Let’s face it: AI search is the hot new thing. Between Open AI’s announcement of SearchGPTnow being publicly available on free accounts this week, and Perplexity seeing more than 100 million searches per week, many marketing teams are scrambling to keep up with the ever-evolving and frankly, sometimes confusing changes.

So, now companies are forced to ask themselves, how does AI change marketing strategy? And more importantly, how will AI change the customer journey?

“When people aren’t searching for your brand by name, how often does AI mention you?”

So, here’s a BIG announcement: HubSpot recently launched a revolutionary free tool to help you gauge your AI search presence. It’s free, it’s easy, and it gives you the 411 on how your brand stacks up in AI search. Check out HubSpot’s AI Grader Here!

Here’s what it tells you:

1. Overall AI Search Score: A big-picture look at how your brand performs in AI search. 
2. Brand Voice Score: Are people talking about you in AI-land? And if so, is it good, bad, or somewhere in between?
3. Share of Voice Score: This one’s a gem—when people aren’t searching for your brand by name, how often does AI still mention you in its answers?

Why AI Search Is Kind of a Big Deal

Rewind to 2020, and nearly all searches were through traditional search engines. Fast-forward to today, and things have changed. While Google is still king, AI search and social media searches are carving out serious territory. Translation? If you’re not optimizing for these trends, you’re leaving money—and visibility—on the table.

Steps to Address your AI grade moving into 2025

Step 1: Assess your Brand

Start with HubSpot’s AI Grader. It takes just a few clicks to get your scores, and honestly, it’s the easiest way to know where your brand stands.

If the results make you want to crawl under your desk, don’t worry. There are ways to turn things around. As you are looking at your scores, you can switch between ChatGPT and Perplexity scores.

Step 2: Take Action Like You Mean It

AI search thrives on authentic, human-generated content. You can’t fake this stuff. Here’s how to get back in the game:

1. Own Reddit and Quora

AI loves these platforms because they’re filled with real conversations. Jump in, offer helpful insights, and build your presence. No shortcuts here—automated or spammy responses will get you nowhere fast.

2. Get on Wikipedia

If you don’t have a Wikipedia page yet, it’s time to change that. A well-written, fact-checked page adds credibility that AI search engines adore.

3. Focus on Customer Reviews

Encourage reviews on relevant platforms. Think quality over quantity—real, detailed feedback matters more than generic five-star fluff.

4. Blog Like You Mean It

AI craves fresh, original content written by humans. Start publishing blogs that showcase your expertise and personality. Don’t just recycle what’s already out there—bring something new to the table.

Step 3: Rinse and Repeat!

Just like traditional SEO, AI Search requires consistent monitoring, adjustment, and optimization. As LLMs grow both in popularity and capability, it will be important for brands to remain nimble and able to react to new changes.

The Big Picture

AI search isn’t just a trend; it’s a major shift in how consumers find information and therefore, it is changing how consumers find your brand. As 2025 creeps closer, the brands that adapt now will own the spotlight, while the rest will be playing catch-up.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to schedule a meeting with our sales team and unlock the power of integrated data today!