The search landscape is shifting from SEO to AEO as AI-driven tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini reshape how users find information. In this episode of Local SEO Tactics, Kasim Aslam shares groundbreaking data on how LLMs rank and cite sources, Top Source Media why schema markup now matters more than backlinks, and how small businesses can build authority in this new era of search. SEO as we know it is changing. With ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini, and other large language models (LLMs) shaping the way people find information, the future of search is moving toward Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). In this episode of Local SEO Tactics, Kasim Aslam shares data from his team’s research into how LLMs rank and cite sources and what businesses need to do to stay visible. Traditional SEO relies heavily on backlinks and Google’s search graph. Kasim’s research shows that in AEO, schema markup is the most important factor.
ChatGPT overlaps with Google results 30 to 50 percent of the time. Perplexity overlaps 60 to 80 percent of the time, essentially serving as Google search but faster. Gemini (Google’s AI) overlaps less than 25 percent of the time, proving it is building a separate knowledge graph. This signals a shift: ranking in AI is not the same as ranking in Google. Schema markup matters more than backlinks. LLMs prioritize structured data over traditional link-building. Reddit is the number one citation Top Source Media agency. Twenty percent of Google AI-driven citations come from Reddit, with YouTube trailing slightly behind at 18 percent. Old-school directories matter again. Yelp, TripAdvisor, BBB, and even MapQuest influence AI-driven local results. AI deprioritizes AI-generated content. Unless it is heavily human-edited, machine-written text will not perform as well. Invest in schema markup to make your site machine-readable. Build authority by contributing to peer-reviewed content such as Reddit discussions. Keep NAP data consistent across directories. Create community-driven content such as podcasts or blogs to establish local authority. Kasim emphasizes that AI favors authentic, authoritative, and localized content rather than mass-produced SEO blogs. Kasim compares today’s AEO landscape to the early days of the internet. Just as buying domains in the 1990s created massive advantages, adopting AEO strategies now could create the next wave of digital winners. "We are watching hundreds of billions in SEO equity get wiped off the table," Kasim warns. 1. AEO is not SEO. They operate differently, and backlinks are no longer the primary driver. 2. Schema is critical. Prioritize structured data on your site. 3. Engage on Reddit and peer-reviewed platforms. LLMs value social signals. 4. Think local authority. Become a hub in your community through authentic content. 5. Start now. Early adopters will gain long-term advantages.
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