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About Bishop-McCann

A national meetings and event management organization partnered with HIVE Strategy to evolve its content strategy as AI driven search behavior continued to change the way buyers discover information.Rather than chasing keywords or reacting to short term SEO trends, the team pivoted toward AIO (AI Optimization) principles. AIO is a broader umbrella strategy focused on making content understandable, credible, and trustworthy across AI influenced search experiences. This includes AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), which supports direct, structured responses to questions, and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), which helps content be cited within AI generated summaries.The goal was not just higher rankings. The goal was to become the most accurate and relevant source when search and AI systems return answers to user questions.

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The Challenge

Traditional SEO alone was no longer enough to guarantee high quality discovery. Buyers increasingly rely on conversational tools, assisted search, and answer driven responses rather than scrolling through long results pages.The organization needed a strategy that would:

Improve referral traffic quality
Strengthen credibility in AI influenced research environments
Support AEO by structuring content to clearly answer real questions
Support GEO by building topical authority for generative summaries
Apply AIO best practices across the full content strategy

The intention was to future proof discoverability rather than chase short term visibility.

The Approach

HIVE Strategy worked with the organization to reorganize its content program around clarity, authority, and structured usefulness, aligning it to AIO, AEO, and GEO principles.1. Content Strategy Pivot

Moved away from trend and keyword chasing
Focused on experience led, practical, and trustworthy content
Built content that answered specific questions clearly and directly, supporting AEO

2. Search Experience and AI Optimization

Structured content so it is easier for search engines and AI systems to understand
Reinforced topical authority to support GEO, helping content be referenced in AI generated summaries
Treated AIO as a natural evolution of strong SEO rather than a replacement for it

3. Ongoing Syndication

Continued strategic distribution of high quality content
Expanded surface area for discovery and referral activity

The Results

88.6%

Increase in Referral Traffic

237

AI Sessions

Over Calendar Year 2025, the shift to AIO, AEO, and GEO aligned strategy contributed to meaningful increases in qualified referral engagement:

Referral traffic increased 88.6 percent year over year
237 referral sessions originated from AI influenced search platforms including Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT
These sessions are a result of the early focus on AEO, GEO, and structured optimization paired with consistent syndication

This reflects modern search behavior in action, where high quality structured content is discovered and referenced more frequently.

Why It WorkedThis program worked because it focused on foundational principles that support both SEO and AI driven discovery:

Clear content structure supports AEO
Topical authority supports GEO
Trust, accuracy, and readability support AIO across all environments

By aligning content to how search systems interpret information, the organization improved both user experience and discoverability.

The TakeawayAEO, GEO, and AIO represent the natural evolution of SEO as search becomes more answer oriented and AI assisted. Organizations that adapt early improve visibility where buyers are already researching.This engagement demonstrates the impact of disciplined content strategy paired with modern optimization practices.

I just want to express how appreciative I am to this team and how much I really value the work that you guys have given me. Because just coming from where I was previously at with an agency to where I am, it feels like night and day and it really does feel like you guys are helping me and you're a part of the team.

Brenna Adkins

Marketing Manager