From SEO to AEO: The Four Pillars of AI Search Strategy

Описание: From SEO to AEO: The Four Pillars of AI Search Strategy
Your buyers are doing weeks of research in ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity before they ever fill out your demo form. And you have zero visibility into any of it.
In this episode, Stacie sits down with Jenna Hannon—first marketing hire at Uber Eats and founder of GetHatter.ai—to break down the shift from SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), and what it means for your attribution model, your pipeline, and your competitive position.
This isn’t just about “showing up in AI search.” It’s about making sure your company, your founders, and your thought leaders are the ones being cited when your buyers are doing that invisible dark funnel research.

Guest: Jenna Hannon
Founder of GetHatter.ai and former first marketing hire at Uber Eats

What We Cover
SEO Fundamentals (And Why They’re Not Enough Anymore)
How SEO has worked for the past 20 years
The constant chase of Google’s algorithm changes
Why keyword strategies and backlink volume dominated the game
The shift from search results to AI-generated summaries
The Rise of AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
What AEO actually is and how it differs from SEO
Why 97% of searches still happen on Google—but summaries are changing everything
How LLMs decide whose content to cite (spoiler: it’s not about hacks)
Why AEO actually rewards good marketing better than Google ever did
The Attribution Blind Spot
Your buyers are researching for weeks before filling out forms
AI-assisted research makes the dark funnel even darker
How to influence research you can’t see or measure
Why this is a revenue strategy conversation, not just a marketing tactic
The Four Pillars of AEO Strategy
Jenna breaks down the four key areas where you can move the needle in AEO—and why most companies are starting from 1% visibility (or 0%). She explains which pillar matters most, where to start if you’re overwhelmed, and why this isn’t about abandoning your SEO investment.
The Truth About “AEO Hacks”
There is no magic button (Jenna tried to build one—Google shut it down overnight)
LinkedIn influencers selling shortcuts? Jenna’s tested them. They don’t work.
What actually works instead (and why it’s better than you think)
Why You Shouldn’t Be Intimidated
The fundamentals haven’t changed—you’re just extending your strategy
AEO rewards strong marketing better than Google’s algorithm ever did
This isn’t a complete rework of your marketing priorities
Where to focus your energy for maximum impact

Key Takeaways
SEO isn’t dead—97% of searches still happen on Google
But AI summaries are changing how buyers consume information
By the time prospects fill out your form, they’ve done weeks of AI-assisted research
Most B2B brands show up 1% of the time (or less) in AI search results
There are no shortcuts—AEO rewards good marketing fundamentals
This is a revenue strategy conversation, not just a marketing tactic

Resources Mentioned
Free AI Visibility Tracker
Check how often your brand shows up in AI search
Connect with Jenna Hannon
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Jenna Hannon (book a 15-minute call directly from her profile)
Company: https://www.gethatter.ai/

About the Host
Stacie Sussman is the Founder and CRO of RevUp Advisory, a growth consultancy helping mid-market B2B companies scale smarter by fixing broken marketing and sales systems. At RevUp, Stacie builds attribution funnels that help CMOs prove ROI and reclaim their strategic leadership roles.
C-Suite Strategies is her podcast for founders, C-Suite executives, and leaders who are building for growth while striving for excellence.

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Please note: The audio quality in the opening minutes of this episode is not up to our usual standard. Rather than delay sharing this important conversation, we chose to release it as-is because the insights are too valuable to wait. We appreciate your understanding and hope you enjoy the episode!