Why Does Earned Media Count More Than Ever? AI Search

Earned media is often mysterious to people, and can cause a lot of anxiety. How do you get your organization’s story heard and recognized? Does it really matter, and maybe most importantly, does it drive business?

One of the things that has become very apparent in the last year in regards to AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude is that earned media drives 82% to 95% of all citations in generative AI search engines.

That is an insanely high number. This means that AI search tools will bypass your website, any paid advertising you have, and any self-generated content like blogs or newsletters to find earned media like news stories, quotes in third-party sources and industry publications featuring your name and organization. These tools immediately see that as trustworthy, and therefore rank you above everyone else in your field.

Why? Credibility. AI sees someone else’s promotion of you as credibility that can’t be replicated through anything other than a smart, well-orchestrated and thoughtful public relations plan that includes local news stories, features in industry publications and appearances on non-traditional media such as podcasts and blogs.

The good news is that Focus Marketing & PR has been doing this work for nearly 18 years, and we are happy to help implement the knowledge we have gained with our clients who will benefit greatly in this world of AI and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization).

Get ahead of your competition and reach out today for a conversation.  Call Niki at 303-949-1876 or email her at niki@focusmarketingandpr.com for a complimentary consultation.