Cited

This conversation breaks down how AI search visibility is changing, what GEO actually means in practice, and why technical SEO alone is not enough to get cited by AI engines. Cassie Clark recommends fixes to improve discoverability in AI-driven answers.

We also discuss the shift from backlinks to broader brand signals, the role of Reddit and third-party mentions, and why consistent messaging across your website, social profiles, PR, and employee presence matters more than ever.

Join the OpenLens community: https://discord.gg/8GC7tuGQV

Try OpenLens for free: https://openlens.com

Listen to Cassie’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@foundinaipodcast

Connect with Cassie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassie-wilson-clark

Try OpenLens for free: https://openlens.com

OpenLens on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openlens-dot-com/

Timestamps

(00:00) Technical setup, congratulations on 10,000 downloads, and the early GEO conversation

(01:15) What OpenLens does - AI visibility software with agent readiness audits

(02:08) Testing Muse as an AI shopper and whether users trust it with spending power

(03:22) How Cassie got into GEO after content writing slowed down during the ChatGPT boom

(04:48) Why Cassie started the Found in AI podcast to cut through GEO misinformation

(06:01) Why Cassie uses the term AI search visibility consultant instead of picking one acronym

(06:27) GEO as its own discipline beyond traditional SEO

(07:54) Why GEO tools need different measurement models than classic SEO dashboards

(09:12) Why audits should cover social, reviews, sales, customer service, and more

(10:08) When brands need publisher partnerships versus a full website rewrite

(11:31) Why Reddit still matters for visibility, even as citation behavior changes

(13:16) What may matter most over the next few weeks - and maybe years - in GEO

(14:42) Why product data, metadata, and website information must match for commerce use cases

(15:17) How consistent brand messaging across channels helped AI systems categorize Anna correctly

(16:17) The risk of AI surfacing the wrong phone number or other business details

(17:20) Cassie’s biggest GEO gripe - companies hiring for technical SEO when they really need brand strategy

(18:20) Why cross-functional alignment and a GEO champion in each department can make execution easier

Vince Nero, Director of Content Marketing at BuzzStream, joins Cameron and Anna from OpenLens to break down how AI is changing digital PR, media list building, pitching, and the role of junior PR talent. 

Cameron and Anna ask Vince about how AI is changing digital PR, media list building, pitching, and the role of junior PR talent. They also discuss what still matters most when everyone has similar tools: story quality, timing, and real human judgment.

Vince shares why he thinks AI may automate parts of outreach but not replace the craft of choosing the right story, reading the room, and understanding journalist fit. He also offers a sharp take on where PR (and the internet at large) may be heading by 2031. 

Join the OpenLens community: https://discord.gg/8GC7tuGQV

Try OpenLens for free: https://openlens.com

Listen to Vince’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@BuzzStream

Connect with Vincent: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinnero/

OpenLens on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openlens-dot-com/

00:00 - Introduction to Cited

00:29 - Vince Nero introduced: BuzzStream, Siege Media, and digital PR background

01:15 - From jazz saxophone to marketing and link building

02:22 - Can AI build media lists better than humans?

03:58 - Why story fit matters more than relationship alone

06:10 - What actually goes into evaluating a journalist

08:08 - Timely commentary and reactive PR opportunities

10:03 - Why agencies may still accept noisy outreach risks

11:35 - How many pitches journalists say are irrelevant

12:03 - What junior PR roles may look like in 2031

13:44 - Generalist PR roles, AI tools, and strategic learning

16:18 - Journalists can spot AI-written pitches instantly

18:14 - Will brands start marketing themselves as AI-free?

19:20 - AI’s limits in ideation and strategy

21:47 - Building better media lists with richer inputs

22:45 - When relationships matter again in an AI-heavy world

24:15 - Links, unlinked mentions, and AI visibility

26:06 - Why links still matter for ranking and corpus training

28:09 - How pitching may shift toward platforms and journalist request systems

30:29 - Why journalists are overloaded and time-poor

32:28 - The future of coverage in an agentic web

34:02 - Local news, clicks, and the move toward more siloed news consumption

36:52 - Biggest hot take: the internet swings back toward human creatives

38:05 - Quality over quantity as AI limitations become obvious