Field notes Research, essays, and reports from the practice

The Blog.

Original research on how AI engines pick which brands to surface — and the methodology we use to engineer that outcome for our clients.

Honest llms.txt Facts for 2026

AI search is changing how people discover information. Platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Copilot generate answers by finding and understanding content…

Guest Posting for AI Citations: What Works and What’s Invisible

Guest posting has long been viewed as one of the most reliable ways to build backlinks and improve search rankings. But as…

Citation vs Mention: Why the Difference Matters

AI visibility is not just about how often a brand appears in AI-generated answers. The difference between being mentioned and being cited…

GA4 vs Google Search Console: Why the Numbers Never Match

GA4 and Google Search Console will never show identical numbers, and they were never meant to. GSC counts clicks and impressions from…

Best X” and Comparison Content: The Format to Invest In for Commercial Intent

Ranked “Best X” pages are the highest-return content format in 2026, because they win the queries AI cannot finish. Head-to-head comparisons support…

The Two-Track Model: Combining Authority Links and Entity-Rich Content

The two-track model is the framework behind who gets cited in AI search results today. AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity don’t…

Removing AI Footprints: Making Drafted Content Read as Human

AI can help produce a first draft in minutes, but many AI-written articles still feel easy to recognize. The writing may be…

Owned citation vs Earned citation in the AI Era

Owned citations vs. Earned citations is about understanding how AI answer engines evaluate trust.  Owned citations help AI interpret your content and…

How to Get Cited in ChatGPT: Avoid Hidden Mistakes 2026

As more people use ChatGPT to find answers, getting your content cited has become an important part of AI search visibility. Instead…