AI-powered answer engines like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, and Claude are changing the rules of search. In this episode, Lane Houk breaks down The SPARK Framework™ — the proven system for moving your business from invisible to indispensable in the AI era. You’ll get a clear overview of the five pillars (Semantic Optimization, Platform Authority, Answer Readiness, Relevance Signals, and Knowledge Integration) and learn why “AI citation” is now the ultimate competitive advantage. Lane also answers the most common questions about how AI search differs from traditional SEO, the unique challenges for different industries, and what it takes to achieve long-term dominance. If you want to be the source AI trusts — and cites — this is your roadmap.

The search landscape is undergoing its most dramatic transformation in over two decades. While Google still processes 14+ billion searches daily, AI answer engines like ChatGPT (1 billion daily messages), Perplexity (780 million monthly queries), and Google's AI Overviews are fundamentally changing how people find information—and how businesses get discovered.

In this foundational episode, we explore why traditional SEO is no longer enough and introduce the critical concept of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). As AI platforms increasingly provide direct answers instead of link lists, businesses face a stark reality: get cited by AI systems or become invisible to your future customers.

Discover the SPARK Framework—the comprehensive five-pillar system designed specifically for achieving AI search dominance across ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity, Claude, and emerging AI platforms. We'll examine why 60% of searches now end without clicks, how AI citation rates are 150+ times higher than traditional search results, and why some businesses are already seeing 50% drops in organic traffic.

Whether you're a business owner, marketing professional, or digital strategist, this episode establishes the urgent need for AI search optimization and introduces the systematic approach that transforms businesses from invisible to indispensable in the age of AI-powered answers.

Key Topics Covered:

• The collapse of traditional search behavior and click-through rates
• How AI answer engines are reshaping customer discovery
• Introduction to the SPARK Framework for AI search dominance
• Why businesses must optimize for citations, not just rankings
• The competitive advantage window that's rapidly closing

This episode sets the stage for understanding why AI search optimization isn't just an opportunity—it's a survival imperative for businesses that want to remain visible to their customers in the age of artificial intelligence.