Research on Search, AI Discovery & Digital Visibility
EMPIRICAL. INDEPENDENT. ACTIONABLE.
I research how search engines and AI systems understand, retrieve, cite, rank, and recommend information, businesses, and brands.
This work helps decode the algorithms, uncover technical insights, explain results, and help teams navigate an AI-driven, zero-click discovery landscape.
Search Is Moving From Ranking to Understanding
My research increasingly points toward a broader shift in search. Rankings still matter, but modern search and AI systems are doing more than ordering webpages. They interpret intent, expand queries, retrieve evidence, develop an understanding of entities, and increasingly help users evaluate and choose between options.
I think the optimization challenge is becoming broader as a result: businesses need to be not only found, but understood, trusted, retrieved, cited, selected, and ultimately chosen.
Featured Research
Research Areas
AI Search & Discovery
How AI systems interpret queries, retrieve information, and generate answers.
Search Systems & Retrieval
Studying algorithms, ranking signals, and how content is evaluated and retrieved.
Entities & Digital Identity
How businesses are discovered and chosen across locations and platforms.
Local & Multi-Location Discovery
How businesses are discovered and chosen across locations and platforms.
Reputation & Trust
How reviews, citations, and content signals influence credibility and decisions.
AI Visibility & Citation Research
What gets cited, why it’s cited, and how to earn visibility in AI-generated responses.
Google AI Overview Research
I track how AI Overviews are triggered, which sources are selected, and how citations impact both user behavior and traditional organic search performance.
Explore case studies, experiments, and a growing library of AI Overview Analysis.
How Google AI Overview Works for SEO
AI Overview Optimization: Insights From Google’s Patent
Google AI Overview Study: Link Selection Based on Related Queries
How Search Intent Shapes Google AI Overviews
Measuring the Impact of Google AI Overviews on SEO Performance
Latest Research
Published Elsewhere
I also contribute to industry conversations outside of this site. My writing for Search Engine Land covers SEO, Google Search, Google Maps, AI, and the technologies changing digital discovery.