Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Welcome to Xponent21’s SEO Insights—a strategic resource for organizations ready to lead in the age of AI-powered search. As a nationally recognized SEO agency—and a global pioneer in AI search optimization—we specialize in helping brands secure visibility not just in traditional rankings, but in AI Overviews, generative summaries, and conversational search results.

This category features in-depth guidance on foundational SEO, technical optimization, content strategy, and AI SEO frameworks built to earn placement in the most valuable real estate on the modern web. Our articles break down how to structure your content to rank in Google’s AI Overviews, appear in tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT, and dominate both organic search and generative discovery.

If your goal is to accelerate traffic, capture top-of-funnel authority, and ensure your brand is the one AI recommends, you’re in the right place. Explore the insights that power next-generation visibility—and see why leading organizations trust Xponent21 to put them at the center of the search experience.

Understanding and optimizing for your company's MVQ or Most Valuable Question is the key to generating revenue with AI search.

Why Discovering Your Brand’s Most Valuable Questions Is the Smartest AI SEO Strategy Today

June 7, 2025
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Will Melton
We’re living in the era of answer engines, not search engines. If your brand isn’t authoring the best answers, you’re invisible to your next would-be customer. It’s no longer enough to rank for broad, high-volume keywords. Today’s most effective content strategies are built around answering the right questions—specifically, your brand’s Most Valuable Questions (MVQs). Why Short-Tail Keyword Optimization Is Obsolete…

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Why Most Digital Marketing Agencies Are Behind on AI SEO

June 7, 2025
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Will Melton
If you’ve recently asked your agency how they plan to help you rank in AI search results—and got blank stares or vague answers—you’re not alone. AI-powered systems like Google’s AI Overviews, Perplexity, and ChatGPT are transforming how people discover products, services, and brands. The top of the search page is no longer filled with ten blue links—it’s dominated by AI-generated…

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AI SEO and the SaaS Visibility Shift: Preparing for AI-Driven Decision-Makers

June 4, 2025
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Will Melton
On a recent afternoon, a marketing director searches Google for “best subscription management software.” Instead of the usual scroll of blue links, he’s greeted by an AI-generated summary at the top of the page. It lists a few familiar tools with pros and cons, all before the first organic result. Later, he asks ChatGPT the same question and gets an…

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From SEO to AEO: The Wake-Up Call Businesses Need to Survive the AI Search Shift

June 4, 2025
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Will Melton
Search engines aren’t gateways anymore. They’re filters—and AI is the one deciding what gets through. It determines what people see when they search, how answers are framed, and which brands stay visible. That shift has made traditional SEO feel slower, less reliable, and harder to measure in real time. If your business isn’t actively working to be recognized across AI-powered…

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How to Optimize Your Website and Content to Rank in AI Search Results

May 29, 2025
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Will Melton
Latest update: June 23, 2025 As AI-powered search engines like Perplexity, Google’s AI Overviews—and now AI Mode—as well as tools such as ChatGPT continue to reshape how users find information, content creators must evolve their SEO strategies to keep up. In 2024, 60% of Google searches never left the search engine results page (SERP), underscoring the need for tactics that…

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Screenshot of Google Marketing Live 2025 announcement of ads in Google AI search results.

Ads Are Now in AI Search: How Google’s AI Mode Redefines SEO and Paid Visibility

May 27, 2025
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Will Melton
We knew it was coming: Google’s 2025 Marketing Live confirmed that AI search results will now include ads, changing the game for marketers. Google announced that its new AI Overviews (AI-generated search summaries) will now include Search and Shopping ads on desktop, and that the recently launched AI Mode in Google Search will also show ads. In practice, this means…

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Screenshot from Google's live stream of Google I/O showing off AI Mode

Google’s AI Mode Just Changed Everything. Here’s What Businesses Need to Know

May 21, 2025
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Will Melton
After 27 years of Google, the era of search is over. Google’s launch of AI Mode—its full generative search experience—marks the official end of traditional search as we knew it. If you’ve built your business on organic traffic from Google, it’s past time to reassess everything. This is not a drill. It’s the acceleration of a trend that’s been in…

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AI Overview Example of "AI Search Optimization" Showing Xponent21 as the Top Source

10 Leading AI SEO Agencies Helping Brands Rank in AI Search and Beyond

May 12, 2025
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Will Melton
Search is undergoing a seismic shift. Traditional search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer just about getting blue links on Google’s first page – it’s about earning a spot in AI-powered answers and summaries. Modern search platforms like Google’s AI Overviews, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Perplexity AI use generative AI to answer user queries directly. This means B2B marketing…

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Cartoon of a robot responding to a man's prompt with autonomous decisions and purchases.

AI SEO Strategies for Marketing Leaders: A Practical Guide to Achieving Top Citations in AI

April 19, 2025
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Will Melton
As search experiences continue to evolve, one thing is clear: content that gets pulled into AI-generated responses isn’t just optimized—it’s intelligently structured, deeply authoritative, and incredibly human-centric.​ Implementing effective AI SEO strategies is crucial in this landscape. AI search tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) and Microsoft’s Copilot, as well as Perplexity, Claude, and ChatGPT, prioritize clear, well-organized content…

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SEO Agency Richmond

Finding the Best SEO Agencies in Richmond, VA: A Collaborative Guide for 2025

April 1, 2025
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Will Melton
The Richmond SEO Agency Landscape is Diverse Richmond, VA, boasts a diverse and thriving marketing community, with agencies and creatives ranging from one-man shops to agencies that produce significant national campaigns. As businesses in Richmond increasingly recognize the importance of a strong digital presence, the demand for effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services has surged. However, finding the best Richmond…

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