How to Become the Brand AI Recommends First

About This Episode

What does it really take to become the brand AI recommends first?

As Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI-powered search experiences continue to reshape how people discover businesses, traditional rankings alone are no longer enough.

In this episode of SEO On-Air, host Koa Kauwe sits down with Cliff Tillery (Make It Loud Web Design), Dmitrii Kustov (Regex SEO), and Blake Corrington (Brado) to discuss how AI search, brand authority, online reputation, and entity-based SEO are changing the future of digital visibility.

The conversation explores why ranking #1 in Google is no longer the ultimate goal, how AI systems evaluate trust and authority, and why businesses must think beyond keywords and backlinks to earn visibility across Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Reddit, YouTube, and other search platforms.

The guests share insights on Search Everywhere Optimization, the growing influence of online reputation, the role of Reddit and YouTube in AI-generated answers, and why businesses need a unique perspective if they want to stand out in a world flooded with AI-generated content.

They also discuss how AI search engines gather information, why many AI-generated answers are still flawed, and what businesses can do today to become the trusted source that AI platforms recommend.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• Why ranking #1 is no longer enough in the AI era
• How AI search engines determine which brands to recommend
• The growing role of Reddit, YouTube, and online communities
• Why brand authority matters more than traditional rankings
• How Search Everywhere Optimization is changing SEO
• The importance of reputation management for AI visibility
• Why unique opinions and expertise outperform generic content
• How AI Overviews and ChatGPT influence customer decisions
• The future of entity-based SEO and digital marketing
• What businesses can do to improve AI search visibility

Whether you’re an SEO professional, marketer, agency owner, or business leader, this episode provides actionable insights into building a brand that earns trust, authority, and visibility across both traditional search engines and AI-powered platforms.

Because in the future of search, the brands that win won’t just be the easiest to find.

They’ll be the ones trusted enough to be recommended.

Key Timestamps

00:01:29 – Meet Cliff Tillery, Dmitrii Kustov & Blake Corrington

00:04:26 – What Does Position #1 Mean in 2026?

00:06:12 – Why Brand Authority Matters More Than Rankings

00:09:24 – How Agencies Should Define SEO Success Today

00:12:18 – The 10,000-Piece SEO Puzzle Explained

00:14:19 – Search Everywhere Optimization & AI Visibility

00:17:17 – Why Reddit, YouTube & Yelp Are Becoming Ranking Factors

00:20:20 – The Difference Between SEO and AI Search Optimization

00:35:08 – Why AI Rewards Unique Opinions Over Generic Content

00:48:20 – The Future of AI Search, Trust & Brand Recommendations