Forget everything you thought you knew about AEO.
Up until now, AEO has been a guessing game. Show up in Chat’s answers, hope for a click. That’s why the advice was “do your usual SEO, plus a few extras", e.g. NotebookLMs, Reddit threads, Wiki mentions if you can swing it, maybe start a YT channel. The real strategy? Just stay visible and look cohesive.
No one wanted to admit it, but most of it was just smoke and mirrors. A few short-lived hacks, nothing revolutionary.
That’s over.
Because now, Chat isn’t a traffic source anymore. It’s a sales channel. 💸
This shift moves us from, “How do I get in Chat’s results?” to, “How do I get my product bought inside Chat itself?” That’s a leap. Especially if you offer productized services or digital products.
If you’re on Shopify or Etsy, congratulations. You just won the internet marketing lottery this month. Your listings are already getting pulled into Chat’s shopping flow.
[In other news that's not quite as relevant to as many of us here, Amazon has locked Chat out. That’s 700 million weekly users they’ve basically handed to competitors. And their “Rufus” AI model doesn’t come close to competing. In any case, that’s the scale of the opportunity you have right now.]
Here’s what matters most:
- Structured data. Your Shopify/Etsy listings are your new SEO. Titles, descriptions, photos, reviews. Clean metadata wins better placement.
- Content style. Forget keyword stuffing. Chat wants direct, conversational answers. Write short product summaries, clear specs, and FAQ-style content.
- Platform access. If you’re not on Shopify/Etsy (or another “approved” platform), you’re invisible. Sorry, but someone had to say it.
Next steps for you:
- On Etsy/Shopify? Polish your listings. Ask: “Would this make sense if someone asked Chat a question?”
- Not selling yet? Launch one productized service or digital product. Doesn’t need to be a big shop—get visible.
- Check your content. Does it answer real questions in natural language? Would Chat see you as helpful, trustworthy?
- Build your reputation. Reviews, testimonials, and clear authority matter more than ever.
- Remember: Structured, buy-ready content beats scattered backlinks now.
What’s I'm doing:
Other than my AI membership, I’m mostly a Squarespace website shop. I am seriously considering taking my most popular productized services, e.g. my Template Customization service and my AI Photoshoots, and putting them in a simple Shopify site I link to on my Squarespace site.
This is a leap, but it seems like a small step to take quick advantage of what might feel like getting Bitcoin in 2015.
Overall, this isn’t another tweak. It’s a reset.
SEO as “get clicks from Google” now shares the stage with AEO as “get sales from AI search.” Move fast. Early adopters will eat everyone else’s lunch.
🔥 Get ready.
[Note: This is an excerpt from a post in my membership, The AI Content Creator Lab. Want more content like this, including how to use AI illustration to create revenue streams in your business, and a complete module on AI/SEO coming this month? Join us here →]
P.S. Enrollment for The AI Content Creator Lab is about to jump from $497 to $1297 on October 17th. If you want in at the lowest price—now is the time. Dozens of students have already joined and are landing paid projects with AI portraits and brand images. Ready to get client-ready skills without paying $1297? Join us now for just $497 →
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ICYMI: Podcast with Jonathan Stark
Tired of web projects stalling out over bad client photos?
I sat down with Jonathan Stark on the “Ditching Hourly” podcast to share how AI brand photography is helping me deliver premium images for a fraction of the price, in days, not weeks.
We covered the workflow and real-world results I’m seeing with my clients and students. Read more and get the link to the podcast on LinkedIn.
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FOR FUN: Urban Sunshade Midjourney Prompt
"A close-up of the face and glasses of an blonde woman, with her head tilted back in profile as she looks up at something on a city street, sunlight is reflecting off the surface of her sunglasses, creating vibrant light rays that highlight details like the texture of skin or hair, blurred urban background, cars moving along streets, adding contrast between sharp focus and soft bokeh effect, shot by Canon EOS-5d mark iv camera, ef lens"
And that's it for now! Next week, I have a huge announcement and my FREE complete list of AI tools that I use to run my business. Stay tuned!
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Want to create images and videos that demand engagement?
Join us in the AI Content Creator Lab!
Want to know more about me? I'm Diane Whiddon. I run a Chicago-based brand and web design agency, and I love AI, marketing psychology, and helping consultants expand their reach.
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