by BrandMinded | Sep 19, 2025 | AIO Strategy, content marketing, SEO
Summary
- AI content marketing is no longer optional—LLMs like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews dominate search.
- AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) combines SEO, AEO, and GEO to make content AI-readable, cite-worthy, and user-friendly.
- Winning means rethinking calendars, tone, and content structures:
- Anchor your calendar around evergreen, high-intent questions.
- Write with a clear, conversational voice backed by authority.
- Format content with Q&A, lists, schema, and clusters.
- Distribute across multiple formats (blogs, video, podcasts).
- Measure AI citations and mentions as much as clicks.
What Is AIO and Why It Matters
AIO in Simple Terms
- SEO helped humans find you through keywords, backlinks, and rankings.
- AIO helps both humans and AI engines find, interpret, and reuse your content.
- Think of it as the bridge between traditional search optimization and generative AI responses—where your content isn’t just ranked, it’s quoted, summarized, and trusted by AI.
Three Pillars of AIO
- AEO (Answer Engine Optimization): Creating content that directly answers queries (Q&A, FAQs, schema).
- GEO (Generative Engine Optimization): Structuring content so LLMs cite it when generating long-form answers.
- Traditional SEO Foundations: Indexing, crawlability, and EEAT.
As Google explains in its AI Search blog, helpful content still wins—but now structure and clarity decide whether AI includes you in results.
Why Traditional Content Calendars No Longer Work
Old vs. New Reality
- Old Model:
- Publish weekly keyword blogs.
- Optimize for search engines with meta tags and backlinks.
- Measure success by clicks, impressions, and SERP rankings.
- Focus on quantity over depth.
- New Model:
- Create topic clusters centered on user questions and intent.
- Build evergreen, long-form resources instead of chasing fleeting trends.
- Structure content with Q&A, schema, lists, and FAQs so AI can parse and reuse it.
- Measure success by citations in AI summaries, mentions in Overviews, and brand trust signals.
- Focus on depth and clarity over volume.
5 Ways to Rethink Your Calendar for AIO
- Questions First
Example: Instead of targeting “AI content marketing,” build a series around:
- What is AIO?
- How is AIO different from SEO?
- What tools help with AIO?
- What does an AIO calendar look like?
- Evergreen Anchors
- Dedicate ~70% of your calendar to “always relevant” content.
- Example: How to Build a Content Strategy for AI Search will still be relevant 3 years from now.
- Clusters, Not Islands
- Build pillar + 5–7 supporting blogs.
- Interlink aggressively—AI prefers complete ecosystems.
- Multi-Format Repurposing
One blog = 4+ outputs:
- LinkedIn carousel
- Podcast Q&A
- Short-form TikTok
- Slide deck for webinars
- AI-Friendly Cadence
- Space out publication for freshness.
- Prioritize depth over frequency—fewer but more robust posts.
Tone: How to Write for Humans and AI
Tone Checklist for AIO Content
- ✅ Conversational: Use “you” and “we.”
- ✅ Clear: Short sentences, active voice.
- ✅ Credible: Cite industry leaders like HubSpot, CMI, or Google.
- ✅ Contextual: Define acronyms and jargon.
- ✅ Consistent: Follow a style guide.
Before/After Example
❌ Old SEO Tone:
Companies should integrate keyword planning into their editorial calendars to maximize content reach.
✅ AIO Tone:
Want your content to show up in AI answers? Start with the questions your audience asks. Build content around those, then format them as Q&A blocks so AI engines can easily understand and cite you.
Formatting for AI Engines
LLMs don’t just read content like humans — they tokenize, parse, and embed it into structured vectors. That means your formatting decisions directly affect whether your blog shows up in AI Overviews, Perplexity answers, or ChatGPT citations.
Best Practices
1. Headings as Answers
- Use H2s and H3s as if they are answers to search queries.
- Example:
- ❌ “About AIO” → vague, non-actionable.
- ✅ “What Is AIO in Content Marketing?” → direct question/answer pairing AI engines can lift.
- Each heading should be standalone so even if lifted without context, it still delivers value.
2. Bullet Lists
- Bullets and numbered steps signal clarity and sequence to AI parsers.
- Example: Instead of one dense paragraph on “AIO benefits,” use:
- Faster indexing by AI engines.
- Higher chance of citation in Overviews.
- Stronger topical authority via clusters.
3. Tables for Comparisons
| Feature |
Traditional SEO |
AIO |
| Goal |
Rank in SERPS |
Be cited in AI answers |
| Format |
Keyword-rich blogs |
Q&A, schema, bullets |
| Measurement |
CTR, traffic |
AI mentions, citations |
LLMs tend to quote or re-create table data because it’s semantically easy to interpret.
4. Schema Markup
- Structured data tells AI exactly what type of content you’ve provided.
- Add:
- FAQ Page schema
- HowTo schema
- Article schema
5. Summaries and TL;DRs
- Start each article with a short summary or TL;DR.
- LLMs often scrape intros and conclusions for “fast answers.”
6. Chunking Content Into Sections
- Break long paragraphs into 3–5 sentence chunks.
- Use subheadings every 200–300 words to reset context.
7. Embedding Keywords in Natural Language
- LLMs don’t rely on keyword stuffing, but semantic relevance matters.
- Example: Instead of repeating “AI content marketing” 10x:
- “AI-driven blogs built for optimization.”
- “Content strategies designed for AIO results.”
8. Layered Content Formats
- Use multiple content types within one blog:
9. Inline Definitions
- Define terms as you go.
- Example: “AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) is the practice of structuring content so AI engines can interpret and cite it.”
10. Visual Metadata
- AI parses alt text, captions, and file names.
- Add descriptive alt text: “Example table comparing SEO vs AIO content strategy.”
Aligning SEO With AIO
6 Practical Shifts
- Double Down on EEAT – Cite experts, show credentials, use testimonials.
- Check Crawlability – Ensure indexation. Search Engine Land confirms: if it’s not indexed, it won’t appear in AI Overviews.
- Organize Around Pillars – Example: AI in Healthcare with subtopics like privacy, ethics, trust.
- Use Internal Links – Strong webs of context = stronger AI recognition.
- Expand Metadata – Descriptive meta titles and rich snippets.
- Track AI Mentions – Tools like Semrush, Newslit, SparkToro now track AI citations.
Step-By-Step: Building an AIO Blog
- Pick the Question: e.g., What is AIO in content marketing?
- Draft the Core Answer (500 words).
- Break Into Sub-Answers (200–300 words each).
- Add Bullets, Lists, and Visuals.
- Insert FAQs (with schema).
- Optimize Technicals.
- Repurpose Across Formats.
According to HubSpot, repurposing multiplies impact because AI pulls from multiple formats, not just text.
Practical Example: Hybrid Workspace Blog
Traditional SEO Approach
- 800 words, keyword: “hybrid workspace.”
- Thin content, no schema.
- One channel (blog only).
AIO Optimized Approach
- 1,800 words with Q&A, lists, schema.
- Subtopics: tools, collaboration, culture, case studies.
- FAQs: What tools do hybrid teams need?
- Repurposed into podcast, TikTok snippet, LinkedIn carousel.
- AI citations: Appeared in Gemini AI Mode and Perplexity answers.
FAQs About AIO Content Marketing
Q1. Is AIO the same as SEO?
No. SEO ranks web pages in search engines, while AIO ensures your content is AI-readable, semantically clear, and citation-worthy.
Q2. How do zero-click results affect AIO?
AI summaries often answer questions directly, reducing clicks. AIO helps you win visibility by getting cited in those summaries.
Q3. What role does schema markup play?
Schema tells AI what your content is (FAQ, Article, How-To). It’s critical for AEO.
Q4. How should I measure success?
Track AI mentions, citations, and brand visibility in Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.
Q5. How does social media connect with AIO?
AI engines also pull from social signals. Aligning SEO and social boosts authority and discoverability.
Q6. Does UX impact AIO?
Yes. AI rewards content that’s clear and human-friendly.
Q7. How can local businesses benefit?
Use Google Business Profiles, reviews, and local schema.
Q8. How does BrandMinded help?
We create cluster strategies, optimized calendars, and AI-friendly formatting.
Q9. What about prompting skills?
Prompting is a new SEO skill—knowing how to query AI tools helps with content and keyword clusters.
Q10. Where do Meta posts fit in?
Meta content is now showing in Google. Treat them as optimizable assets.
Final Thoughts
AI has rewritten the content marketing playbook. SEO alone won’t cut it—you need AIO to stay visible in a world where LLMs summarize, cite, and recommend content.
- Calendars: Prioritize evergreen, Q&A-driven clusters.
- Tone: Human-centered yet structured for AI.
- Formats: Schema, lists, FAQs boost citations.
- Metrics: Shift from clicks to AI mentions and trust signals.
Every blog or podcast you create trains AI systems to recognize your brand as a trusted voice. Brands that adapt now will hold advantage, while those who wait risk disappearing.
“Content isn’t just about reach—it’s about resonance. AIO ensures that resonance carries into the AI-driven future.” – Content Marketing Institute
The bottom line: Master AIO today, and tomorrow’s AI engines will trust—and surface—your brand above the rest.
Sources
by BrandMinded | Jan 30, 2023 | content marketing, Content Strategy, digital marketing, digital news, News, social media marketing
Digital marketing has many layers. Combining multiple strategies can help small businesses put more muscle behind their marketing efforts — and ultimately drive revenue. A robust plan typically includes digital ads, web content, video content, social media, email and more. That’s where SEO and SEM come into play. When done right, they can help round out your overall digital marketing plan in a big way.
Search engines can be a powerful way to connect with your target demographic. You just have to know how to work with them. BrandMinded is an SEO and SEM firm Tampa can trust. We’ve been at this a long time and rely on data-driven solutions in all we do. Let’s unpack why SEO and SEM are essential to your digital marketing success.
What is SEO?
“Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the practice of improving your content and your website to boost your ranking, specifically on Google,” says Matthew Hall, Senior SEO/SEM Specialist at BrandMinded.
To get to the top of Google search results, businesses need to create content that helps searchers find what they’re looking for and have a positive search experience. This is the heart of Google’s recent helpful content update. It’s designed to prioritize people-first content — and devalue clickbait and unhelpful content.
“When we’re talking about SEO, we’re talking about making sure that the content and the website are up to par with Google standards so that it will rank higher,” says Hall. “By default, that usually helps the ranking on other platforms as well because other platforms, like Yahoo and Bing, largely model their algorithms off of the Google algorithm.”
What does SEO look like in practice? Instead of trying to manipulate your content and your Google ranking, SEO involves optimizing your website and blog posts so that they’re:
- Authentic and reflect the voice of the brand
- Original (not published elsewhere online)
- Helpful to your audience and tailored to their needs
What is SEM?
Advertising is a huge revenue source for Google. In 2021, the search giant brought in over $209 billion dollars in ad revenue. After typing in a search query, you’ve probably noticed advertised search results that pop up at the top of the results page.
“Depending on which search query you’re looking at now, someone could have the organic rank as number one, but you don’t even see them at the top of the page,” says Hall. “You actually have to scroll down to even get to them because there are ads on top of it.”
SEM, which stands for search engine marketing, leverages search result ads to your advantage. Google ads can also appear within the shopping tab, on Google Maps, or on Google search partner websites.
How SEO and SEM Work Together in Digital Marketing
While SEO is extremely important to improving your search ranking and getting organic traffic, SEM is equally valuable. The two work hand in hand. Hall says the goal is to strengthen SEO to the point where you can eventually decrease your advertising spend.
“The truth is that if anyone wants to get business immediately, they have to spend money on ads if they want any sort of rank or visibility on Google,” he says. “A lot of people want to be first organically, but that’s a lot longer of a strategy, especially to do it properly.”
The Google Ads platform can get you moving in the right direction in terms of generating leads. Consider it part of your overarching digital marketing plan. One side of the coin is growing your organic ranking — the other is SEM. With SEM, we can turn on the faucet tomorrow and get that traffic flowing while you build out your SEO strategy.
“As an agency, we have employees who are dedicated to analyzing the data we receive on a regular basis,” says Hall. “We are always checking campaigns. Without the right guidance, you could easily spend $1,000 in a day and get nothing for it if there’s even a small error in your configuration. There are lots of nuances, and BrandMinded understands them.”
Ready to take your digital marketing plan to the next level? Contact us today to get started.
by BrandMinded | Jan 26, 2023 | content marketing, Content Strategy, digital marketing, digital news, News, social media marketing
With a fresh year ahead of us, small business owners are looking for ways to elevate their marketing game. Hitting your revenue goals is all about increasing brand awareness and generating new leads — and, of course, serving your customers well. Digital marketing is a powerful way to reach both potential and existing clients, but there are many ways to go about it (some more effective than others). We’re kicking off the year by rounding up the best marketing strategies for 2023.
Video Marketing
“Video is just becoming so much more important, especially with the rising use of reels,” says Matthew Hall, Senior SEO/SEM Specialist at BrandMinded. “We’re going to be focusing on producing more video content for social media for our clients this year.”
Considering that 20% of all Instagram activity takes place on reels, it is critical to drive exposure so we can maximize our client’s reach potential. It’s no secret that short-form video is taking over social media, so in order to get in on the action we need to stay knowledgeable about the ever so changing algorithms of platforms such as Instagram.
“We’re seeing a lot of video content for sure, especially short-form video,” says Alyssa Drum, Digital Account Coordinator at BrandMinded. “With the rise of Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, a lot of platforms are trying to get in on that. We have such a small window to capture our viewers’ attention right now.”
She suggests creating two versions of a video when working on any campaign; a 15- to 45-second one for social media, and a longer version for the brand’s YouTube channel or website.
Hall adds that Hulu is another platform worth exploring. “In the past, you’d need to have a media buying agency handle that, but now Hulu has opened it up to marketing agencies like us,” he says. “That’s something we’re exploring a lot as well because we think there’s a lot of value there.”
Authenticity
Digital marketing is continuing to evolve and change. What worked a couple of years ago isn’t necessarily resonating with audiences anymore, especially on social media.
“Authenticity is big,” says Drum. “In the photos we post, people want to see things that are organic-looking and natural, as opposed to a graphic style.”
In other words, social media users will likely scroll past a generic, static image. Instead, the focus right now is on storytelling, connection, and a sense of realness. In 2023, Drum plans to leverage social media takeovers to capture user attention. This is often an employee or someone relevant to the brand “taking over” the company’s social media channels. The result is a more face-to-face feel. It’s similar to doing a “Team Tuesday” on social media. This allows users to get to know a company, which helps humanize the brand.
“We usually get more engagement with those kinds of posts,” says Drum.
Partnering with Nano-Influencers
You might think that teaming up with a big social media star would be a great marketing strategy, but it can be hard to persuade these folks to work with small businesses. Drum says there’s another approach that’s proving to be very effective.
“Nano-influencers are becoming a big thing,” she says. “We’re moving away from big, A-list celebrities partnering with brands and going more toward social media users who have only a couple thousand followers.”
These influencers still have substantial reach, and they may be more likely to believe in your brand’s values. Drum says it’s a great way to promote a genuine feel and earn the trust of social media users.
Strategic Content Marketing
Google rewards helpful content. This is content that puts people first, instead of trending keywords. Brands that are focused on gaming search engine results could be penalized by Google and actually worsen their ranking. Strong content:
- Is well written and authentic (not generic)
- Is relevant to your target demographic
- Helps web visitors get information or solve a problem
- Establishes a sense of trust with the reader
- Demonstrates your brand’s values
When it comes to the best marketing strategies for 2023, BrandMinded understands that every small business is different. The strongest approach for your brand will depend on your goals, target demographic, and brand identity. We’re here to help you figure out what it all means — and create a game plan that works for you. Contact us today to get started.
by BrandMinded | Nov 17, 2022 | content marketing, Content Strategy, digital news, News
Google made a splash a couple months back when it announced its helpful content update. It has officially rolled out and is meant to prioritize people-first content, while devaluing clickbait and unhelpful content that’s just trying to catch traffic. It’s part of a broader Google initiative to improve the search experience. Here’s how it works and how it could affect your content marketing strategies.
What is the Google Helpful Content Update?
The name sums it up well. Google officially unveiled the helpful content update back in August as part of a larger goal to weed out unoriginal, unhelpful content from search results. That includes web copy churned out by artificial intelligence (AI) and content farms. It’s designed to reward content that leaves visitors feeling satisfied. On the other end of the spectrum, content that doesn’t hit that mark won’t perform well.
At first glance, that may sound a little subjective — who’s to say what’s helpful and what’s not? Google further clarified by offering these two points of advice:
1. Put People First
The idea is to create satisfying content while sticking to SEO best practices. Google encourages marketers to put their existing or intended audience for their business at the center of all their content. When writing new content, ask yourself if they’d find it useful. Also, does it prove that you’re knowledgeable on the topic that’s being covered?
If you’re a medical provider, for example, your content should be geared toward patients who are in your key demographic. It should be well researched, relevant to the searcher, and effective in answering a specific question or solving a problem. In other words, they should leave your site feeling like they got what they needed.
2. Don’t Create Content Solely for Search Engines
You don’t have to abandon SEO best practices. On the contrary, it’s about using them to better serve your audience. Instead of creating content with the sole purpose of snagging a top Google ranking, it’s about producing focused content around a specific topic. To put it another way, honor your audience and stick to your niche.
Search-engine content is impersonal and casts a wide net. It builds articles and blog posts off trending search results — not what your audience necessarily wants or needs. This kind of content usually feels thin. It doesn’t demonstrate a depth of knowledge or leave the reader feeling satisfied.
Is the Helpful Content Update Changing the Way Content Ranks?
It’s too early to know for sure since the Google helpful content update just made its debut. With that said, it doesn’t seem to be causing any major changes yet. Folks at Google say the update is part of a continuing effort to improve the search experience. If you’re already producing strong content, you should be good. Time will tell how the update will affect unhelpful content in the long term.
Original, Helpful Content is Always Best
The Google helpful content update drives home something we already knew — original, valuable content that puts the reader first is always the best way to go. At BrandMinded, we believe it’s the only way to go. Your content won’t do you much good if it’s generic and shallow. Think like your target audience and ask yourself if you’re providing something of value. If not, it’s essentially useless.
Good content does two things: It serves the reader while also establishing a sense of trust. When you continually demonstrate that you know your stuff and can offer helpful solutions, you’re proving that you’re a trusted voice in your industry. That relationship can eventually blossom into brand awareness and customer loyalty.
by Miné Salkin | Aug 20, 2019 | content marketing
Content marketing defined:
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by Miné Salkin | Aug 6, 2019 | content marketing, digital marketing
Digital marketing is a relatively new frontier that many business owners have some degree of experience with. A reputable digital marketing agency can help you navigate the tricky online terrain, but if you’re not quite ready to hire one at the moment, below is a list of common digital marketing mistakes to avoid. These are some mistakes we’ve seen clients make before taking the leap and hiring us on to manage their digital presence.
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