5 Things You’re Doing Wrong with AI Search and SEO Right Now

About This Episode

AI-powered search is rewriting the rules of SEO, and rankings are no longer just about keywords, backlinks, or technical tricks. In this episode of SEO On Air, the agency leaders Ty Kilgore, Ryan Ricketts, and Jesse Brede unpack how AI search is turning SEO into a brand trust and credibility game.

They share real-world insights on how AI is changing organic visibility, agency growth, content creation, and client trust. From AI overviews killing traditional clicks to why authority, lived experience, and human-led content matter more than ever, this conversation dives deep into what SEO looks like in an AI-first search landscape.

You’ll learn why AI is now table stakes for agencies, how trust signals influence AI-generated answers, why generic SEO packages fail, and how brands can stay visible when clicks are disappearing.

If you’re an SEO professional, agency owner, marketer, or publisher navigating AI-driven search, this episode breaks down what’s changing, what’s not, and where real opportunity still exists.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• AI search and the future of SEO
• Why brand trust beats traditional SEO metrics
• AI Overviews and zero-click search impact
• Human expertise vs AI-generated content
• Building authority that AI systems trust
• Why SEO agencies must evolve beyond packages
• Video, experience-driven content, and AI grounding

Key Timestamps:

00:00 – Podcast Introduction : How are AI and SEO colliding right now?

02:59—What does it take to run a successful SEO agency today?

04:07 – Biggest challenges when launching an agency

06:11 – Why do small, bespoke SEO services outperform big agencies?

09:56 – Custom pricing, client fit, and sustainable SEO models

15:05 – How do agencies build trust after clients get burned?

19:46 – Discovery, contracts, and structured SEO sales processes

23:53 – AI as a competitive advantage for agencies

25:40—Where does AI help, and where does human judgment matter?

29:34 – Which search queries will AI dominate and which won’t?

30:38 – Using AI grounded in real customer conversations

34:34 – Video content as a long-term SEO and AI visibility play

37:28 – AI Overviews, disappearing clicks, and publisher risk

41:59 – Why does experience-driven content still beat AI summaries?

46:53 – AI search, e-commerce, and high-intent buying behavior

48:19 – Final thoughts on AI helping vs hurting publishers