How to Optimize Your Amazon Listings for AI Search With Jon Tilley [Ep.219]

Amazon sellers have spent years optimizing for keywords and traditional search. That is still important, but the way customers discover products on Amazon is changing quickly. In this episode of The Opportunity Podcast, we sit down with Jon Tilley, founder of ZonGuru, to unpack Amazon's latest AI developments and what they mean for sellers. Amazon has moved away from Rufus and is doubling down on Alexa for Shopping, alongside its newer Cosmo algorithm. Instead of simply returning search results, Amazon can now use conversations, customer profiles, product data, and recommendations to help shoppers make decisions. For sellers, this creates a new layer of optimization. We discuss why keywords still matter, but why sellers also need to think about the questions customers ask, how their products are used, who they are best suited for, and which products they complement. Jon also explains why simply asking ChatGPT or Claude to rewrite a listing is not enough, how first-party Amazon data can improve AI optimization, and why sellers need to balance AI readability with human conversion. We also look at the wider implications of AI for Amazon sellers, agencies, and omnichannel growth. If you want to understand where Amazon is heading and how to adapt your business before these changes become mainstream, this episode is worth a listen. Topics Discussed in this episode: 04:11 - Why Amazon is doubling down on Alexa and what that means for sellers 08:57 - Keywords vs. conversational search  14:48 - How to maximize your AI visibility on Amazon 17:43 - Understanding Cosmo's product knowledge graph  25:19 - The biggest AI optimization mistakes sellers make  27:52 - The opportunities AI unlocks for Amazon sellers 31:59 - How quickly AI optimization can impact performance  38:21 - How Amazon sellers are using AI beyond product discovery  41:00 - AI, agencies, and the changing service model  43:33 - Is AI killing agencies or helping them thrive? Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter ZonGuru's AI Readiness Report ZonGuru's Helix Jon's LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to improve your AI visibility on Amazon.