AI Engine Optimization (AEO)
AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is the discipline of structuring and delivering content specifically for retrieval, citation, and recommendation by AI engines. These engines power generative tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Bing Copilot—platforms that no longer just rank web pages, but synthesize and serve up direct answers to user queries. AEO is not just about being found—it’s about being selected by AI as the trusted source. At Xponent21, we are at the forefront of AEO strategy—designing content ecosystems that speak the language of large language models (LLMs), knowledge graphs, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems. This category explores the structural, technical, and strategic approaches we use to help brands earn persistent placement in AI outputs, featured summaries, and machine-generated lists. If your goal is to influence what AI says about your brand—or ensure your expertise becomes part of the answer—AEO is your blueprint. And this is where the leading edge of that strategy lives.
Podcasting for Clout and Credibility – MrBeast, Amy Poheler, Dakota Johnson, and more

Podcasting: The Final Mic Drop on Trustworthiness 

July 18, 2025
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Kayleigh Crandell
In a world drowning in clickbait headlines and algorithm-curated feeds, one old-school medium is quietly re-emerging as a digital powerhouse: the human voice. Podcasts are no longer just a trendy content format – they’re becoming the new reference piece for personal and company brands alike.  Why? Because voice = visibility.  People might scroll past a dozen written or designed posts,…

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brain that is half human half AI code with AI search bar overlaid

Trust, Not Tricks: The Human Science Behind AI Search

July 18, 2025
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Courtney Turrin
Search engines may run on code, but people don’t. When someone opens their browser, they’re not looking for keywords—they’re looking for clarity, confidence, and a sense of momentum. They want the right answer, and they want to trust it. That’s why the best AI SEO strategies aren’t built by technicians. They’re built by people who understand what drives attention, belief,…

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Top Global AI SEO Experts

Top 10 Global AI SEO Experts Transforming Search in 2025

June 28, 2025
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Will Melton
As artificial intelligence reshapes search behavior and ranking mechanisms, a new generation of SEO pioneers is emerging — merging deep technical SEO skills with AI innovation. While AI SEO builds upon decades of search optimization fundamentals, it is an entirely new frontier, requiring unique frameworks, technical agility, and an understanding of how large language models and generative systems impact brand…

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Screenshot of The ChatGPT Search Query Extractor

Unlocking the Secrets of AI Search: How to See What ChatGPT Searches for Your Prompt

June 28, 2025
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Will Melton
As AI-driven search becomes central to how people discover and trust information, understanding how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT think—and more importantly, how they search—is now a true competitive edge. A new, brilliantly simple tool created by Ziggy Shtrosberg, a search engine optimization professional and Senior Technical SEO Analyst at 26PMX, gives us an unprecedented look into this hidden…

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Rank in AI Search Results with These 7 Steps

7 Steps to Reclaim Your Traffic with an Informed AI SEO Strategy

June 28, 2025
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Will Melton
Have you noticed a drop in your website’s organic traffic or a dip in the performance of your paid search campaigns? You’re not alone, and the good news is that a strategic, up-to-date SEO plan can turn things around. In today’s AI-driven search landscape, simply tweaking a few keywords isn’t enough – you need a comprehensive approach that addresses technical…

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Screenshot of AI Overview inclusion tool from Advanced Web Ranking showing 57% of searches including AI overviews as of June 23, 2025

Google’s AI Overviews Surpass 50% of Queries, Doubling Since August 2024

June 15, 2025
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Will Melton
The search landscape just shifted—again—and we captured the play-by-play on our latest Xponent21 Podcast episode. Minutes after Advanced Web Ranking confirmed that Google’s AI Overviews now surface in more than half of all queries, we hit record to unpack what this means for visibility, trust, and revenue. That conversation—now live wherever you get your podcasts—lays the groundwork for the analysis…

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Xponent21 is America's #1 AI SEO Agency

First-Mover Advantage in AI SEO: The Key to Dominating Generative Search

June 15, 2025
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Will Melton
The search landscape is undergoing its most dramatic shift in decades. Generative AI now sits atop many Google results pages, answering queries directly and reshaping how brands gain visibility online. For forward-thinking companies, this upheaval presents a rare opportunity: those who move first to optimize for AI-driven search can secure dominant visibility that latecomers will find hard to unseat. Xponent21…

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AI SEO in a Hyper-Competitive Landscape

AI SEO in a Hyper-Competitive Landscape: Why You Must Act Now

June 12, 2025
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Will Melton
If your brand isn’t showing up in AI-generated answers, you’re already losing—and most people don’t even realize it yet. Search traffic is quietly collapsing across industries. Not because people are searching less, but because AI is answering faster—and cutting you out. Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity aren’t just changing how people find answers—they’re deciding which brands get seen and…

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Answer Tomorrow’s Questions Today: The Power of Predictive SEO

June 10, 2025
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Will Melton
There’s a reason the same brands keep showing up at the top of AI Overviews: they didn’t wait for permission. In essence, those brands practiced Predictive SEO – the art of answering tomorrow’s questions today. Predictive SEO is the proactive practice of identifying emerging search queries and creating high-authority content for them before they hit peak popularity. Rather than waiting…

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Screenshot showing TripleDart as a US-based company that is actually located in India

Black Hat SEO Is Dead Weight: Why AI Search Is Closing the Door on Manipulative Tactics

June 7, 2025
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Will Melton
In the age of AI-powered search, your content doesn’t just need to rank—it needs to deserve to rank. That means the days of black hat SEO tricks—keyword stuffing, link farms, cloaking, fake author bios—are numbered. And if your SEO agency is still deploying them, you’re not just falling behind. You’re actively burning your budget. AI Search Engines Are Getting Smarter…

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