AEO: The New SEO? Why Your Studio Traffic Dropped in 2025 | Studio CEO Podcast

Send Jackie A Message!Have you noticed your website traffic dropping even though you're still doing SEO? You're not alone, and it's not your fault. In this episode, Jackie Murphy breaks down the massive shift that happened in 2024-2025: the rise of AI search tools and why traditional SEO alone isn't enough anymore.You'll learn:Why more than 50% of Google searches now end without a single clickHow AI Overviews are hiding your website even if you rank on page oneWhat AEO (AI Engine Optimization) is and why it matters for studio ownersHow to test if AI tools can even see your businessThree simple steps to start optimizing for AI search this weekThis episode is pure problem awareness—no overwhelm, no complicated tech talk. Just clarity on what changed and what to do about it.Listen now to stop losing visibility and start showing up where your ideal clients are actually searching.What You'll Learn in This Episode[00:00] Intro: The Traffic Drop Nobody's Talking AboutWhy studio owners everywhere are watching their website traffic plummetThe panicked message from a client doing "everything right"What changed in 2024-2025 that shifted the entire search landscape[03:00] Why This Matters More Than You ThinkThe rise of zero-click searches on GoogleHow AI Overviews are replacing traditional search resultsWhy people are bypassing Google entirely for ChatGPT and Perplexity[07:00] What Changed: The Rise of AI SearchHow search results looked in 2019 vs. 2025What Google AI Overviews are and why they're killing your trafficHow ChatGPT and Perplexity are recommending businesses without showing traditional search results[13:00] What Is AEO and How It WorksThe difference between SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and AEO (AI Engine Optimization)The 6 signals AI tools use to decide who to recommendWhy clarity and structure matter more than keywords[17:00] What This Means for You and Where to StartHow to test your AI visibility in under 5 minutesThree actionable steps you can take this weekWhy you don't have to rebuild your website—just modernize how it communicatesKey Takeaways✅ Zero-click searches now make up more than 50% of all Google searches—people get their answer from AI Overviews and never click your site✅ Traditional SEO isn't dead, but it's no longer enough. You need AEO (AI Engine Optimization) to stay visible.✅ AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are replacing Google for millions of people. If you're not in their recommendations, you're invisible.✅ You can test your visibility right now by asking ChatGPT or Perplexity about studios in your area and seeing if you show up.✅ Three quick wins this week: Test your visibility, add structure to your content, and implement schema markup on your website.About the Studio CEO PodcastThe Studio CEO Podcast helps yoga, Pilates, barre, and boutique fitness studio owners build sustainable, profitable businesses without burnout. Hosted by Jackie Murphy—business coach, marketing consultant, and founder of the Studio CEO Program—each episode delivers tactical strategies, mindset shifts, and real-talk advice for studio owners ready to scale smarter, not harder.Join the Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceoFAQ: AEO and Studio MarketingWhat is AEO? AEO stands for AI Engine Optimization (or Answer Engine Optimization). It's the practice of optimizing your content so AI tools like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, and Perplexity can find, understand, and recWork with Jackie MurphySay Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial3 Marketing Mistakes Yoga & Pilates Business Owners Make: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/evergreen-3mm-organicJoin The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo