The Rise of AI as a Search Engine: How We Make Your SMB Discoverable in AI Search Engines

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "url": "https://www.grizzlymarketing.com/blog/the-rise-of-ai-as-a-search-engine-how-we-make-your-smb-discoverable-in-ai-search-engines/", "headline": "The Rise of AI as a Search Engine: How We Make Your SMB Discoverable in AI Search Engines", "alternativeHeadline": "Generative Engine Optimization: A New Era in Online Visibility for SMBs", "image": [ "https://www.grizzlymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Grizzly-New-Marketing-Logo.jpg", "https://www.grizzlymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/AI-Search-Engine-Graphic.jpg" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Grizzly New Marketing", "url": "https://www.grizzlymarketing.com" }, "editor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Grizzly New Marketing Editorial Team", "url": "https://www.grizzlymarketing.com" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Grizzly New Marketing", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.grizzlymarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Grizzly-New-Marketing-Logo.jpg", "width": 600, "height": 60 } }, "datePublished": "2025-05-21", "dateModified": "2025-05-21", "inLanguage": "nl-BE", "wordCount": 1200, "articleBody": "The way people search for information is changing rapidly. With the emergence of powerful AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity, we are witnessing a new era in online searching. These so-called 'generative search engines' summarize information from various sources to provide direct answers to user queries. This phenomenon is known as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and it is crucial for the online visibility of your SMB. At Grizzly New Marketing, we closely monitor these developments. Just as we have been successfully helping companies with traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for years, we continuously evolve to ensure that your business is found in this new AI-driven landscape.\n\nWhat is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?\nWhere traditional SEO focuses on optimizing your website for search engine algorithms like Google (such as keywords, backlinks, and technical aspects), GEO is about optimizing your online content for AI-driven search engines. The goal? Ensuring that these AI tools mention and cite your business in their generated responses, ultimately leading to more business.\n\nThe Differences Between SEO and GEO Are Significant:\n\nAI Search Engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity Are Now Receiving Billions of Visits Per Month\nGoogle AI Overviews has already been launched and is actively visible in a growing number of search queries. These overviews typically include clickable links and references to reliable sources—a unique opportunity for businesses to appear directly at the top of search results. Those who act now will gain a significant competitive advantage.\n\nIs SEO Still Useful Today?\nYes, many of the efforts you already make for SEO also contribute to your visibility in AI search engines. The E-E-A-T principle (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness) is relevant for both Google and AI. By focusing on creating high-quality, trustworthy content, you build a strong reputation as an information source.\n\nRanking Across Different Platforms\nGoogle AI Overviews currently provides the highest number of link mentions and is activated in more and more search queries. In the U.S., this feature is already live and rapidly expanding. This presents major opportunities to drive traffic to your website—provided your business is chosen as a reliable source. ChatGPT Search scores high in brand mentions but generates fewer links. This makes it valuable for brand awareness and product discovery. Perplexity strikes a strong balance between brand mentions and link references, making the platform ideal for reference-oriented SEO.\n\nThe Rise of AI as a Search Environment\nWe also see that search queries with commercial intent are the most common in AI search environments, followed closely by informational questions. Notably, platforms with user-generated content, such as Reddit and Quora, are dominating. At Grizzly New Marketing, we closely monitor these developments and actively ensure that our clients are prepared for this new reality.\n\nHow Do We Apply GEO for Your SMB?\nAt Grizzly New Marketing, we look beyond Google. We actively evolve with the changing search landscape, ensuring that AI search engines recognize your brand as a trusted source. We achieve this by:\n\nWriting content in natural language, aligned with how people ask questions to AI.\nBuilding summary-friendly content blocks (think of FAQs, step-by-step guides, expert explanations).\nAdding structured data so that AI tools can quickly understand what your pages are about.\nEstablishing authority and trust according to the E-E-A-T principle (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness).\nAnd all this without losing focus on your classic SEO—because GEO does not replace SEO; it strengthens it.\n\nConclusion\nThe rise of AI as a search engine is a fact. Although it won’t fully replace traditional SEO, it represents an important new channel that offers opportunities for businesses that proactively embrace it. At Grizzly New Marketing, we are ready to guide your SMB through this transition, ensuring that you remain successful online in the future. Curious about how your business scores in terms of AI visibility? Contact us today for a free consultation!" }