If you’re wondering whether AI search optimization (AISEO, AEO, GEO—whatever you want to call it) actually works, I’ve got some results that might surprise you.
The Experiment
We published a straightforward blog post titled “The Five Best Public Speaking Coaches in Los Angeles” on Tuesday, November 11th. Nothing fancy—just an intro, a list of five coaches with brief descriptions, and some supporting content. No revolutionary SEO tactics, no massive link-building campaign. Just a simple “best of” list.
Fast forward to November 20th—just nine days later—and the results across AI search engines were remarkable.
The Results Across 5 Major AI Platforms
Here’s where that single blog post ranked when searching for “best public speaking coaches in Los Angeles”:
Google AI Mode: #1 cited source
Gemini: #1 result
Perplexity: #1 result
Claude: #2 result
ChatGPT: Not yet indexed (no results)
That’s four out of five major AI engines citing our content prominently, with three of them placing us at the very top.
For context, in traditional Google search, the post appeared as the second organic result (below the map pack and a Yelp listing), which is a nice bonus, but wasn’t the main purpose of this post.
Why “Best Of” Lists Work for AI Search
We’ve noticed a clear pattern: AI engines love citing “best of” lists. They’re structured, authoritative-seeming, and easy for AI to parse and present to users. When users ask “Who are the best [X] in [Y]?” these lists provide exactly what both the AI and the end user are looking for.
The Strategy (It’s Simpler Than You Think)
The formula is straightforward:
- Choose your topic: “The best [service/product] in [location/category]”
- Create legitimate, helpful content: Include real businesses or options with genuine descriptions
- Structure it clearly: Use lists, headings, and organized formatting
- Publish and wait: Give it time to get indexed by AI engines
A Word of Caution
This won’t always be this easy. As I recorded this video, I thought to myself: this probably won’t last. Once everyone catches on to this strategy, AI engines will likely adjust how they evaluate and cite “best of” content. The opportunity exists right now because the landscape is still relatively new.
But for now? The wave is here, and it’s worth riding while it lasts.
Should You Try This?
If you’re in search marketing or managing content for a business, this is an experiment worth running. Pick a relevant topic in your industry, create a genuine “best of” list, and track how it performs across different AI platforms.
The investment is minimal, one blog post, a few hours of work max, but the potential visibility across multiple AI search engines could be significant for your business or clients.
Questions?
Have you tried creating “best of” content for AI search? Seeing similar results? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Schedule a call or drop a comment.
Sam Bretzmann works in search marketing, helping businesses navigate the evolving landscape of AI-powered search engines and visibility strategies.