AI SEO

AI SEO (Artificial Intelligence Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of optimizing digital content to earn visibility in AI-generated answers, summaries, and conversational interfaces across tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing Copilot, and other generative platforms. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses solely on ranking in organic listings, AI SEO is about becoming the source that AI cites, summarizes, and recommends.

Xponent21 is a national leader in AI SEO—helping forward-thinking brands secure top placement in both AI-generated results and traditional search. In this category, you’ll find expert insights, case studies, and strategic frameworks built to accelerate discovery in the evolving world of generative search. From building structured content clusters and identifying high-intent questions to earning placement in AI summaries and conversational outputs, we share the exact methods our team uses to deliver rapid, compounding results.

If your goal is to lead the conversation in your industry—and be the brand AI platforms recommend first—this is where your strategy begins.

Screenshot of a Google search for SEO Companies Near Me on 10-1-24 showing Xponent21 in the 2nd place, surrounded by companies not located in Richmond.

Cracking the “Near Me” Code: Tracking Our Quest to Rank #1 for “SEO Management Near Me”

September 29, 2024
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Will Melton
Have you ever wondered why your business doesn’t appear at the top when someone nearby searches for services you offer, like “SEO management near me”? Despite our expertise in SEO, we noticed that Xponent21 wasn’t ranking as high as we’d like for this crucial local search term. Determined to change this, we embarked on a mission to secure the #1…

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Should You Spend More or Say Goodbye to Your Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising Campaign? [PPC Calculator 2.0]

September 29, 2024
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Will Melton
Effectively planning your PPC advertising budget is crucial for maximizing ROI or ROAS (return on ad spend). By following these three steps—researching key data points, implementing precise targeting, and consistently monitoring performance—you can ensure your campaign stays on track. For even more precision, you can use a PPC budget calculator to estimate your ideal budget based on your specific business…

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Google search depicting top SEO agencies in Richmond VA

Xponent21’s Proven Experience: Leading Global SEO Strategies from Richmond, VA

September 29, 2024
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Will Melton
Xponent21, proudly rooted in Richmond, VA, serves global clients with a wealth of hands-on experience optimizing content for both traditional and AI-driven search engines. Our local insights and global perspective allow us to craft tailored strategies that consistently achieve top results. Our deep experience spans industries and markets, demonstrating that we don’t just follow best practices—we help define them. Expertise…

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The Evolving Search Landscape: AI, Monopolies, and the Future of SEO and AI SEO

September 11, 2024
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Will Melton
The digital world is in the midst of a transformation, driven by the rapid evolution of AI technologies and a historic legal ruling that could redefine the future of search engines. As businesses grapple with these changes, understanding the intersection of AI, SEO, AI SEO, and the implications of Google’s dominance in the search market is critical for success. The…

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How Much Does It Cost to Hire an SEO Company in 2025? (Updated for Google AI Mode)

September 10, 2024
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Will Melton
Updated May 26, 2025 The SEO landscape is undergoing its biggest shift in decades. Google’s introduction of AI Mode – a fully generative search experience – has dramatically altered how people find information. After 27 years of traditional search, many queries now receive instant AI-generated answers on the results page itself. In 2024, 60% of Google searches never left the…

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All About AI SEO & Other New Terms: Navigating the New Frontier of Search

August 31, 2024
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Will Melton
The rapid evolution of AI technology is transforming the world of search engine optimization (SEO). As AI becomes increasingly integrated into search engines and content creation, new terms like AI SEO, SGE, AI Overviews, and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) are emerging. Understanding these concepts is crucial for staying ahead in this evolving landscape, ensuring your brand and content remain visible…

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seo display on laptop

SEO Best Practices for Achieving Top Rank in Search & AI Results

August 8, 2024
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Will Melton
We live in a world where we have access to just about every piece of information we need right at our fingertips. All it takes is a query—whether you’re searching for coffee shops near you, the best cleaning products for hardwood floors, or new dinner recipes. But have you ever wondered how a search engine, like Google, knows how to…

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man standing at summit of mountain

An Organic SEO Strategy to Take You to the Summit of Search Results

December 29, 2023
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Will Melton
This article is the second in our SEO Strategy series. If you haven’t read the first article, we recommend starting there to gain foundational insights into how organic SEO fits into your broader SEO Strategy.  Organic SEO: The Lynchpin of a Winning SEO Strategy In our previous article, we emphasized that winning the game of search engine optimization (SEO) starts…

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seo strategy

SEO Strategy: How to Win a Competitive Game

May 17, 2022
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Will Melton
If you’re a business owner or someone responsible for marketing a business, you likely already know you need to show up on the first page of search results, as close to the top as possible, to drive organic traffic to your website. How to successfully do so is another story. A winning SEO strategy begins with understanding the game, so…

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