As a small or mid-sized UK business owner with limited time, marketing knowledge, and budget, the world of AI engine optimization audits may seem overwhelming and out of reach. But don’t worry, I’m here to break it down for you in simple terms.
What this means
So, what exactly is an AI engine optimization audit? Well, it’s like an x-ray for your brand’s visibility in AI-powered search engines such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Bing Copilot. It checks how your brand is represented, the accuracy of information, and the citations used by these systems to generate summaries. This is different from a traditional SEO audit, which focuses on website rankings and technical aspects in classic search engines like Google.
Key opportunities for growth
The key opportunity for your business lies in understanding how AI search engines work and how they impact how potential customers find and perceive your brand. By ensuring that your brand details are accurately and consistently represented in AI summaries, you can influence early research, shortlists, and ultimately, sales.
Practical strategies you can use
Let’s break it down into practical steps for you:
Step 1:
Define the core facts and key phrases you want AI engines to associate with your brand.
Step 2:
Test how your brand appears in major AI engines like ChatGPT and Bing Copilot.
Step 3:
Categorize the outputs and assess accuracy, completeness, and citations.
Step 4:
Score the visibility, accuracy, and citations to identify areas for improvement.
Step 5:
Identify any gaps or errors in the information presented by AI engines.
Step 6:
Review your website content for structure and clarity in relation to AI search engines.
Step 7:
Update your content to be more AI-friendly and structured.
Step 8:
Re-test your brand visibility using tools like HubSpot’s AI Search Grader.
Expert insights and long-term impact
By consistently running an AI engine optimization audit and making the necessary updates, you can ensure that your brand is accurately represented in AI summaries. This can have a long-term impact on how buyers discover and engage with your brand, ultimately leading to increased visibility and sales.
Common challenges and how to overcome them
One common challenge for businesses is keeping up with the rapidly evolving world of AI search engines. By following a structured audit process and leveraging tools like HubSpot, you can stay ahead of the curve and ensure your brand is well-represented in AI summaries.
Do you need help?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of running an AI engine optimization audit for your business, don’t worry. As a marketing and business growth consultant, I can help guide you through the process, make strategic recommendations, and ensure that your brand is optimised for AI search engines.
Conclusion
In today’s digital world, understanding how AI engines interpret and summarise your brand is crucial for business growth. By running regular AI engine optimization audits and making the necessary updates, you can improve your brand’s visibility, accuracy, and citations in AI search engines, ultimately leading to increased discoverability and revenue. So why not take the first step towards optimising your brand for AI search engines today?
