It goes by lots of different names: SGE, GEO AEO, LLMO.
Whatever you call it, the fact is: Search isn’t what it used to be.
AI Overviews, zero-click results, LLM summaries, ChatGPT superpowering raw output – we’re in a new world of information gathering.
SEO has been largely unchanged for years. But if you want to stay visible (and valuable) in this new world, you’ll need to play a little differently.
Here are five very real ways to stay ahead. Not generalities (“write great content!” “be authoritative!”). Technical, tactical, and built for the future of AI search. Vamos!
1. Open the Door for AI Crawlers
Historically, people have been protectionist about chunks of their content. But AI Overviews and new search models are built on the content they can access. If you block AI crawlers, you might protect your words – but you also make yourself invisible.
Here’s what to do:
- Allow access to Google-Extended (and others) by not blocking them in your robots.txt.
- Skip unnecessary noindex or nosnippet tags unless you have highly sensitive content.
- Make your site easy to crawl: clean internal linking, logical structure, fast loading.
2. Structure Your Content for AI Comprehension
AI models are a bit like board meeting attendees or conference audiences. They like clean, structured content.
The easier it is for a machine to parse your page, the more likely you are to be included in AI Overviews. Here are some best practices:
- Use clear H1/H2/H3 heading hierarchies. Avoid random bolding instead of real headings.
- Summarize key points high on the page, ideally in direct “question and answer” formats.
- Use Schema.org markup (especially FAQ schema) to highlight valuable sections.
- Break down complex ideas into simple, modular pieces: think short paragraphs, clear bullets.
3. Build Your Brand into a Trusted Entity
Much like proven knowledge centres like universities and credible newspapers, AI models lean heavily on known, verified entities.
If Google (or Bing, or Perplexity) can’t easily tie your brand to a Knowledge Graph entity or high-trust signals, you’re easier to overlook. So focus on:
- Submit your brand to Google’s Knowledge Graph where possible.
- Be consistent: use the same brand name, logo, and descriptions everywhere.
- Strengthen authority with high-quality backlinks, PR mentions, and third-party profiles.
4. Publish First-Party Data and Original Insights
Like any talented PhD candidate, LLMs (large language models) love citing first-hand sources.
If your content just rehashes existing information, it’s less likely to surface in AI summaries.
How to stand out?
- Stop recycling. Start with the blank page.
- Publish original research, customer survey results, or proprietary insights.
- Include explicit citations and attributions. LLMs pick up on sourced credibility.
- Package strong insights into quotable formats: clear stats, punchy takeaways.
5. Optimize for Brand Recognition (Not Just Rankings)
In the world of AI-driven search, not every win is a click. Mindshare matters. (We know, some people hate that word!)
If your brand name appears inside an AI summary – as a quoted source, as a trusted entity – you’re building lasting authority. Here’s what to prioritize:
- Publish expert commentary that can be cited: clear opinions, data-backed claims.
- Get brand mentions on trusted third-party sites (news outlets, partner blogs, analyst reports).
- Invest in thought leadership; not just keyword-targeted content, but real insights attached to your brand name.
SEO is Dead. Long Live SEO
It’s easy to panic when you hear that search is changing. SGE, GEO, AEO, LLMO… Whatever acronym you prefer, the message sounds the same: SEO as we know it is over.
But here’s the truth: search isn’t dead. It’s just a different type of engine now.
The fundamentals still matter – visibility, authority, trust – but the machine that determines who gets seen is new.
AI-driven search engines don’t just reward keyword density or backlink counts anymore. They reward structured clarity, verified expertise, original insights, and brand recognition.
The brands that treat AI search as an opportunity, not a threat, will win the next decade of discoverability. Embrace the new era!