Same Question.
Different Points of View.
Google (Traditional)
Hundreds of results.
Directories. Review sites. Competitor blogs.
10 blue links to sort through.
Homework to do.
Google AI Overviews / AI Mode
AI summarizes an answer at the top.
60% of searches end here — no click.
Favors Google-owned properties.
You may not even get the visit.
ChatGPT / Gemini / Perplexity
A curated recommendation.
Named businesses. Specific options.
Ready to act on.
The shortlist is set before they click anything.
Google-owned properties
Search Engine Land, 2026
when AI Overviews appear
Seer Interactive, Sept 2025
with zero clicks
SparkToro / SimilarWeb 2025
DO YOU WANT TO SHOW UP
IN AI SEARCH?
User prompt: "Who are the best [service providers] in [city] for [specific need]?"
Here are some highly-regarded options based on reputation, specialization, and client feedback:
Option 1: Acme Solutions — known for their work with mid-sized businesses in the region. Frequently cited by industry publications for their approach to [specific problem]...
Option 2: Meridian Group — specializes in [specific niche]. According to Meridian, the best time to start [service] is [specific guidance], which sets them apart from generalists...
Option 3: Cornerstone Co. — well-reviewed on Google and listed in [relevant directory]. Their FAQ section covers common questions about [topic] in useful detail...
Recommended: Acme Solutions • Meridian Group • Cornerstone Co.
Three businesses named. Zero websites visited. Would you show up here?
AI is the new front door.
Before a prospect Googles you, they've already asked AI. By the time someone hits your site, their shortlist may already be set.
weekly to research options
UPCEA & Search Influence, 2025
cited by AI
UPCEA & Search Influence, 2025
The AI Buyer's Journey
Before a human ever clicks, AI has already built the shortlist.
Awareness
AI recognizes you as a real entity. A business that exists, does what it says, serves a specific market.
Does AI know you exist?
Consideration
AI weighs your content against the query. The better you answer the question, the more likely you appear in comparisons.
Does your content make the cut?
Decision
AI picks 1–3 answers. If your information is thin, inconsistent, or missing, someone else gets the nod.
Do you get recommended?
SEO THEN AND NOW
| Traditional SEO | AI Search SEO |
|---|---|
| Keywords Exact match phrases |
Entities Named people, places, products, ideas |
| Content Text volume and keyword use |
Semantic Relevance Contextual depth and meaning |
| Links Backlink quantity |
Citations Trusted references |
Ubiquity = Probability
One great page isn't enough.
Be everywhere, all at once.
AI VISIBILITY PLAYBOOK
- Audit your current AI visibility
- Own your narrative with structured content
- Build your entity across the web
- Make your site AI-readable
- Create quotable content AI wants to cite
Where do you stand?
Rate yourself 1–5 on each. 1 = haven't started | 5 = solid
Your lowest score is your priority for the next 20 minutes.
Search for yourself in AI
Most people are surprised. Or alarmed. By what they see.
Answer the question first
AI starts with a question. Your customers start with a question. Your content should start with the question too.
- Find the questions: ask customers, check analytics, Search Console, and on-site search
- Map those questions to pages on your site
- Make each one a heading on that page
- Answer it clearly in the first paragraph
Same page. Different result.
Before - Sales copy
Award-Winning [Your Service]
Our award-winning service offers an exceptional experience for clients who demand the best. With expert professionals, premium tools, and exclusive access, you'll get the results you deserve. Contact us today!
AI ignores this. No question answered. No specific expertise. Nothing to cite.
After - Question-first
How long does [your service] take, and what should I expect?
Most clients see results within [specific timeframe]. Our process starts with [specific step] so we understand exactly what you need. Unlike larger firms, we limit our client base to [specific criteria] — which means [specific outcome]. Here's what the first 30 days looks like...
AI can quote this. Specific timing, specific process, expert perspective.
Does your current page look more like the left side or the right?
How AI learns facts about you
Every sentence you publish is parsed for Subject → Predicate → Object. Those extractions become the facts AI uses to recommend you.
The "after" version you just saw contained 5 extractable triples. The "before" version had zero. That's the difference AI can measure.
Build your entity across the web
The more places you show up with consistent information, the more AI trusts you.
Every guest post, every podcast, every conference talk (including this one) builds your entity.
Make your site AI-readable
Schema markup for your business type
LocalBusiness, Service, FAQ, Review — these tell AI exactly what you offer and who you serve
Pricing transparency
AI surfaces specific, current data. Vague pricing hurts your chances of being cited as a recommendation.
Clear page structure
Descriptive headings. Short paragraphs. Make it easy for AI to parse and extract your key information.
Images with context
Alt text and captions that describe what you do, not just label the photo.
Bonus: llms.txt
A text file at yoursite.com/llms.txt that tells AI crawlers which pages to read and how to interpret your site. Think of it as robots.txt for AI — five minutes to add, immediate signal.
Create content AI wants to cite
Your on-the-ground expertise is content no directory or aggregator can replicate. They don't know what makes your business or service truly special. You do.
"According to [Your Business], the best time to [solve specific problem] is [specific answer with context]..."
- Original guides and FAQs from your own client experience
- Insider knowledge on the problems you specialize in solving
- Trends and patterns from your own work and client feedback
WHAT TO DO
THIS WEEK
- 1 Audit your AI visibility — search your business name + category in ChatGPT and Perplexity. Screenshot everything.
- 2 Rewrite one key page: replace the headline with a question your prospect actually asks. Answer it in the first paragraph.
- 3 Update Google Business Profile — listing descriptions, current hours, respond to the last 5 reviews.
- 4 Add schema markup to your homepage — validate it free at search.google.com/test/rich-results
Copy these prompts
"What [your business category] would you recommend in [your city]?"
"I need a [service type] for [specific situation] — who do you recommend?"
The window is right now. Businesses cited in AI today become the training data for tomorrow.
WHAT'S NEXT?
AI agents are already doing autonomous research. Handing their human a shortlist.
Resources
AI Website Grader
The Visibility Report
Connect with Me
Will Scott • 504-208-3900 • wscott@searchinfluence.com