Return-Path: Delivered-To: alvarochf@traceseis.com Received: from cs510.bluehost.com by cs510.bluehost.com with LMTP id GEgnKCWPlGm1cg4AWiBQxw (envelope-from ) for ; Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:54:13 -0700 Return-path: Envelope-to: alvarochf@traceseis.com Delivery-date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:54:13 -0700 Received: from bh186-18.smtp-out.beehiivmail.net ([69.67.186.18]:50529) by cs510.bluehost.com with esmtp (Exim 4.98.2) (envelope-from ) id 1vsNOv-000000041l2-1WYj for alvarochf@traceseis.com; Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:54:13 -0700 X-BmtaRef: eyJfQF8iOiJcXF8vIiwicmVjaXBpZW50IjoiYWx2YXJvY2hmQHRyYWNlc2Vpcy5jb20iLCJ4X2xpc3RfaWQiOiI5MTRiYmQyNi0zZjhmLTQ0YTUtOTc0ZC03NjlhZGViNTk4ZWEiLCJ4X3N1YnNjcmliZXJfaWQiOiJlMTUwOWQ0NS0yNzk2LTQxNzctYTlkOS1mOGJkZTJjNmRmOGIifQ== DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; d=bhmta.beehiiv.com; s=bh; c=relaxed/relaxed; bh=TIab3MS454PpIUjamAiSpkFreEqz3dcYv5BT3VCsiag=; h=from:subject:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding: list-unsubcribe:feedback-id:list-unsubscribe-post:reply-to:to:cc: content-type:feedback-id:from:subject:to; t=1771343637; b=2M/4/fcdpSGVx9WrWrXiMsMTENBprntflqxjGELn78GDKU2MjagpIZB7aBULTQvJKAHiYR3UW d45+XEIGhr0VGg9xLKFCvk8AEuthpBCiMXjBM8JneZh2Egf4KeW4MbYan3S6ZvhlzSZbW4Xsrjk 46tfM6IlnWgA1YSOYcGE8bCXpFsWk/4wGSiam/SSrYIicbYwCl6oYKt9+27J1lquexzNZnHNw/D Ju21SFTLNdTYrWo3LWuI6NAU8ww9MnTUqZ8oAN0Ku5/w7E978wNNXR5IEDw59mcITevhaguwBId 2LBiU4bpY1txwslkg13uPnb4dPG0ODeYmkc+NmMlJj3A==; DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; d=mail.beehiiv.com; s=bh; c=relaxed/relaxed; bh=TIab3MS454PpIUjamAiSpkFreEqz3dcYv5BT3VCsiag=; h=from:subject:mime-version:content-type:content-transfer-encoding: list-unsubcribe:feedback-id:list-unsubscribe-post:reply-to:to:cc: content-type:feedback-id:from:subject:to; t=1771343637; b=WL5VU8nmNanGoFqqDOwMRGmGt4ZiXVEQjBdzSMviCLgCPbt4rIq7nZeWniamKnZYjLRifastn 092CnY3ZGt+23Jwe4L8QGJje1ZYZStu3L+r7oTAWgE1mX4ZmFIgv1yWjhLAy5YMWhBUNo4Qp2Qa xfZuRTMWrb42a2MjbQ7EnudBVSxlfIDV/PXqp0HRajJ69F/m+izW926oVgBW6cyv7v++PAfxK5G 2gtMQTvNK0BOmElX/GQrf2GcK5b1SkMYkBqxk45l8RhgA8Fh9xbE0SMSe+GuCw14wwcofnb6ZEb dkqr9YSkcOHyRTqYl/qJrkoOUYd0oE+sg0yR/y9F5BTA==; Received: from mail.beehiiv.com by bhmta(mta7) with HTTP id for ; Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:53:57 +0000 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="iF0FRxvrRiGeCw0DMAa2ow" To: "alvarochf@traceseis.com" Feedback-ID: c3447466-fecf-4287-80e6-88b8a8efcf35:newsletter:914bbd26-3f8f-44a5-974d-769adeb598ea:934e7f4448506d3 From: =?utf-8?Q?Don=27t_Feed_The_Algorithm?= List-Unsubscribe: , List-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click Reply-To: =?utf-8?Q?Don=27t_Feed_The_Algorithm?= Subject: 90 minutes to AI search readiness X-Batch-Id: e11afb59-fda9-4ee2-b9fc-3fa57a061555 X-Subscriber-ID: e1509d45-2796-4177-a9d9-f8bde2c6df8b sId: 914bbd26-3f8f-44a5-974d-769adeb598ea x-beehiiv-ids: {"account_name":"https://dont-feed-the-algorithm.beehiiv.com/","campaign_id":"c3447466-fecf-4287-80e6-88b8a8efcf35","category":"newsletter","email_generated_at":1771343632,"user_id":"914bbd26-3f8f-44a5-974d-769adeb598ea"} x-beehiiv-type: newsletter x-list-id: 914bbd26-3f8f-44a5-974d-769adeb598ea x-list-owner: x-newsletter: https://dont-feed-the-algorithm.beehiiv.com/p/don-t-feed-the-algorithm-issue-039 x-newsletter-id: https://dont-feed-the-algorithm.beehiiv.com/ x-newsletter-signup: https://dont-feed-the-algorithm.beehiiv.com/subscribe Mime-Version: 1.0 Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:53:57 +0000 Message-ID: <20260217.155357.e57b445b@mta7> --iF0FRxvrRiGeCw0DMAa2ow Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable View image: (https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=3Dscale-down,forma= t=3Dauto,onerror=3Dredirect,quality=3D80/uploads/asset/file/9432a3a1-e94b-4= b87-9713-3aa75ede85f5/DON_T_FEED_THE_ALGORITHM__27_.png?t=3D1760641572)=0AC= aption: =0A=0A##### =F0=9F=90=8A Editor's Note=0A=0A_Hey there,_=0A=0A_Welc= ome back to another __**Don=E2=80=99t Feed The Algorithm**__, your weekly d= ispatch from __[Averi](https://www.averi.ai/)__ =E2=80=94 where we explore = the intersections of marketing, AI and the future of work._=0A=0A_There's a= quiet shift happening, and it's easy to miss if you're only watching traff= ic dashboards._=0A=0A_**This week, we dug into something that keeps coming = up in our conversations with founders:**__ the bots are picking favorites. = Perplexity cites sources in 97% of its responses. ChatGPT? Just 16%. Google= AI Overviews split the difference. Each platform has different preferences= , different trust signals, different content it rewards. There's no "AI SEO= " anymore =E2=80=94 just three separate games with three separate rulebooks= ._=0A=0A_That sounds exhausting. But here's the part that makes it worth pa= ying attention: __**AI search traffic converts at 5x the rate of traditiona= l Google traffic**__. Smaller pond, bigger fish._=0A=0A_Meanwhile, GEO went= from "thing we put in thought leadership pieces" to actual job description= s. This week's job board includes dedicated Generative Engine Optimization = roles at IHG, FirstKey Homes, and ClickHouse. Anthropic's hiring an SEO Lea= d for Claude. OpenAI wants a Vertical Marketing Lead. The infrastructure is= getting built =E2=80=94 fast._=0A=0A_And in "The Algorithm Could Never," w= e're featuring Jacquemus putting his 97-year-old grandmother in a campaign = instead of a 22-year-old influencer with perfect metrics. It worked spectac= ularly. Because sometimes the most strategic thing you can do is be complet= ely unpredictable._=0A=0A_The through-line? _**_The systems are fragmenting= , the playbooks are multiplying, and the winners are the ones who can read = the room =E2=80=94 not just the algorithm._**=0A=0A_**This week:**__ what t= he bots are actually citing, a 90-minute GEO audit you can run before your = next planning session, 9 AI marketing roles worth watching, and the data th= at explains why your About page might be tanking your AI visibility._=0A=0A= _Let=E2=80=99s build._=0A=0A_=E2=80=94 ZC & The Averi Team_=0A=0A#### _Was = this newsletter forwarded to you? ___[Sign up](https://dont-feed-the-algori= thm.beehiiv.com/subscribe)___ to get it in your inbox._=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A##= # =E2=9A=99=EF=B8=8F=C2=A0Straight Outta Dev=0A=0AView image: (https://medi= a.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=3Dscale-down,format=3Dauto,onerror=3Dredire= ct,quality=3D80/uploads/asset/file/c44a6f1e-1d7f-432c-a120-ccde96dcff3a/Fra= me_2147229156.png?t=3D1769087962)=0ACaption: =0A=0A_**We hit 1.68 million G= oogle impressions this month using the Averi Workflow**_=0A=0AThat's not a = client. That's us.=0A=0AWe didn't build [Averi](http://www.averi.ai) based = on a guess =E2=80=94 we built it from the **exact content strategy** that's= driving our own growth. Same playbook. Same system. Now productized so you= can run it too.=0A=0AHere's what actually moves the needle:=0A=0A=E2=86=92= **Topical authority over content volume.** 12 tightly clustered articles o= utperform 50 disconnected posts. Every time.=0A=0A=E2=86=92 **Internal link= ing that compounds.** Not an afterthought =E2=80=94 the architecture that t= ells Google (and AI) you own the topic.=0A=0A=E2=86=92 **Optimized for wher= e buyers actually search.** Google rankings. ChatGPT citations. Perplexity = answers. If your content isn't built for all three, you're leaving visibili= ty on the table.=0A=0AWe're not asking you to trust a pitch. We're asking y= ou to try the system that took us from **zero to nearly 2 million monthly i= mpressions in just 10 months** =E2=80=94 while everyone else was arguing ab= out blog post frequency.=0A=0A**The Free beta is live and new features are = being shipped daily based on the feedback from readers like you.**=0A=0ASta= rt Running Your Content Engine (https://app.averi.ai/sign-up)=0A=0A=E2=80= =94 Averi Team=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A### =F0=9F=A7=AA=C2=A0We= lcome to The Lab=0A=0AView image: (https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/= fit=3Dscale-down,format=3Dauto,onerror=3Dredirect,quality=3D80/uploads/asse= t/file/c05afd9e-980d-409d-af9e-b61b10c199bc/2nay6445fkkc1.gif?t=3D176781538= 5)=0ACaption: =0A=0A**Scaling content as a startup is f*cking hard. **=0A= =0AMost advice is either too generic or written by people who've never ship= ped anything claiming to be a guru.=0A=0A**So we=E2=80=99ve launched ****[r= /startupcontentlab](https://www.reddit.com/r/startupcontentlab)****: **a Re= ddit community for** founders, engineers & marketers **who are tired of sif= ting through the hordes of articles that just want your =E2=80=98click=E2= =80=99 and don=E2=80=99t actually help you to build content engines that ac= tually drive growth.=0A=0AThis is a place for real strategy, AI workflows, = what's trending, and honest conversations about what's **actually driving g= rowth** _(and what's not)_. Just people figuring it out and sharing what th= ey learn.=0A=0AIf you're building content systems to scale your startup, yo= u'll fit right in.=0A=0A**Join our Reddit Community for Startup Founders bu= ilding Content Engines to grow their businesses:**=0A=0AJoin r/startupconte= ntlab (https://www.reddit.com/r/startupcontentlab)=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=0A=0A### =F0=9F=93=9D The Good Sh*t=0A=0AView image: (https://media.= beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=3Dscale-down,format=3Dauto,onerror=3Dredirect= ,quality=3D80/uploads/asset/file/10ad7ec8-fd22-48a7-8750-1fe3cec7a932/O621N= hP5rq1B2g3yK86CrL5Nno_copy.jpg?t=3D1771336053)=0ACaption: =0A=0A**The Futur= e of Storytelling: How AI Can Help Human Marketers Create Meaningful Connec= tions**=0A=0A**There's a moment in every great campfire story, right before= the resolution, when the flames flicker and shadows dance across faces=E2= =80=A6 where time seems to suspend itself.**=0A=0AOur ancestors knew this f= eeling intimately. Before the written word, before the printing press, befo= re the algorithm, humans gathered in circles to share tales that would bind= communities together and transmit wisdom across generations.=0A=0ANow here= we are, in an era where a machine can **generate a thousand blog posts** b= efore your morning coffee cools, and we're left wondering=E2=80=A6 _have we= lost the fire?_=0A=0AThe future of storytelling isn't about choosing betwe= en silicon and soul, it's about **understanding what each does best and orc= hestrating them in symphony.**=0A=0ARead online (https://www.averi.ai/blog/= the-future-of-storytelling-how-ai-can-help-human-marketers-create-meaningfu= l-connections)=0A=0A1. **ChatGPT Has Ads Now. Here's What It Means for Your= Startup's Content Strategy** **=E2=86=92 **_[**Read online**](https://www.= averi.ai/blog/chatgpt-has-ads-now.-here-s-what-it-means-for-your-startup-s-= content-strategy.)_=0A=0A2. **AI Agents Won't Save Your Marketing (But AI W= orkflows Might) ****=E2=86=92 **_[**Read online**](https://www.averi.ai/blo= g/ai-agents-won-t-save-your-marketing-(but-ai-workflows-might))_=0A=0A=0A= =0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A=0A=0A### =F0=9F=94=A5 In Case You Missed It=E2= =80=A6=0A=0A* **ChatGPT ads are officially here** =E2=80=94 OpenAI launched= ads on Feb 9 for free and Go tier users in the US. $60 CPM. $200K minimum = buy-in. Ads appear at the bottom of responses, "clearly labeled and visuall= y separated." Conversations won't influence answers, they claim. The timing= ? One day after Anthropic's Super Bowl ads mocked the entire concept. =E2= =86=92 [Read OpenAI's announcement](https://openai.com/index/testing-ads-in= -chatgpt/)=0A=0A* **Anthropic's Super Bowl ads worked** =E2=80=94 Claude sa= w an 11% jump in daily active users post-game and climbed to #7 on the App = Store. The ads featured dead-eyed ChatGPT stand-ins pivoting mid-conversati= on to pitch "cougar dating sites" and height-boosting insoles. Tagline: "Ad= s are coming to AI. But not to Claude." Sam Altman called them "funny" but = "clearly dishonest." The internet called his 420-word response even funnier= . =E2=86=92 [Full breakdown from TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/02= /13/anthropics-super-bowl-ads-mocking-ai-with-ads-helped-push-claudes-app-i= nto-the-top-10/)=0A=0A* **Google's Discover core update is live** =E2=80=94= The February 2026 update targets clickbait, rewards local relevance, and e= valuates expertise topic-by-topic. Translation: a local news site with a ki= ller gardening section can now outrank a generic lifestyle blog on gardenin= g queries. Thin AI-generated content is getting hit hardest. =E2=86=92 [Goo= gle's official announcement](https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2026= /02/discover-core-update)=0A=0A* **Meta's Threads ads go global** =E2=80=94= 400M+ monthly users will now see ads in their feeds. The rollout started t= he first week of February and uses the same AI-driven personalization as In= stagram and Facebook. Threads has officially surpassed X in daily mobile us= ers. The monetization era has arrived. =E2=86=92 [CNBC coverage](https://ww= w.cnbc.com/2026/01/21/meta-ads-global-threads.html)=0A=0A* **Perplexity lau= nched Model Council** =E2=80=94 Max subscribers can now run queries through= three AI models simultaneously (Claude Opus 4.6, GPT-5.2, Gemini 3 Pro), c= ompare answers side-by-side, and get a synthesized consensus. Deep Research= now runs on Claude Opus 4.5 and outperforms competitors on accuracy benchm= arks. Memory improved to 95% recall, up from 77%. =E2=86=92 [Perplexity cha= ngelog](https://www.perplexity.ai/changelog)=0A=0A* **AI Overviews are crus= hing click-through rates** =E2=80=94 New Ahrefs data shows AI Overviews red= uce CTR for #1 rankings by 58%, up from 34.5% just eight months ago. A sepa= rate Seer Interactive study found organic CTR on AIO queries dropped from 1= .76% to 0.61%. If you're ranking first and an AI Overview appears, you're g= etting roughly half the clicks you would've two years ago. =E2=86=92 [Full = analysis](https://www.99signals.com/ai-marketing-trends-2026/)=0A=0A* **Ant= hropic closed a $30B funding round** =E2=80=94 Valuation: $380B. That's mor= e than double their September raise. The round came days after their Super = Bowl campaign and the same week OpenAI launched ads. Both companies are rep= ortedly planning IPOs by end of 2026. =E2=86=92 [CNBC report](https://www.c= nbc.com/2026/02/13/anthropic-open-ai-super-bowl-ads.html)=0A=0A* **Google's= adding shopping to AI Mode** =E2=80=94 Users can now buy from Etsy and Way= fair directly within Gemini. A new "Direct Offers" feature lets brands offe= r discounts inside AI Mode responses. The line between AI assistant and AI = storefront is officially gone. =E2=86=92 [Bloomberg coverage](https://www.b= loomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-11/google-pushes-ai-shopping-features-in= -search-and-gemini-chatbot)=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A=0A=0A### = =F0=9F=95=B5 Marketer=E2=80=99s Anonymous=0A=0AWe all know the industry lov= es to pretend it=E2=80=99s got it all figured out.=0A=0ABut here?=0A=0AWe t= ell the truth.=0A=0AEvery week, we=E2=80=99re asking you to share how thing= s really work behind the scenes. Because getting better starts with getting= honest.=0A=0ADon=E2=80=99t worry, it=E2=80=99s a safe space.=0A=0ADrop you= r vote.=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A### =0A=F0=9F=93=BA The Algori= thm Could Never=0A=0A**Jacquemus =E2=80=94 "The Original Icon"**=0A=0AInsta= gram: (https://www.instagram.com/p/DT2p689iJqj/?hl=3Den)=0A=0AWhen Jacquemu= s teased its first-ever brand ambassador, the fashion world assumed the obv= ious: Kendall Jenner. Lisa from BLACKPINK. Bad Bunny. Someone with millions= of followers and a face that moves product.=0A=0AInstead, Simon Porte Jacq= uemus chose his 79-year-old grandmother, Liline.=0A=0ABorn in 1946 in Allei= ns, a tiny village in the south of France, Liline grew up in a farming fami= ly raised by an Italian single mother. She's never been an influencer. She = doesn't have a public Instagram. She's simply the woman who shaped Simon's = vision of elegance, authenticity, and strength =E2=80=94 the qualities that= built a billion-dollar fashion house.=0A=0AThe announcement came with a sa= tirical "ambassador contract" requiring Liline to never use the word "brand= " (only "family"), never wear other designers ("even in dreams"), and alway= s smile. It was playful, warm, and disarmingly human.=0A=0A**The Result:**= =0A=0AThe announcement dominated fashion media for days. WWD, Vogue, and li= festyle publications covered it as both news and cultural commentary. The i= magery =E2=80=94 Liline in pristine Jacquemus, holding the Val=C3=A9rie bag= named after Simon's late mother =E2=80=94 went viral not for its productio= n value but for what it represented: a luxury brand choosing meaning over m= etrics.=0A=0AThe move cemented Jacquemus's positioning as a fashion house b= uilt on heritage and heart, not algorithmic optimization. In an industry ra= cing to sign the same rotating cast of celebrities, they zigged hard =E2=80= =94 and owned the conversation.=0A=0A**Why We Love It:**=0A=0AAn AI optimiz= ing for ambassador ROI would have flagged this immediately:=0A=0A=E2=9A=A0= =EF=B8=8F _"Ambassador has 0 social media following =E2=80=94 projected rea= ch: NEGLIGIBLE"_ =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F _"Age demographic (79) outside target c= onsumer profile (18-34)"_ =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F _"No prior brand ambassador ex= perience detected =E2=80=94 engagement risk: HIGH"_ =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F _"Co= mpetitor analysis: 94% of luxury ambassador selections are celebrities with= 10M+ followers"_ =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F _"Recommendation: Consider Lisa (BLACK= PINK) =E2=80=94 103M followers, proven luxury conversion"_=0A=0AEvery data = model would have been right. Every influencer marketing platform would have= ranked Liline dead last.=0A=0ABut Jacquemus understood what the algorithm = couldn't: authenticity has no follower count. In a world where every brand = is chasing the same celebrities, the most disruptive choice is the one that= actually means something. Liline isn't an ambassador =E2=80=94 she's the r= eason the brand exists.=0A=0ASometimes the most powerful marketing decision= is choosing the story that's already true.=0A=0A**Want to see more of the = best marketed companies on the planet? =F0=9F=91=87**=0A=0AThe Apex List (h= ttps://theapexlist.com/)=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A=0A=0A### =F0= =9F=97=93=EF=B8=8F Make Friends =0A=0A* **DeveloperWeek 2026** | San Jose, = CA | Feb 18-20 | [=E2=86=92 Register](https://www.developerweek.com/)=0A=0A= * **Product Marketing Summit** | Austin, TX | Feb 24-25 | [=E2=86=92 Regist= er](https://world.productmarketingalliance.com/location/austin)=0A=0A* **So= cial Media Strategies Summit** | Virtual | Feb 25-26 | [=E2=86=92 Register]= (https://socialmediastrategiessummit.com/)=0A=0A* **AI & Big Data Expo Euro= pe** | Amsterdam, NL | Feb 17-18 | [=E2=86=92 Register](https://www.ai-expo= .net/europe/)=0A=0A##### **Social Fresh 2026**=0A=0AThe original social med= ia conference returns to NYC for two days of exclusive case studies, consum= er trend reports, and creative performance insights. Sessions span social, = content, creator/influencer, paid media, and AI=E2=80=94all designed for pr= actitioners who actually do the work. Speakers from Microsoft, Meta, Marrio= tt, and Vanguard.=0A=0A**Date:** March 19-20, 2026=0A=0A**Location:** New Y= ork, NY=0A=0A**Link:** _[Register](https://socialfresh.com/conference/socia= l-media-conference-2026/)_=0A=0A##### **Shoptalk Spring 2026**=0A=0A10,000+= retail and ecommerce leaders descend on Vegas for three days themed "Retai= l in the Age of AI." Speakers from OpenAI, Walmart, Victoria's Secret, Meta= , and Reddit. Sessions cover AEO/GEO tactics, retail media innovation, and = AI agents. One in three attendees holds a C-suite role.=0A=0A**Date:** Marc= h 24-26, 2026=0A=0A**Location:** Las Vegas, NV=0A=0A**Link:** [Register](ht= tps://spring.shoptalk.com/)=0A=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A=0A=0A###= =F0=9F=A4=96 What The Bots Are Reading=0A=0A**The Citation Gap: Why 84% of= Your AI Visibility Strategy Might Be Wasted**=0A=0ANew data reveals a star= k truth, most content never gets cited by AI =E2=80=94 and the platforms th= at _do_ cite have wildly different standards.=0A=0A**The headline number:**= Perplexity cites sources in 97% of responses. Google AI Overviews? 34%. Ch= atGPT? Just 16%. And Gemini provides zero clickable citations in 92% of its= answers.=0A=0A**Translation:** if you're optimizing for "AI search" as a m= onolith, you're optimizing for nothing.=0A=0A**Where each bot shops for ans= wers:**=0A=0A=F0=9F=94=8D **Perplexity** =E2=86=92 Real-time web search on = every query. Cites multiple sources per response. Reddit-heavy (46.5% of to= p citations). Rewards freshness and direct answers. Traffic is trackable in= GA4.=0A=0A=F0=9F=A4=96 **ChatGPT** =E2=86=92 Searches only when browsing i= s enabled. 24% of responses generated with _zero_ web fetches. When it does= cite, Wikipedia dominates (47.9% of top citations). Prefers encyclopedic a= uthority.=0A=0A=F0=9F=8C=90 **Google AI Overviews** =E2=86=92 Most balanced= sourcing. Reddit (21%), YouTube (18.8%), Quora (14.3%). Favors diversified= cross-platform presence. 93.67% of citations link to top-10 organic result= s =E2=80=94 but only 4.5% match Page 1 URLs exactly.=0A=0A**The conversion = kicker:** AI search traffic converts at 4.4x the rate of traditional Google= traffic. The catch? You're competing for dramatically fewer citation slots= .=0A=0A**What gets you in the door:**=0A=0A* **Lead with the answer.** Firs= t paragraph should directly answer the query =E2=80=94 no throat-clearing i= ntros=0A=0A* **Structure for extraction.** Content with clear headings and = lists is 3x more likely to be cited=0A=0A* **Specificity wins.** "The best = X is Y" outperforms "Y might be good" =E2=80=94 definitive statements get q= uoted=0A=0A* **Schema markup matters.** Article, FAQ, and HowTo schemas hel= p AI parse your content accurately=0A=0A* **Video is disproportionately cit= ed.** YouTube transcripts with chapter markers show up across all platforms= =0A=0A**What keeps you invisible:**=0A=0A* Long paragraphs without summarie= s (AI systems timeout at 1-5 seconds)=0A=0A* Missing author bylines and cre= dentials=0A=0A* Blocking AI crawlers (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot) in = robots.txt=0A=0A* Relying on Google rankings alone =E2=80=94 only 12% of Ch= atGPT citations match Page 1 URLs=0A=0A**The bottom line:** There's no univ= ersal "AI SEO" anymore. Perplexity rewards real-time relevance and Reddit p= resence. ChatGPT rewards Wikipedia-style authority. Google AI Overviews rew= ard platform diversity.=0A=0APick your platform based on where your audienc= e actually searches =E2=80=94 then optimize accordingly.=0A=0A=E2=86=92 [Th= e GEO Playbook 2026: Getting Cited by LLMs](https://www.averi.ai/blog/the-g= eo-playbook-2026-getting-cited-by-llms-(not-just-ranked-by-google)) | =E2= =86=92 [How to Get Cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity & AI Search](https://www.av= eri.ai/blog/beyond-google-how-to-get-your-startup-cited-by-chatgpt-perplexi= ty-and-ai-search)=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A### =F0=9F=92=A1Ask A= veri=0A=0A##### AI + Human Marketing Tip =0A=0A=E2=80=9C_**"**_**Your "Abou= t Us" page is probably tanking your AI search visibility.**_**"**_=0A=0A**H= ere's why: **LLMs pull entity information from your site to understand _who= you are_ before deciding _whether to cite you_. If your About page reads l= ike a vague mission statement ("We're passionate about delivering innovativ= e solutions..."), AI systems can't figure out what you actually do =E2=80= =94 or why you're credible.=0A=0A**Quick fix:** Rewrite your About page lik= e a Wikipedia entry. Lead with a clear, factual definition: "[Company Name]= is a [specific category] that helps [specific audience] achieve [specific = outcome]." Include founding year, headquarters, notable customers or invest= ors, and 2-3 concrete proof points.=0A=0AThis isn't just about AI. It's abo= ut clarity. The companies that can describe themselves in one sentence are = the ones that get remembered =E2=80=94 by humans and machines.=E2=80=9C =E2= =80=94 =0A=0A**Strategy You Can Steal**=0A=0A**The "GEO Audit Sprint" =E2= =80=94 90 Minutes to AI Search Readiness**=0A=0AMost startups know they sho= uld be optimizing for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. Almost = none of them have actually _checked_ whether they're showing up. Here's how= to run a quick GEO audit before your next planning session:=0A=0A**Block 1= : Discovery Check (30 min)**=0A=0AOpen ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google (wit= h AI Overviews enabled). Ask each one:=0A=0A* "What is [your company name]?= "=0A=0A* "What are the best [your category] tools for [your ICP]?"=0A=0A* "= How do I solve [problem your product solves]?"=0A=0AScreenshot every respon= se. Note: Are you mentioned? Are you cited? Are competitors showing up inst= ead? This is your baseline.=0A=0A**Block 2: Citation Trace (30 min)**=0A=0A= For every competitor that _does_ get cited, click through to the source. As= k yourself:=0A=0A* What type of content is being pulled? (Blog post? Produc= t page? Third-party review?)=0A=0A* How is the content structured? (Clear d= efinitions? Stats? FAQ format?)=0A=0A* Where is it published? (Company site= ? Industry publication? Reddit?)=0A=0APattern recognition here is everythin= g. LLMs have preferences =E2=80=94 figure out what they're rewarding in you= r space.=0A=0A**Block 3: Gap Map (30 min)**=0A=0ACompare what you found to = what you have. Build a simple 3-column doc:=0A=0A* **Column 1:** Questions/= topics where competitors get cited and you don't=0A=0A* **Column 2:** Conte= nt you already have that _should_ be ranking (but isn't structured for AI)= =0A=0A* **Column 3:** Content you need to create from scratch=0A=0APrioriti= ze Column 2 first =E2=80=94 restructuring existing content is faster than c= reating new. Add schema markup, clearer definitions, and direct answers in = the first 100 words.=0A=0A**The output:** You now have a prioritized GEO ro= admap that took 90 minutes instead of a $15K agency audit. Run this quarter= ly. The landscape is shifting fast.=0A=0AThis is the exact sprint we run wi= th early Averi users before building their content strategy =E2=80=94 becau= se you can't optimize for visibility you haven't measured.=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A=0A=0A### =F0=9F=92=BC Don=E2=80=99t Let AI Replace Yo= u=0A=0A* **Anthropic**=0A=0APosition: SEO Lead =E2=80=93 San Francisco, CA= =0A=0AOwn organic search strategy and technical SEO infrastructure across A= nthropic's web properties. You'll define how Claude gets discovered. =E2=86= =92 [Apply Now](https://www.anthropic.com/jobs)=0A=0A* **Anthropic**=0A=0AP= osition: Creative Director, Copy & Content =E2=80=93 San Francisco / New Yo= rk=0A=0ADefine and evolve brand voice and tone for Anthropic and Claude. Ow= n creative strategy for marketing campaigns, product comms, web content, an= d thought leadership. $320K-$400K. =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](https://www.anthro= pic.com/jobs)=0A=0A* **Anthropic**=0A=0APosition: Video Director, Product L= aunches =E2=80=93 San Francisco, CA=0A=0ALead video creative strategy for C= laude's product launches and marketing moments. Shape how the world sees AI= safety in action. =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](https://www.anthropic.com/jobs)=0A= =0A* **OpenAI**=0A=0APosition: Integrated Marketing Manager =E2=80=93 U.S. = (Remote Hybrid)=0A=0ADrive integrated marketing campaigns for ChatGPT and O= penAI's product ecosystem. Help shape how millions discover and adopt AI. = =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](https://openai.com/careers/search/)=0A=0A* **OpenAI**= =0A=0APosition: Vertical Marketing Lead =E2=80=93 San Francisco, CA=0A=0ABu= ild industry-specific go-to-market strategies for OpenAI's priority vertica= ls. Create compelling playbooks, narratives, and customer stories that empo= wer enterprise sales. =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](https://openai.com/careers/sear= ch/)=0A=0A* **HubSpot**=0A=0APosition: Manager, Marketing Technology =E2=80= =93 AI =E2=80=93 Cambridge, MA (Remote)=0A=0ALead a team of AI "Experience = Engineers" to incorporate AI into HubSpot's marketing strategy. You'll work= with executive leadership on AI strategy and partner across the business t= o realize the vision. =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](https://www.hubspot.com/careers= /jobs/all)=0A=0A* **IHG Hotels & Resorts**=0A=0APosition: GEO Lead (Generat= ive Engine Optimization) =E2=80=93 New York, NY (Hybrid)=0A=0ADefine and ex= ecute enterprise strategy for AI search optimization. Ensure IHG's brands, = destinations, and hotels are discoverable across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and G= oogle AI Overviews. $75-$80/hr contract-to-hire. =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](http= s://careers.eliassen.com/)=0A=0A* **FirstKey Homes**=0A=0APosition: Manager= , Organic & AI Search Optimization =E2=80=93 Remote=0A=0ALead unified AEO/G= EO strategy combining technical SEO with AI-driven discovery. Optimize for = knowledge panels, rich snippets, and AI-generated results across ChatGPT, G= oogle AI Overview, and Perplexity. =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](https://www.simply= hired.com/search?q=3Dgenerative+engine+optimization)=0A=0A* **ClickHouse**= =0A=0APosition: Product Marketing Engineer =E2=80=93 GEO, AEO & SEO =E2=80= =93 Remote=0A=0AOwn strategy for generative and answer-engine optimization.= Ensure ClickHouse appears in AI Overviews, featured snippets, and conversa= tional search results. =E2=86=92 [Apply Now](https://www.indeed.com/q-geo-g= enerative-engine-optimization-jobs.html)=0A=0A=0A=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A= =0A**Did You Know?** =E2=80=94 =C2=A0Only **22% of marketers** are actively= tracking AI visibility and traffic =E2=80=94 yet AI search visitors conver= t at **14.2%** compared to Google's **2.8%** (that's 5x higher). Meanwhile,= Gen AI traffic is growing **165x faster** than organic search traffic. =0A= =0AThe opportunity gap is massive, and most of your competitors aren't even= watching the scoreboard.=0A=0A Til next time, =0A=0A#### _**DFTA**_=0A=0A= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2= =80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80= =94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94= =E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0A###### _If this hits home, we=E2=80=99d love it if = you shared it. Send it to a friend, a teammate, or that one person who=E2= =80=99s always drowning in a Google Doc._=0A=0A###### _We=E2=80=99re cookin= g up a referral program too=E2=80=94think exclusive perks, creative kits, a= nd Averi swag. Stay tuned._=0A=0A----------=0A=F0=9F=93=9D Have an idea for= an article or column? _[Pitch us](mailto:zc@averi.ai?subject=3DPitch)_=0A= =0A=F0=9F=94=B5 Want _**DFTA**_ on LinkedIn? _[Subscribe](https://www.linke= din.com/newsletters/don-t-feed-the-algorithm-7318006787134156800/)_=0A=0A= =0A----------=0A=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=0A=0AYou are reading a plain te= xt version of this post. For the best experience, copy and paste this link = in your browser to view the post online:=0Ahttps://dont-feed-the-algorithm.= beehiiv.com/p/don-t-feed-the-algorithm-issue-039 --iF0FRxvrRiGeCw0DMAa2ow Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable 90 minutes to AI search readiness
Your AI visibility might be tanking =E2=80=94 and this i= s why.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&#= 160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= ; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&#= 160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= ; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = 204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ = ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 60;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌=  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ R= 04; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &= #8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌= 0;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌&= #160;‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ̴= 4; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &#= 8204; ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
=
<= /tr>

February 17, 2026   |   Read = Online

<= table role=3D"none" width=3D"100%" border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpaddi= ng=3D"0" align=3D"center" style=3D"border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-bott= om:1px solid #E5E7EB;padding-top:12px;padding-bottom:12px;margin-bottom:15p= x;margin-top:15px;">
=
= 3D"like"
 <= /td>
3D"comment"
=
3D"share
 
&= nbsp;
3D"share=
 
3D"share
3D""
3D""
=F0=9F=90=8A Edi= tor's Note

Hey the= re,

Welcome back to another Don=E2=80=99t Feed The A= lgorithm, your weekly dispatch from Averi =E2=80=94 where we explore the intersect= ions of marketing, AI and the future of work.

There's a qu= iet shift happening, and it's easy to miss if you're only watching = traffic dashboards.

This week, we dug into something that k= eeps coming up in our conversations with founders: the bots are = picking favorites. Perplexity cites sources in 97% of its responses. ChatGP= T? Just 16%. Google AI Overviews split the difference. Each platform has di= fferent preferences, different trust signals, different content it rewards.= There's no "AI SEO" anymore =E2=80=94 just three separate ga= mes with three separate rulebooks.

That sounds exhausting. But= here's the part that makes it worth paying attention: AI sea= rch traffic converts at 5x the rate of traditional Google traffic. Smaller pond, bigger fish.

Meanwhile, GEO went from "= ;thing we put in thought leadership pieces" to actual job descriptions= . This week's job board includes dedicated Generative Engine Optimizati= on roles at IHG, FirstKey Homes, and ClickHouse. Anthropic's hiring an = SEO Lead for Claude. OpenAI wants a Vertical Marketing Lead. The infrastruc= ture is getting built =E2=80=94 fast.

And in "The Algorit= hm Could Never," we're featuring Jacquemus putting his 97-year-old= grandmother in a campaign instead of a 22-year-old influencer with perfect= metrics. It worked spectacularly. Because sometimes the most strategic thi= ng you can do is be completely unpredictable.

The through-line= ? The systems are fragmenting, the playbooks are multiplying, and= the winners are the ones who can read the room =E2=80=94 not just the algo= rithm.

This week: what the bots are actually= citing, a 90-minute GEO audit you can run before your next planning sessio= n, 9 AI marketing roles worth watching, and the data that explains why your= About page might be tanking your AI visibility.

Let=E2=80=99s= build.

=E2=80=94 ZC & The Averi Team

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to get it in your inbox.

=

=E2=9A=99=EF=B8=8F=C2=A0Straight Outta Dev

<= /table>

We didn'= t build Averi based on a guess= =E2=80=94 we built it from the exact content strategy that's dr= iving our own growth. Same playbook. Same system. Now productized so you ca= n run it too.

<= /tr>=

= <= td class=3D"dd" align=3D"left" style=3D"padding:0px 16px;text-align:left;wo= rd-break:break-word;">

The "= ;GEO Audit Sprint" =E2=80=94 90 Minutes to AI Search Readiness

=
3D""

We hit 1.6= 8 million Google impressions this month using the Averi Workflow=

That's not a client. That's us.

Here's what actually moves the needle:

= =E2=86=92 Topical authority over content volume. 12 tightly clustere= d articles outperform 50 disconnected posts. Every time.

=E2=86=92 = Internal linking that compounds. Not an afterthought =E2=80=94 the a= rchitecture that tells Google (and AI) you own the topic.

=E2=86=92= Optimized for where buyers actually search. Google rankings. ChatGP= T citations. Perplexity answers. If your content isn't built for all th= ree, you're leaving visibility on the table.

We're not aski= ng you to trust a pitch. We're asking you to try the system that took u= s from zero to nearly 2 million monthly impressions in just 10 months =E2=80=94 while everyone else was arguing about blog post frequency.

=

The Free beta is live and new features are being shipped daily based = on the feedback from readers like you.

= <= td class=3D"dd" align=3D"left" style=3D"padding:0px 16px;text-align:left;wo= rd-break:break-word;">

We all know= the industry loves to pretend it=E2=80=99s got it all figured out.

Start Running Your Content Engine

=E2=80=94 Averi Team

<= /tr>
 

=F0=9F=A7=AA=C2=A0Welcome to The Lab

=
3D""

Scaling content as a startup is f*cking hard.

Most advice is either too generic or written by people who've never s= hipped anything claiming to be a guru.

So we=E2=80=99ve launched = r/startupcontentlab= : a Reddit community for founders, engineers & marketers who = are tired of sifting through the hordes of articles that just want your =E2= =80=98click=E2=80=99 and don=E2=80=99t actually help you to build content e= ngines that actually drive growth.

This is a place for real strateg= y, AI workflows, what's trending, and honest conversations about what&#= 39;s actually driving growth=C2=A0(and what's not). Just = people figuring it out and sharing what they learn.

If you're b= uilding content systems to scale your startup, you'll fit right in.

Join our Reddit Community for Startup Founders building Content Engi= nes to grow their businesses:

Join r/star= tupcontentlab

=
 

=F0=9F=93=9D The Good Sh*t

3D""

The Future of Storytelling= : How AI Can Help Human Marketers Create Meaningful Connections<= /p>

There's a moment in= every great campfire story, right before the resolution, when the flames f= licker and shadows dance across faces=E2=80=A6 where time seems to suspend = itself.

Our ancestors knew this feeling intimately. Before the w= ritten word, before the printing press, before the algorithm, humans gather= ed in circles to share tales that would bind communities together and trans= mit wisdom across generations.

Now here we are, in an era where a m= achine can generate a thousand blog posts before your morning coffee= cools, and we're left wondering=E2=80=A6 have we lost the fire?=

The future of storytelling isn't about choosing between silicon= and soul, it's about understanding what each does best and orchestr= ating them in symphony.

Rea= d online

  • ChatGPT Has A= ds Now. Here's What It Means for Your Startup's Content Strategy=C2=A0=E2=86=92 Read online

  • AI Agents Won't Sav= e Your Marketing (But AI Workflows Might) =E2=86=92 Read online

    • &n= bsp;

    =F0=9F=94=A5 In Case You Missed I= t=E2=80=A6

     

    =F0=9F=95=B5 Marketer=E2=80=99s Anonymous

    = But here?

    We tell the truth.

    Every week, we=E2=80=99re ask= ing you to share how things really work behind the scenes. Because getting = better starts with getting honest.

    Don=E2=80=99t worry, it=E2=80=99= s a safe space.

    Drop your vote.

    What's the hardest part of content marketing for you right now?

    =
    <= tr><= td style=3D"width:100%;border:1px solid rgba(50, 50, 50, 0.17);padding:6px = 12px; border-radius:4px;">

    Finding topics worth writing about

    Figuring out this whole GEO/LLM optimization thing

    =

    Schema markup and technical SEO

    Building content clusters that actually rank

    Publi= shing consistently (life keeps happening)

    Measuring w= hat's actually working

    All of it, hones= tly

     


    =F0=9F=93=BA The Algorithm Could Never

    Jacquemus =E2=80=94 "The Ori= ginal Icon"

    <= /tr>
    3D"Instagram

    When Jacquemus teased its first-ever brand ambassador, the = fashion world assumed the obvious: Kendall Jenner. Lisa from BLACKPINK. Bad= Bunny. Someone with millions of followers and a face that moves product. <= /p>

    Instead, Simon Porte Jacquemus chose his 79-year-old grandmother, Li= line.

    Born in 1946 in Alleins, a tiny village in the south of Franc= e, Liline grew up in a farming family raised by an Italian single mother. S= he's never been an influencer. She doesn't have a public Instagram.= She's simply the woman who shaped Simon's vision of elegance, auth= enticity, and strength =E2=80=94 the qualities that built a billion-dollar = fashion house.

    The announcement came with a satirical "ambassa= dor contract" requiring Liline to never use the word "brand"= (only "family"), never wear other designers ("even in dream= s"), and always smile. It was playful, warm, and disarmingly human.

    The Result:

    The announcement dominated fashion media for= days. WWD, Vogue, and lifestyle publications covered it as both news and c= ultural commentary. The imagery =E2=80=94 Liline in pristine Jacquemus, hol= ding the Val=C3=A9rie bag named after Simon's late mother =E2=80=94 wen= t viral not for its production value but for what it represented: a luxury = brand choosing meaning over metrics.

    The move cemented Jacquemus= 9;s positioning as a fashion house built on heritage and heart, not algorit= hmic optimization. In an industry racing to sign the same rotating cast of = celebrities, they zigged hard =E2=80=94 and owned the conversation.

    = Why We Love It:

    An AI optimizing for ambassador ROI would hav= e flagged this immediately:

    =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F "Ambassador = has 0 social media following =E2=80=94 projected reach: NEGLIGIBLE" =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F "Age demographic (79) outside target consumer = profile (18-34)" =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F "No prior brand ambass= ador experience detected =E2=80=94 engagement risk: HIGH" =E2=9A= =A0=EF=B8=8F "Competitor analysis: 94% of luxury ambassador selecti= ons are celebrities with 10M+ followers" =E2=9A=A0=EF=B8=8F &qu= ot;Recommendation: Consider Lisa (BLACKPINK) =E2=80=94 103M followers, prov= en luxury conversion"

    Every data model would have been righ= t. Every influencer marketing platform would have ranked Liline dead last. =

    But Jacquemus understood what the algorithm couldn't: authentic= ity has no follower count. In a world where every brand is chasing the same= celebrities, the most disruptive choice is the one that actually means som= ething. Liline isn't an ambassador =E2=80=94 she's the reason the b= rand exists.

    Sometimes the most powerful marketing decision is choo= sing the story that's already true.

    Do we dig it?

    It's a vibe =F0=9F=91=8F=

    Belongs in the trash =F0=9F=97=91=EF=B8=8F=

    Want to see more of the best markete= d companies on the planet? =F0=9F=91=87

    <= tr>

     

    =F0=9F=97=93=EF=B8=8F Make Frie= nds

    =
    Social Fresh 2026<= /b>

    The original social media conference returns to NYC for two day= s of exclusive case studies, consumer trend reports, and creative performan= ce insights. Sessions span social, content, creator/influencer, paid media,= and AI=E2=80=94all designed for practitioners who actually do the work. Sp= eakers from Microsoft, Meta, Marriott, and Vanguard.

    Date: Ma= rch 19-20, 2026

    Location: New York, NY

    Link:=C2= =A0Register

    Shoptalk Spring 2026

    10,000+ retail and ecommerce leaders descend on Vegas for three days t= hemed "Retail in the Age of AI." Speakers from OpenAI, Walmart, V= ictoria's Secret, Meta, and Reddit. Sessions cover AEO/GEO tactics, ret= ail media innovation, and AI agents. One in three attendees holds a C-suite= role.

    Date: March 24-26, 2026

    Location: Las Ve= gas, NV

    Link:=C2=A0Register=

     

    =F0=9F=A4=96= What The Bots Are Reading

    The Citation Gap: Why 84% of Your AI V= isibility Strategy Might Be Wasted

    New data reveals a stark trut= h, most content never gets cited by AI =E2=80=94 and the platforms that = do cite have wildly different standards.

    The headline number:= Perplexity cites sources in 97% of responses. Google AI Overviews? 34%= . ChatGPT? Just 16%. And Gemini provides zero clickable citations in 92% of= its answers.

    Translation: if you're optimizing for "= ;AI search" as a monolith, you're optimizing for nothing.

    <= b>Where each bot shops for answers:

    =F0=9F=94=8D Perplexity =E2=86=92 Real-time web search on every query. Cites multiple sources pe= r response. Reddit-heavy (46.5% of top citations). Rewards freshness and di= rect answers. Traffic is trackable in GA4.

    =F0=9F=A4=96=C2=A0Cha= tGPT =E2=86=92 Searches only when browsing is enabled. 24% of responses= generated with zero web fetches. When it does cite, Wikipedia domin= ates (47.9% of top citations). Prefers encyclopedic authority.

    =F0= =9F=8C=90=C2=A0Google AI Overviews =E2=86=92 Most balanced sourcing.= Reddit (21%), YouTube (18.8%), Quora (14.3%). Favors diversified cross-pla= tform presence. 93.67% of citations link to top-10 organic results =E2=80= =94 but only 4.5% match Page 1 URLs exactly.

    The conversion kicke= r: AI search traffic converts at 4.4x the rate of traditional Google tr= affic. The catch? You're competing for dramatically fewer citation slot= s.

    What gets you in the door:

    • Lead with the answer. First paragraph shoul= d directly answer the query =E2=80=94 no throat-clearing intros

      • Structure for extraction. Content with clear headings and lists is 3x more likely to be cited

      <= /li>

    • Specificity wins. = "The best X is Y" outperforms "Y might be good" =E2=80= =94 definitive statements get quoted

    • Schema markup matters. Article, FAQ, and HowTo sche= mas help AI parse your content accurately

    • Video is disproportionately cited. YouTube tra= nscripts with chapter markers show up across all platforms

    What keeps you invisible:

    • Long paragraphs without summaries (AI systems timeout= at 1-5 seconds)

    • Mi= ssing author bylines and credentials

    • Blocking AI crawlers (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot) i= n robots.txt

    • Relyin= g on Google rankings alone =E2=80=94 only 12% of ChatGPT citations match Pa= ge 1 URLs

    The bottom line: There's no uni= versal "AI SEO" anymore. Perplexity rewards real-time relevance a= nd Reddit presence. ChatGPT rewards Wikipedia-style authority. Google AI Ov= erviews reward platform diversity.

    Pick your platform based on wher= e your audience actually searches =E2=80=94 then optimize accordingly.

    =

    =E2=86=92 The GEO Playbook 2026: Ge= tting Cited by LLMs | =E2=86=92 How to Get Cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity & AI Search

     

    =F0=9F=92=A1Ask= Averi

    AI + Human Marketing Tip

    "Your "= ;About Us" page is probably tanking your AI search visibility.<= b>"

    Here's why: LLMs pull entity information from = your site to understand who you are before deciding whether to ci= te you. If your About page reads like a vague mission statement ("= We're passionate about delivering innovative solutions..."), AI sy= stems can't figure out what you actually do =E2=80=94 or why you're= credible.

    Quick fix: Rewrite your About page like a Wikipedia entr= y. Lead with a clear, factual definition: "[Company Name] is a [specif= ic category] that helps [specific audience] achieve [specific outcome].&quo= t; Include founding year, headquarters, notable customers or investors, and= 2-3 concrete proof points.

    This isn't just about AI. It's about c= larity. The companies that can describe themselves in one sentence are the = ones that get remembered =E2=80=94 by humans and machines.

    Strategy You Can Steal

    Most startups know they should be optimizing for ChatGPT, Perplexity, a= nd Google AI Overviews. Almost none of them have actually checked wh= ether they're showing up. Here's how to run a quick GEO audit befor= e your next planning session:

    Block 1: Discovery Check (30 min)

    Open ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google (with AI Overviews enabled).= Ask each one:

    • &q= uot;What is [your company name]?"

    • "What are the best [your category] tools for [your= ICP]?"

    • "= How do I solve [problem your product solves]?"

    = Screenshot every response. Note: Are you mentioned? Are you cited? Are com= petitors showing up instead? This is your baseline.

    Block 2: Cita= tion Trace (30 min)

    For every competitor that does get ci= ted, click through to the source. Ask yourself:

    • What type of content is being pulled? (Blog = post? Product page? Third-party review?)

    • How is the content structured? (Clear definitions? St= ats? FAQ format?)

    • W= here is it published? (Company site? Industry publication? Reddit?)

    Pattern recognition here is everything. LLMs have preferen= ces =E2=80=94 figure out what they're rewarding in your space.

    <= b>Block 3: Gap Map (30 min)

    Compare what you found to what you h= ave. Build a simple 3-column doc:

    • =

      Column 1: Questions/topics where competitors get cit= ed and you don't

    • Column 2: Content you already have that should be ranking (b= ut isn't structured for AI)

    • Column 3: Content you need to create from scratch

    Prioritize Column 2 first =E2=80=94 restructuring existin= g content is faster than creating new. Add schema markup, clearer definitio= ns, and direct answers in the first 100 words.

    The output: Y= ou now have a prioritized GEO roadmap that took 90 minutes instead of a $15= K agency audit. Run this quarterly. The landscape is shifting fast.

    = This is the exact sprint we run with early Averi users before building the= ir content strategy =E2=80=94 because you can't optimize for visibility= you haven't measured.

     

    =F0=9F=92=BC Don=E2=80=99t Let AI Replace You<= /h3>

    • Anthropic

      Position: SEO Lead =E2=80=93 San Francisco, CA

      Own organic search strategy and technical SEO infrastructure ac= ross Anthropic's web properties. You'll define how Claude gets disc= overed. =E2=86=92 Apply Now

      • =

    • Anthropic

      Position: Creative Director, Copy & Content =E2=80=93 San Francisc= o / New York

      Define and evolve brand voice and tone fo= r Anthropic and Claude. Own creative strategy for marketing campaigns, prod= uct comms, web content, and thought leadership. $320K-$400K. =E2=86=92 Apply Now

    • Anthropic

      Position= : Video Director, Product Launches =E2=80=93 San Francisco, CA

      Lead video creative strategy for Claude's product launches and= marketing moments. Shape how the world sees AI safety in action. =E2=86=92= Apply Now

    • OpenAI

      Posi= tion: Integrated Marketing Manager =E2=80=93 U.S. (Remote Hybrid)

      Drive integrated marketing campaigns for ChatGPT and OpenAI'= ;s product ecosystem. Help shape how millions discover and adopt AI. =E2=86= =92 Apply Now

    • OpenAI

      P= osition: Vertical Marketing Lead =E2=80=93 San Francisco, CA

      Build industry-specific go-to-market strategies for OpenAI's p= riority verticals. Create compelling playbooks, narratives, and customer st= ories that empower enterprise sales. =E2=86=92 Ap= ply Now

    • HubSpot

      Position: Manager, Marketing Technology = =E2=80=93 AI =E2=80=93 Cambridge, MA (Remote)

      Lead a t= eam of AI "Experience Engineers" to incorporate AI into HubSpot&#= 39;s marketing strategy. You'll work with executive leadership on AI st= rategy and partner across the business to realize the vision. =E2=86=92 Apply Now

    • IHG Hotels & Resorts

      Posi= tion: GEO Lead (Generative Engine Optimization) =E2=80=93 New York, NY (Hyb= rid)

      Define and execute enterprise strategy for AI sea= rch optimization. Ensure IHG's brands, destinations, and hotels are dis= coverable across ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. $75-$80/hr c= ontract-to-hire. =E2=86=92 Apply Now

    • FirstKey Ho= mes

      Position: Manager, Organic & AI Search Optimiza= tion =E2=80=93 Remote

      Lead unified AEO/GEO strategy co= mbining technical SEO with AI-driven discovery. Optimize for knowledge pane= ls, rich snippets, and AI-generated results across ChatGPT, Google AI Overv= iew, and Perplexity. =E2=86=92 Apply No= w

    • Click= House

      Position: Product Marketing Engineer =E2=80= =93 GEO, AEO & SEO =E2=80=93 Remote

      Own strategy for g= enerative and answer-engine optimization. Ensure ClickHouse appears in AI O= verviews, featured snippets, and conversational search results. =E2=86=92 <= a class=3D"link" href=3D"https://link.mail.beehiiv.com/v1/c/Azuw2m7jo9%2Bro= qf9AdOplnwVS3gEk26FFDBfHPnnGIw12qUPVO09FnNWkFQI%0AA2NTFND3Bf0u4MpZ%2BPykPyd= oUgDLg%2F%2B25ncd5It4lj7mVav44hJfG1GhmkqZ%0ADxDQBx47X%2Bi0Q5qOEleLPvdBqvQLX= YQmSyqIWXGREgc9eG40MF0%3D%0A/ab60b2f950e2551a" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noo= pener noreferrer nofollow">Apply Now

     

    Did= You Know? =E2=80=94 =C2=A0Only 22% of marketers are actively tr= acking AI visibility and traffic =E2=80=94 yet AI search visitors convert a= t 14.2% compared to Google's 2.8% (that's 5x higher).= Meanwhile, Gen AI traffic is growing 165x faster than organic searc= h traffic.

    The opportunity gap is massive, and most of your competi= tors aren't even watching the scoreboard.

    Til next time,

    =

    DFTA

    <= /tr>

    What did you think of this issue?

    I loved it!

    Good. But you've d= one better.

    Meh.

     
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    We=E2=80=99re cooking up a ref= erral program too=E2=80=94think exclusive perks, creative kits, and Averi s= wag. Stay tuned.
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