Keep your Brand Visible in AI Search
The search game has changed. Instead of focusing solely on where your brand ranks in a list of links, the challenge is answer engine optimization (AEO) — teaching AI to trust and recommend you. As the nation’s leading agency for brands that work and play outdoors, we know the ins and outs of building authentic, trusted brands online. Our approach — combined with our expertise in content creation, public relations, earned media, social media and search — keeps you relevant in a changing landscape.
Your Competition is Already Investing in AEO
According to the 2026 Clutch-Conductor “State of Content” report:
of marketers plan to increase content budgets for AI visibility.
plan to produce more content with a primary goal of reputation management.
plan to spend more on video for greater AI visibility.
This is the new reality: Legacy brands’ authority can no longer be assumed. New brands can close the gap by training AI faster. AI-generated answers can outweigh years of SEO work. Brands simply can’t afford to be left out of the conversation online.
At Swanson Russell, we're helping brands across agribusiness, construction, the green industry, outdoor recreation and beyond heighten their visibility through AEO.
You Have to Give to Get Found
Our research shows that AI tools recommend brands based on relevance, proof, validation and authority. The brands with the best performance send all four signals — not just one.
Relevance
Create content that answers the questions your buyers are actually asking. Think answer-based content, geographically focused landing pages, topic clusters, comparison pages and schema optimization.
Proof
Display proof of real results to demonstrate your brand’s credibility. Think case studies, testimonials, proprietary data, success metrics, expert explainers.
Validation
Earn the support of reputable third parties to reinforce your expertise. Think earned media/PR, review generation, reddit engagement, backlink outreach and “best of” placements.
Authority
Visible participation in the conversations that define your market. Think executive thought leadership original research, speaking engagements, consistently publishing owned content and community partnerships.
The 4 Steps to Improving AEO Performance
Earning trust is your fast track to better visibility in AI search. Our team of experts will show you the status quo, next steps and a strategy to gain and maintain strong AEO performance.
Step 1: AI Visibility Audit
First, we get a lay of the land: how often you’re cited, which prompts you appear in on which platforms, how your competitors rank and which sources AI is trusting.
Step 2: AEO Strategy
Next, we build a plan based on what our audit found. Here, we’ll address messaging gaps, content priorities and platform-specific opportunities across web, social and PR.
Step 3: Content Development & Deployment
This the part most other agencies skip. We'll strengthen existing content, create new content, earn media and elevate social proof, all in accordance with the four signals.
Step 4: Ongoing Monitoring
AI visibility isn't a project you finish. It's a machine you build by tracking citations, prompt performance and competitive movement, then adjusting as platforms change.
AEO is Here to Stay. Keep your brand in the Conversation.
AI is already entrenched as the first stop for exploring products and services. The numbers prove that search evolved — and brands are racing to keep up.
Of brand perception is shaped by AI search. (Gartner)
Referral visits from large-language models in a single month for the top 1,000 websites globally. (Search Engine Land / TechCrunch)
Increase in conversion likelihood for visitors who arrive from a large-language model search (CXL)
Start with an Audit or a Call
A massive leap in AEO performance is just one small step away. Start by talking with our dedicated team of AI search experts or sign up below to receive an AI visibility audit.
Casey Mills
Vice President/Director of Social Media
Colin Ball
Experience Strategist
The FAQS of AEO
Need a primer on AI search or have deeper questions? Get into the nitty-gritty below.