AI vs SEO: What B2B Marketers Still Don’t Understand

Is SEO Dead… or Just Growing Up?Everyone’s asking if SEO still matters in the age of AI, but that question misses the bigger shift.In this episode of Marketing in the Raw, Adam sits down with Ryan Brock to go beyond the “SEO vs AI” debate and unpack how search, content, and buyer behavior have been evolving for years and why most marketers are still thinking about it wrong.We explore Ryan’s journey from storyteller to agency owner during SEO’s wild west, and what he learned watching the industry move from hacks to something far more sophisticated.Because the real question isn’t about traffic, it’s this:If AI is reshaping discovery and tech is no longer a moat… what actually makes a brand win today?This conversation breaks down why trust, structure, and real market understanding are now the competitive edge and why content is no longer just marketing… It’s part of the product itself.This episode is for you if:You’re wondering whether SEO is still worth investing inYou feel like AI is changing the rules, but no one can clearly explain howYou’ve relied on tactics in the past and are starting to question what actually works long-termYou want to understand how to show up in both search and AI-driven discoveryYou’re trying to build a marketing strategy that won’t break every time the algorithm changes00:45 Bald Guy Banter02:35 From Art To Marketing04:49 First Paid Writing Gigs07:17 Learning Marketing Fast11:37 SEO Arms Race Era13:52 Panda Update Fallout15:39 Modern SEO Context Shift16:51 DemandJump And Pillars21:57 Book Relevance And GEO24:24 Links Matter Less25:07 Pillar Content Wins AI28:28 SEO Still Worth It29:02 Agentic AI Wave30:26 New Moats Trust33:21 Market Research Content36:45 Website Role Shifts38:46 COVID Testing Case Study45:23 Agency Buying Changes51:51 Where To Find Ryan52:50 Final Wrap Up53:14 Welcome to Marketing in the RawConnect with Ryan BrockWebsite: https://pillar-and-co.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-m-brock/Connect with Adam:Twitter: /adamhelwehLinkedIn: /adamhelwehInstagram: /adamhelwehYouTube: /adamhelwehLearn more about my digital marketing agency, Secret Sushi:https://secretsushi.com/