Why Getting Found by AI Matters More Than Google in 2025
(How AEO—AI Engine Optimization—is flipping the game)
Let’s get one thing straight: if your entire marketing strategy is still built around Google search, you’re already falling behind. 🫨
Why? Because customers aren’t just Googling anymore.
✅ They’re asking.
✅ They’re using AI platforms like ChatGPT, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistants to decide—not just search.
This is the shift.
And the brands that get found by AI engines—not just search engines—are the ones that win.
The Game Has Changed: AI Is the New Gatekeeper
Right now, over 50% of Gen Z and Millennials are using AI tools as their first stop when looking for answers, recommendations, and even businesses. This is according to a 2024 Salesforce study highlighting the growing adoption of AI among younger generations. [Salesforce]
Even Google admitted it: "Google is no longer the homepage of the internet." That's what Sridhar Ramaswamy, former SVP of Ads at Google, said when explaining why users are spending more time inside apps and AI interfaces than ever before.
What is AEO?
AEO stands for AI Engine Optimization—the strategy behind getting your business recommended by AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, or Siri & other voice assistants.
Think of it like this:
✅ SEO = Rank on search results
✅ AEO = Get recommended by AI assistants
If your business isn’t optimized for AI engines, it’s invisible in the conversations where decisions are being made.
Google Isn’t Gone—But It’s Not Alone
Let’s be clear: Google still matters. But it’s not the only (or even the main) discovery tool for a growing slice of users.
We brought the receipts - Stats to prove it:
🟩 In 2023, ChatGPT reached 100 million users faster than any other app in history. [PwC]
🟩 Fifty percent of consumers say they trust AI to provide product recommendations. [PwC]
🟩 By 2025, 30% of outbound marketing messages from large organizations will be synthetically generated, up from less than 2% in 2022. [Gartner]
🟩 If you’re not showing up in those results, someone else is.
🟩 How to Get Found by AI (AEO in Action)
Here’s the short version:
✅ Make sure your Google Business Profile is accurate and up-to-date.
✅ Get fresh, positive reviews regularly—AI looks at recency and consistency.
✅ Publish content that answers real questions your customers ask.
✅ Claim your listings across all major directories—AI engines cross-check data sources.
✅ Don’t hide your credibility—feature awards, testimonials, FAQs, and third-party citations.
Bottom Line?
AEO isn’t a maybe—it’s a must!
If you want to stay relevant in the next wave of consumer discovery, stop thinking just about search and start thinking about recommendation.
Get Found. Get Trusted. Get Paid.
Your customers are asking AI who to trust. Make sure it’s you.
BoldEndeavors.ai – Subscribe now.
Or call 518-543-9400 to get your business showing up on AI—before your competitors do.
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