Introducing Accord’s AI Search: Future‑Proofing Visibility in an AI‑Driven World

Mar 19, 2026

Introducing Accord’s AI Search: Future‑Proofing Visibility in an AI‑Driven World

Dan Ward

Digital Director

Search is changing faster than at any point in its history. With AI Overviews now appearing in 20% of UK travel searches in Google, and platforms like ChatGPT attracting 900 million weekly users, the way people discover information has fundamentally shifted. What was once a list of links is rapidly becoming a world of direct, conversational answers - delivered by search engines and AI models alike. For brands, this shift presents both a challenge and a huge opportunity. And today, we’re excited to introduce Accord’s AI Search: our new, future‑facing approach designed to help brands stay visible, trusted and competitive in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Why the search landscape has changed - and what it means for brands

For over two decades, SEO has helped brands earn visibility through traditional search results. That hasn’t changed, but how people search and how results are delivered have.

As Google rolls out AI Overviews and AI Mode, and consumers increasingly interact with AI‑assisted experiences across search engines and platforms, search behaviour is becoming more conversational, contextual and answer‑led.

Customers no longer just type keywords. They ask questions, refine queries, and expect clear, immediate answers, often without clicking through multiple results.

Where search engines once primarily rewarded content and links, AI‑driven systems now summarise, synthesise and present information directly within the search experience. For brands, this means visibility is no longer only about ranking; it’s about being represented accurately and authoritatively wherever answers are generated.

At Accord, we see this shift not as a threat, but as a transformational opportunity.

For over two decades, SEO has helped brands earn visibility through traditional search results. That hasn’t changed, but how people search and how results are delivered have.

Customers no longer just type keywords. They ask questions, refine queries, and expect clear, immediate answers, often without clicking through multiple results.

At Accord, we see this shift not as a threat, but as a transformational opportunity.

For over two decades, SEO has helped brands earn visibility through traditional search results. That hasn’t changed, but how people search and how results are delivered have.

Customers no longer just type keywords. They ask questions, refine queries, and expect clear, immediate answers, often without clicking through multiple results.

At Accord, we see this shift not as a threat, but as a transformational opportunity.

From SEO to AI Search: evolving for how people search today

To remain competitive in AI‑driven environments, brands need to broaden their focus beyond SEO to AI Search, which combines Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO). AI Search positions your brand to be the authoritative response selected not only by Google, but by AI systems trained on billions of interactions, documents and queries.

This doesn’t replace SEO - it builds on it.

SEO gets you found on traditional search listings.
AI Search gets you found in AI-driven spaces.
Combined, you’re found everywhere people search today.

Our clients increasingly need a visibility strategy spanning:

Traditional SEO ranking (SERPs, offsite mentions, organic traffic).
AI visibility (AI citations, AI Overviews, prompt rankings, sentiment analysis).
Cross‑platform discovery, from keyword‑based searches to conversational prompts.
Blind spot detection, identifying where a brand is missing entirely from both Google and AI results.

This shift forms the backbone of our new AI Search offering.

This doesn’t replace SEO - it builds on it.

SEO gets you found on traditional search listings.
AI Search gets you found in AI-driven spaces.
Combined, you’re found everywhere people search today.

Our clients increasingly need a visibility strategy spanning:

Traditional SEO ranking (SERPs, offsite mentions, organic traffic).
AI visibility (AI citations, AI Overviews, prompt rankings, sentiment analysis).
Cross‑platform discovery, from keyword‑based searches to conversational prompts.
Blind spot detection, identifying where a brand is missing entirely from both Google and AI results.

This shift forms the backbone of our new AI Search offering.

This doesn’t replace SEO - it builds on it.

SEO gets you found on traditional search listings.
AI Search gets you found in AI-driven spaces.
Combined, you’re found everywhere people search today.

Our clients increasingly need a visibility strategy spanning:

Traditional SEO ranking (SERPs, offsite mentions, organic traffic).
AI visibility (AI citations, AI Overviews, prompt rankings, sentiment analysis).
Cross‑platform discovery, from keyword‑based searches to conversational prompts.
Blind spot detection, identifying where a brand is missing entirely from both Google and AI results.

This shift forms the backbone of our new AI Search offering.

Our approach: AI Search begins with strong SEO foundations

While AI platforms may feel new, the fundamentals behind visibility haven’t changed - they’ve expanded.

AI models repurpose classic SEO signals such as content authority, topical depth, brand mentions and technical clarity. That’s why our approach begins with SEO essentials, then layers in new AI‑specific disciplines to influence how LLMs understand, evaluate and represent your brand.

While AI platforms may feel new, the fundamentals behind visibility haven’t changed - they’ve expanded.

Our AI Search framework

As AI becomes embedded into search experiences, visibility is shaped by a combination of perception, content quality, authority signals and technical clarity. To navigate this complexity, we’ve developed a clear AI Search framework that ensures nothing is left to chance.

Our framework provides a structured, repeatable way to understand how AI systems interpret your brand, strengthen the signals that influence AI-generated answers, and continuously monitor performance as platforms and behaviours change.

1. AI research (perception)

We analyse what LLMs already know about your business and what they don’t. That includes sentiment, incorrect information, brand positioning and citation gaps across major models.

2. Focused onsite content (action)

We develop multi‑intent content that answers real AI‑driven user prompts - not just traditional keywords. From authoritative blogs to answer‑ready FAQs, we build trustworthy, source‑of‑truth content structures.

3. Offsite mentions & citations (reach)

AI learns from the wider web, not just your site. We strengthen your offsite presence, build citations, and shift sentiment to ensure your brand is referenced positively and frequently across LLM‑influential sources.

4. Maintain site health (audit)

Technical setup remains essential, so we ensure your site is well‑structured, machine‑readable, and easy for AI crawlers to interpret.

5. Continuous monitoring (track)

AI visibility moves quickly - we track prompt rankings, share of voice, technical AI barriers, competitor gaps, and sentiment shifts, and adjust strategy as the landscape evolves.

1. AI research (perception)

We analyse what LLMs already know about your business and what they don’t. That includes sentiment, incorrect information, brand positioning and citation gaps across major models.

2. Focused onsite content (action)

3. Offsite mentions & citations (reach)

4. Maintain site health (audit)

Technical setup remains essential, so we ensure your site is well‑structured, machine‑readable, and easy for AI crawlers to interpret.

5. Continuous monitoring (track)

AI visibility moves quickly - we track prompt rankings, share of voice, technical AI barriers, competitor gaps, and sentiment shifts, and adjust strategy as the landscape evolves.

1. AI research (perception)

We analyse what LLMs already know about your business and what they don’t. That includes sentiment, incorrect information, brand positioning and citation gaps across major models.

2. Focused onsite content (action)

3. Offsite mentions & citations (reach)

4. Maintain site health (audit)

Technical setup remains essential, so we ensure your site is well‑structured, machine‑readable, and easy for AI crawlers to interpret.

5. Continuous monitoring (track)

AI visibility moves quickly - we track prompt rankings, share of voice, technical AI barriers, competitor gaps, and sentiment shifts, and adjust strategy as the landscape evolves.

Measuring success in an AI‑first world

AI mentions.
AI visibility score.
AI overview inclusion.
LLM referral sessions.
AI sentiment.
Plus, traditional SEO metrics.

This unified framework ensures brands can see not only where they rank, but also how they are interpreted, referenced, and represented across the entire AI ecosystem.

AI mentions.
AI visibility score.
AI overview inclusion.
LLM referral sessions.
AI sentiment.
Plus, traditional SEO metrics.

This unified framework ensures brands can see not only where they rank, but also how they are interpreted, referenced, and represented across the entire AI ecosystem.

AI mentions.
AI visibility score.
AI overview inclusion.
LLM referral sessions.
AI sentiment.
Plus, traditional SEO metrics.

This unified framework ensures brands can see not only where they rank, but also how they are interpreted, referenced, and represented across the entire AI ecosystem.

Ready to evolve your organic strategy?

AI is rapidly reshaping how customers discover brands. If you want to protect - and grow - your visibility across both search and AI‑driven ecosystems, our team is here to help. Get in touch with Dan Ward, Digital Director, at daniel.ward@accordmarketing.com to explore how AI Search can support your brand’s growth.

To embed a Youtube video, add the URL to the properties panel.

Next>

See all

Mar 19, 2026

Introducing Accord’s AI Search: Future‑Proofing Visibility in an AI‑Driven World

Mar 19, 2026

Introducing Accord’s AI Search: Future‑Proofing Visibility in an AI‑Driven World

Mar 19, 2026

Introducing Accord’s AI Search: Future‑Proofing Visibility in an AI‑Driven World