[State of AEO Call Recording] [State of AEO Slide Deck] [The AEO Semantic Entity Guide] The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and for businesses to thrive, we must anticipate the next wave. Julian's latest session at the State of AEO call reinforced a critical truth: the game has shifted. Traditional SEO metrics like keywords and clicks are giving way to something far more profound: brand authority and entity optimization. In the age of AI, your website isn't just a destination; it's your "source of truth"—a vital node within a vast network that AI consults. Our mission? To move beyond mere citation and become the genuinely recommended and validated entity in your market. 1. 🤖 AI's Need for Validation and Consensus Think of AI as a discerning expert. It doesn't just take information at face value; it seeks validation. Trust Through Corroboration: AI, much like a human, requires multiple, credible sources to confirm claims about a brand or person. This corroboration builds the trust necessary for AI to confidently represent your information. Google's Knowledge Library: Google has transcended simple indexing. It's now a sophisticated "knowledge library," adept at understanding entities far beyond just keywords. This deep understanding comes from aggregating and attributing properties that define what an entity is in its intricate "brain." The Knowledge Panel: This isn't just a fancy box; it's Google's visual testament to its understanding of your entity. If your brand lacks a Knowledge Panel, or if a search for your name brings up a fragmented list of results, it's a clear signal: your entity isn't fully grasped by AI. Future of Discovery: Imagine a world where AI is seamlessly integrated into wearable devices and ambient computing. In this future, the ability for AI to instantly identify and retrieve accurate, verified information about your business or personal brand will be the ultimate differentiator for discoverability.

First, hello! Long time, no talk. Sorry I've been absent from the AEO group. @Julian Lopez took over (and crushed it) and I went off and did other things. Second, I owe y'all a huge apology. We launched this cohort to help us gather data, test, and figure out what the hell this AEO thing is. Everyone who joined signed up as a pioneer and put their faith and trust in us. THANK YOU!! Quick detour: For those of you who don't know. I'm dealing with some health issues and have been winding down my involvement in extracurricular activities (like starting new businesses). Because of that: I needed to find someone to partner with on the AEO front who could take the lead in building the company from a day-to-day perspective. I just don't have it in me right now. Good news: I found them!! Molly Pittman and Ezra Firestone of Smart Marketer were actually looking to launch an AEO service and so the timing was perfect. They're absorbing us into their company and taking the reigns from here. This lets me and Julian stay active in the "mad scientist" roles and brings in other grownups who want to actually run a business. It also brings us the financing, staff, and infrastructure necessary to really launch something meaningful. The reason I'm telling you this... I really, really screwed up. Here's how it happened (from my perspective): - My decades long health journey comes to a crossroads and I realize I need to buckle down and focus on getting well. - I pull the plug on everything other than Pareto (my main business). If I can't sell it, I just wind it down or give my share of the equity back. The only thing I can't let bring myself to let go of is AEO. - I post to Facebook in a desperate plea to find someone who can help take over AEO while still allowing me to stay involved. The response is overwhelming! Some massive names reach out and exciting conversations ensue. - I settle on Smart Marketer. They're an obvious choice and I've admired Molly for years and years. I'm so excited and also nervous because we need to move FAST! - We decide on what me and @Julian Lopez have known for a while: We have enough data. We just need to pull the trigger and go for it. We all agree we're going to bring on ten "test" clients for an initial phase of testing. - We pull together an application form. Smart Marketer goes to fire it off to their list and I go post it to my socials.

Hey everyone, please accept my apologies for missing our scheduled coaching call due to personal matters today. I know many of you had time set aside for this, and I’m sorry for the disruption. To make it right and ensure no one is blocked on their learning, I’m running two separate Extra Sessions over the next two days for Premium & VIP subscribers. The Goal: To clear the queue of all your technical AEO questions and implementation issues. Extra Session 1: 12/9/25 12:00 PM Extra Session 2: 12/10/25 12:00 PM Bring your questions—let's get you unstuck!

Lately I’ve been watching a funny pattern in our AEO conversations. Someone gets picked up by an AI engine (awesome moment, cue the small victory dance)… and then the discussion immediately splits into two camps: Camp 1: “See? Schema’s optional.” Camp 2: “Quick — cover the whole site in JSON-LD before the engines notice!” It’s like we’ve collectively decided schema is the answer… without stopping to ask what problem we’re even trying to solve. Here’s the reality check: Early AI mentions are the digital equivalent of a polite nod — not a long-term relationship. AI engines are still in their “sure, bring whatever, I’m not picky” era. But give it time — systems mature, rules tighten, and suddenly the slob phase is over. If your content structure is wobbly and your entities don’t line up, dumping schema everywhere is basically putting lipstick on a website with an identity crisis. Schema isn’t magic. It’s not a shortcut. And it’s definitely not Flex Seal for SEO. It’s annotation. The wiring — not the blueprint. So before we crown schema as the savior, maybe we should ask: Are we using schema strategically… or just because it feels like the easiest lever to pull? Because when the engines start grading more strictly — and they will — the sites with thoughtful structure, clean entities, and intentional markup are the ones that will stand up straight. Everyone else? They’ll be untangling JSON like Christmas lights. Curious to hear others: Are we leaning too hard on markup because it’s measurable… and avoiding the deeper architectural work?

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