Observed Signal · Jul 9, 2026 · Guide Release · Source: https://martechseries.com/feed/ · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
SEO, GEO & SEM Platform Market: Guide: Get Your Business Recommended by AI Engines
MarTech Series published a July 9, 2026 article reporting that marketing strategist Zues Ordaz (Founder & CEO, New Gen Marketing Company) has released a free step-by-step guide showing how businesses can get recommended by AI recommendation engines — a practice he calls Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). The article cites industry data showing rapid consumer adoption of AI discovery tools (BrightLocal: 45% used AI tools for local discovery in 2026; SOCi: ChatGPT recommends only 1.2% of local businesses) and broader shifts in information sources (McKinsey: 44% of AI-search users now use AI as their primary source). Ordaz’s agency is presented as a working example: when asked for the top marketing company in Worthington, Minnesota, ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity recommend New Gen Marketing Company. The guide is distributed via Ordaz’s AI Prompt Vault.
Highlights accelerating consumer adoption of AI-based discovery and practical tactics (GEO) for local business visibility — relevant to local search/SEO and marketer tactics but not a platform policy or industry-shifting technical release.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- BrightLocal’s 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey found 45% of consumers used AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity to find local businesses in the past year, up from 6% a year earlier.
- A 2026 SOCi Local Visibility Index analysis of more than 350,000 business locations found that ChatGPT recommends just 1.2% of local businesses.
- Research from McKinsey in early 2026 found 44% of AI-search users consider AI their primary source of information versus 31% for traditional search.
- OpenAI reported ChatGPT has roughly 900 million weekly active users.
- Marketing strategist Zues Ordaz released a free step-by-step guide for 'Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)' and says his agency, New Gen Marketing Company, is recommended #1 by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for a sample query in Worthington, Minnesota.
Connected Companies & Entities
7 Entities mappedSOCi
Multi-location marketing software for enterprise brands and franchises.
“A 2026 SOCi Local Visibility Index analysis of more than 350,000 business locations found that ChatGPT recommends just 1.2% of local busines...”
Perplexity
AI answer engine with subscriptions, enterprise plans, and developer API.
“Marketing strategist Zues Ordaz, whose agency is recommended #1 across leading AI platforms including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity....”
McKinsey & Company
Global management consultancy with software, AI and transformation delivery capabilities.
“Research from McKinsey in early 2026 found that 44% of AI-search users now consider AI their primary source of information, ahead of traditi...”
OpenAI
Foundation model company selling AI software, APIs and subscriptions.
“Meanwhile, ChatGPT alone has grown to roughly 900 million weekly active users, according to OpenAI — a platform that did not exist four year...”
TrafficGuard
Ad fraud prevention software for advertisers and agencies.
“Marketing Technology News:[MarTech Interview with Miguel Lopes, CPO @ TrafficGuard]...”
BrightLocal
Local SEO software and services for businesses and agencies.
“According to BrightLocal’s 2026 Local Consumer Review Survey, 45% of consumers used AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity to find lo...”
MarTech Series
B2B martech publisher with demand generation services.
“MarTech Series (MTS) is a business publication dedicated to helping marketers get more from marketing technology through in-depth journalism...”
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