The Startup Ideas Podcast
The best businesses are built at the intersection of emerging technology, community, and real human needs.
“This is just SEO. It's just like a layer on top of it”
What It Means
AI search optimization is not a completely new discipline but an extension of traditional SEO principles
Why It Matters
Prevents businesses from abandoning SEO fundamentals for AI-specific tactics
When It's True
When AI systems rely on traditional search engine indexes for source material
When It's Risky
If AI platforms develop independent indexing or dramatically different ranking factors
How to Apply
Master traditional SEO before investing in AI search
Apply SEO principles to AI search optimization
Don't create separate content strategies for AI vs traditional search
Example Scenario
“Marketing team focuses on getting product pages to rank well in Google first, knowing this automatically makes them available to AI search systems”
Related Knowledge
I'll be blunt right now. I think it's hype
AI search opportunity is overstated relative to its actual impact and volume
SEO not dead still generating billions dollars commerce
Search engine optimization remains a viable distribution channel despite AI search tools and claims of SEO's death