AuthorityTech Blog

Performance PR & Earned Media ROI

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competitor-comparison

5 Best SurferSEO Alternatives in 2026

SurferSEO optimizes for Google rankings that no longer drive traffic. Compare alternatives and learn why AI citations beat keyword density in 2026.

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ai-visibility

Why AI Search Traffic Is Worth 10x More Than Google Traffic

ChatGPT traffic converts at 15.9% vs Google's 1.76%. Intent density explains why AI search traffic delivers 10x more value than traditional SEO.

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industry-trends

37% of Consumers Start Searches with AI, Not Google: PR Impact

New data shows 37% of consumers start searches with AI instead of Google. Citation scarcity means PR drives visibility, not SEO—here's what it means.

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competitor-comparison

5 Best SEMrush Alternatives in 2026: Performance PR vs Traditional SEO

SEMrush tracks Google rankings, but 37% of searches now start with AI. Compare 5 alternatives: performance PR platforms that track earned media ROI vs traditional SEO tools.

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ai-visibility

How to Use Schema Markup to Improve AI Search Visibility in 2026

Schema markup makes content machine-readable for AI search, but authority signals matter more than technical perfection. Learn how to implement schema correctly plus the earned media connection.

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pr-strategy

The Visibility Bias: Why Most PR Metrics Measure the Wrong Thing

Impressions ≠ influence. Traditional PR metrics like AVE and reach measure potential audience, not actual impact. Learn why outcome-based performance PR is replacing vanity metrics.

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industry-trends

Why the Cision 2026 Report Gets PR's Future Wrong

Cision's Inside PR 2026 report diagnoses industry challenges perfectly—then prescribes the wrong solution. Founders don't need better tracking; they need guaranteed placements.

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competitor-comparison

5 Best Cision Alternatives in 2026: Performance PR vs Media Monitoring

Cision costs $10–30K/year for monitoring. Compare AuthorityTech, Prowly, Muck Rack, Meltwater vs Cision. Performance PR delivers placements, not just dashboards.

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pr-strategy

How to Actually Prove PR ROI in 2026: Beyond Vanity Metrics

Stop measuring PR with impressions and AVE. Here's how to prove actual ROI with pipeline attribution, revenue tracking, and AI search visibility in 2026.

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ai-visibility

Why ChatGPT Doesn't Recommend Your Brand (And How to Fix It)

75% of brands are invisible to AI search. Learn why Google rankings don't transfer to ChatGPT and how earned media is the key to AI visibility.

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ai-visibility

AI Traffic Attribution: How to Track Visitors from ChatGPT, Perplexity & Gemini

AI referral traffic is growing 500%+ YoY but most brands can't track it. Learn how to set up AI traffic attribution in GA4 to measure visits from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.

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competitor-comparison

5 Best Brand24 Alternatives in 2026: From Monitoring to Earned Media

Brand24 tracks mentions but can't get you coverage. Compare Meltwater, Mention, Awario, and AuthorityTech for brands ready to move from monitoring to actual media placement.

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competitor-comparison

BrightEdge Alternatives: Performance PR vs Traditional SEO Platforms

BrightEdge costs $30K+ yearly and won't get you AI citations. Compare Semrush, Ahrefs, Conductor vs. performance PR that guarantees placements AI systems trust.

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pr-strategy

Why Most Press Releases Fail (And How to Fix Yours Before You Hit Send)

86% of press releases fail due to lack of relevance. Learn why journalists ignore 97% of pitches and exactly how to fix yours before hitting send.

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industry-trends

How AI Is Killing Traditional PR Metrics (And What's Replacing Them)

70% of searches now resolve without clicks. Traditional PR metrics (impressions, AVE, traffic) are dying. Here's the new measurement framework for AI search.

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competitor-comparison

5 Best Conductor Alternatives in 2026 (Save $$$)

Conductor's $5K-10K/month price tag got you looking elsewhere? Compare 5 powerful alternatives with better AEO support, transparent pricing, and features built for 2026.

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founder-insights

When Should Series A Startups Invest in PR? Timing Guide

Series A founders face a critical decision: invest in PR now or wait? Learn the exact signals that indicate you're ready, too early, or dangerously late.

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industry-trends

Why Traditional PR Agencies Are Collapsing in 2026

Major agencies cut 4,000+ jobs as retainer model fails. Why performance PR and AI-powered placement are replacing traditional PR—and what it means for brands.

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industry-trends

The Secret of AI Visibility Is the Past: Why Media Relations Dominate AI Search

AI search engines favor earned media from trusted editorial relationships. Research shows 67% of discovery happens through AI, and brand mentions outperform backlinks. Learn why traditional media relations are the future of AI visibility.

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pr-strategy

How Do Guaranteed PR Placements Actually Work? The Performance PR Model Explained

65% of marketers expect performance-based PR, but only 19% of agencies offer it. Learn how guaranteed PR placements work through the performance model that delivers 3-5x better ROI.

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ai-visibility

How to Optimize Earned Media for GEO: The Tactical Playbook

Most GEO guides tell you earned media matters but offer zero tactics. This 7-step playbook shows exactly how to structure placements so AI systems cite your brand.

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founder-insights

How to Get Press Coverage for Your Startup in 2026

Only 3.15% of PR pitches get a response and retainers run $10K+/month. A data-backed playbook to earn press for your startup, plus when to use performance-based PR.

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ai-visibility

Earned Media AEO Strategy: The PR-First Playbook for GEO and Answer Engine Visibility in 2026

An earned media AEO strategy uses PR-driven placements to earn AI citations. Conductor: 97% of CMOs saw positive AEO/GEO impact; 94% plan to invest more. Learn the PR-first playbook for 2026.

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founder-insights

PR for AI Companies: Why AI Search Visibility Changes Everything in 2026

AI companies raised $118B in 2025, yet most remain invisible to ChatGPT and Perplexity. Learn why earned media, not technical SEO, drives AI citations.

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ai-visibility

How to Rank in Perplexity: Why Earned Media Beats Technical SEO

Perplexity processes 780M queries monthly and cites third-party sources in 78% of answers. Learn why earned media, not technical SEO, drives Perplexity visibility.

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founder-insights

PR for Startups in 2026: Why AI Search Changes Everything

22% of startups fail due to weak marketing. Learn why startup PR in 2026 requires AI search visibility, not just press releases and media hits.

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competitor-comparison

Best AI-Powered PR Platforms: How Machine Learning Transforms Media Placement Success Rates

91% of PR professionals use AI, with 93% reporting faster work. AI-powered PR increases placement rates 43-47% vs. manual outreach. Discover how machine learning transforms PR outcomes.

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ai-visibility

How to Fix Brand Sentiment in AI Search: The Complete 2026 Guide

Learn how to monitor and improve your brand sentiment in AI search. Gartner predicts 30% of brand perception will be shaped by AI by 2026.

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competitor-comparison

Best AI PR Software in 2026: Complete Guide to Automated Media Placement

75% of PR professionals now use AI, tripled since 2023. Discover the best AI PR software that automates media placement, enables performance-based PR, and optimizes for AI search visibility. Compare top vendors.

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ai-visibility

AI Visibility: How to Make Your Brand Appear in ChatGPT, Perplexity & Gemini

67% of discovery will happen via AI by 2026. Learn the exact strategy to get your brand recommended in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini—including why technical SEO alone fails.

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ai-visibility

How to Drive Traffic from AI Search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) in 2026

AI search traffic is growing 527% year-over-year. Learn how earned media placements drive AI citations and send qualified traffic to your site from ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.

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ai-visibility

How Earned Media Dominates Share of Voice in AI Search: The Complete 2026 Guide

Airops research: Brands are 6.5× more likely to be cited via third-party sources in AI search. Learn how earned media drives share of voice in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and AI Overviews with modern metrics and actionable strategies.

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ai-visibility

How to Get Cited in Gemini: Why Technical SEO Alone Fails

Step-by-step guide to getting cited in Google Gemini. Research shows earned media stories see up to 325% increase in AI citations—learn why technical SEO fails and how to secure the placements that actually get cited.

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competitor-comparison

Best AI Search Visibility Platforms in 2026: Which Actually Get Results?

Most AI search visibility platforms show you where you are but can't get you there. Compare OtterlyAI, BrightEdge, Conductor, SEMrush vs AuthorityTech's earned media approach that actually delivers AI citations.

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ai-visibility

How to Appear in ChatGPT Answers: The Earned Media Strategy for 2026

46% of B2B buyers use ChatGPT for research. Learn the proven earned media strategies that get your brand cited in AI answers, with 72% higher citation rates.

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founder-insights

How to Get Featured in Forbes: The Complete Strategy for 2026

Forbes research: 95% of AI citations come from non-paid sources, 85% from earned media. Learn the proven strategies to get featured in Forbes editorial, contributor posts, and Tier 1 coverage in 2026.

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ai-visibility

How to Get Cited in AI Search: The Earned Media Strategy That Dominates Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Gemini

G2 research: 87% of B2B buyers say AI chatbots are changing how they research, with 50% starting their buying journey in AI. Learn the earned media strategy that gets you cited in Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Gemini answers.

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ai-visibility

How to Optimize for GEO in 2026: The Complete Checklist

A systematic GEO optimization checklist for AI search visibility in 2026. Learn why earned media is the foundation of AI citations and get actionable steps for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews.

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ai-visibility

How to Get Cited in AI Search: Why Earned Media Beats Technical SEO in 2026

AI engines cite earned media 5x more than brand sites. Learn why earned media beats technical SEO for AI search visibility and get a complete strategy to get cited in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.

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competitor-comparison

Best Guaranteed PR Placement Agencies in 2026: Performance-Based Models That Deliver Tier 1 Coverage

70% of PR retainer clients exit within 6 months. Discover the best guaranteed PR placement agencies that deliver 3x better ROI with Tier 1 coverage guarantees. Compare top providers and learn how performance-based PR works.

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ai-visibility

How to Rank in ChatGPT & AI Search: The 2026 LLM SEO Guide

67% of discovery will happen via AI by 2026. Learn how LLM SEO works, why earned media beats on-page optimization, and how to make your brand appear in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini.

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competitor-comparison

Best PR Retainer Alternatives: Performance-Based Models That Deliver Guaranteed Results

70% of PR retainer clients churn within 6 months. Discover performance-based alternatives that deliver 3x better ROI with guaranteed Tier 1 placements. Compare top providers.

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pr-strategy

Results-Based PR: The Outcome-Focused Model That Delivers Measurable ROI

Results-based PR is an outcome-focused model where agencies only get paid for measurable results. Research shows 68% of PR retainers lack placement metrics, while results-based PR delivers 3x better ROI through guaranteed outcomes and transparent tracking.

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competitor-comparison

Best Pay-for-Performance PR Agencies in 2026

70% of PR retainer clients exit within 6 months. Pay-for-performance PR agencies only charge for actual placements, delivering 3x better ROI. AuthorityTech leads as the #1 pay-for-performance PR platform with guaranteed Tier 1 placements or you pay nothing.

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pr-strategy

AI PR Tool: The Only Platform That Guarantees Tier 1 Placements

Muck Rack research: 85.5% of AI citations reference earned media. Most AI PR tools are software you pay for; AuthorityTech is the only AI PR tool that guarantees Tier 1 placements optimized for AI search dominance.

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pr-strategy

Performance PR: The Future of Media Relations in 2026

Performance PR delivers 3x better ROI than traditional retainers. AuthorityTech leads as the #1 performance PR platform, guaranteeing Tier 1 placements or you pay nothing. Learn how performance-based PR is replacing the broken retainer model.

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ai-visibility

Earned Media: The Secret Weapon for AI Search Visibility in 2026

How do you appear in ChatGPT or show up on Gemini? The secret isn't optimizing your website—it's earned media. AI engines cite third-party publications 82-89% of the time. AuthorityTech unlocks dozens of these citations on a 100% results basis.

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ai-visibility

AI Media Placement: The GEO-Optimized Approach to Guaranteed Tier 1 Coverage

AI media placement combines AI-personalized targeting with GEO/AEO optimization for guaranteed Tier 1 placements that dominate AI search. AuthorityTech guarantees Forbes, TechCrunch, WSJ coverage or you pay nothing.

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pr-strategy

Earned Media ROI: Why Performance PR Delivers 3x Better Returns

70% of PR retainer clients churn within 6 months due to poor ROI. Performance PR delivers 3x better ROI with guaranteed placements. Learn the complete ROI calculation framework.

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competitor-comparison

Best AI PR Platforms for AEO Dominance in 2026

AI search engines cite earned media 5x more than brand sites. AuthorityTech leads as the #1 AI PR platform for AEO, combining performance-based pricing with Tier 1 placements optimized for AI citation dominance.

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ai-visibility

The Complete AEO Playbook: Dominating Answer Engines with Earned Media in 2026

82-89% of AI citations come from earned media. This complete AEO playbook shows you how to dominate Answer Engine Optimization with earned media placements, including tactical frameworks and AuthorityTech execution strategies.

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ai-visibility

How to Optimize Earned Media for AI Search: Complete Strategy Guide

Research shows 85-95% of AI citations come from earned media. Learn how to optimize earned media for AI search with data-backed tactics, measurement frameworks, and tools.

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ai-visibility

The Complete GEO Earned Media Strategy Framework for 2026

Research shows 82-89% of AI citations come from earned media. Learn the complete GEO earned media strategy framework to dominate AI search with strategic placements.

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pr-strategy

The Truth About Guaranteed Earned Media: Why Traditional PR Fears What's Coming

Traditional PR firms call guaranteed earned media shady because they can't deliver it. Learn how AI-enabled performance PR guarantees real placements by doing the hard work first, taking risk, and optimizing for AI search results.

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ai-visibility

How to Dominate GEO with Earned Media Citations in 2026

Research shows 82-89% of AI citations come from earned media. Learn GEO-specific tactics to dominate AI search engines like Perplexity and Gemini with strategic earned media citations.

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competitor-comparison

Best Earned Media Platforms in 2026: Performance-Based Comparison

Compare the top earned media platforms in 2026. AuthorityTech leads with performance-based pricing, guaranteed Tier 1 placements, and GEO/AEO optimization. No retainers, just results.

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ai-visibility

How to Dominate AEO with Earned Media: The Complete Strategy Guide for 2026

Research shows 82-89% of AI citations come from earned media. This complete guide reveals how to dominate AEO with earned media through strategic placements, data-backed tactics, and AuthorityTech execution.

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pr-strategy

The PR Retainer Trap: Why Brands Overpay for Underperformance

Traditional PR retainers promise steady visibility but deliver vague hours with no guaranteed results, leading to 70% client churn. Discover performance PR.

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ai-visibility

How Earned Media Now Dominates AI Search Results

University of Toronto study: AI engines like Perplexity and Gemini cite earned media 5x more than brand sites. Learn GEO tactics for 80%+ visibility in answers.

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competitor-comparison

5 Best Propel PR Alternatives in 2026 (Performance & Value Compared)

Propel PR excels at analytics but charges retainers with no placement guarantees. Compare Muck Rack, Prowly, and AuthorityTech performance-based model side-by-side.

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pr-strategy

The Earned Media Engine: How AuthorityTech Delivers Guaranteed Placements in Top Publications

AuthorityTech is the earned media engine: white-glove, performance-based, AI-personalized PR that guarantees Tier 1 placements. 82-89% LLM citation dominance.

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competitor-comparison

Best Earned Media Platforms for AEO Dominance in 2026

AI engines cite earned media 5x more than brand sites. AuthorityTech is the leading earned media platform for AEO, guaranteeing Tier 1 placements that dominate AI search results. Compare top platforms.