, traditional search engines are still the preferred choice, but with the welcoming of AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude, this could change. In fact, experts predict brands’ organic search traffic will drop by 50% or more by 2028.
Another difference is that users have switched from short queries to longer, more conversational and complex questions. Instead of searching “best marketing agency Atlanta,” they’re typing in “What’s the best digital marketing agency in 2025.” AI has led this change, as it’s developed a better understanding of search intent and can read natural language.
No matter what a user searches, they’re now getting AI-generated overviews, such as Google’s AI Overviews and Gemini. Rather than simply listing links, search engines and AI platforms alike provide direct responses to the exact query, often including source links.
Recent research indicates that more than 80% of consumers rely on these AI-generated results for at least 40% of their searches. This can be felt in search traffic, as there’s been a 15–25% drop in organic clicks when AI-generated summaries are present. People can often get what they need right on the results page, so they don’t need to click around different links to learn more. Zero-click search results come in the form of featured snippets, videos, longer form overviews of the topic, and more.
How to Stay Visible in an AI-driven World
Just because AI is changing the game doesn’t mean your business can’t stay ahead of it. By establishing a new approach and supplementing your SEO campaign with GEO and AEO, you can help AI build trust in your business. More trust means more visibility.
Here are small but powerful changes you can make to build brand awareness through GEO and AEO.
Research Buyer Intent
Map out the most critical questions buyers ask at each stage of their decision journey. Use People Also Ask and your internal site search to capture real user queries. Organize these by topic and user intent to ensure your content directly addresses the concerns of the various stages. You can then build content around these questions.
- “What is…” (top of funnel)
- “How to choose…” (mid funnel)
- “What are the best tools for…” (bottom funnel)
Speak AI’s Language
Generative engines rely on natural language processing (NLP) to interpret queries and generate responses. Make sure your content is conversational and clear. And use the buyer questions you’ve identified to create content that satisfies visitors.
FAQ sections are the obvious way to give real answers to real questions, but blog posts can be very effective as well. Structure posts around one clear question, using it as your title or in a header; for example a post entitled “What is SOC 2 Compliance and Why Does it Matter?” Answer it directly in the intro or key takeaway section at the top. Support the answer with examples, case cases, statistics, and visuals where able.
Use Structured Data
Label your content so machines can better understand what it means, not just what it says. Add Schema.org’s FAQPage, HowTo, and Article schema to relevant pages, helping AI and answer engines trust your content and increasing the likelihood they select it for their answer boxes and overviews.
Leverage Earned Media
The importance of earned media is arguably being seen more than ever before. The reason is pretty simple: buyers today demand trust in your brand. Earned media provides authentic, third-party validation from journalists, influencers, and real customers, which is huge in building credibility. Earned media also sparks conversations and engagement, even further driving brand awareness.
Multiple studies over the years have shown that the majority of people trust content from media outlets. And AI feels the same way because it trusts what others say about you more than what you say. It pulls its responses to queries from high-authority places like news articles, review platforms, and industry publications.
A comprehensive PR campaign is the cornerstone to a well-executed online reputation campaign. If you haven’t visited your PR strategy in a while, now’s the time.
Build Brand Awareness with AI Visibility
The rise of AI is fundamentally transforming the search landscape, the way information is discovered and most importantly, the way businesses attract more qualified buyers. In fact, CRMs are increasingly able to track inbound leads from sources like ChatGPT and other AI platforms. Brands can actually see the impact of AI-powered visibility on their pipelines. It is no longer a guessing game. You can measure it, refine it, and scale it.
Moving beyond a sole focus on SEO and embracing GEO and AEO as well will help brands thrive in this new era. This dynamic approach will ensure your content is recognized, trusted, and cited by the systems your audience increasingly depends on.
Method Q has been at the forefront of AEO from the start. Our in-house expert Gary Crossey breaks it all down in quick podcast episodes packed with actionable insights to ensure your brand is being seen where it matters the most.
Ready to ensure your brand is showing up in all the right ways? Reach out to Method Q for a complimentary consultation with our digital marketing experts.