Potential Clients Are Researching You Right Now—And You Have No Idea
Here's a stat that should get your attention: 70% of B2B buyers complete their entire decision journey before they ever contact sales.Where are they doing this research? Not just on Google. They're having in-depth conversations with AI assistants about your company, your competitors, and whether you're the right fit for their needs—before you even know they exist.
If you've heard that "SEO is dead," we have good news: it's absolutely not true. But what is dead? Lazy SEO. Generic content. Keyword stuffing. The tricks and shortcuts that never really worked anyway.
What's actually happening is much more interesting: The game hasn't ended—it's expanded. And the marketers winning in 2025 are those who understand that digital visibility now requires a three-pillar strategy.
You've probably noticed this yourself: You search for something on Google, and increasingly, you get your answer right there at the top—no click required. Google's AI synthesizes information from multiple sources and serves it up in a neat package.
Or maybe you've asked ChatGPT or Claude a question like, "What's the best project management tool for a remote team?" and received a detailed recommendation without ever visiting a single website.
This is the new reality of digital discovery. And it's not replacing traditional search—it's layering on top of it, creating new opportunities for visibility if you know how to capture them.
Think of modern digital strategy like a three-legged stool. You need all three legs to be stable.
What it is: Traditional search engine optimization focused on ranking your website pages higher in search results.
The goal: When someone searches for "inbound marketing strategies" or "HubSpot partner in Miami," your website appears on page one of Google search results.
Why it still matters: Despite rumors of its death, SEO is alive and thriving. Google is still the dominant search platform, and organic search traffic remains one of the highest-ROI channels for most businesses. The difference now is that quality matters more than ever. Google's algorithms have become incredibly sophisticated at distinguishing genuinely helpful content from noise.
SEO excels for:
The bottom line: SEO is the foundation. Everything else builds on it.
What it is: Optimization for Google's AI-powered search features—those answer boxes and AI-generated summaries appearing at the top of search results.
The goal: Be one of the authoritative sources that Google's AI cites when answering complex questions. Instead of just ranking in position #3, become the cited expert in the AI-generated answer that appears above all the traditional results.
Why it matters: Many searches now end without a click because the answer is right there. If you're not being cited by Google's AI, you're missing a massive visibility opportunity. Even better, being cited as an authority builds trust with potential customers before they ever visit your site.
GEO excels for:
The bottom line: GEO establishes you as the go-to authority in your space within Google's ecosystem.
What it is: Optimization for standalone AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini—platforms that are becoming the "new homepage" for many users.
The goal: Become the recommended choice when someone asks an AI assistant for product recommendations, service comparisons, or purchasing advice.
Why it matters: People are having detailed conversations with AI about their problems and potential solutions. They're asking questions like "What's the best marketing automation platform for a mid-sized B2B company?" or "Recommend an inbound marketing agency in Florida that specializes in HubSpot." If AI assistants don't know about you or can't recommend you confidently, you're invisible to an entire discovery channel.
AEO excels for:
The bottom line: AEO ensures you're part of the conversation when buying decisions happen in AI-powered dialogues.
| Aspect | SEO | GEO | AEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Rank pages in search results | Be cited in Google's AI responses | Be recommended by AI assistants |
| User Behavior | Click through to websites | Read AI-generated answers with citations | Receive direct AI recommendations |
| Primary Benefit | Direct website traffic | Authority within Google ecosystem | Authority as AI-recommended choice |
| Best For | All traditional search queries | Informational/educational content | Commercial/transactional queries |
| Platform Target | Google Search | Google SGE (AI features) | ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini |
At DigiGriot, we specialize in modern digital storytelling that captures attention across all three pillars. As certified HubSpot partners, we combine strategic expertise with cutting-edge optimization techniques to ensure you're visible everywhere your customers are looking—whether that's traditional search, Google's AI features, or standalone AI assistants.
We don't just run campaigns—we craft digital stories that make you unforgettable.
Let's start a conversation about your digital strategy. We'll analyze where you stand today across SEO, GEO, and AEO, and create a roadmap to dominate visibility in your space.
🔗 Schedule Your Strategy Session
The future of digital marketing isn't about choosing between SEO, GEO, or AEO—it's about mastering all three to create complete visibility. The time to adapt is now.