Marketing Against The Grain ‘My Data Proves SEO is NOT Dead’ + How to Rank #1 on Google & AI
85 snips
Dec 11, 2025 
Join Ethan Smith, CEO of Graphite and SEO/AEO expert, as he dives into the thriving state of SEO, challenging the myth that it's dead. He reveals actionable tactics for ranking #1 on Google and navigating the rise of answer engine optimization. Discover the importance of treating SEO and AEO as a unified strategy, and learn when startups should invest in search. Ethan also outlines effective onsite and offsite tactics, highlighting the need for collaboration across teams. Tune in for insights that could elevate your marketing game!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
SEO Remains Stable While LLMs Grow
- SEO traffic is not dying; it's roughly flat with only minor fluctuation year-over-year.
- LLM usage is growing fast but remains a small fraction (about 1/15) of search today.
Stage Your SEO Investment
- Early-stage founders should not prioritize SEO; it's hard and has slow time-to-impact for new sites.
- Invest more in SEO as your company matures (Series A → Series B) and combine it with AEO.
Create Pages For Specific Product Questions
- Build on-site pages that answer highly specific product questions and list features, integrations, and use cases.
- Use help center content to capture questions people ask and surface those answers to LLMs.