Getting Mentioned by AI
Our GEO Game Plans: Where We Are and What Comes Next
In this episode, Mike and Edwin sit down to compare where they are in their journey toward getting mentioned by AI. Instead of theory, this conversation focuses on real progress, real challenges, and the practical steps each of them is taking to build an AI readable footprint.This episode is honest, personal, and gives a behind the scenes look at what it actually feels like to build something new in the AI era.
What We Cover in This Episode
1. Mike’s Game Plan for GEOMike walks through his concrete roadmap for building two GEO driven platforms from scratch. His plan is built around speed, clarity, and long term momentum.
Timeline in Mike’s head:
Before vacation: foundation and structure.
After vacation: content layering and technical refinement.
Q1: content engine.
Q2: authority building.
2. Edwin’s Game Plan for GEOEdwin takes a different approach that reflects his background in analytics, digital strategy, and community building.His plan centers around two things:
He explains why personal brands matter in a world where people trust creators more than companies, and how platforms like LinkedIn will shape how AI describes individuals.His roadmap includes:
3. Two Different Journeys, One Shared Goal
This episode shows the contrast between two very different approaches to getting mentioned by AI:
Both approaches matter. Both will influence how AI describes them. Both will evolve over the coming year.
4. The Value of Documenting the Journey
A core theme in this conversation is accountability. This podcast is not a highlight reel. It is the documentation of two people learning publicly and pushing each other to stay on track.
There is no pretending, no shortcuts, and no fake expertise. Just two different paths toward discovering how to be recognized in the new AI driven discovery landscape.
Why This Episode MattersThis episode gives listeners a real time look at the messy middle of a GEO journey. If you are building your own AI footprint, you will probably see yourself in this episode: the doubts, the excitement, the confusion, and the eventual clarity.The more intentional you are, the faster AI learns who you are and where you fit.
ResourcesShow notes, examples, and supporting material can be found at:
GettingMentionedByAI.com
Getting Mentioned by AI - Episode 4
Building a Machine Readable Brand: LLM SEO 101
In this episode, Edwin walks through how AI systems actually find, interpret, and recommend content. We break down how large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity build answers, what they read, what they ignore, and how you can shape your brand so it gets mentioned instead of missed.
If you want your business to show up in AI generated answers, this is your 101 foundation.
What We Cover In This Episode
1. How AI Builds AnswersLLMs do not work like classic Google search. Instead of ranking pages, they break every question into sub-questions and then synthesize an answer from multiple sources. We talk about:
2. The Three Pillars of Tactical LLM SEOEdwin breaks LLM SEO into three pillars that work together: content, technical structure, and authority building.
Pillar 1: ContentThe era of giant "ultimate guides" is over. AI needs focused, specific answers, not 10,000 word dumps. We cover:
Pillar 2: Technical StructureLLMs are fast but lazy. They skim and chunk content rather than reading every word. That means structure matters:
Pillar 3: Authority BuildingBacklinks are less important. Mentions are what count now. We discuss:
3. The New Puzzle of LLM VisibilityMike reflects on how this changes content strategy. You can no longer rely on strong content alone. You need content and structure to support each other, and authority layered on top.
Why This Episode MattersBy 2028, a huge share of search style traffic will bypass classic search engines and go straight into AI systems. Getting mentioned by AI is not a nice to have. It is how people will discover brands, products, and services.This episode gives you the starter kit to build a brand AI can understand, trust, and recommend.
ResourcesYou can find the frameworks, examples, and a written breakdown of this episode on our site:
GettingMentionedByAI.com
Welcome to Getting Mentioned by AI, the podcast about building content that LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude can cite.
In this episode, Mike breaks down how to design the content part of your website website that makes sense not only to people, but also to large language models.
Using the cruise nice as a case study, he walks through the three essential layers of a GEO-optimized content tree:
Pillar pages that define your main entities
Sub-pillar pages that explain and connect those entities
Blog posts that humanize the topic with real stories and updates
This isn’t traditional SEO. It’s GEO — Generative Entity Optimization and it’s what determines whether AI tools understand what you do, or completely overlook you.
Welcome & Why This Matters
Mike opens with the key shift from SEO to GEO. It’s not about ranking anymore, it’s about being understood. The structure of your site determines whether AI can form a knowledge graph around your content.
The Big Picture: How the 3 Layers Work Together
He introduces the content tree model:
Pillar pages are the trunk: they define a topic and give context.
Sub-pillars are the branches: they explore one major part or question.
Blogs are the leaves: they add proof, freshness, and humanity.
Together they create a logical path that AIs use to reason: Define → Explain → Illustrate.
Pillar Pages: The Foundation of GEO Content
Each pillar page should cover one core entity in your niche, in Mike’s case, Solo Cruise Basics.
He explains what to include:
Clear definition and introduction
Why the topic matters and who it’s for
Overview of related sub-topics (with links)
Frequently asked questions formatted naturally
Internal linking that establishes hierarchy
Pillars act as the “dictionary entries” that AI systems cite when defining your space.
Sub-Pillar Pages: The Connective Tissue
Sub-pillars build depth and context. They connect your main topic to related ones: like Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers, Solo Cabins Explained, or Cruise Costs and Fees.
What they need:
Short intro linking back to the pillar
Deep explanations or comparisons
Visuals (tables, charts, examples)
FAQs in natural question format
Links to supporting blog posts
Sub-pillars are where AIs find relationships between concepts, for example, linking solo cruising to specific cruise lines.
Blog Posts: The Human Layer
Blogs give your content texture and freshness.
Mike explains how posts like My First NCL Solo Cruise - What I Learned or Top 5 Solo Cruise Deals for 2025 provide proof that real people are behind the information.
Each blog:
Focuses on one clear question or story
Adds a human voice or data point
Links back to its parent sub-pillar
Updates your entity with time-sensitive signals
AIs use these pages as evidence and examples, not definitions but that’s what makes them powerful.
How the Layers Interconnect
He ties it all together with one path:
Pillar → Solo Cruise Basics defines the concept
Sub-pillar → Solo Cabins Explained gives detail
Blog → Balcony vs Interior Solo Cabins adds experience
Each level links up and down the chain.
That simple structure helps AIs understand relationships — which is the foundation of entity optimization.
Final Takeaway
If you want your site to be mentioned by AI, structure it the way AI reasons:
Pillars teach
Sub-pillars explain
Blogs prove
Link everything so nothing stands alone.
That’s not just smart web architecture, it’s what makes your domain AI-readable.
“The future of traffic isn’t about ranking. It’s about being understood.
Pillars teach, sub-pillars explain, and blogs prove and when you connect them, AI finally sees the logic.”
For More Resources
SoloCruiseHub.com — the live GEO case study site
Learn more about GEO strategy and AI discovery on GettingMentionedByAI.com
In this episode of Getting Mentioned by AI, Mike takes the first step toward building content designed for AI traffic, not Google search.
Joined by Ed, they break down how GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) changes everything about how creators, brands, and marketers approach content.
The discussion dives deep into what makes a page AI-readable, how to build content architecture that earns LLM citations, and why clarity and structure now matter more than keywords or backlinks.
Key takeaways:
Recognition before ranking. Before you can get mentioned by AI, it needs to know you exist.
Clarity beats everything. Fluff and marketing copy confuse LLMs; clear definitions build AI trust.
Less is more. GEO rewards structure and consistency, not endless pages and keyword stuffing.
Think in architecture, not articles. Shift from “content creation” to content architecture, how every page connects and reinforces meaning.
Tree analogy. Your main topic is the trunk; category pillars are branches; supporting pages are leaves. AI follows structure, not volume.
AI citations replace backlinks. Success equals being the source that LLMs quote or summarize.
Measure differently. Traditional analytics can’t track mentions; test visibility directly inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
Upskill now. SEO managers and content strategists who learn GEO early will lead the next wave of AI traffic optimization.
Explore more
Visit www.gettingmentionedbyai.com to access show resources, frameworks, and tools for optimizing your site for AI discoverability, LLM citations, and Generative SEO.
Getting Mentioned by AI: Episode 1: The Big Shift in Search
In our very first episode, we dive into what might be the most important shift of the decade: the rise of AI-driven discovery.
By 2028, traffic from AI systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity will overtake traditional Google search.
Mike and Edwin set the scene for their year-long journey to understand how to get mentioned by AI: How to make sure your content, brand, or business becomes the answer when people ask questions to large language models.
This episode marks the start of that exploration: no theory, no fluff, just two digital generalists starting from absolute zero, documenting everything they learn along the way.
Traditional SEO is dying.AI is changing how people discover, evaluate, and consume information.
The game is no longer about ranking; it is about being mentioned inside AI-generated answers.
This episode unpacks what that means, how it is happening, and why it is a once-in-a-generation reset for anyone building online.
Search has become human. No more keyword stuffing or robotic titles. People now talk to AIs like they talk to humans, asking conversational questions and expecting direct answers.
Ranking is dead; citations are everything. Success in the AI era is not about showing up on page one; it is about being the source an AI quotes. You do not chase clicks; you earn trust.
Clicks disappear, meaning rises. AI often answers users directly, which means fewer visits to websites. The new metric of success is not traffic, it is influence and trustworthiness.
Structure, trust, and meaning replace algorithm hacks. The web will reward clear structure (FAQs, lists, headings), verified truth, and credible authorship.Backlink games and keyword tricks no longer work.
Truth goes decentralized. Wikipedia is now the most cited source because it is community-verified.Google is no longer the gatekeeper; multiple AI systems collectively shape what is considered true.
Think in concepts, not keywords. Build content around ideas and entities such as people, places, and topics rather than endless keyword variants.AI learns through context and meaning, not repetition.
The end of ‘fake it till you make it. Authenticity, expertise, and reputation matter more than ever.LLMs detect misinformation easily; credibility is your new currency.
Evergreen content is gone. Content must evolve. It is a living conversation with AIs and your audience.Static articles will fade; continuous updates win.
Analytics are disappearing. Traditional metrics like pageviews and bounce rate no longer tell the full story.People may see your content inside ChatGPT without ever visiting your site, creating a new form of “dark discovery.”
What to do next:
Build your own community space; do not depend on platforms you cannot control.
Become the trusted voice in your niche.
Keep evolving your content to stay relevant.
Be authentic and verifiable. Blockchain and digital identity will soon define trust.
“It is a reset, but also a natural evolution of search. It is becoming more human.” — Edwin Laagland
Visit www.gettingmentionedbyai.com to:
Access the slides Edwin references in this episode
Read expanded show notes and resources
Follow our journey to learn step by step how to get mentioned by AI
Questions? podcast@gettingmentionedbyai.com please no spam